Cate Russell-Cole's Blog, page 44
February 10, 2013
Writing Rocket Fuel: Author Quotes, Henry David Thoreau
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.
All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one… characteristic we must posses if we are to face the future as finishers.
Filed under: Rocket Fuel Tagged: Writing Rocket Fuel
February 7, 2013
How Many Are There? Schizophrenia & Multiple Personalities
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One of the aspects of psychology I have found the most fascinating is abnormal psychology. While living with conditions such as Clinical Depression, Bipolar Disorder (formerly Manic Depression), Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder are far from desirable, the way the brain’s chemistry and human behaviour work are astounding.
As writers, mental illness is an area you can delve into to form characters, or use as a plot device. While writing about mental health issues can be very helpful in creating awareness, if the particular diseases are not understood, substantial harm can be done as erroneous stereotypes are reinforced in readers.
There are two diseases which are frequently misunderstood and mixed up. These are Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder (or Dissociative Identity Disorder.) I’m sure you’ve heard jokes such as, “I’m a Schizophrenic. So am I.” The perception that Schizophrenia involves a split personality is completely wrong. The diseases manifest and function in distinct ways.
The best definition of disease I have ever heard was explained as dis-ease. It is something that makes you uncomfortable and cannot be easily lived with. Unlike back pain, or some other physical ailments, you cannot brush it away and keep going normally. That definition encapsulates the effect of mental illness on a person.
Schizophrenia is a split from reality that makes everyday living, work and relationships extremely difficult, if not impossible in some areas. It has a biological basis which appears to depend on brain chemistry. It can be caused by genetics, drug misuse or biochemical imbalances in the brain. It results in a delusional state of mind where the way the sufferer sees things, feels or thinks is fragmented and differs from the norm. It is a complex disorder and there are different forms of Schizophrenia, but the sufferer is still themselves: one person; one set of thought processes and no internal division.
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Multiple Personality Disorder is completely different. It does not have a chemical cause. It is created by severe trauma in early childhood which may have come from ritualistic abuse, or repeated extreme sexual assault. It is an amazing defence mechanism, where in order to cope, the sufferer will fragment parts of their personality which become separate identities. Each identity has a function in the survival of that person. Some identities can be wounded; they can be representative of different ages; other identities are fierce to provide protection. More than one of these identifies may hold the memories, or smaller parts of them, that need to be suppressed for emotional survival.
As WebMD states: “someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder may find themselves doing things they wouldn’t normally do such as speeding, reckless driving, or stealing money from their employer or friend, yet they feel they are being compelled to do it. Some describe this feeling as being a passenger in their body rather than the driver. In other words, they truly believe they have no choice.”
Not every identity may be complete. There can be any number of identities and at any time, something may cause the sufferer to “switch” to a different identity without warning. The oft-repeated example is someone going into the grocery store; seeing something that upsets them and then switching for protection. They are left standing there with no idea why they are in the store, or what happened. If you would like to watch a movie that correctly depicts Multiple Personality Disorder, watch “When Rabbit Howls,” but be warned. The movie content is extremely distressing as it comes from the true story of a survivor of horrific childhood abuse.
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There is a great deal more I could say about how each of these dis-eases functions, however, I am going to leave it to you to do your own research. We need people in the community who understand that mental illnesses are not faked, exaggerated, or a way to opt out of society. They have treatable causes, but the side-effects of the drugs and permanent nature of these dis-eases makes living with them a tough journey. I hope this post gives you greater understanding. Please, represent people with kindness.
This blog post by Cate Russell-Cole is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. You are free to share and adapt it.
Filed under: Writing Tagged: blogging, characterisation, clinical definition, compassion, fiction, kindness, mental health, mental health awareness, mental illness, Multiple Personality Disorder, plot, psychology, resource, schizophrenia, understanding, writer, writing
February 6, 2013
What People Read on Your Blog
Late last year I placed a poll on my blog and website, asking people to tick whichever of these categories applied to them. Most of the answers are encouraging. The only seriously bad news, is the low number of people who check out books and products for sale. I would like to see sidebars and Author information read more often. Bios may need to be placed in a sidebar to overcome reluctance to click on links.
As the poll was multiple choice, the results don’t add up to 100%. I decided on the choices based on the pet peeves I have heard from bloggers and blog readers.
What do you read in a blog results:
Only the linked post that interests me – 6%
I will look at recent posts – 23%
I will not click on teaser links to read more, I want the full post straight up – 4%
I rarely go through archives and calendars of posts – 8%
I check the sidebars for more information – 18%
I like to read about the author if I don’t know them – 18%
I will check out people’s books and products for sale – 9%
I bookmark to come back later, but rarely do – 5%
So what do you think of these results? I am interested in your interpretation and reaction. The sample was fairly modest.
If you have any ideas on how to improve the way we present books for sale on blogs, please place them in the comments below. It would be good to brainstorm new ideas.
Filed under: Writing Tagged: blog, poll, reader habits, readership, writer, writing
February 5, 2013
And Now for Something Completely Different! Redefining the Writing Conference
Reblogged from Kristen Lamb's Blog:
Today, I can finally announce some very exciting news. We are holding the very first Worldwide WANACon. The Digital Age has completely altered the publishing world, and writers need to be equipped. Changes are coming faster than anyone can keep up, so we no longer have the luxury of waiting a few months or a year for a standard writing conference.
Now this is an awesome idea. If you haven't gotten involved with Kristen and MYWANA you are missing out. Go for it!
Written Acts of Kindness: Nominate an Awardee
At the end of last October I launched the Written Acts of Kindness Award. Giving them to people has given me as much joy as receiving them has given.
I still have a few very special bloggers in mind, but I’d like to give everyone the opportunity to nominate an awardee. Just tell me in the comments why they are special and where to find them. Your name will also be placed on the blog post. Don’t forget, you don’t have to get an award first to give it. Just grab the code and details below and blog away to encourage someone.
About the Award
Success never comes solely from your own efforts. There are always others along the way who give you a hand up; encourage you; or give you that resource, or piece of advice you never could have done without.
From today onwards, when someone inspires me, or if I see someone who is using their writing gift to help others, I am going to take the time to thank them publicly. To do that, I have created this award. I also want to make it open to anyone to use, so they can say thank you for making a difference in the writing community and/or in your life.
This is not meant to be just another blogger award, with time consuming requirements for passing it on. This is an award which is meant to be passed on with sincerity. You don’t have to receive it in order to be able to give it. You can take the details and images off this post now and use it to encourage another writer.
The rules for passing it on are very simple:
You are welcome to give it out as many times as you like, but it is only to be given to a maximum of one person per blog post. If you wish to give multiple rewards, please space the blog posts by at least a week, so the sincerity is maintained.
Introduce the person; say how they encourage, help or inspire you; then link to their work and/or social media profiles. There may be a specific post you wish to link to which helped you. It’s up to you.
Please publicise your award post to Twitter or Google Plus using the hashtag #writtenkindness so that others can find and follow the award winners.
Get the Button and Code
Boxed code from “Grab My Button” Code Generator: http://www.mycoolrealm.com/sandbox/gbgen/
Filed under: Awards
February 4, 2013
Get Yourself A Second Brain
Kikki-K
I know a lot of writers who are stationary buffs, so you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Half way through last year, I got frustrated and threw my diary out. I wasn’t pitching a fit over a trivial incident, I just ran out of room. Even worse, I am a diary fanatic. That book is my second brain and I am totally dependent on it!
All my diaries are lovingly and carefully chosen for size and features: and this was one of the best I have ever had. It had the month to a page at the beginning of each month, week to a page view, business card section and every month had a neat divider, so I could flick around and schedule. It hadn’t been a cheapie either! For a diary of that calibre to bite the dust, something had dramatically changed.
The good news is, that change was success at what I was doing! I was writing more and I needed planning space. I don’t have many appointments, so my diary pages are devoted to work to-do’s, time tallies and reminders of event preparation. It never leaves my desk, as I must look at it every day, or I have no idea where I am up to. My head is too full to fly by the seat of my pants.
I have converted to digital as much as I can, but there’s a catch. I always need information fast when my computer is off, there is a thunderstorm or my iPad has run out of battery life! I use my iPod touch when I go out, but I still need the ease of paper. Some days you want to jot down an idea before it’s lost; plus I was totally sick of rummaging around my desk trying to find the separate blog post idea folder, the phone bill, my shopping list for the business, the guest post schedule, my e-book outlines! I just wanted one space which had everything. It was a way to save time and sanity.
So I did it the easy way. I grabbed a lever arch file out of my cupboard, printed off my iCal calendar for 15 months in both month to a view and week to a view, then put in month and subject dividers. It’s been the most useful tool I’ve ever devised! My iCal files have all our financial reminders, birthdays and public holidays logged in. So they immediately appear on the pages, coded in colour. I have separated my blog posts, time sheets and other essentials with dividers and all I do now is flick it open. The best thing is, if I totally mess up a page as schedules and plans have changed: it easily gets reprinted. No more using correction fluid that never works properly, or building up layers upon layers of white stickers I can write over the top of. My diaries never used to shut properly anyway!
Dividers come in numbers, months, blank tabs or A-Z and are dirt cheap.
In the past I have had swish Debden diaries with the gorgeous leather cover, many customisation options and that wonderful ruler which marks where you are. That hobby was expensive, plus I loathe working in black and white! By printing an A4 diary, for each week I also have an adjoining blank page I can use as a scrapbook, or extra note space. I invested in quotation stickers from Kikki-K to brighten it up and it’s a pleasant space to work. Plus it does fit in my brief case; though I take the option of removing the small part of the diary I need and taking it in a flat file. Less weight is always welcome.
So if you too are having space and memory issues: plug your regular items into your computer, print it, throw it in a folder and enjoy the outcome. Sometimes the simple solutions just work better.
This blog post by Cate Russell-Cole is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. You are free to share and adapt it.
No images on this blog may be copied, captured, or altered for your own purpose without the consent of the originating owner. 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: Writing Tagged: blog, diary, divider, growth, ideas, memory, organization, planning, problem solving, stationary, success, writer, writing
February 3, 2013
Writing Rocket Fuel: Author Quotes, Sylvia Plath
And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
Nothing stinks like a pile of unpublished writing.
But life is long. And it is the long run that balances the short flare of interest and passion.
Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.
Filed under: Rocket Fuel Tagged: Writing Rocket Fuel
January 31, 2013
Writing Treasures Hidden in Plain Sight
A great example from Juliana Haygert.
I was chatting to someone about how far back they read through blog posts. The general consensus seemed to be, that unless visiting that discovering a new blog turned into “love at first sight,” you don’t tend to dig back too far, or visit archives. There isn’t the time! She was suggesting that I put information on my e-books on my blog. That worried me. Not because it wasn’t a great idea, but because that information was already there!
Look up under my blog header. See the links to the pages? They contain my full bio, e-books, feedback about my work and other information I want you to read. It seems she never noticed and from my blog stats, I know people rarely look. I quickly made sure I had my books featured more prominently.
Where do you look when you read a blog page? It seems we don’t just look back, we may also not look up, down or to the left or right.
Perhaps I missed my calling in archaeology or crime scene investigation, but I habitually poke around. I am always looking for ideas on great blog design, but I find more than that. The sidebars are great treasure troves!
I know some bloggers cram their side bars with junk and advertising, but within that minefield, there are resources I would never have found on the web any other way. I don’t have the time to do long searches for services… some which I haven’t even considered I needed before. I find them in the side bars! If the blog owner has hotlinked the image back to the source, it’s heaven! If not, at least I know what to search for. I’ve been known to bookmark blogs just to come back and raid that sidebar. Who knew you could get traffic that way?
So what have I found through sidebars? Here is a small selection. Just click on the name or link to go there.
http://www.blogwithintegrity.com/
http://www.ladieswhocritique.com
http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com.au/
Goodreads Reading Challenge Progress Bars
Twitpic has a widget you can place on your blog
We Blog: Blogging Community on Facebook that shares posts freely http://www.facebook.com/groups/240976049268613/
http://compassionbloggers.com/get-involved
Anti-book Piracy free badges for web sites http://www.lalasdesigns.com/search/label/Badges and more!
An excellent example of how to do an easy-to-read side bar comes from Juliana Haygert. An image of her sidebar is at the top of this post. Juliana lists her books; makes it easy to follow her around the Internet; has a great image link to her publisher; interesting information about her; her Twitter feed is at the base and from her I discovered three new bars of gold I never knew existed. Please go and have a look at her site. You cannot do much better than that. She has covered the most important areas. Think about your blog. Do you really need that calendar which don’t mean much to the reader? What are your priorities in getting information across? What represents you best?
So when you’re visiting a blog, take a look to the left, the top under the header and the right! If you are a blogger, make that sidebar count! I’ll visit to raid it.
Just to make this post a little more interesting, to see if you also take notice of what you read, leave a comment below saying “my sidebar contains quotations Cate.” Please leave an email address where I can easily reach you. I will email back ten free copies of my e-book “Unleashing Your Creative Spirit,” in Kindle format. The limit will be ten copies, so please don’t promote this post as a giveaway or competition or you may miss out. Remember, this is a test and congratulations, you just passed! Have a great day.
Juliana has kindly given me permission to use an image of her sidebar in this post.
This blog post by Cate Russell-Cole is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. You are free to share and adapt it.
No images on this blog may be copied, captured, or altered for your own purpose without the consent of the originating owner. 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: Writing Tagged: advertising, author, blog, blog design, blogging, books, communication, ebooks, ideas, inspiration, links, originality, priorities, resource, self promotion, side bars, success, writer, writing
January 29, 2013
Be AWESOME
Written Acts of Kindness Award: Gene Lempp
This week I’d like to give a huge shout-out to Gene Lempp. Gene is one of my ROW80 buddies and every week, he faithfully puts out a post titled “Writing Blog Treasures,” where he lists blog posts that are useful for the rest of us. Often he posts links to ROW80 members’ posts.
Gene has been kind enough to post my work several times, which I greatly appreciate. However, I also know how time consuming it is to collect links and put those posts together. So Gene, thank you. You’re doing a great job and I sincerely appreciate it.
You can find Gene’s blog here: http://genelempp.wordpress.com and his Twitter account is https://twitter.com/GeneLempp
Gene, please take this badge below and use it as you wish. The rules for passing this Award on are very simple:
You are welcome to give it out as many times as you like, but it is only to be given to a maximum of one person per blog post. If you wish to give multiple rewards, please space the blog posts by at least a week so the sincerity is maintained.
Introduce the person; say how they encourage, help or inspire you; then link to their work and/or social media profiles. There may be a specific post you wish to link to which helped you. It’s up to you.
Please publicise your award post to Twitter or Google Plus using the hashtag #writtenkindness so that others can find and follow the award winners. You are also welcome to add your Award recipient/s to the Hall of Fame which is on this link.
Filed under: Awards Tagged: Written Acts of Kindness Award
