Menna Van Praag's Blog, page 31

“Your will shall decide your destiny.” ― Charlotte Brontë

A creative life is not for the faint of heart, at least not if you want to make a living at it. If you want to do anything out of the ordinary, anything challenging, where the odds are against success, you need great strength of will. You must be stubborn. Bull-headed. Dogged. Tenacious. Determined. Steadfast. Unfaltering. Committed. So, if you’re setting out to publish a novel, or something equally great, you’ll have much more fun if you find your inner sense of steel first!

Pic: the virtual tour of Notting Hill continues – Ottolenghi on Ledbury Road, as delicious as it is expensive )

Isn’t this amazing?! I was out walking in Notting Hill (o...

Isn’t this amazing?! I was out walking in Notting Hill (one of my fav places in the world) when I saw this gorgeous dress made of (artificial) flowers and leaves – it made me think of The Dress Shop of Dreams, of course. I just love it!! I just wish I’d had that idea for the book…

“Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” ― Doris Lessing

If you wait for everything in your life to line up into perfect unison before you act, you’ll be waiting forever. Nearly every person who’s achieved something of great significance has overcome great odds to do it. So, whatever your circumstances are, get going before you can change them. And, whenever you find yourself bemoaning your state, think of all those who’ve gone before you who never gave up, be inspired by their example of courage and determination and decide to be an example of it yourself…

Pic: Liberty in London. My current fav stationary shop!

A few days ago I had an inspired idea! I was thinking abo...

A few days ago I had an inspired idea! I was thinking about teaching classes, about what would be a brilliant support to writers. Before I was published I really wanted accountability – so I’d actually sit down and write every day – inspiration, moral support (to see me through all those rejections) and professional feedback. I loved attending writing workshops – but the inspiring high wore off after about a week – & I couldn’t afford to take them often enough. So, here’s my idea: a monthly teleseminar lasting about 90 mins, you send me a few pages of whatever you’re writing in advance, you pay about £25, and I spend the time giving each writer feedback, plus extra inspiration & motivation – it’d be limited to about 10 writers each month – I’m very excited by the idea!

Pic: hanging out in the park with O & bouquets of leaves

Something’s been happening lately in my life. I’ve been s...

Something’s been happening lately in my life. I’ve been slowing down, enjoying the “little” moments of the day, not striving hard to achieve more success. Now, I’ve always been a striver. It’s in my blood. I strove to be the top of the class. I strove to be published. I strove to sell more books. But I’ve found that the funny thing about striving is, even when you get that which you’ve striven for you don’t feel fulfilled, at least not for long because you’re soon onto the next “bigger and better” thing. Relaxing & letting go of striving is the biggest relief. It’s true, I do get less done, but I get done just what needs to be done and, of course, I enjoy everything I create, and life in general, so much more!

Pic: me & my fairy (from Podarok – my new fav shop, now that I have a little more time for shopping

“A Day For Beautiful Dreams.” No matter how busy I am, I ...

“A Day For Beautiful Dreams.” No matter how busy I am, I also take a lovely long moment every day to dream. It connects me with my passion for life, my love of people & generally makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Which, when you think about it, is the best use of time there can possibly be.

pic: Sweet Alice Ryan sent me the card & my personal chef/husband made these Christmas spice cookies – some of the best I’ve ever tasted – it’s pretty easy to have beautiful dreams while eating them…

Keeping your eyes open…

I collect characters on trains. And anywhere else I’m sitting down long enough to spot them. Some people seem to have stories seeping out of their skin and you just have to pay a little attention to see them. The more I write, the more I feel that I’m not inventing stories but simply taking notes of what’s already out there just waiting for me. Then the writing feels effortless & wonderful. I guess it’s true of life too – that everything is a lot easier when you stop striving & struggling. When you let go a little you so often find that what you’re looking for is right there waiting for you.

An Ode to Great Authors

I’ve just discovered Anne Tyler and I’m in heaven. Finding a new favourite author is a bit like falling in love. I still remember the summer I found Alice Hoffman. I spent every day inside, gobbling up book after book. What do I adore about Anne Tyler? The first thing is her absolutely confidence in telling a story, so I trust her completely to take me somewhere good. It’s a great reminder that, in writing and in life, self-doubt doesn’t do us any favours. We have to believe in our own brilliance before anyone else will believe in us and that, of course, is the essential beginning to everything…

Pic: me & Practical Magic

Saving Mr Banks

“Authors inspire imagination and hope, over and over again.” – Walt Disney

Now, I’m not sure if Mr Disney actually said this in real life, but he did in the film, Saving Mr Banks and I find it inspiring indeed. The film wasn’t as I expected – a good deal more heartbreaking – but the ending was truly beautiful and had me sobbing, in a good way It was a film about imagination and hope, certainly, but also compassion – understanding that people are cruel because they’ve suffered a lot in life and don’t know how to be any other way. It’s something to remember, perhaps, the next time someone snaps at you, so you don’t snap back but have a little compassion instead.

taking time off

Sometimes writer’s block is just a sign to do something different – for me, it tells me to take time off & get out of my head. Today I went out to post a letter (I love writing letters) and, instead of coming straight home to start working again, I found myself wandering off along little side streets. And, as I gently kicked piles of autumn leaves, I found myself musing on my story – without purpose or pressure – when, all of a sudden, inspiration struck – twice! It was easy, effortless and enjoyable – much more so that sitting at my desk staring at the cursor blinking on my computer screen

Pic: St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.