Lyle Nicholson's Blog, page 4

A Writers strange exploration and research into Ancestry

I’m a bit of research junkie. Yes, sometimes I get so bogged down with researching things, I forget to write. I spent time researching Dolphins and Mayan’s for my book Dolphin Dreams, and then hours of time researching oil futures for my upcoming book Polar Bear Dawn.

Researching is fun. Hours on the web, shifting and sorting with a coffee or tea, and sometimes getting lost in the process.

Some time ago, however, I decided on some personal research. I wanted to know about my Ancestry. My brother had run into some Nicholson’s on the web some time ago, and he found out my family originated in Tennessee. I knew my Grandfather had crossed the border into Canada in 1890 or so, and my Dad was born in Canada in 1910.

I joked with my wife that, “The Nicholson’s had left Tennessee because the Fed’s had found their moonshine stills.” The real reason was they were looking for land. They headed north to Canada, as Canada had land, and was offering it cheaply to new settlers. My Grandfather was one of them.

My Ancestors the Nicholson’s had originally come from Scotland, a small island called the Isle of Skye. I was lucky enough to visit there some years ago. Skye is beautiful. It holds a rugged beauty with mountains, streams and a blanket of purple heather that appears and then disappears into the mist and rain.

Skye had about 10,000 residents, and 80,000 sheep. You’ll step in sheep droppings long before you run into anyone as you walk through the moors, and valleys. It’s just the odds.

Did I feel at home there? Absolutely I did. Every time I introduced myself to a local, I heard the familiar refrain, “Ach aye, you be from the clan of Scorry Breac,” and they’d motion or point out a small hill just off of the harbor of Portree.

I finally ventured onto my Clan lands. Fortunately a wealthy Nicholson purchased the ancient lands, and put them into a trust. I walked the lands with my wife and our friends. I loved it, especially for the view, and the added bonus there were no sheep! Walking any pathway in Scotland with no sheep poop is a tremendous bonus.

After this wonderful experience of Clan Nicholson and my homeland I did some further digging. To my surprise I found out we were actually descendants of Vikings. The Isle of Skye, like many other Scottish Islands were overrun by Norwegians in the 9th Century.

My name Nicholson came from Nicolas and son, as was the Norwegian custom. So, there it was, I was part Norwegian. Now I like Norwegians. I’ve been to Norway twice on business. They have a wonderful country, decent beer, and other than their love of strange fish dishes they’re nice people.

I was about to go much deeper into my ancestry. I thought I might research something about the Norwegians, maybe I had a relative in Bergen? That is when I came upon some research on Ancestry from a Dr.Johanson.and his discussion of someone called “Lucy.”

Lucy it seems is our great (to the max) grandmother, well according to the good Doctor who is a Paleoanthropologist, and spent years scouring the desert of Ethiopia, and found her bones there. In a remarkable speech that you can access on YouTube (enter Lucy and Africa) you will get a complete one hour lecture from the good doctor on his findings.

Lucy, or AL2881, called Australopithecus, died 3.2 million years ago. The remarkable thing is, if you check your DNA, you will be traced back to her. Yes, a little lady with a mix between ape and humanoid is our great grandmother. According to Dr. Johanson, we should all take a trip back to our homeland, back to Africa.

Now wouldn’t that be one hell of a homecoming! I’m sure the Ethiopians would be amazed at my wife and I walking into their village, and telling everyone we’re their long lost relatives!

So, what have I done about my Ancestry search now? I think I’ll give it a rest. Going back 3.2 million years is far enough. But then who knows, perhaps someday, in an exploration probe of the Galaxy, or on the planet Mars, we’ll find a match for Lucy’s DNA.

Perhaps she was dropped off here on someone’s’ journey through the Universe. You never know what will they’ll find next. I’m waiting to see who I’m related to on the planet Zargon!

The 60 year old is asked by the 30 year old – what would you have done differently?

About a month ago, I boarded a flight from Kelowna, British Columbia to fly to San Francisco to attend a writers workshop with James Scott Bell.

The young looking man who sat beside me on the plane for the first leg of the flight to Vancouver, turned out to be a Movie Producer. His name was Daniel Stewart. His company 144 Productions did commercials, and Independent Films. It turned out we had a lot in common. We’d both been to Israel. He’d spent almost two years there working with a production company in the past several years.

I had been there in 1971, and been an extra in Johnny Cash’s movie, called Gospel Road. We shared stories of our adventures, his in working in the film industry, and mine in my new vocation of writing, and we enjoyed a pleasant one hour flight to Vancouver.

The plane landed in Vancouver, and that’s when Daniel asked me the question, “Is there anything you’d have done differently in your life?”

Well, my life isn’t over, it is in the late innings (to use a baseball term) but I got what he meant. Daniel was 30 years old. I am 60, perhaps the Movie Director/Producer in Daniel was looking for the story in the story. I have no problem with that, and I think many of us should ask ourselves that question. Perhaps we should ask it when we’re 30.

Here is the answer I gave. I had told Daniel I developed this passion for writing in my 30′s, but I put it aside to start a business. The business did well, and from the business profits, I developed a second business in purchasing real estate, and that did well. I did retire early with a decent income from my profits – but here was the thing that always bothered me – I should have kept writing.

It was the thing I missed. I gave myself over to my business ventures, and for that 22 year period from 1988 to 2010, I was immersed in business and commerce. Did I have fun? Sure I did, making business deals and making money can be great fun. Just ask Warren Buffet, he can’t think of anything else to do…well maybe playing Bridge…he thinks that’s fun.

Before I started my business, I was enrolled in a University course to complete my degree in English, I gave it up to do my business. I was writing and getting published in magazines. I gave it up to do my business. I was working on my first fiction Novel, and yes, I gave that up to do my business ventures.

My final answer to Daniel Stewart? I’d wished that in the 22 years of working hard to make the money, that I’d kept up my love of writing. I did do some writing – I wrote business letters, proposals, and ad campaigns, but no fiction.

I am now a late blooming writer, one who is going through the learning curve, again, of writing, editing and publishing. I admit, I’m having more fun than I ever did in my business. This requires the imagination to take flight, the Muse to drop by and give the imagination a lift at times, and it’s a wonderful process.

I can only suggest to all those with a passion for something in their lives, that they do not give it up solely to make money. We all need money, it is a force that makes things easier for us in our lives, but it will never replace our inspiration, or our passion.

To all of you, who toil by day at your jobs, and work by night at your passion, whether it be writing, painting, acting or photography – don’t give up. At least keep the wheels turning, the well full of your passion as you make your money.

Who knows, one day, you’ll find yourself retired and living out your life saying, “I’d wished I just kept motived at my real passion.” Who knows what could happen.

I’m a late blooming writer, who waited 22 years for it happen to me. It is a long time to wake up again.

Feeding my Writing Addiction at a Writers Workshop with James Scott Bell

I admit it, I’m addicted to writing. How do I know? I flew on the Canada Day Weekend to San Francisco to attend a 3 day Writers Work Shop with James Scott Bell..

Now here’s the other thing that let me know I’m addicted to writing, the workshop wasn’t even in San Francisco! It was in Newark, California. Have you ever heard of it? I hadn’t, it’s a one hour shuttle van ride from San Francisco. I think I saw a outline of San Francisco in the distance as we crossed a bridge some many miles away to get to Newark.

So, at a Marriott Courtyard Hotel, with about 35 other would be, and some published writers, I was given the best course in writing I’ve ever attended. Now, I have attended some other workshops, one day mostly, and with some accomplished writers, such as Gail Bowen, here in Canada, an accomplished Mystery writer, but with James Scott Bell there was a difference.

The difference was in the presentation. In three days, from 9AM until 4PM, there was a complete presentation of plot, structure, character, dialogue, and writers voice. I felt like I was taking a compressed University semester in one weekend. But this was even better – because James Scott Bell loves film, and he used it to demonstrate each of the subjects he taught.

Now, I confess, I am slightly ADD, that’s Attention Deficit Disorder, or as my wife says, “selective hearing, and selectively present.” James Scott Bell was able to keep my interest, my focus, and my fascination with the process of writing for three full days with his variation of film and lecture.

He showed examples of how characters interact, and how plots unfold in pictures as varied as Moonstruck, The Fugitive, Lethal Weapon, and On The Waterfront. I don’t think anyone has ever been able to put all of the elements together for me like that before. It opened my eyes to how Novelists and Screenwriters play with Plot and Structure, and keep us involved.

This workshop was put together in part by Susanne Lakin, a writer, editor and writing coach. Susanne was also a wonderful resource at the workshop. She not only ensured the workshop ran smoothly, but also gave freely of her time in the evening to discuss with writers the various ins and outs of working with publishers or going the self published route.

At the end of 3 days, what did I learn? I learned that there’s a definite process and structure to writing. Perhaps I knew some of this before, but never have I had this put into such a structured format. I am a bit of a seat of my pants writer – James Scott Bell calls that a Pantser! Okay, that’s me, sometimes I like an outline, but it’s nice to flow, and see were it takes you.

Will this workshop make me, or you a better writer? I’ve always believed that good quality education, combined with effort, makes for success. The rest is up to us – one word after another – that make the stories come to life.

You can find information on workshop I just attended at www.writingforlifeworkshopscom

I wish you all happy writing, many downloads, and great reviews.

A strange lesson in rhythm from Steve Martin, and his movie The Jerk

I admit, I find lessons in life from some of the strangest places. I found one from Steve Martin, and his movie The Jerk. The movie was in the 1970′s and it depicted Steve Martin’s character as a white man living with a Black family in Mississippi.

The gag in the movie, was that he thought he was Black. The Black family knew he was white, but he didn’t seem to get it. They’d play this amazing rhythm and blues music and Steve wouldn’t get it. He’d snap his fingers, and he couldn’t keep time. They shook their heads, and carried on.

One day, some Big Band music came on, what the Black Family called “white music,” and Steve Martin, started to dance, he kept perfect time. He began to glide in perfect rhythm to the music. He’d found his true rhythm.

I thought about that movie from so many years ago, because, I’ve seen so many people, including myself, who are out of rhythm with what they should, or could be doing. For me, for so many years, I really wanted to write, to be a writer.

I held myself back. I wanted money, and well who doesn’t. Most writers know, all to well, that writing is not a road to riches. It is actually the opposite, it probably has kept many writers poor. And as for Poets, well there’s no helping Poets, that’s just the road to the poorhouse. Sorry about that, just my bias.

For many years, I was a salesman, I had my own company, and I did well, but there was a thing, that feeling, that I was out of rhythm, out of tune with myself. I waited until I retired from my business to renew my writing career. It feels great, yes it feels like I’m more in tune, there is a rhythm, now. No I’m not snapping my fingers at my desk, but I’m often humming a tune.

Perhaps, there is a relaxation now. I don’t need to write to make money. I write because I want to, well actually, some times I need to. There is a rhythm when I write. One word follows another, characters appear, they say things, and they interact with one another. Like a small orchestra or band making music. A nice feeling is generated at the end of the day, as I look over pages of writing, and see something that was transformed from a blank page.

I think we know what makes us more in tune, more in rhythm with ourselves. No, it doesn’t have to be writing, or music, or anything to do with the arts, just being more in tune with ourselves, and who we are, and feel as human beings. Perhaps writing, gets me more to my human side, and that’s why I it like so much.

I can only recommend, if you feel out of rhythm, similar to Steve Martins’ character in the Jerk, perhaps try a new tune, something may happen. It did for me, and it is very nice.

I wish all of you who write, great writing, wonderful reviews, and fantastic sales.

Getting unplugged, in writing, and in life. Finding the power of silence.

Does anyone remember when Eric Clapton turned the world of rock and roll on its head? It was 1992. He made an album called Unplugged.

While the world was listening to louder and louder music, and the electronics industry was developing all of these ways to make the sound pound our ears with so many decibel, Eric Clapton did the opposite, he pulled the plug.

I remember the album, so did many people. They loved it. There was a rush from other musicians to do the same, everyone was pulling the plugs on their amplifiers as quickly as possible. They all wanted to tap into this pure music that Eric Clapton had seemingly created.

But the funny thing was, Clapton didn’t create it, it was always there. He just turned down the noise. And we all loved it! We seemed to be ready for it.

I’m mentioning this, because I recently read a blog from Joanna Penn. I find her a talented writer, and her website www.thecreativepenn.com is full of great tips for writers. In her blog, she stated how she is now using an App that blocks emails while she writes. I assume its to unplug from this world of distractions.

I for one find this world quite distracting. Somehow, as we’ve plugged into the Internet, which even I have a hard time going without on daily basis, where there are emails, and tweets to view, and sort, perhaps we, and that means me, have lost the simple fascination with silence. The ability to be without distraction.

Why do I say this? Well, many years ago, back in the 70′s, I entered a yoga Monastery. I spent close to 5 years there. What do you think we practised there? It was silence. The practise of letting the mind wander all it wants, until it got tired, and let you be you. Somewhere in there, the real self would emerge. A very quiet and silent self.

So now, 40 years later, I realize how sometimes it is better to unplug. From the internet, from Twitter, from Facebook, and all of the other distractions of the world, and go back to silence. I don’t know about you, but when there is silence, I get a feeling of who I really am.

Silence helps in my writing. I know so many people write to Jazz, blues, even rock and roll. I prefer silence. Just me, and the tapping of the keyboard. My mind provides all the company I need as I create plot lines, and characters. It’s quite busy in there.

So, perhaps if you’re like me, and you find the world a bit too much. Try unplugging. Look at Eric Clapton, he did it, and everyone thought he’d started a trend. How sweet was that?

I wish all of you writers many downloads, great reviews, and good writing.

Transmission resumes - Mission Accomplished!

Reblogged from travelling bag:

I’m thinking that somewhere along the line my brain has lost its connection to my power of reasoning, to that department that says, hang on a minute, think this through. Otherwise, why would I have just spent the last couple of weeks playing adventure woman?

Feet firmly encased in a pair of boots that have, to this point, travelled no more than 10 kms at a time and donning her back pack, grown to twice its normal size with the addition of wet weather gear, camera gear, sugary snacks and notebooks, adventure woman boards the tiny aircraft that will traverse mountains and fend off inclement weather to deposit her several thousand feet up in the earth’s atmosphere where she can marvel at the scenery, take several deep breaths and plunge into a hazard strewn voyage of discovery.

Read more… 122 more words

Even if you don’t like John Locke’s writing, you have to love his business sense.

I admit, I had no idea who John Locke was until about 2 years ago. I told a friend I was writing a book, and would probably self publish.

My friend asked me if I’d heard about this guy who wrote short detective novels and sold them for .99 cents, and was getting some of the largest downloads of E Books on Amazon. Strangely enough, the story my friend sent me came from a major newspaper that wrote about business and financial matters.

To this financial newspaper, the news about John Locke was that he was making so much money. They really didn’t care what he was writing about. Detective stories? Sure why not, doesn’t everyone want to write detective stories and thrillers?

Well, if you ask the critics, that would be the people who tell us what we should or should not like about what is written,they do not like John Locke. Remember, some critics never liked Shakespeare, and what literary critic would have given Mark Twain a good review in his day? They do not like John Lockes’ use of point of view, the way the talks to the reader – yes all the conventions of writing that must not be broken. Well, until someone breaks them – and they become the new norm.

What the critics may not like is John Locke has made a lot of money on his books. How does 1 Million E books in 5 months sound? That is actually the title of his book, HOW I SOLD 1 MILLION EBOOKS IN 5 MONTHS.

That book, I understand is selling well also. If you run the numbers, you realize that John Locke made more in 5 months than many people make in 5 years. I would think that would be mostly writers, and of course mostly Independent authors, such as myself.

I have a confession to make. I made absolutely squat in my writing. You can put a diddle beside that for a diddle squat as a whopping $10.00 in my first two months of my Novella being launched qualifies me in that category.

What did I do wrong? Well pretty much everything, no pre launch, no blog, no tweets – yes you get it, none of things that people like John Locke did that made them successful. But there is one more thing that John Locke did that many writers, like me, have not done. He produced about five books, then did his blog. He presented an entire series of a guy called Donovan Creed.

I have been reading the Blogs from other writers looking for more sales on the one book they wrote, and they wonder way it’s not happening, and I think John Locke gives an obvious answer. Writers need to have more than one title for readers to get a feeling of who they are, and if they want to get involved with that writer.

I couldn’t agree more. One reader, one of my few, told me last week that they liked my first book, and couldn’t wait to read more. So, I need to get busy. I doubt if I’ll ever have the success of John Locke, but we share something in common, we both have fun writing.

I suggest to any Indie Published writer, that you pick up, or download a copy of John Lockes book, HOW I SOLD 1 MILLION eBooks in 5 Months. He is very honest about his early failures, and what worked for him in his success. I have my copy. Hopefull I’ll break out of the “diddle squat,” sales category.

I wish you all great writing, numerous downloads, and great reviews.

Getting back to writing after too much Grits, and dodging Gators

I admit, I’ve been away from my writing chair for over two weeks. If anyone has done that you know how it feels to get back to it. It’s hard.

I was way down south, in Charleston South Carolina, and Savannah Georgia. Yes, the food was great, especially the great Grits, and the Gators were very large. I recommend looking before you step up to your golf ball, to ensure one is not watching you. I still have some nightmares over that.

Now, I did try writing while I was done there, and I will say I was highly unsuccessful. The beaches, the bike rides under the living oaks with the Spanish Moss, it all seemed to get in the way.

Well, now back home, time to get back to writing, and it’s a struggle. I started out by doing something that several writers suggested to get “back in the saddle,” so to speak. First start to read again. Read what you just wrote. Read it out loud. Somewhere in there, the thread comes back. It always does.

Then read someones elses work, as Stephen King once said, “You need to read a lot, and then write a lot.” He is absolutely right. Who can fault a man, like Stephen King, who has published so many works – even if some scare the daylights out of you!

The final thing I like to do to get back into writing, is just write. I take a writing pad, and I sit down, and just write and write. I have no idea what comes, but it does. One amazing lady, her name is Gail Bowen, and in her class, she told everyone to “prime the pump,” which meant to keep the well full, and write as often as you can.

So, if you’re like me, and you find yourself a little dry, after a nice vacation, wherever that is, then do these things I’ve mentioned. I’ll be doing all of them. I missed my writing, more than the grits and the gators!

I wish all of you good writing, many downloads, and wonderful reviews.

A late blooming writer finds out about the science of creativity from John Cleese.

I admit it. I’m a John Cleese fan. I’ve been hooked on his silly antics from somewhere in the early 70′s. I remember late nights of watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Then hooked on Fawlty Towers, and somewhere in there was The Life of Brian, and his best ever, in my mind - A Fish Called Wanda.

So what has John Cleese, this highly educated man who delights in playing the buffoon, got to tell us about the science of creativity. Well, a lot actually. If you will go to your browser, click on John Cleese Creativity you will get about 5 or more links to YouTube.

John Cleese has come up with this delightful speech to explain just how creativity works. For many of us, myself included, who lock ourselves in a room, haunt our local coffee shop or library and wait for something to strike us – well John Cleese has outlined just how it works.

Now, there is a warning as you watch the videos, this is John Cleese, he is known to make light of about everything on this earth, but he does say some amazing things.

His first is, Creativity is not a talent, it’s a way of operating. I gave a great sigh of relief at this one. Thank god I thought, there is a chance for me.

He said, and I paraphrase heavily, that creative people put themselves in a mood, by giving themselves space, and they devote a certain amount of time to the process.

Now, here was his major statement, at least it was to me, he said the creative person delved into a childlike mood to be able to play with ideas. Sound good. I thought it sounded fantastic!

I realized when I watched his videos that this is exactly where I go to when I write my books. I find that when I spend time, real-time that is uninterrupted, I’m able to delve into a realm of my mind that solves problems with characters and story lines. It’s just what happens. And John Cleese explains that in his videos as well.

The main part that I obtained from the videos, is how science saw the ability of the mind to play. Do you remember all the wonderful things you came up with as child? Then realized, by the age of 10 or 12 that the games of imagination were gone. No one wanted to play them anymore.

Now, John Cleese has opened the flood gates. Its science calling, not someone’s opinion on the field of play. You can lock yourself in that room, let your mind wander, and play with ideas until something formulates. Tell your significant other you’re being creative. Okay, even if your making funny noises in there – no one will mind.

I wish you all good writing, numerous downloads, and great reviews.

A late blooming writer finds a road map for new writers with The CreativePenn.com.

I admit it, the world of Independent Publishing is daunting. I recently published a Novella through an Independent publisher, and have watched it drift aimlessly after its launch. Yes, all that excitement over the publication, and the let down of “what now?”

That seems to be a recurring theme amongst Indie Authors. The dream of being the next Fifty Shades of Grey Author (even if you don’t write Erotica) seems to slip away, as you see one lonely review of you work on Amazon or Kobo. So, where do you go for help? Is there a road map out of this wilderness of Indie Publishing, with poor sales?

I have to say, I’ve found a great resource in Joanna Penn, and her website The Creative Penn.Com . Joanna offers a tremendous help to new writers in her Author 2.0 Your BluePrint for Writing Publishing and Marketing Your Book.

I wish I would have found the site earlier. Well, actually my Blog coach, Carrie Mumford sent Joanna Penn’s website to me with a remark about what a great resource it was, and it took me 2 months to open it and review the information. No, I’m not the sharpest crayon in the box!

What I found on the Author 2.0 Blueprint is probably the best information on Indie Publishing I’ve seen. And, the best part, the site is free!

There are 57 pages of information on writing, blogging, social networking and how to market your book, and get reviews after you’ve published. There is also Joanna’s personal Pod Casts of interviews with Indie Publishers, and blogs by successful Indie Authors. Now 57 pages may not seem like much, but there are so many links to other sites, with resources referenced it took me 2 weekends to get through it all.

What I liked the most about Joanna Penn’s work, is her honesty. She published her first work some years ago, and it went nowhere. Sound familiar? Then with much research, she found what did work, applied it, and got great sales on Amazon. Now that is what I call a real success story for an Indie Author.

The site Author 2.0 also references other links, where writers can download her other books on aids for writing, and I think that’s great. I’ve found her free information so valuable, I’ve no problem with paying out 39.95 to 69.95 to get even more information on this new world of Indie Publishing.

So, do I sound like a fan? Well, yes I am. I have signed up for Joanna’s Blogs, her tweets, and I’ve found her posts to be highly informative, and exactly what I need to learn in this new world of Indie publishing. I’m sure there are many more sites out there, but as of now, I’m rather impressed by Joanna’s.

I wish all of you great writing, good reviews, and many downloads.