Cate Russell-Cole's Blog, page 24
November 10, 2013
Always in Our Hearts
November 7, 2013
Romance Writing with Danielle Steel
I wrote because I needed to and wanted to. It never occurred to me that I’d become famous…. I’m astonished by my success.
A book begins with an image or character or situation that I care about deeply.
I started writing stories as a child… In my late teenage years, I developed a real passion for it, and wrote a lot of poetry.
I try to give people hope. Even though life is bleak, there’s hope out there… I try to write about the stuff that torments us all.
If you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future.
I’ve shut myself inside these walls, and I’m going to be a very lonely old lady if I’m not careful.”
Visit Danielle Steel’s website and Facebook page.
Filed under: Writing Resources Tagged: Danielle Steel, romance
November 5, 2013
Releasing the Creative Genius Within by Kathy Pooler
“THE THINGS WE FEAR THE MOST IN ORGANIZATIONS-FLUCTUATIONS, DISTURBANCES, IMBALANCES – ARE THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF CREATIVITY.” Margaret Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science.
In his book, Zen in the Art of Writing, science fiction author, Ray Bradbury claims that” zest, gusto and curiosity” are qualities all writers should have. In fact, he goes on to say, we all have ”a creative genius within” that is just waiting to be released. He shares his techniques of writing down a list of nouns until he “begins to see a pattern to the list, then he trusts his subconscious to give bread to the birds.” And it has worked for him as he is the prolific author of novels, stories, poems, films and plays.
I never thought of myself as having creative genius, but I must say, his book has me believing that we all have creative energy bubbling under the surface, just waiting to be released onto the pages.
But what does it take to get to that creativity when our lives are so cluttered with the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, mobile devices and cell phones whereby we are in constant contact with our friends, family and the world at any given point in time? Constant buzzing, ringing tones, beeps and alarms keep us distracted throughout the day, and if we forget to turn them off, throughout the night as well.
Jane Friedman posted an excellent article on facebook by Scott Belsky “What Happened to Downtime: The Extinction of Deep Thinking and Sacred Space” which highlighted the importance of “reclaiming sacred interruption-free space, daily doses of deep thinking and meditation and napping” In other words UNPLUG and maintain some disconnection from all these distractions.
Susan Tweit has a similar message on her blog post on Writing Time, where she notes the importance of taking time to sit down and write in the midst of our busy lives. “Just keep writing what you feel until something happens.” Under a picture of a beautiful sunrise, she wrote: “When you write your way into the creative flow, it’s as beautiful as a sunrise.”
November garden after the frost.
Maybe the times I feel frustrated, out of balance and depleted due to all the daily distractions, I need to just unplug and take a walk to the garden like I did this morning. Who would think that lettuce, brussel sprouts and kale would still be growing under the hard frost while the remaining garden has been put to rest for the winter?
If the garden can continue to release its creative genius in the midst of a November frost, then I should be able to release my own creative genius in the midst of my busy life.
How about you? Are you ready and willing to release your creative genius?
This post is Copyright Kathleen Pooler 2012. All Rights Reserved Internationally.
Filed under: Posts by Kathleen Pooler, The Memoir Project Tagged: author, autobiography, creativity, ideas, inspiration, Kathy Pooler, life story, memoir, resource, rest, social media, technology, unplugging, writer, writing
November 4, 2013
Don’t Quit Striving Towards Your Writing Goals
For some reason, I see owls being used everywhere in decorator and stationary items.
They are even appearing on Christmas paper plates! Maybe they are telling us that we need less ‘frantic doing’ and more contemplating to learn wisdom from our experiences!
For the last few weeks I have desperately needed a change of pace, and have been trying to plot out a new direction for CommuniCATE in 2014. I have destroyed parts of a brand new, very expensive diary in the process! However, after an obsessive assessment of my stats and many hours of deliberating, I keep coming back to the same answer: keep doing what I am already doing, as it’s working and I am being true to my own creative self.
That makes sense… but!!!!!! I am paying a high price in unpaid labour and far too many hours of drudge work to make that happen. So still, what to do? I want off that rat wheel!
I know many of you are in the same position. You have a taste of success, but you’re still a small player, investing more than you will ever get back. Some days you just stop and say, “why?” “Is this Internet promotion game really going to make me a satisfied author? What am I doing pandering to strangers, SEO, social media and all that rot? I want my life back!”
The final clincher for me in making this decision, was digging out archived files of an old disaster. You know how some days you have to stop and look back? You have to pull up that memory that still hurts, remember dreams lost, face the work that was wasted and ask, “what the ‘bleep’ went so wrong?” It’s human nature to want to make sense of it all. Looking back at that toxic carcass, gave me a sense of gratitude which I have been missing. Despite being fidgety, I am now happier because I followed one of my dreams. It’s all been worth it.
Yes, there are a lot of plants. As I spend so much time at my desk, I try and make it pleasant.
As writers we often look back on older work and cringe. We have shelved ideas, abandoned books, smashed dreams and poisonous feedback that still makes us want to hide and cry under our desks. I have thirty files which need editing and placing back on Faithwriters.com. Why were they removed? They are 15 years old! My editing standards are now higher. Many past pieces of writing are online out of my reach, and perfect or not, I just have to wear them. Maybe that is a lesson in humility we all have to learn, allowing ourselves to grow. Seeing what lies behind as a necessity, a blessing and something we should use to empower us to keep moving forward.
Whatever publishing, blogging, social media and your life throws at you, stay with it. Keep writing. It will pay off in some way. I know once my restlessness wears off, I will go back to happily following my work routine. I just need the sense to focus, stay grateful and stay put!
What is the hardest part of your writing journey?
Oh yes, please don’t forget! There is a new free e-book (pdf so readable on any device) which pulls all my blog related posts together. It’s titled “Savvy Blogging for Time Starved Writers,” and is available via the sidebar. You can import pdf files into Kindle via their apps (just point your Kindle app on your computer to the directory where you keep your pdf and it will import); and into iBooks via the iTunes link up with your computer and your iPhone/iPad.
This article / blog post is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2013. All rights are reserved Internationally. You may not reproduce it in any form, in part of whole, without Cate’s prior written permission. That includes usage in forms such as print, audio and digital imaging including pdf, jpg, png etc. A fee may be requested for re-using her work if it is for a commercial venture. The featured image from this post comes from the web site linked to above.
Link sharing and Pinterest pins are most welcome as long as Cate is the attributed Author.
Filed under: Author First Aid Tagged: author, books, broken dreams, commitment, coping, decision making, disappointment, discouragement, drudge work, failure, freedom, grind, growth, social media, statistics, writer, writing
November 3, 2013
10 Tips For Creating a Bestselling Series
Reblogged from Writers In The Storm Blog:
Writers In The Storm welcomes Eve Paludan. I first met Eve at a Desert Rose RWA meeting in Phoenix, AZ. First impression? A bubbly person who lugs around a very warm heart. She now lives in Los Angeles, CA, where she writes fiction and edits for other bestselling authors. She enjoys reading mysteries, science fiction, and romances, especially paranormal romances, walking on the beach and learning scenic photography.
This is great! Thanks to Gene for recommending it and the WITS blog for a constant output of great material!
The Life Journey of a Mystic in Fiction
Image Source: http://www.giantbomb.com/druids/92-4091/
Original artist unknown.
One of the spiritual areas that fascinates me is prophecy. I love fantasy books featuring people who strive to reach a high spiritual calling. Being a Mystic / Prophet appears to be one of the toughest roles anyone can take. They can be held in awe, regarded with fear or suspicion or ostracised… if left alive. It is as demanding as the role of a warrior.
Some prophets have it easier than others. For example, the Oracle of Delphi in Greece, was constantly breathing in toxic fumes from volcanic gasses that came up through a rock. The priests around the Oracle did the interpretation of the gibberish this chemical high produced. They were the ones with the real power. The actual position of Oracle doesn’t sound too onerous to me, though definitely dangerous to their health!
Often these mystical people were embroiled in power battles within epic fables and stories. Being a mystic supposedly gives ordinary people marvellous power; but is that view a myth? Depending on the storyline, that power can be public and impressive, or limited and only able to be used in a covert manner. The little power they have may not be enough; it could often leave the mystic frustrated. How often do the wise ones have to stand back and watch those they warned make avoidable mistakes? That or they can be so power drunk, they start to destroy everything around them, including themselves. You can turn the storyline so many different ways.
According to the Old Testament, if you were a prophet and your accuracy was less than one hundred percent, you could be stoned to death. Nostradamus would never have made it. The Egyptians could change gods like you change your socks. Depending on who you represented, being one of their religious leaders could be a job with a limited shelf life! If you were ever on the wrong side of the current religious fad, you could kiss your robes and your good life goodbye.
Look into the job description of a mystic further. While literature romanticises quests and great adventures, more often, the wise ones were called on to deal with the conflicts and faults of their societies. That can mean that their purpose in life was to be unpopular. I can see why figures such as Jonah legged it when given a tough challenge. For most prophets, the training and standards are anything but easy and would leave them feeling humbled and impotent. Then to make them feel better, people don’t tend to roll out the welcome mat when it’s your divinely-given task to go tell them they are wrong. In the same shoes, I’d go whale watching too. It could be worth the risk. There are always plenty of rocks laying around to be thrown… Moses was another Biblical figure who firstly said “I don’t think so!” when he heard what he was meant to do.
This image was made by and belongs to i_luv_angst
Click on image to go to their page.
The early life of a prophet involves sacrificing a normal life; developing exacting discipline; being misunderstood; learning focus and meditation; studying relevant areas such as magic, medicine, history and literature; making your fair share of humiliating bloopers when you hear or judge the facts wrong and the obligatory “character building” wilderness experience.
The best prophets are grown in the toughest places and at times, are called into a time of living in solitude, while they do the equivalent of a Prophetic Masters Degree… in the middle of nowhere with scant protection and few comforts, if any. If they were really lucky, the wilderness would be their permanent mailing address. Loneliness is often the prophet’s closest and only friend.
Prophets are deliberately developed where the conditions are toughest. If you were a Celtic mystic, they may have chosen to go to sea. Sometimes they made landfall, sometimes, they didn’t, being on a boat for weeks. The forests and the desert are not the only choices for getting away from it all to hear clearly.
Celtic Monasteries have been found on tiny, wind-slapped islands (not wind-swept, that is too gentle), where you need to be a mountain goat to move around. The tougher the life, the better one’s attitude grows. It’s the truest of cliches; suffering gains you perspective on human nature and shows you what really matters in life. You must have suffered to be able to relate to others’ pain.
So as you write about awesome soothsayers, crystal ball gazers and wand carrying heroes, consider what manner of life experience and training that led them to the centre stage in your novel. True mystics are not born with all the talents and graces they need, they’re made: most probably the hardest way!
This article / blog post is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2014. All rights are reserved Internationally. You may not reproduce it in any form, in part of whole, without Cate’s prior written permission. That includes usage in forms such as print, audio and digital imaging including pdf, jpg, png etc. A fee may be requested for re-using her work if it is for a commercial venture. Link sharing and Pinterest pins are most welcome as long as Cate is the attributed Author.
No images on this blog may be copied, captured, or altered for your own purpose without the consent of the originating owner. Where images are marked as being iStockphoto.com images, they are paid for and licenced to Cate for use on this blog. If you take them, iStockphoto.com has the right to take legal action against you for Copyright Infringement.
Please see the Blog Content and Image Copyright page of this blog for further information in regards to Guest Posts, other images, Cate’s checks on infringements and Liability.
Filed under: Character and Plot Construction, Writing Resources Tagged: author, behaviour, books, challenge, characterisation, development, education, failure, fantasy, fiction, goals, growing up, growth, inspiration, learning, life story, magician, motivation, plot, prophet, science fiction, seer, soothsayer, wilderness, writer, writing
November 2, 2013
What Writing Resources Do YOU Need?
In planning for 2014, I’ve gone back through my blog posts and identified what themes are popular, but now I need to hear from you: the readers who this blog is for. What would help you?
Would you please tick the most relevant boxes on these two polls so I know what you need. It will take a very short time and you can put in multiple answers. If there is anything you’d like to add, tell me in the comments.
Thank you!
Take Our Survey
Take Our Survey
Filed under: What's On Tagged: blog, content
October 27, 2013
Recapturing Your Creative Flow, by Andra Watkins
Digital Detox. Two little words that, when placed side-by-side, sound like something that might happen at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Yet, for the past couple of months, I have been experimenting with a version of digital detox, my own release of the shackles of constant connectivity. I embarked upon this journey because, as a writer, I found my creativity zapped by the glowing screen. When my mind should have been wandering to find the next epiphany or chewing on the next plot point, I was lazy. I opted to text/e-mail/blog/Google+/Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr.
Digital detox was my way to try to recapture my creative flow. It isn’t a complete divorce from social media or the internet. Instead, it is a structured schedule that rations my use of the online world. Once in the morning and once in the evening, I’ve given myself time to be online.
My plan might not work for everyone, because the key to my digital detox is control of my schedule.
I work for myself. Therefore, I have more control of my schedule than some readers. I also don’t have children, which may prohibit a few readers from adapting some of these techniques. Still, even for a long weekend, I think almost anyone could do what I did, because………
I went somewhere without access to the internet.
A friend has access to a family cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, and she graciously reserved a week for me. It was built, Swiss-chalet style, in the early 1970′s, and the family opted to keep it rustic. Hence, no internet connection.
Because it was on the back-side of a mountain, I also had practically no phone signal. It drifted in and out, leaving me little choice but to put the thing away and focus on what I went up there to do, which was:
Walk aimlessly without being mowed down by a car; and
Write.
Because it rained three of my five writing days, I had even more time to write.
How I changed my habits at home:
I have scheduled one hour in the morning and one in the evening to deal with all things internet, except on Mondays, when I have commitments that keep me online for several hours in the afternoon.
I made a timed checklist of tasks that I must complete online during each hour. You can download a copy of it by following this link: Andra’s Digital Detox Lite Checklist.
At all other times, the internet will be turned off at its source, and my phone will be set to silent to focus on offline tasks. I thought about simply disabling my wifi on my computer, but it is too easy to turn back on.
In the past, I worked at my desk with multiple online tabs open at once. I probably lose an hour a day just going back and forth between tabs every time something new shows up. No more. I now work with one tab open at a time, and I finish what I was doing before checking anything else.
Other than Foodspotting (to which I am horribly addicted but only share food pics there), I will not take my phone out at the table. More often than not, I now leave it in the car.
My Digital Detox Lite is a work-in-progress. It requires me to be kind to myself as I stumble. Still, my mind is much less cluttered than it was before I started. I write more and make better creative connections. I don’t feel the crush of stress that I once did. My program has reintroduced balance to my life.
Perhaps, it will do the same for someone else. Good luck!
Andraʼs Digital Detox Lite ChecklistEvery Morning: 1 Hour
• Respond to blog comments (10 minutes)
• Post blog to Google+ (with photo, not link) (2 minutes)
• Post blog to Pinterest shared boards (2 minutes)
• Share out Triberr posts for day (5 minutes)
• Post daily quote on Google+, Tumblr, LinkedIn and Twitter (2 minutes)
• Read and respond to emails (10 – 15 minutes)
• Read blogs, comment and like (20 minutes)
• Miscellaneous wild time (4 minutes)
Every Evening: 30 Minutes – 1 Hour, depending upon volume
• Respond to blog comments (10 minutes)
• Respond to social media comments (10 minutes)
• Thank social media folks for shares (10 minutes)
• Read and respond to email (10 minutes)
• Read blogs, comment and like (20 minutes)
Other than the times designated, the internet will be turned off at its source. The phone will also be set to silent, except during the above-outlined times.
Follow Andra
Please visit Andra’s blog: The Accidental Cootchie Mama
You can follow her via: https://twitter.com/andrawatkins and http://www.facebook.com/andrawatkinsauthor
Copyright Andra Watkins 2013. All rights are reserved Internationally. You may not reproduce it in any form, in part of whole, without prior written permission. That includes usage in forms such as print, audio and digital imaging including pdf, jpg, png etc. A fee may be requested for re-using this work if it is for a commercial venture. Link sharing and Pinterest pins are most welcome as long as Andra Watkins is the attributed Author.
Except for Andra’s photo and blog header, the images on this post are Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2013. No images on this blog may be copied, captured, or altered for your own purpose without Cate’s prior, written consent.
Filed under: "Writing Lessons from the Writing Life", Author First Aid Tagged: challenge, creativity, DIGITAL DETOX, DIGITAL DETOX CHECKLIST, DIGITAL DETOX TIPS, DIGITAL DETOX VACATION, goals, HOW TO DIGITAL DETOX, inspiration, problem solving, RESULTS OF DIGITAL DETOX, stress management, success, TECHNOLOGY DIGITAL DETOX, writer, writing
October 25, 2013
Sourcing Stock Photos for Book Covers
Over the last couple of days I have had the dubious pleasure of trawling through hundreds of pictures of male models to adorn the cover of my latest offering 'Twelve Days - The Future'.
As I was suffering this fate, it occurred to me that I actually didn't really know where the best site/deal was for sourcing these images and I wasn't entirely sure what licenses permitted you to do (or not do) with the images.
A very useful post from Jade Reyner who has thoroughly done her homework. I use iStockphoto and it never occurred to me to compare deals. Thanks Jade!
October 24, 2013
What Has Writing Done for You?
I am shy. If given the option of being that person who goes to parties (or anywhere people I’ve never met before may be milling about), or the one who sits home, alone, wine in one hand, television remote in the other – I’ll take the lonely wine drinking TV addict any day.
Fifty years into this life and I’ve not completely figured out this side of me. I want to be outgoing. But I’m not. I want to stand in a room full of strangers and not quiver in my boots. But I don’t. Or I can’t. Or maybe I just never learned how.
When I write, I can be the best version of myself. Not just in fiction, but on my blog too. I share my opinions and feelings, ideas and thoughts, without filter, without interruption. Some might think I share too much, but I’ve found it cathartic. I feel safe in the cyber writing world. No one is sitting across from me, eyeballing me with that questioning look on their face. When I write I don’t feel the need to temper my thoughts to avoid offense. Not that I’m particularly offensive. I have a deep-seated desire to be ‘nice’ after all. Damn Canadian politeness.
I have always had strong opinions, always had great ideas and right answers (no, really!). But I hold back, keep things to myself. There is the fear of being wrong. The fear of rejection. Fear of potential conflict with those who disagree. Fear of looking like an idiot if (when?) I inevitably trip over my tongue and say something stupid.
Clearly the underlying issue is fear, no? Hand me my psych degree, please – nailed that diagnosis!
In the cyber world I am fearless.
This in-the-safety-of-my-own-home, open-vein style of expression is having an unexpected, surprising, confounding, and wonderful effect. I’m opening up in the real world. In the face-to-face world. My cyber courage is spilling over into interactions with people in the flesh.
I’m still shy, but I’m losing the fear. Or at least I’m doing a better job than usual of faking it. But as far as I’ve come, I’ve a long way to go.
So I did something outrageous. Something crazy.
Something brave.
I signed up to be part of a book signing with 16 other indie authors. In Texas no less – an entire country away. It was “Indie-Vengeance Day” at Half Price Books flagship store in Dallas. I interacted with the authors, hid my intimidation, and soon realized something amazing. There was nothing to be intimidated about! They are all wonderful, and after spending four days with them, I consider them friends.
Once the doors opened, a few readers wandered in. I resolved to engage them all if they approached me. Approach they did. And engage I did! I managed to sell seven books, give away dozens of copies of a booklet with three of my short fiction pieces, and about 50 personalized bookmarks emblazoned with the covers of my two novels.
It was a liberating weekend. I extended my resolve to speak with strangers at Dealey Plaza where I engaged the only conspiracy theorist to brave the rain. Then I chatted up the clerk in the museum gift shop. He admired my Batman wallet. I told him I am Batman’s girlfriend (he just doesn’t know it yet). The clerk shared that he would be Batman for Halloween and would be singing at a party. I asked him to sing for me. And he did! I would never have done that a month ago. It was amazing.
I credit my newfound bravery, this pseudo-confidence that is quickly shaking off the pseudo, to writing. It is more than about telling stories. More than vomiting words onto a page to make room in my brain for more words. It has become therapy. A coping mechanism to deal with long-standing social anxiety. Writing, like my kids, is everything.
What has writing done for you?
Follow JulieAmazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/juliefrayn
Website/Blog: www.juliefrayn.com
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/juliebirdfrayn
Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliefrayn
Google+: www.gplus.to/juliefrayn
Filed under: "Writing Lessons from the Writing Life", Author First Aid Tagged: author, creativity, encouragement, inspiration, motivation, success, writer, writing
