Cate Russell-Cole's Blog, page 41

Make The Iron Hot By Striking: Writing Every Day

In the whirlwind of writing advice, one can always find opposing viewpoints.  There are many writers who counsel writing every day, and just as many who find such strictures confining and harmful to creativity. I am one who needs to write every day; even if what I write does nothing to advance the work, it keeps me limber and creative.

When I was young, I thought I had to have the perfect conditions in order to write; my desk had to be clear; my paper and pens just so; all the research done and documented; and a minimum of four hours blocked out. Once everything had fermented in my brain, I was ready. It took me eight months to get ready, but I wrote my master’s thesis in 72 hours.

Then my life changed.  My days of reading and studying for hours were over. I found gainful employment; I had children.  My desk was littered with crackers and crayons, my paper creased and grimy, and my precious fountain pens locked safely away.  The day job offered me respite from disorganization, but filled my day with meetings and paperwork. My writing stuttered, and stopped.  I convinced myself that I had writer’s block.

I found ways to work around my writer’s block, and in so doing realized that I did not have writer’s block but unreasonable expectations. Still I yearned for time, space, and order. It took me a while, but I realized that I did have time to write, tucked away in the corners of my day job, during the early morning hours when everyone but the dogs were asleep. I did not need hours of time to write a work in a single sitting, but could draft, improve, refine, and tweak, in small pieces of time and space.  I did not have to write in linear fashion, but could choose a part of the work that called to me; I could delve into a character’s thoughts and history in a way that might not add words to the page but added depth to the character; I could explore a personal injury in order to find the words to express a character’s pain, grief, loss, or fear; I could write to vent, complain, whine, protest, or endeavor to understand.

“Not only strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.”

Oliver Cromwell

I have known the adage of striking while the iron is hot all my life.  When I saw the above quotation two weeks ago, I was overwhelmed by how right the second part sounded to me. The platitudes of “practice makes perfect,” “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” and numerous others are founded on the notion that one must strike in order to heat the iron. It may not pertain to blacksmithing, but it explains how I write with pinpoint precision. I have used the metaphor of a mosaic to explain the way I write, and knitting as the metaphor for how I tie everything together. My need to touch the work every day, to keep it fresh and alive is expressed in the need to strike the iron. Everything extraneous to the work burns to ash and flies away in the heat of the smithy.

Each person must find what constitutes striking the iron, as it will be different for each writer. Each bit of advice must be weighed in terms of one’s own personality, personal situation, and proclivities. The only universal advice I can offer is to find what works for you, and make it a habit.  Also, realize that what works may change given differing circumstances, and make assessing how it is working a habit as well.  A new day job, a new relationship, even a new workspace, will have an impact.  Assess and adjust, then make it your own.

Elizabeth is a librarian by day, and a non-fiction and historical fiction writer by night. She has trained as a Medievalist. You can visit her web site, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

This blog post is Copyright Elizabeth Anne Mitchell 2013. All rights are reserved Internationally. You may not reproduce it in any form, in part of whole, without the author’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-use if it is for a commercial venture. The image is owned by the State Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an24166489 (Fitzpatrick, Jim, 1916- Portrait of Ernest Edwards, blacksmith of Drouin, Victoria, 1944/1945)

Filed under: Guest Post Tagged: action, author, Elizabeth Ann Mitchell, growth, historical fiction, inspiration, Medieval, morning pages, motivation, non-fiction, organisation, practice, writer, writing

No, Javascript WON’T Save Your Email from Hackers

Several months ago, in an attempt to slow down the masses of spam flooding into my work account, I used a Javascript code on my web site to mask my email. It worked great for around six months… however you know how it goes… the minute you go on leave, you discover some genius has hacked your email and is using it to spread something that sounds like Russian boy porn… I don’t want to know, I didn’t stop to read it in depth. It is 1am, I am tired; the account is deleted and I am pretty throughly annoyed (or much stronger words to that effect.)

So to my colleagues and friends who have been spammed from my email, my very, very sincere apologies if the rats bit you. Any mail you have sent me within that pile of 3000 emails which collected in 10 days is gone. If you need me, please contact me through social media or the address I have been using to contact you over the past six months. You know, the long one with the underscore. (Please don’t tell.)

May the karma bus hit them in the… … …

Filed under: Personal Post

Never Too Old To Play

While I am on annual leave, here is a creativity post about my favourite Mythbuster. Find the time to play! It will revitalise you.

If you think play can’t get you anywhere in the world, then have a look at the achievements of Mythbuster Adam Savage. Play has led Adam to a deep interest in science and a rewarding, somewhat lucrative career. http://www.adamsavage.com/

Adam describes his career this way: “I’ve been building my own toys since I was five or six, and have worked in the Special Effects industry, both film and commercial, for the past eight years or so. I have also worked as an animator, graphic designer, rigger, stage and interior designer, carpenter, scenic painter, welder, actor, writer, and Television Host… As a collector of skills, I’ve worked in metal, glass, plastics, neon, injection molding, vacu-forming, pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, casting and moulding, welding, brazing, machining, lathing, wood, animatronics and robots. Adam built himself the dictionary stand below.

I’ve worked on over a hundred TV commercials, a dozen or so feature films, and am currently hosting the show “Mythbusters” on the Discovery channel. I’ve worked on Star Wars Episodes I and II, Space Cowboys, Galaxy Quest, Terminator III, the Matrix sequels, and A.I. among others. I’ve done R&D for toy companies, acted in commercials and films, and done props and sets for Coca-Cola, Dow Corning, Hershey’s, Lexus, and a host of New York and San Francisco theater companies. I’m also a sculptor, of mixed media assemblage, who’s had my work represented in over forty shows in San Francisco, New York and (of all places) Charleston, West Virginia.”

“If I can get inspired, I can imagine it. If I can imagine it, I can create it.” They key is to believe.*

Imagination is something people believe they lose, or don’t need as they get older. Nothing could be further from the truth. The function of imagination in our lives changes as we transition from childhood to adulthood. Instead of imagining ourselves as firefighters or princesses, we start to visualise how we will handle the events and challenges we face in everyday life. For example, have you every daydreamed about how you’d like to get back at the boss, or about the kind of car or perfect lifestyle you’d like? That is still utilising your imagination.

So, as a responsible adult, whether or not you still want to be a fireman or a princess, how do you make the most of your imagination? The most obvious technique is daydreaming. Sitting or lying in a comfortable place, and lazily turning things over in your mind is a wonderful start. It also is a valuable use of wasted commuter or waiting time. The other technique, and the most abandoned by adults, is play. The role of play doesn’t really change in adulthood. It still prepares us to deal with real life situations; reduces stress; teaches us new skills; and encourages us to put new things together in new ways. What does change as adults, is the type of toys we play with.

As adults we like to build. Home architecture and garden planning software, D.I.Y. projects, landscaping: this can be a form of creative play. We like model trains and planes, spaceships and sailing ships. There are many television shows and magazines promoting our love of crafts, home decorating and cooking. Messing around with a blank page or a blank canvas can be play. Anything you enjoy which you can experiment with can be play. The difference between serious work and play is only your attitude and approach to it.

All images in this post are Copyright Adam Savage and have come from his web site. http://www.adamsavage.com/

This article / blog post is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2011. 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: Creativity Tagged: Adam Savage, ageing, creativity, discovery, inspiration, learning, mind, Mythbusters, passion, problem solving, stress management, subconscious, thinking, writer, writing

Writing Rocket Fuel: A Tribute to the Poet and the Pen

Pen

Could there ever be a world without a pen? -

Laying down a stolen thought from torrid minds,

Yearnings of a lonely heart,

Secret entries of a girl

That in her father’s eye would

Call upon the rage of Hell …

Or simple notes – nudges

For the memory of self;

Doodles in the boredom.

I could never dream of days devoid of ink. What of

Toils of talent honed in literary cliques,

A poet in romantic storm,

A novel born of devastating yarns?

And the harmony and melody of tune -

A mighty mind of music penning out

Contortions of emotion thro’ the scale

And clef to let the hand in play

Convert the purple into soulful airs,

Or rhapsodies or other lyric forms;

Musician’s tears to titillate – enchant

A silent house until the end,

When approbation will resound!

I could never live a life bereft of quills -

What a barren crux for humankind -

A dearth of scholars’ tomes,

An author’s prose no more to share -

The belletristic want would kill the mind

In such a bleak affair.

Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2010 Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pen-19/

NaPoWriMo, or National Poetry Writing Month, is an annual project in which participating poets attempt to write a poem a day for the month of April.

http://www.napowrimo.net/

Filed under: Rocket Fuel Tagged: NaPoWriMo, poetry, Writing Rocket Fuel

May All Your Eggs Have Gold Linings

I love Easter. I love chocolate. I love a break from work and I love the message of new creation that Easter brings. (That list is not necessarily in order of priority, the chocolate should have come first.)

Whatever adventures this Easter period may bring you: whether small and humdrum or rather dramatic; may they fill your plot voids, inspire new worlds and be brilliant tools in your writing!

Instead of saying “break a leg,” should I say, “break a tooth?”

Filed under: Personal Post Tagged: Easter

Writing Rocket Fuel: Writing Awards

Sorry this is late, I’ve been sick. Cheers everyone!

Try these sources for find writing Awards. I am unsure as to whether these lists are kept up to date. Many competitions seem to be run annually. The Liability terms and conditions of this blog apply. (See the Copyright page above.)

Canadian Authors Listing: http://www.canauthors.org/links/writingawards.html

E-DNS Listing: http://awards.arts.e-dns.org/mystery-crime-writing-awards.htm

Filed under: Rocket Fuel Tagged: Writing Rocket Fuel

Sir Salman Rushdie On Storytelling

I’m sure you have heard of Salman, but perhaps in a negative light? There is far more to his name and talent than one highly controversial book! For more information on him, please visit: http://literature.britishcouncil.org/salman-rushdie

Literature plays an important role in providing insight into society.

On Novel Writing: What Does Truth Mean in Fiction

Filed under: "Dose of Inspiration" Video Tagged: author, books, conflict, creativity, fiction, goals, ideas, inspiration, motivation, novel, plot, resource, Salman Rushdie, success, writer, writing

Writing Rocket Fuel: Writing Contests

Try these sources for find writing contests. I am unsure as to whether these lists are kept up to date. Many competitions seem to be run annually. The Liability terms and conditions of this blog apply. (See the Copyright page above.)

Fiction Garden, International Listings: http://www.fictiongarden.co.uk/writingcompetitions.html

Writer’s Relief: http://client.writersrelief.com/writers-classifieds/writing-contests.aspx

Poets and Writers Magazine: http://www.pw.org/grants

Manuscript Editing.com has a list: http://www.manuscriptediting.com/contests.htm

Open Directory Project Listing: http://www.dmoz.org/Arts/Writers_Resources/Contests/

First Writer: http://www.firstwriter.com

Canadian Authors has a listing and words of wisdom on how to find legitimate writer’s markets and contests. http://www.canauthors.org/links/markets.html

Filed under: Rocket Fuel Tagged: Writing Rocket Fuel

Tired and Out of Time? Balancing the Blogging Load

Perhaps it’s part of being an autobiography writing teacher, but I love reading blogs. I enjoy them as they are real: you can sense it when someone is genuinely sharing with you. The only thing that bothers me is how often I hear how burnt out bloggers feel. It worries me when I keep coming across post after post where bloggers are expressing how wrung dry of inspiration and physically exhausted they are. I read in profiles how bloggers work all day, come home and deal with family needs, then write until insane o’clock, as that is the only writing time they have. From an outsiders point of view, it leaves little mystery as to why writer’s block so often sets in. It’s fuelled by overwhelm and fatigue.

http://www.iStockphoto.com

It would be very easy for me to step into strict writing teacher mode and command “blog less often!” The issue is, if you’ve done your homework on how to blog, to satisfy the search engine rankings and build an audience, it is recommended you blog daily. If you don’t, there are dire predictions of failure and doom. It comes down to the settings of the search engine ranking robots: which care as much about the needs of flesh and blood humans beings as say, your toaster does. Recently one blogging Twitter feed, which I normally enjoy, started preaching down this path. Such was their fervour that you had to work yourself into the ground to succeed, I unfollowed them. The last thing anyone needs is the whip being cracked at them in an already ‘too-busy’ society.

So that leaves bloggers with a choice: Buy into “toaster mentality” and let your life be ruled by search engine logic and cyber peer pressure; or take care of yourself by posting less and taking the pressure off. I opt for the latter, but not just for myself, also because as a reader, I know I simply cannot keep up with every post that comes out that I really want to absorb and comment on. We are potentially overwhelming the supporters we want and need. Could that be why so many blogs have such low subscription and comment numbers?

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2007/02/19/pirate-toast/

What you do as a blogger is entirely up to you. Just as long as it’s right for you! From everything I have studied about writing, to write daily is a necessity for writers who are truly serious. May I suggest, that perhaps, as an alternative to blogging every day, keep a journal, or use some of your would-be posts as writing practice? There is a great sense of satisfaction to be had from just writing for YOU, experimenting and having fun for your eyes only. It is all about breaking away from the “toaster mentality” and doing what your creative heart is telling you to do.

If you write less often, it also means you are under less pressure to put forward a polished piece of work which ultimately becomes part of your writing portfolio. Write when you have something you really want to say and share. Plus be careful about how personal your posts are… When you are online, it is dangerously easy to forget just how open your most personal information and feelings are to anyone who finds you.

The bottom line is, take good care of yourself. If you look after yourself and allow yourself time and space to be open to new input, ideas will generate much more easily and you can recapture your enthusiasm. There are more ways of becoming a recgonised blogger than merely relying on search engine rankings and appearing in Twitter feeds en masse. If you would like support, use the #mywana tag on Twitter started by @KristenLambTX who supports bloggers. There are also blogging community web sites out there that may be helpful. Just beware of the toasters…

DISCLAIMER: To be true to my geeky heritage, I would like to state that the negative use of the word ‘toaster’ in this blog post in no way includes “After Dark’s” Flying Toasters, who were always the good guys. Particularly the baby ones. “When there’s a job to be done, the flying toasters will be there…” I wish they would bring that screensaver back.

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. 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: Creativity, Life Story / Memoir Tagged: blogging, burn out, creativity, exhaustion, goals, inspiration, practice, problem solving, robot, search engine, stress, stress management, success, thinking, writer, writing

Creative Every Day

When I teach creativity, I enjoy seeing how many writers are artists, and how many artists are writers. I am intrigued by why people prefer one title as dominant over the other. Working with both artists and writers in the same room is a joy: it brings in a vibrant new energy, and a new way of approaching writing.

I know this post is a month or two in, but you are still welcome to enjoy the Creative Every Day challenge. The description of the challenge on their beautiful blog says:

“Creativity is meant in the broadest sense, so it doesn’t have to be something art related. Your creative acts could be in cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, singing, playing with your kids, brainstorming ideas, gardening, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay…or whatever!

You do not have to post every day! I know for myself that having to post every day for a year would be too much. You can post about your creativity in whatever form you like, whether that be once a day, a few times a week, once a week, or once a month. Do what works for you!

This is a low pressure challenge, with the idea of bringing more creativity into our lives. I will not be the creativity police. I hope that we can all find ways, simple and grand to express our creative selves. Have fun with it!”

You can sign up for 2013 here. The challenge runs all year.

Filed under: Creativity Tagged: 2013, artist, challenge, Creative Every Day, creativity, writer