Pratap Divyesh's Blog, page 41

Help Crush Your Fear of Writing with These Two Things

If the fear of writing is getting you down, it’s time for some basic preparations that will crush this nasty nemesis and fortress your efforts.

How do you build your zone of protection?

You create these two habits that are consistently suggested by successful writers:

write daily for at least 15 minutes;
set up a space where you can think well enough to write.

Have you set aside time to write each day?

Or do you find something else to do instead?

If you do, you’re in good company. Author Zoe Fairbairns, in her book, Write Short Stories- and get them published, suggests it’s a condition of writers to come up with reasons for why they can’t find time to write.

Mostly, they stall out of fear, and the reasons are many.

How about a place?

Do you worry so much about where other people write that it makes you think your choice is wrong? You’re not alone.

As for me making excuses—guilty. I have many, and these are just a few.

I’ve got to check my email.
I’ve got to finish editing the 3rd section in this book.
Gosh, the laundry is piling up. Time to start a load.
Where does the time go? I still have to water my plants.
Isn’t that seminar today?

What pushes these excuses? Who is the little imp behind the curtain that keeps me from jumping in and just doing it?

Me.

My fear of what others think—that I won’t write well enough—embarrassing myself
Self-doubt—who am I to think I’m a writer—that a write well—that anyone will want to read what I write
Fear of myself—I don’t know if I can share that—this is too hard to talk about
Fear of working hard and not producing a story interesting enough to read

My plight is ironic because I’ve always jumped into things I’m interested in doing and learned them along the way. So why is it so hard for me to do this with writing?

Fear.

My fear.

It’s me playing mind games with myself.

And fear is the one thing that will disrupt your effort, too, unless you decide to just go for it, like I finally did, and make writing a part of your life.

You can also read Mastering Fear: Harnessing Emotion to Achieve Excellence in Work, Health and Relationships to understand how to overcome this stifling menace. It’s helping me maintain my new-found courage.

Setting a time and place to write each day where you feel safe from outside pressure provides a stronghold against criticism and self-doubt.

Setting Your Daily Writing Time

I’m better at being deliberate or intentional about my writing time. For me, it becomes a meditation, and it calms me. I think of it as exercise for my mind.

What my daily calisthenics do for my body, writing does for my thinking, and I feel healthier when I’ve made both a part of my daily routine. I also feel more confident I can conquer my fears.

I know the word routine suggests boredom, and nothing kills creativity more than boredom. Yet, writing every day, though repetitive, enables the physical function and mental clarity you need to beat back the beast of fear and reach a level of thought where you inspire yourself and produce something beautiful enough to inspire others.

Before you set a time to write, answer these questions:

Why do you want to write?
Do you enjoy doing it? What do you like about it?
Is there something you don’t like about it?
What gets in the way of you starting?

Some writers don’t like the act of writing but love communicating stories. Others don’t want to be stuck to the confines of a schedule. Does either description fit how you feel? If so, think about why.

Then do these things activities:

Brainstorm a list of obstacles that get in the way of you becoming the kind of writer you want to be.
Identify which ones you’ve put on yourself and which ones you have no control over. Then cross off those you can’t change.
Circle the top five obstacles on your list with fear at their core.
Notice which ones influence you most, and number them from 1 to 5 with 1 as the most influential 5 as the least influential.
Start with your #1 strongest fear, and write three ways you’re going to face it, and then go for it.

Reflect on your progress:

Face one fear a week, and reflect on how you feel about its hold on you at the end of each week.
When the five weeks are up, ask yourself if these fears are gone, or if their hold has been significantly weakened.
Write about what worked for you, what didn’t and why, rethink new strategies to try if you think you need to, or just move on.

Chances are you will have better control of your fears after you have finished these activities than when you first started. You may also have found your best time to write.

Choosing Your Perfect Writing Space

Push your fears away by adding one more thing to your writing routine—a place where you feel comfortable. To get ideas for how to do it, you can read about it and ask other writers how they do it.

Make sure you notice as you learn how writers tailor their spaces to fit their individual personalities. That’s the kind of writing space you want for yourself.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you have a favorite place to write?
If you do, look around it. Does it still fit your style? If not, go ahead and change it.

My writing room is in my living room. It’s open and airy, and I’m surrounded by art my mother painted, pictures of family, and all of the things I deeply love. And it’s quiet, so I can think.

I tried using my computer room as a writing space, but it didn’t work for me. The confines of the space nurtured my fears more than my creative spirit. I felt cramped, and by default, so did my mind.

The key for you is to find a space that is quiet and free from distractions, and one that inspires you to write. Then, combine it with a time that works for you.

Most fears of writing face annihilation in this context.

Happy Writing!

This post is contributed as Guest post by Sheri Rose.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Help Crush Your Fear of Writing with These Two Things appeared first on Being Author - Providing reviews of publishing-related services..

HOW TO CRAFT A PERFECT SCENE

Every writer has a method for how they create each scene. There’s no wrong way to do it, as long as it’s working for you, and over time, all writers develop their own style. The following is an outline of the method I use to ensure each scene is valuable and engaging.

Each scene should either advance your plot or reveal information about your character. If your scene does neither, cut it. People tend to skim or skip over scenes that have no clear goal.

I begin with the dialog. I write out what conversation is taking place first. This helps me to ensure each scene is relevant and that the overall message is there.

Next, I go back and fill in all the little details that bring it to life. This is where describe the setting and any non-verbal actions taking place.

Once I’ve finished those critical details, I begin to fill in any narrator commentary or internal thoughts.

Lastly, I give it a read over, swapping for better words and removing unnecessary sentences.

Here’s a quick list of the benefits of using this method.

Controls releasing too much information too fast.
Ensures every scene is relevant and the message is clear.
Keeps narrator ‘rambling’ to a minimum.
Helps speed up the editing process.

Once your scene is constructed, ask yourself the following simple questions.

What happened?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
What is your character’s reaction to the event?
How did the event affect your characters and their world?

If you follow my method, you are sure to have a solid scene that will keep your readers engaged. If this post was helpful to you, consider checking out our website. We have tons of great ideas coming for authors who just need a little boost.

This post is contributed as Guest post by Andrea Lacey-Payne.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post HOW TO CRAFT A PERFECT SCENE appeared first on Being Author - Providing reviews of publishing-related services..

Amazingly Feminine

Femininity is a special gift. It makes us softer, gentler, kinder, nurturing, more compassionate, and naturally loving. As women we are naturally more vulnerable and open. We are created to bond. We are designed for relationships. We are designed to create life. And yes, our soft gentle features are meant to attract males.

Self-awareness is about appreciating who you really are. It’s about looking inside to understand your gifts and talents. There is nothing shameful about being a woman and embracing your feminine side.

Relationship experts like John Gray, who wrote the Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus series, explains that the reason there is much confusion today is that we have been taught to deny who we innately are. Women have taken on more masculine roles and have pushed themselves to act, think, and talk more masculine. So when she goes home at the end of the day and wants to be a woman, she doesn’t quite know how.

While I grew up when feminism was at its peak, I learned through much work in relationships, that I need to accept and embrace my feminine side. And I love it.

I love it when a man opens a door, gives me his jacket, or fixes my toilet. I’m proud to embrace my softer feminine side.

WHAT EMBRACING YOUR FEMININE SIDE WON’T MEAN

When you appreciate and nurture your feminine side, it will not mean you are plunging back into the Dark Ages. Just because you enjoy this natural part of you, you will not lose your rights to vote, lose your job, or become barefoot and pregnant. It won’t mean that you are politically incorrect. And it certainly doesn’t mean you need to go to extremes. Somehow I think some women are afraid of that or are ashamed so they hide their beauty under unflattering clothing or take on a more masculine demeanor when out in public.

4 WAYS YOU CAN NURTURE YOUR FEMININE ENERGY

Many ladies, in particular, express that work doesn’t allow them  to be feminine. Here’s some great news: You can be all you want to be and be feminine. My job as an auditor can be break-taking but i try as much as i can to create space for my life and my vision.

You don’t have to do it all. I used to be Super Woman. I did it all. Of course I wasn’t feeling feminine because I carried all roles by myself. But now, I try as much as I can  to try to let the guys do the guys things and leave the ladies things which i can handle.
Dress the role. Honestly, what woman wouldn’t want to go out and buy some nice clothes, makeup, and a haircut if you gave her money to do it as a wife? As a single working lady, learn to treat yourself to nice food, clothes, make ups, dates with only you. You will love the feeling of loving yourself and seeing yourself treated nice.You could also get up 15 minutes earlier so you can take care of yourself and look your best so you feel your best.I did it during Valentine 2017. I treated myself to a nice hair do that i have done before which made me look like a TV star and a makeup done by a Makeup artist. You cant beat the super feeling i had after then. It was awesome. You can do the same.
Do activities that foster feminine energy. Have a girls’ night out. Get your nails done. Engage in a creative activity. Instead of opting for extreme sports all the time, take a painting class, or learn to knit or how to dance. Feminine energy is cool, creative, passive, intuitive, and compassionate. Find activities that foster these qualities. If it feels strange at first, keep at it until you feel like you’re becoming more balanced.


Feel confident and accept compliments.Beauty is a woman’s natural trait. When you start to allow feminine energy to flow back into your life, people will notice. In the past, I had a difficult time with compliments on my physical appearance. I would get embarrassed and brush them off. Now I smile warmly and say, “Thank you.” Feel proud to be beautiful. Enjoy the compliments. They are simply a recognition that your feminine energy is flowing more freely than before. It means you’re bringing your energies back into balance.

Finally, if you’re subdued feminine side is telling you that this is all nonsense, imagine this: What male would ever doubt that he should ever be more masculine? I’ve never heard a guy say, “Oh, I should dress it down, I’m looking too much like a guy.” Now if I’ve made you laugh, I’ve started the process because laughter is a feminine trait. Now go, and find your goddess within.

This post is contributed as Guest post by TIFFANY RAPHAEL OHURUOGU.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Amazingly Feminine appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

Authors as Autodidacts: The More You Know

What is an autodidact? Is it just someone who is well read, or who knows a lot about a number of things? No. An autodidact is a someone not only who is self-taught, but who is also still learning.

Benefits

There is nothing wrong with structured education. In fact, many self-learners got their love of learning from a formal education background. But there are a number of benefits of being a self-learner.

Career: With few career exceptions, no one has to do more research than an author, especially if you are like most authors and also do freelance writing or something else to make a living. Write what you know does not mean what you think it does: writer’s are constantly researching and expanding their base of knowledge.

Writers who are also proven researchers often work in the field of business intelligence, where they gather information, analyze it, and summarize it in written or presentation form for decision makers. Smaller companies who cannot afford full time staff often hire freelancers for such positions. Being an autodidact makes an author or freelancer an ideal candidate for this type of work.

Cognitive Issues: Many authors struggle with some kind of mental illness, and there is even some debate about whether or not they should try to heal, but they often come across as really sharp people.

The reason is simply that cognitive issues are mitigated by lifelong learning, and self-learning may be even better than continuing formal education. Remaining connected to intellectual pursuits of any kind has been cited by the World Health Organization as “active aging” and a deterrent to ailments like Alzheimer’s and other mental diseases.

Natural vs. Acquired Curiosity

There are some people who seem to be just drawn naturally to learning. They love libraries, museums, and it seems like they are always taking a college course, community class, or engaging in learning in some other way.

However, even if you are not a natural learner, you can train yourself to be an autodidact, and reap not only the benefits listed above, but also the value that additional knowledge will bring to your writing work, no matter what genre you write in.

Make Time To Learn: Make learning a part of your everyday routine. Take classes often or just engage actively in research on a topic that interests you, even if it is not directly related to what you are doing at the moment.

Find Your Best Times to Learn: Everyone has their own rhythm, and times when they function best mentally. For me, writing early in the morning works best, while other learning and activities can take place later in the afternoon. I save other tasks that require less mental skill for later in the afternoon, when I tend to hit a lull. Find the time that works best for you, and include learning in your schedule.

Keep Track of What You Learn: This might sound silly, but sometimes as authors we get caught up in the day to day of writing, research, and all of the other tasks we need to do, and don’t keep track of our progress, especially in these secondary areas. Making a record of your learning lets you see progress, and look back on significant accomplishments. Not to mention it looks good on your LinkedIn profile.

Learn Your Way: Use your learning style. There are tons of ways people deliver content about different subjects, from podcasts to webinars, blog posts to video presentations. Find information that caters to the way you learn, and use that method whenever possible. Although it does not hurt to stretch the ways you can learn: sometimes a different learning style is just the method you need to grasp and elusive subject.

Competitive Advantage

As fiction writers, we are not really in competition. There are enough readers out there for all of us, and we don’t have to fight over them. When it comes to freelance clients, the same thing is true, to an extent.

However, if you are going after a regular paying freelance gig that is pretty lucrative, the likelihood is that another freelancer might be going for that same job. It’s helpful to not only know your competition, but know how to stand out from them.

One of the simplest ways is to have a lot of education on your resume in a variety of areas, and even let your prospective employer know you are an autodidact: self taught in a number of areas and able to learn a new one quickly and thoroughly.

The more you know, as an author and freelancer, the more valuable you are. The more value you bring to your writing, the more compelling it will be for your readers. The knowledge you have as a freelancer makes you more valuable to the companies who will hire you.

This post is contributed as Guest post by Troy Lambert.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Authors as Autodidacts: The More You Know appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

Make it count!

Arguably, being a writer of opinion pieces has never been a more accessible venture. With access to a multitude of social media, blogging sites, and online publications that welcome submissions from all, we have more scope than ever to give voice to our beliefs. And provided we do this wisely, this can only be a good thing. But although our opportunities are seemingly endless, we should never take them for granted. We should make each piece we publish count, making sure it is as strong as possible. After all, if we truly believe our opinions are important, why wouldn’t we want to present them in the best possible way whenever the chance arises?

Alas, I’ve seen enough opinion pieces that could be so much more persuasive and meaningful to note that there are a few mistakes that writers seem to make often. Whether we realise it or not, here are few aspects of our writing we should really take notice of in order to make our pieces shine.

The first aspect is register – which simply refers to how formal or informal our language is. When we have a large vocabulary and a good command of our language, it is easy to assume that the most sophisticated use of it will show that we are “proper writers”. However, it is more important to use language that is going to be easily understood by our audience and will lead them to feel as though we understand them as people. It is important to realise that the language we use says a lot about who we are.

Consider this, for example: a journalist is writing an article for a youth magazine, advising teenagers on how to best avoid drug addiction. If they were to use the same register that a conservative, middle-aged Oxford scholar with a PhD in English might naturally use, two main reactions would likely occur. First, the audience would probably not understand what the writer was actually trying to say, as they would be unlikely to have been educated in that kind of language use. Second, they would not find the article credible, because using that language towards an audience that does not also use it alienates them: it says that the writer feels superior to them, and hence it makes it difficult to believe that they could possibly know anything about the issues the readers face, considering that they are trying to separate themselves.

However, if they were to use language closer to that which the audience would use amongst themselves – perhaps without the swearing – it would make them sound as though they were in tune with that audience’s culture, and hence it would be believable that they should understand it.

I saw a good example of this mistake not too long ago. I wrote an article for the youth publication Childhood Road about the negative consequences of teenagers “experimenting” with romantic relationships (read it here). In response to this, a fellow writer wrote a response arguing why I was completely wrong (read it here). Now, whether I was “right” or “wrong”, or whether my writing itself was of any value, is for the audience to decide. What I can say, however, is that the response sounded incredibly pompous; clearly, the writer did not consider that his audience consisted of teenagers, who may well have felt condescended by him in the same way that he claimed they would have when reading my own article.

The second step we can take to improving our writing is a rather simple one: getting to the point. I have seen no shortage of opinion pieces which ramble on without ever actually stating clearly what the writer’s opinion is. Often, writers seem to use a sarcastic or cheeky tone, or mock the person or idea that they are arguing against. They may also make the first mistake mentioned, using language or “sayings” that readers may not understand – or even making jokes that they would not get. Such writers risk not getting their point across to the audience, hence they have wasted an opportunity to write on something important to them. However, they also risk coming across as too shy to state what their opinion is, or as not taking the issue seriously enough to write on it clearly. Seeing as the opinion appears to have been deliberately hidden, it also risks giving the impression that the writer does not want anyone to argue with them.

Take this article, for example. In particular, pay attention to passages such as this:

Et voila.

Tony Abbott’s latest round of hypocritical attention seeking is his renewed call for Malcolm Turnbull to abolish the Renewable Energy Target, which he chose to reduce but not abolish when prime minister. (I really need that thinking face emoji right here.)

What exactly does the writer mean by “et voila” and “thinking face emoji”? I know what these mean literally (“et voila” is French and essentially means “and there you go”, and an “emoji” is one of those little graphics that you use in text messages and online chat of different faces representing different emotions), but what is she trying to say? While she clearly has opinions on certain people and issues, she has not concisely stated them. To me, this piece feels incomplete, as though she is too afraid to come right out and say how she feels.

Now read this article. It states the writer’s opinion in the first sentence. It’s direct and it does what it’s meant to do. When we write an opinion piece, it is because we believe our opinions are important enough to be heard. So what’s the point of writing if our opinions are still not known?

As opinion writers, our aim will most likely be to change the way people think about a particular issue. To do this, we must get inside the minds of our readers and determine how to present our arguments so as to have this effect. Using the language that our readers identify with and understand, and making our opinions as obvious as possible, are two of the most crucial factors in making sure our pieces count.

Note: other articles referenced in this article have been written by Andrew Bolt, Latika Bourke and Ian Hughes. I do not own the copyright to any of the content in said articles written by said third parties. Reference to any material created by third parties does not constitute my endorsement of those parties or their opinions, nor does it constitute my endorsement, or lack thereof, of those third parties themselves.

This post is contributed as Guest post by John Cuturilo.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Make it count! appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

How to Write Great Fight Scenes

I did a reading of my latest novel,  AMONG THIEVES, at the wonderful BookCourt in Brooklyn.  After the reading, we had a Q & A session.  One of the audience members was Dave King, an acclaimed writer of literary fiction best known for his novel The Ha-Ha.   Dave surprised me with his question: “How do you write such great fight scenes?”

Actually, I’ve been told by quite a few readers of my novels that I write the best fight scenes they’ve ever read.  I agree if I do say so myself.  But maybe that’s faint praise, because I do believe many successful thriller writers don’t write very good fight scenes.

So, in case you’re interested, here’s my advice on how to write a great fight scene.

1.  Get Into a Fight.

I know that sounds completely impractical, but hear me out.   This isn’t as dangerous as it sounds. I’m not talking about joining Fight Club.  There’s a safe way to do this.  Chances are there’s a martial arts dojo or boxing gym near you where you can train until you are able to safely spar with another individual.  It won’t take long for you to learn that:

Everything happens much faster than you ever imagined.

Even pros can’t see every punch coming, or always hit a moving target.  Everything happens incredibly fast.  Most real fights last only seconds.  Experiencing the speed and pace of a fight will definitely help you write better fight scenes.

Fighting is exhausting.

Even if you think you’re in great shape, you’ll see how quickly you run out of steam in a fight.  Just try throwing punches for fifteen seconds without stopping and you’ll get a sense of the effort.

The emotions are intense.

Experiencing the fear, anger, and tension associated with fighting will infuse your fight scenes with passion and excitement.

Getting hit isn’t what you thought.

For many people, when the adrenaline is flowing they don’t feel nearly as much pain as they expected.  Unless a punch or kick hits exactly the right spot, someone can get hit quite a bit and still keep fighting.  Knowing this will help you write much more convincing fight scenes.

The aftermath is usually worse than the fight.  Much worse.

As mentioned above, during a fight, you’ll only feel a fraction of what the fight does to you.  If you experience what it feels like in the minutes, hours, and days after a fight, you’ll write with a more realistic perspective.

2.  Watch  Fights, In Person, if Possible.

It’s not hard to find a sanctioned amateur or pro fight event near you.  Even if you do this only once or twice, it’ll make a big difference in how you write fight scenes.  Matches usually progress from the less skilled fighters to the best fighters. It’s very informative to see how the action unfolds as you progress toward the featured fight.  It’s helpful to see all levels of skill.  Try to sit as close as you can. Hearing is a big part of seeing a fight.

If you ever get a chance to see a street fight, without getting involved, steel yourself and watch. Witnessing violence isn’t pleasant, but it’s extremely revelatory.  There’s a very good chance alcohol is a factor.  That’s something you should also understand.

If you can’t or don’t want to bring yourself to see a live fight, do the next best thing and watch broadcasts of fights.  There are literally hundreds of boxing and martial arts matches of all kinds on cable and even network TV.   Take the time.  Watch carefully.  Listen to the commentary.  You’ll be surprised how often what you see is not what you’re hearing from various announcers.

And don’t forget there are thousands of fights and exhibitions you can watch and study on YouTube.

3.  If You Can’t Be in a Fight, or See a Fight, Read About Fighting.

Of course, reading applies to anything you want to learn about.  Here are some of the books on my shelf that have hung around over the years:

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out!  Knife Fighting Techniques from Folsom Prison, by Don Pentecost

Black Medicine Volume III Low Blows, by N. Mashiro, Ph.D.

Gouzao Gongji, Seven Neurological Attacks for Inflicting Serious Damage, by Master Hei Long

A Bouncer’s Guide to Barroom Brawling, Dealing with the Sucker Puncher, Streetfighter, and Ambusher, by Peyton Quinn.

Atlas. From the Streets to the Ring: A Son’s Struggle to Become a Man, by Teddy Atlas and Peter Alson.

There’s nothing unusual about advising someone to read up on a subject.  But there’s another benefit to absorbing technical information about fighting – – you’ll find out how you feel about fighting.  Maybe you’ll discover that the mechanics of fighting bore you.  Or fascinate you.  Or make you wince.  These realizations will inform how you want to write your fight scenes.

4.  Get the Facts Right.

It’s always disheartening to read fight scenes where a huge amount of damage is inflicted and the victim pretty much shrugs it off.  For instance, let’s consider the reality of the common punch to the jaw.

Many years ago, I worked on the trauma ward at Bellevue Hospital.  (Not as a doctor.) Every Monday, I would come onto the ward and there would always be one or two guys with a “fractured left mandible”.   A very grim sight.  Particularly when I saw what they had to do to fix it.  Why on Mondays?  And why the left mandible?  Because more drunken fights took place on the weekends, and most people are right-handed.  A right fist lands on the left side of the jaw.  It didn’t take very many Mondays for me to realize how easily a jaw breaks, and how difficult it is to repair it.

Nowadays, thanks to the internet, there are much easier ways to learn about trauma so there’s no excuse for not knowing the realities of fight injuries.  For instance, I just Googled “fractured mandible” and in eight seconds found a picture showing the frequency of mandibular fractures by location.  Fascinating.  The most fractures (30%) occur in the worst place.  A few more minutes of searching uncovered detailed accounts of treatments, x-rays, 3-D renditions, complications involving aligning teeth, etc.

Finding out information like this will help you feel the reality of fighting both physically and emotionally, and that will make your readers feel it, too.  You’ll also be less flippant about fight scenes.

5.  Every Fight Should Be True to the Characters in the Fight.

This might be the most important tip.

Everything in the fight scene has to happen in a way consistent with your characters’ personalities, attitudes, and capabilities.  The more interesting the character, the more interesting the fight.  If you find your character in a clichéd fight, you probably have a clichéd character.

For example, the first fight in my book AMONG THIEVES begins with my protagonist, James Beck, running away from an opponent who is bigger, stronger, and tougher.  Not because Beck is a coward, but because he is a master of strategy.  Making the fight true to Beck’s character made it a more interesting fight, and in turn helped reveal more of his character.

Here’s another example… a character in “Justified” on FX, is named Choo Choo.  Why Choo Choo?  Because when he comes at you, it’s like being hit by a train.

Now that might sound like the beginning of a cliché.  But when we finally see Choo Choo in action, it’s in a scene where he and his partner are about to torture someone to get important information. Choo Choo’s partner tells him to hit the guy with a “starter punch”.  Choo Choo hits the man so hard that he kills him.  One punch.  (Yes, that is possible.)

His partner is furious because now he can’t learn anything.  He yells at Choo Choo about hitting the guy so hard. Choo Choo says, “If you didn’t want him Amtraked, you should have hit him yourself”.

True to character.  Beautiful.

Thanks for reading this post.  I hope you found it helpful.​

This post is contributed as Guest post by John Clarkson.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post How to Write Great Fight Scenes appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

You Are An Author: Keep moving forward and remain steadfast!

As a budding author, I have found myself wondering who I really am because I am constantly thinking of new ideas to change the world through my art and craft, which produces words. This poem was written to encourage authors to keep moving forward and remain steadfast!

Who are you?

Do you even know?

Our MINDS are like the shadows of lost souls; it wanders  & creates art!

Our HEARTS are like warm butter dripping from the surface of a gas stove; it melts for others.

Our FEARS are transparent like blurred lines fading away on rigid notebook paper; they are non-existent.

Our FATE is like a river that flows constantly downstream; its never ending and immeasurable.

Our WORK is like the process of a growing fetus; it produces new life.

Our WORDS are like colors found inside of a rainbow; they give life.

Now, who are you?

YOU ARE AN AUTHOR!

This post is contributed as Guest post by Candida Akins.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post You Are An Author: Keep moving forward and remain steadfast! appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

Interacting With Authors On Twitter

Most, if not all, living authors use Twitter. Twitter is a great tool for reaching out and speaking with other authors as well as publishers. When an author-for example, Lois Lowry-sees an enthusiastic tweet tagging them and praising their amazing talent, they tend to respond. This is not to say, “go kiss up to famous authors,” (although that helps, too ), but rather to put yourself in the light. When an author tweets back to you, other followers and authors see it and that leads them to your work.

@kenzie_baxter I love your excitement! All readers should be so enthusiastic!

— Lois Lowry (@LoisLowryWriter) September 13, 2016

Let’s face it, JK Rowling isn’t going to see a single tweet that says, “hey girl! I love your work!” She gets that all the time. Use Twitter as if it is still your Microsoft word, Google docs, PDF, whatever! Say inspired things, tweet often, and tag other authors when it’s relevent. Rowling may not see your “hey girl” tweet, but she may just see a response to her already posted tweet if it is something that came from the heart. More than that, she may even respond or retweet, starting a possible conversation. I gained a lot of followers on my personal Twitter for a response to a tweet that I tweeted from the heart:

My favourite answer so far! pic.twitter.com/9mcEnlbGeQ

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 30, 2016

Twitter is a great tool to use to become known and recognised and very well may earn you some street cred. Of you’re looking to be recognised as an author, it’s probably best to do these things from your author page rather than your personal one like I did. Remember, people like JK Rowling have A LOT of tweets to skim through each day, if you want to be noticed, say something worth hearing. Also, images help because they’re noticable.

And remember, #usehashtags

This post is contributed as Guest post by Violet Voright.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Interacting With Authors On Twitter appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

An Author’s Voice: The Verb Vixen

I have a bookcase dedicated to my writing obsession. Some of the books and guides go back 25 years, but the information isn’t stale. It’s as relevant now as it was when I had stars in my eyes and relished every “A” I earned in my college English classes. I’m still a little like that but the stars have mellowed into planets, goals that are less glamorous and more practical.

My classmates liked to call me The Verb Vixen. I love active verbs. English is full of action verbs and it is our job as authors to find that perfect word, to slip it into  a sentence and watch portions of a reader’s brain light up with clarity and perhaps even epiphany. As we critiqued each other’s chapters and prose, expectations from my penning in the margins included a few verbs to try out in place of a lackluster “there was”.

In fact, the best advice I ever read came from Lucile Vaughan Payne’s “The Lively Art of Writing”, a book first published (and as my dog-eared copy will confirm) at least fifty years ago.

“Don’t use the word there – ever.”

Easier said than done, but it’s one of my favorite personal rules that I adhere to religiously. I run my documents through the “find” feature and if it actually does find that I’ve slipped in a “there”, I will rip it out and find another method for expression. Of course, the word is perfectly acceptable in social circles, litigious documents, and high school essays. It’s also very difficult to rework “It’s over there,” but it can be done “It’s on the table”.

Take a look at these examples you will find in most beginning writers’ works.

There was a noise. There was a creaking sound. There was a fight.  YAWN.

A bell rang. A door creaked. A fight erupted. See how The Verb Vixen has slaughtered your prose? I apologize. Work, you say? If you aren’t giving your all to give readers a reason to read, hang up your pen. This editing, this challenge, is the very heart of an author’s voice, their style, the difference between a text book of information and a long novel full of emotional adventures. Strive for clarity, reach for diversity, splatter words on your pages that make a difference between okay writing and spectacular story telling.

No need to find words that few people have ever heard. That’s being pretentious and condescending. You must also vary your verbs. How many different ways can you describe a person taking a walk? Don’t put an adverb with “walk” and call it done. A person can walk quickly or slowly. A person can also stroll, stride, lumber, sprint, step, stumble, drag, jog, and those are what came out of my head. If I pick up a thesaurus, I’ll find more interesting and archaic words like trod, trek, stomp, march, troop, wander, mosey, storm, flounce, saunter, hike, trek … you get the idea.

In developing your unique voice, you may desire a mix in your sentence structures, a heavy or light employment pronouns, and groove into a comfortable point of view for all your characters. You may notice that I have actively neglected to use the phrase “in my opinion” or some other similar nonsense. Of course it’s my opinion! I’m writing it. I also am strict about unique adjectives like “unique.” A thing cannot be “very unique”. It is either unique or it’s not. Watch out for such sloppy writing. It’s inexcusable. If that’s what you plan to do, go write scripts for television newscasters, but please excuse yourself from the fiction market and save the rest of us hours of agony tramping through useless words on the page.

Punctuation matters; it could save lives. “Did the cat eat Mary?” or “Did the cat eat, Mary?” Know your homonyms and brush up on contractions. Those are my knuckle rappers to you or besides a visit from a verb vixen you may have to confront a grammar Nazi, too.

Find your voice. Seek it out. What stands out in your writing? Do you love the first person point of view? Can you write in true omniscient, a POV not often used in the last few decades? Do you use the word toward or towards? Both are correct, so pick one and stick with it, at least throughout a single project. Your voice is what makes your writing yours. Take a pilgrimage to discover it, take a road that no one has told you about, including me.  You have choices. Choose.

This post is contributed as Guest post by H. S. Rivney.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post An Author’s Voice: The Verb Vixen appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.

Staying Inspired: How to find words again

I know that many writers sometimes struggle for words. The “flow” just isn’t there. There are plenty of tips given daily to get the “flow” going again, but in this article I want to look at what can cause the “flow” to cease.

I have short listed the four top reasons why I sometimes struggle to write and share with you various ways I have been able to overcome them. If you know why you can’t write, you can take steps to rectify the problem.

Too Much Work

I know that everyone works long hours and then tries to squeeze in a few hours writing after work. But if your brain and/or body are too tired, the writing just won’t happen. What I used to find most frustrating was that the ideas were pounding around in my head but I had no way of getting them out, because I was either stuck in an office or driving to or from work.

My solution – scribble down all your ideas in your lunch break. Make it stream of conciousness if necessary. It doesn’t have to be perfect – just get the bare bones down. Once a week, sit down and type up your ideas and, if you have time, work on the most promising one. Even if you don’t have time to work out an idea immediately, at least once you’ve typed the ideas up, you have it in print so you don’t have a blank sheet of paper to start with.

Are you getting enough sleep?

If you’re not sleeping properly, you won’t function 100% in any area of your life.

I’ve found the best thing to do is to have a nightly routine. Go to bed at the same time, particularly during the week if you have a day job. Have a massage or an aromatherapy session, listen to some music or read before you go to sleep. Do the same thing to unwind every night, so that your body and brain know it’s time for rest. If you can, open your bedroom window to let the fresh air in. Make sure you’re not too hot or too cold. Pray or meditate before you sleep. Practise slow breathing and allow your mind to let go of the day – encourage yourself to sleep.

Remember – no caffine or heavy meals. You need to have finished eating at least 2 hours before you lie down. If you don’t like herbal or fruit teas but need something warm to drink, try just plain boiled water or warm milk.

Aim for 7-8 hours sleep a night. If you wake up and find it hard to get back to sleep, practice slow breathing again and let go of whatever you’re thinking.

Are you getting enough exercise?

If you’re not getting enough regular exercise, your body and brain won’t function to their fullest extent. Getting out in to the fresh air, even it if it is raining, is essential for your entire being.

The simplest way of exercising is a brisk 30 minute walk every day. (This does not include shopping!) Ideally in the fresh air (countryside or a park) and if you can include hills in your walk, even better! That way you’ll get some cardio vascular exercise too. Can’t get out every day? Try and do some dancing or yoga or even resistance training on the days you can’t go out for a walk. Don’t over do things – listen to your body.

I find exercise essential for my creativity. I leave my dance workouts until the end of my working day. That way I can let go of all the things that keep buzzing round in my head and I just focus on my body and how to relieve any tense joints etc. Before I do the workout, I write down everything I need to achieve the next day, and add to it whenever I think of anything else during the evening.

Switching off from writing is very important. Constantly thinking of writing and marketing actually damages creativity. You need to take time out as a writer. Which leads me on to my final point.

Try Something Else

Whenever I have been completely stuck for words, I stop writing and do something else for a bit. It has to be creative. Sitting on the sofa and watching the box set of Twilight is not going to resolve your creativity issues!

Here are some creative things I’ve done in the past that have allowed my brain to relax and for the creativity to start working again: –

Without Words – take a month off writing and reading. Give your brain a rest from words. I found it REALLY hard, but it worked! I really appreciated being able to read a book and write in my journal after 5 weeks of nothing…

Take Photographs – find a theme or just take random pictures. Don’t write about them. Just enjoy taking the picture. Find an object and take ten different views of it. You’ll end up deleting most of the pictures, but you’ll keep a handful that “say” something to you. It’s fun!

Draw – Elisa Choi’s Skillshare online courses are VERY good! I used to sketch a bit in my teens but the talent has waned during my adult years as writing has taken over. However, I found Elisa’s workshops inspiring and I am now a convert to splashing paint onto wet paper! It’s great fun and I’ve created some amazing images.

Travel – Get in the car, on the bus/train or cycle and go somewhere beautiful. Here in England we have The National Trust and English Heritage – plenty of old houses and castles with stunning gardens. Treat yourself to a day out. Take your journal and wander round these places and write if you feel inspired.

Music – listen to music. Different kinds of music. Try out different styles. Discover new albums! Just sit and listen (or get up and dance if you want to!) Don’t try and write to the music, just absorb the sounds.

Read – Reading something you enjoy will allow your brain to relax and trigger off creativity. Don’t use reading as an excuse for not writing. But do read to feed your imagination. Too tired to read text? Find an art or picture book and mooch through that with a glass of red wine or a beer.

Helpful Links

http://spillwords.com

https://claudiamcgillart.wordpress.com

This post is contributed as Guest post by Freya Pickard.

Contribute a post to Being Author Blog [Submit NOW]

The post Staying Inspired: How to find words again appeared first on Being Author - Authors & Book Writers BLOG to Simplify Publishing.