S.R. Crawford's Blog, page 80

Who Are You?

I was thinking the other day about who I am. Yes, philosophical, I know. But this is an important question.

Who am I? Who are you?

I was thinking this because I’d been in a sad mood. I’d seen people on the tv and my social media who just seemed so…themselves, you know? They were individuals. They were authentic. They had personality. They expressed themselves. And all I kept thinking was…

“they know who they are…”

But I don’t. Or do I? And so, I did what I do best – I wrote a list in my journal.

I listed all the things that I think I am:

A writer
An author
Creative
Kind
Motherly
Fair
Ambitious
Brave
A trier
Interested in style
Mixed race
A reader
A daughter, sister, girlfriend, niece, granddaughter
And so on, and so forth

But what got to me was the fact that some of these things didn’t seem ME enough, and they weren’t definite enough.

Take the reader thing. I love reading. I do read. But I don’t read religiously and finish like 4 books in one month. I haven’t read all my life. I couldn’t sit there with another reader and talk about books all day. I’d fall short.

And so, to define myself as a “reader” doesn’t quite feel honest.

And then I don’t like defining myself by my physical attributes. Being mixed race (black Caribbean and white British) doesn’t in any way tell a person anything about ME. Curly hair, short 5″3, wearing rings, brown eyes, caramel skin… it’s all nothing really, just an image. A shell.

What’s in the shell?

Now, I began to think a little more. What do I like?:

Harry Potter
Game of Thrones
Avatar the Last Airbender (series)
Mythology
Fantasy
Anime
Animations
Writing about life
Reading about life
Depth and meaning
Exploring intentions, emotions and the mind
Wonderful sights when travelling
Other cultures and language

What do I do? Think? Feel?:

I worry a lot
Anxious
Controlling
Analytical
Reasoning
Idealistic
Plotter
Bubbly personality
Commitment fears
“What if?”

Are any of these things ME?

A lot of my thinking is negative. It’s fleeting. It’s uncontrollable. It’s damaging. It’s uncertain.

So is it me? I’d say no. My likes are huge but are they solid enough? Could I match up to other HP “fans”; sadly, I don’t think so. And likes change, right?

The trouble I kept having was that I didn’t feel enough of anything. HP fan but not enough. Reader but not enough. Intelligent but not enough. Even as a writer, something I do all the time and is my passion, “job”, and career – it doesn’t feel as big a thing in my life as others may think it is for me.

I’m not enough of anything, so who am I?

I know this is quite an impossible task that I set for myself that day. Defining who you are is extremely complicated. Philosophy and science aside, we are all a complex mix of many things that come together to make up who we are, and even this shifts from time to time, naturally.

Our thoughts and feelings and emotions don’t define us, but they can lead to habits and behaviours that do come to define us.

Our bodies aren’t who we are, but they’re a part of the puzzle. Our minds, as mentioned before, aren’t who we are but our personalities and quirks and the way we perceive this world acts as a piece of who we are.

And lastly, there’s our spirit. This is harder to define but I feel that our spirit is our passions, our beliefs, our dreams and desires and purpose in this life. But not many people find there’s, and so they lose out on a key part of who they are.

Body. Mind. Spirit – these combined is who we are…

I may be toying with this idea as a bit of an inner turmoil, but I also need to recognise (and perhaps you do, too) that “who we are” changes and shifts a lot and often.

When I was younger, I could be defined as a athlete. This is definitely not true anymore! In education, I could be defined as academic and studious. I didn’t finish university, and I’ve been out of that environment for 3 years – so is that who I am now? No.

And that’s okay. It’s called change and growth and development and clarity and self-exploration.

If who you are remains the same for your entire life, did you ever really experiment? Test the fabric of your being? Explore your Self and your abilities? I’d say no.

I’ll leave you with this to help you if you’re beginning to now question who you are.

Here’s what you are NOT:

Your mistakes
Your likes or followers on social media
Your past
Your family
Your limitations
Who you compare yourself to be against other people
Who anyone tells you that you are
Your negative thoughts and upsetting feelings
Your illness(es)
Your bank account and socioeconomic status
Your material possessions
What society says you are

And here’s a few things to get you thinking about who you could be:

What are your passions?
What do you do daily? Weekly?
What do you dream about?
What are your ambitions? Motivations? Goals?
What’s your occupation? Do you enjoy it? Does it challenge you? Is it what you want?
What are your quirks and mannerisms?
If you had a million dollars given to you, what would you do?
How do you dress? What’s your go-to style and image? (By your standards, not society’s)
What are your beliefs?
Who inspires you?
What do you like to read?
What do you like to watch?
Are you creative, sporty, logical, or all of the above?
How do you speak? Treat others? Behave naturally?
What are your close relationships? What do they mean to you? How have they shaped you?
What do you like? Dislike?
If you had one wish, what would it be?

Exploring the Colossal City of Rome

Rome is a destination on nearly everyone’s list of “places to visit” because of the Colosseum (amongst other things). In fact, it’s always been one of the iconic monuments that I’ve always wanted to set eyes on, to remind myself of how amazing this world and the people in it can be – with all the good and bad tied to this monument and other sights.

So, when we got to Rome – despite my expected anxiety – we were aghast and in awe with every step. I’d already been to Italy before (Verona, Vicenza, and Venice) but I’d never been to Rome, or with my partner before. This was a special trip.

And here’s why:

Weather

As a British person, I am always complaining that it’s too cold or too hot! We’re never satisfied either way. In England, we’ve been having a lot of hot weather. I’d already tanned loads and soaked up about three normal summers worth of heat in only two weeks of this weird heat wave we’re having.

But Rome topped this!

It killed me.

I feel no shame in admitting that I even cried on the first day because I felt overwhelmed by heat and walking and the week ahead of us.

Now that we’re back, though, I feel grateful for the weather. Yes, I sweated through three top changes each day. Yes, I broke out in spots from the heat. Yes, I didn’t want to eat as much as I might have if I wasn’t so hot. But it made the setting so wonderful – and for that, I’m grateful.

Sights

Of course, we couldn’t go to Rome without seeing the many great sights that decorate the city. Patrick and I said to ourselves on the way back, that if we were to describe Rome in one word, it would be – BIG!

Everywhere you turned, there were colossal buildings and Roman ruins and columns in abundance. As a writer, I felt inspired. As a thinker, I felt intrigued by the “how” of it all. And as an emotional person, I felt overwhelmed by how small I was compared and how beautiful it was and how they must have lived back then…

We saw:

The Colosseum
The Pantheon
The Roman Ruins
Palatine Hill
St. Peter’s Basilica
The Vatican Museums
The Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Many, many churches
Gardens
Fountains
And more

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Accommodation

We started off in a small hotel near the Vatican. However, when we arrived, it wasn’t what we expected. The toilet was across the hall and we had to unlock it with a key. This is a little thing, but it annoyed us! Every time we needed to pee or shower or other, we had to walk across the hall and everyone could see our business?! No thank you!

And so, we made the decision to move. We asked about another room but they had none available, and so my partner decided that we’d look for an Airbnb instead (which is what we usually go for anyway so…)

I was a little apprehensive, as a frugal person, but in the end, it was the perfect decision. We found an amazing Airbnb that was located in a better spot not far from the Colosseum. It helped us get around better, experience more, eat at better locations, and of course be way more comfortable! It was our own little apartment for 4 days.

It had a cupboard that acted as a drip drainer, which I hear is customary in Italy. I definitely liked the idea; it kept the drying dishes hidden away so there’s no mess!

Although the tv had nothing but Italian dubbed shows, we still liked having it on in the background at night or when we were getting dressed. I for one loved watching Italian anime and Kung Fu Panda! (Yes, I’m a child).

Figuring it out

Whilst we were there (as with any new city you visit), we had to figure a few things out and get used to a few cultural elements:

Fountains dotted all around the city with fresh cold water (thank the gods!)
Forcing your way across the street in front of oncoming traffic because otherwise, they won’t stop for you! (We became confident experts in the end!)
Public transport: where to get a ticket, where to get on, double-decker trains
Paying after you’ve eaten for things as simple as sandwiches
Asking if they spoke English, and botching the Italian we used ourselves
Wine with every meal!
Big steps and loads of them, too
Being decent in churches
Eating late in the evening; places aren’t open before 7 in many parts

FOOD

Another thing that people go to Rome (or Italy in general) for is food! (See the EAT part of Eat, Pray, Love). In the UK, we all love pizza and pasta, and Italy is home to both. However, it’s not like we have it at home. Oh, no.

It’s world’s better!

The pasta isn’t soft and overcooked. The cheese isn’t as dull. From the first bite, you’re met by flavour dancing on the taste buds in ways you didn’t realise was possible from a “simple” pasta dish.

And the pizza! None of this basic tomato paste or store-bought sauces. It’s real tomatoes that are used and it’s soft and succulent. You cut the pizza yourself, you fold it, and you taste the potent blend of base, tomato, fresh cheese and whatever toppings you choose. We tried a few kinds throughout the trip: a salmon pizza, sausage, prosciutto, spicy salami, chicken, and probably more that I’ve forgotten!

And lastly, food-wise, we also had the chance to learn about Italian organic, natural food with a food tasting experience that my partner surprised me with. At a small, sweet, homely shop, the owner gave us (and another couple, who were from Australia and were great company) a slab of wood that had various cheeses and meats displayed on it.

We tried (taken from the site because I had forgotten the names!) –

Cheeses: sheep, goat, cow, blu, truffle, and pecorino.

Meats: (salami varieties) bacon, ham, mortadella.

The most notable and interesting part will have to be the fresh olive oil we tasted. Yes, we tasted it. Not with any food, no. Instead, he said we should drink some, and inhale quickly with gritted teeth and if it burns the throat, it’s fresh!

And bloody hell did it burn my throat!

Oh wait, and gelato! We tried many flavours from the 150 flavour shop my brother and his girlfriend took us to! And of course, it helped us survive the heat!

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Inspiration

Lastly, our wonderful trip to Rome helped to give me the much-needed inspiration that I needed. Not only did it inspire my current novel for design purposes, language, and culture, but it also inspired my general thinking.

It opened my mind.

Every trip to a new place opens the mind just that bit more, and for that very reason (among many others) I will keep getting on planes and boats and trains even when my heart pounds and my mind fills with fears.

Because, oh to see the world, isn’t that the dream?

Mind Mapping for Writers

I love mind maps. Countless times have they helped me figure out ideas that I was struggling with.

Here are a few ways that you can use mind maps:

Details for your story: this is the biggest one. I’ve used many mind maps to help me to discover detail about my story without feeling like I have to be strict or neat. I put settings or characters or plot points in the centre bubble, and then I branch out every which way to develop detail about that thing. And it totally works! Try it!
Plot : people mind map in all sorts of ways but if you want to do a more structured mind map but still have creative freedom, it can help for things like plot. You can start one place then branch off and out for subplots and main plots and potential ideas and “need to happens” and so on. Before you know it, you’ve got potential plot items all over your page!
What you should do next : this works in terms of writing as well as life. Mind maps are great for getting all possible ideas out and being about to explore those ideas without worrying about sticking to them. Whether it’s for a story or your own life, use mind maps to get all potential ideas (silly or not) out on the page for you to have a big creative offloading session!
Character details : as I said before, I use mind maps for my characters too. This works whether you know a lot about your characters or not. I find them great for the beginning stages of a manuscript but also great for gaining more random details about your characters. Doing character profiles can feel a bit creatively restrictive (I find) so sometimes just having the freedom to write any and all ideas about your characters on the mind map can go a long way to understanding them better and in more depth.
Problem solving : if you have an issue with your plot (or something else) mind maps can really help. Put the problem in the centre and then branch off any and all ideas that could potentially solve it. There are no bad ideas because even the things that won’t work will help you get the ideas rolling for what will work. It’s a great way to see the problem as less scary.
Creative inspiration : sometimes when all you need is ideas and detail but about nothing in particular, then mind maps can be your go-to. I’ve simply put “fantasy elements” in the middle of a mind map one time and let my ideas just roll off and branch out and develop from there, and it helped think of so many things I could put in my book series or at least mention throughout. It got my creative ideas flowing in a general, less strict manner.
Idea dumps : basically, as I’ve said, mind maps work for just getting ideas (any and all) onto the page. Whatever the topic, it can get your ideas out of your head for you to then take and leave as needed.
Life decisions : mind maps aren’t only for story development. They work for life, too. Stick the problem or decision in the middle and branch out with all the options open to you and then branch off each of those with the pros and cons and potential developments from each. As you do it, you’ll see what you really think and what to go for. Boom, easy!

Now, get mind-mapping and brain storming and creating, friends! Have fun, it makes writing so much more enjoyable!

Do You Take Responsibility For Your Life (Pt 2)

*This post is entirely my own opinion and is intended to be a guide to help bring awareness to people’s actions that can be damaging their lives – that is all.*

What does taking responsibility for your life look like?

Your common emotions are passion, intrigue, determination, and contentment

As a follow on from the previous post, a person who DOES take responsibility for their lives will feel a mixture of more positive emotions. They’ll be a passionate, driven person who has a goal or dream that fuels their actions. They’ll be intrigued by all things in life, even the bumps in the road will make them think and feel “what is this teaching me?” And they’ll be generally more content in themselves and their pursuits because they know they have taken the necessary steps to get the life that they want.

You practice acceptance

A person who takes responsibility for their life and their actions will accept what is and what they cannot change. They know there is no sense in regrets and anger or sadness towards the past or the things in their world that they can’t control. And so, they actively accept those things and move forward.

You practice gratitude

People who take the reins in their lives will also be more prone to gratitude. This is because they have a wider sense of how things work in life and appreciate what they have and what they’ve achieved for themselves. They have awareness.

You take risks

A person who is actively taking the reins of their lives will also take risks. They know that life is found outside the comfort zone and that sometimes if you want big changes, you have to take big leaps.

You are the only one in your way.

You understand that failure is part of the road to success

A person who takes responsibility for their lives will know that in life there are ups and downs and though failures come, being knocked down by them or blaming others for them is no way to reach success. Instead, they accept them, learn from them, and try again – actively taking responsibility and realising that it was no one’s “fault” but theirs, and that’s OK.

You focus on what you do have, not what you don’t have 

A responsible person will know that what they have was down to them and what they don’t have is also down to them. Yes, there are factors like upbringing, society, disasters, poverty, etc. but a responsible person will know that there is no sense in focusing on the lacks in life and being bitter about it. It does not change the situation or help. Instead, they take responsibility, focus within and appreciate what they have as they plan to achieve what they don’t yet have.

You think, plan, act, analyse and repeat

This is a duh! Someone who takes responsibility for their lives and their actions will know that they need to visualise what they want, plan it out, act on those plans in whatever means necessary, analyse what works and what doesn’t, and then repeats the process until they get what they want in life.

You aren’t afraid of change

A person taking responsibility knows that there is growth and wealth in change. They know that there are things that they do daily, weekly, or whatever that are causing their life to be what they don’t want. And so they’re not afraid to grow, adapt, and change to do and be better.

You admit when you’re wrong 

Of course, a responsible person can admit their own mistakes, faults, bad actions, or poor words. They swallow their pride and maturely admit wrongdoing, fix the issue, or apologise (depending on the situation).

You have some confidence

Confidence (even a small amount) will naturally come to responsible people who take control of their own lives. They’ll be the kind of person who has been brave enough to take chances, mature enough to admit wrongdoing, and passionate enough to go after what they want with plans and research and gusto! And so, the confidence will come along with that.

 

Doesn’t that sound like someone you want to be? A person who takes responsibility for their lives and their actions and their current situation? Yes, we can all probably find something to blame for our lives, but we also need to realise we are responsible for fixing those situations. You can say “I have anxiety so it controls my life and that’s not my fault.” Yes, it’s not your fault that you have anxiety (nor is it my fault that I have it, too) but if you take responsibility and find ways to cope better and live despite it, your life will be better than letting it swallow you and control you.

In a similar way, think of all those people who have it worse than you. People in such poverty-stricken conditions. Do they blame god? Do they blame their country? Politics? Us? Probably not. Instead, they focus on what they have – family or beautiful land perhaps – and they try their best every day. Even that is a form of taking responsibility for your own life. If they can do it, so can you.

Playing that retched blame game will do no one any good.

Instead, try to do more of what’s on this post instead of in part one. Take responsibility for your life, and watch it change for the better.

x

Do You Take Responsibility For Your Life? (Pt 1)

*This post is entirely my own opinion and is intended to be a guide to help bring awareness to people’s actions that can be damaging their lives – that is all.*

What does NOT taking responsibility for your life look like?

Your common emotions are: anger, jealousy, sadness, resentment, and hatred 

Anyone who doesn’t take responsibility for their life will often feel a mixture of negative feelings. They will be angry at themselves and others. They will be jealous of other people. They will be sad and feel stuck in that sadness. They will resent those with more than them. And they will hate…just about anything they can hate.

These emotions come out in a variety of ways, too. Like joking all the time in a mean way, coming off as kind of a bully or someone who can’t be serious. This often comes from a place of self-loathing and anger or jealousy or sadness within yourself. So, if you’re cracking jokes at other people’s expense, you’re probably not happy within and you don’t take responsibility for that.

You look to the past too much

A person who can’t take responsibility for their lives doesn’t take responsibility for their actions. They think that the past has led to this potentially “bad” present that they live in, and they keep looking back, thinking “if only that hadn’t happened, I’d have this or that.”

You worry about the future

Similarly, people who don’t take responsibility for their lives look to the future too much. They keep thinking that in the future when they have the money or another job (etc) then their life will be better. They will be happier. They will have this thing or that thing that will “fix” their lives. This is not taking responsibility for your life because if you did, you would realise that you are in control right now in this moment and the only way the future will be better is if you take the reins right now. Stop focusing on what will be, and make it possible right now instead!

Find a way to be happy in whatever situation you’re in right now, you are responsible for your happiness.

You focus on what you lack

A person not taking responsibility is always complaining about what they don’t have. They’re bitter and resentful because they see only the lack in their lives and live in that lacking state. A responsible person would instead say to themselves that, “yes, I don’t have what I want but I can do X and Y to get it.”

You play the blame game

Irresponsible people love to blame everything and everyone else for their problems. Every person they’ve ever met and every situation they can think of…except themselves.

You never apologise

Irresponsible people don’t take responsibility for their actions and so naturally they don’t apologise for them. Or if they ever do, you can tell it’s insincere and that they don’t see the error of their ways honestly and maturely.

You’re immature

Children have a knack for not taking responsibility, but that’s fine because it’s something they haven’t yet learned. Adults, on the other hand, cannot get away with it so easily. If you’re childish, blame others, point fingers, act stubborn, and moan all day long – then you don’t take responsibility for your life and you’re an immature person.

You have no goals, intentions, or aspirations

Of course, a person not taking responsibility will not actively put plans into place to change their lives for the better. They have no real wants and needs that they’re planning for or striving to achieve. They don’t take action or plot strategically.

You don’t push your comfort zone

If you were taking responsibility for your life, then you would realise that a lot of what you want from life can be found outside your comfort zone. Those who stay in their comfort zone will blame their comfort zone for their problems instead of being brave and stepping out of it actively themselves.

You don’t actively do anything to change your life

Irresponsible people don’t take action. They go with the flow and let life happen to them and then point the finger and get angry when it doesn’t go their way.

You wouldn’t know what to do if you were given £1 million today

Someone who doesn’t take responsibility for their life will always talk about a better life or how their life is unfair, but they often won’t know what to do to change it. They’re very good at moaning and blaming, but they’re not good at finding the root of a problem and working on it. A lot of people have problems due to money. Money, sadly, could help out most of us in our situations. But an irresponsible person wouldn’t even know what to do with it, and so they will blow the money and be right back at square one. And somehow, it will be someone else’s fault.

Don’t forget to read part two of this post…

Why Writing is Hard

Writing is hard. It is. Not because writing something is hard, because technically everyone can write something. Not because coming up with good ideas is hard, because all kinds of people (extraordinary and not so extraordinary) can come up with ideas everyday.

No, writing is hard because:

Discipline – it takes discipline to sit with a long writing project and not give up. It takes discipline to set aside time to write. Discipline sets the amateurs aside from the experts.

Facing a blank page – it’s terrifying to look a blank page and fill it. It takes courage to face that blank page often.

Editing and editing and editing – I hate editing chapters of my book. Yes, there is pleasure in making something better and adding in depth, but my god is it hard and less creative and fun than simply writing (in my opinion). Finding your own mistakes will always be difficult and admitting to yourself that something isn’t right and needs to change is horrible! But writers go through this all the time.

Knowing the difference between line editing and developmental editing – people who aren’t writers will probably not realise that there are different types of editing for written content. The two big ones are line editing and developmental editing (especially for manuscripts). Knowing the difference helps you with your own editing, and it helps with hiring an editor that’s right for your needs as a writer, too.

Having the strength and dedication to scrap it and start over – it is the hardest thing ever to let a piece of writing go. It’s even harder to start over. No one wants to and a lot of writers will stick with a piece of bad writing because they’ve given too much into it and they don’t want to start over. Well, it’s hard but a writer who wants to succeed will need to learn how to do this.

Realism – conveying realism in your writing is very difficult. Writing about something real involves research and attachment and time dedication. This is hard to do! Any writer will experience difficulties when it comes to writing something real and getting that realism across accurately.

Depth – adding the necessary depth into a piece of writing is extremely difficult. It’s easy (ish) to write something, but writing something that has depth, meaning, nuance, emotion, morals, and twists is the difficult part.

Message – this is difficult because sometimes writers don’t even know what the message is in their piece. What are you actually saying and why? It’s hard being a writer because you have to figure this out and convey it in the right way for your audience.

Handle criticism – writers have to handle so much criticism! It’s a creative art and so people will always have opposing opinions. And they will voice these opinions, welcomed or not! But every writer develops a backbone at some point otherwise they’ll break or fail in their career.

Audience – finding your target audience and writing to their needs is very difficult for a writer, unless it happens naturally. Knowing your audience goes a very long way with being a successful writer.

Loneliness – being a writer is a lonely profession. It doesn’t (usually) involve anyone else. You do it alone. This can become quite scary and lonely. Some people are good at being alone (like me) but it’s still hard because sometimes you’ll need help and support to keep you going and interested. Be ready for this and also have a way to combat this as a writer.

Complex plots – writing something simple is fine, but writing something complex is horrid! Writing a series, for example, or creating a whole other world (two things I do, *slaps forehead*) is where the difficulty comes in. Keeping up with the plot points, keeping consistency, maintaining interest, and not leaving any plot holes or unanswered questions is super difficult for any writer.

Can you think of anything that makes being a writer difficult? Can you relate? Let me know, fellow writers! And know that you’re not alone.

Siana,

X

What A Person with Mental Illness Needs

What they need:

A shoulder to cry on
A person to lean on
A person(s) to listen to them
Words of encouragement
Support when seeking professional help
Advice and kind guidance
Understanding and empathy
Support when taking medication
Patience and compassion
Information, tips and tricks for helping themselves cope
A friend they know is there – a call or text or visit away when they’re overwhelmed
Education (for them and for others to understand them better)
Therapy options that aren’t limited
Support groups for likeminded people
To be told they’re ill, they have an illness, but they are NOT their illness
Given alternative/ holistic healing methods to try for themselves – yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, acupuncture, massage, etc.
A self care routine that’s there for them, a people to support them with this routine – reading, walking outside, baths, time out, naps, body care, decluttering, exercise, etc.
Given a potential way out, and given reminders that help is there, coping is possible, and life can be lived

What they don’t need:

“You’ll be fine.”
“Are you trying to get better?”
“It’s just in your head.”
“You’re being weak and dramatic.”
To be told they’re seeking attention
To be told to get over it
To be called crazy
To be shunned
For friends to forget about them
For people to baby them and patronise them
“You need to be on meds.”
“You shouldn’t take medication.”
Your judgment
Your ridicule
For you to add to their suffering
Impatience and frustration
Misunderstanding, ignorance, and assumptions
You to be afraid of them
“You’re too emotional”
“You’re insane. You should be hospitalised.”
To be told they’re not ill. That it’s not a real illness or problem.

If you need any help in bettering your mental health, or better coping with anxiety, depression, and stress, then my book “You’re As Mad As I Am” may be for you. Check it out here, and download a free sample to see what it’s all about.

If you want to hire me to write about mental health (or other), then don’t hesitate to get in touch!

What Do Children Want and Need from a Book?

By children, I mean middle grade (8-14) really.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, as someone who plans to be a middle grade author in the not too distant future.

What do children want and need from a book in this day and age?

Because, I bet it’s not the same as 5 years ago. It’s not the same as when Harry Potter became big. Children have changed. The world has changed.

So, what do they need now?

Do unicorns and rainbows provide good and happy and appropriate storylines for children? Or is it all lies?

All they see on tv these days (and even on their streets) is violence. Death. Fear. Prejudice and injustice is rife. Sadly, they’re becoming desensitised to it.

So, do we have a duty, as authors, to provide solace from that? Or to show them how they can defeat that?

Maybe it’s a mix between the two, right?

Take my current work in progress – it touches on real world issues, things that affect our children and their future. But it also features fantasy, powers, heroes, dragons, dreams, adventure, and silliness.

The characters are kids and they’re having fun, but they’re realising truths about their world and earth and it’s unsettling. But these characters will help fix these issues and defeat the threats.

Isn’t that something that children would like to see these days? They don’t need to be lied to – they can’t help but see the devastation that seems so prevalent in our world now. But maybe if more of the books they read and the shows they watch feature these things, but the children in the stories are strong against them – perhaps the children will feel safe again and realise they’re not powerless and they’re not alone.

There is a solution and the world can be made better by their own hands.

And of course, a little sprinkle of fairy dust does go a long way.

Just my thoughts, what do you think?

Siana (aka author S. R. Crawford)

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Know Who Inspires You and Why

There is gold in the knowledge of who you are inspired by, and most importantly – WHY.

It’s not enough to say you like this person or that person, or simply picking someone who you feel you should be inspired by. It’s easy to say “I’m inspired by Oprah Winfrey” but if you can’t actually pinpoint why and you don’t have any specific detail about the greatness of that person then do they really inspire you?

Instead, model people that actually work for you and your pursuits. There’s no point in getting your inspiration from a footballer if you have no desire to be a footballer. Find role models that make sense for you.

For example, some of my role models are J. K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin, Tomi Adeyemi, Angie Thomas, Rick Riordan, and Elizabeth Gilbert. They all share one thing in common – they’re authors. Why do I model them? Why do they inspire me? Because I want to be an international best-selling author.

And they are from particular genres, too. Fantasy and biography/self help/spirituality/memoir. These are genres I love to write in myself.

These people would be ideal mentors for me. They inspire me to keep going. They inspire my content. They also inspire me by the kind of awesome people they are behind their books, too. It’s the kind of success and status and ability to create change that I want to achieve and so they are my role models, my inspiration.

How does knowing this serve me? It shows me who I want to be. It gives me a goal. It puts my goal into a visual. And most importantly, it shows me that my goals are achievable and realistic because someone else has done it before me.

All crucial information to know when on the road to self development and success.

But that’s not all. There is a lot of ways you can be inspired by others…

You can be inspired by someone for:

Their look (hair, clothes, tattoos)
Their achievements
Their status
Their work/craft
Their art
Their change-making moves
Their voice
Their diet
Their desires
Their likes and dislikes

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What you can’t do is:

Copy them
Lose yourself and your uniqueness
Become lost in them so much that it’s an obsession
Become jealous of them
Change to become them
Follow their lives so much that you forget to live your own

So, find your role models. Find your people. Don’t model people just because you feel you should. Find people who speak to you and your wants and your vision. Know why you want to be like them. And even better, find ways to surpass them!

“Oo oo oo, I want to be like youuuu!” – Jungle Book

Get a list together of people you admire and list why you admire them. Then, research their work and their lives, then see what knowledge you can gather to help you succeed, too.

Follow people who have walked the path that you want to walk. That’s the only real way of getting there, too.

Siana,

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How to Become a Writer (Beginner’s Guide)

*Here is MY advice on how you can become a writer, too. In no way is this the ONLY way to becoming a writer…*

Write…a lot and often

The only way to be a writer is to write. Even if you do nothing else on this list, you need to write. Writers write. If you write, you’re a writer – simple. (Did I say write enough in that explanation?)

Practice

Of course, I know that saying all you need to do is write is overly simplified. If you’re having trouble starting, then practice. Look for writing prompts on Google and roll with whatever comes into your head. If you worry too much about being perfect and writing a novel from day one, then you will never make it as a writer. Go at your own pace and realise that everyone is different; there are all kinds of writers out there. So, all you can do is practice at first and then the craft will start to come more easily to you.

Rea d

You cannot become a writer (at least not a successful one) if you don’t read. It doesn’t really matter, I guess, what you read; you just need to read. Often. Read a variety if you can, too, as you never know what your genre interests may be if you don’t. Challenge yourself every now and then to read out of your comfort zone – it’s good for the mind.

The important thing is to read to get your creative juices flowing and help you naturally understand the craft and develop your vocabulary. But, you also need to read to learn what good writing is, and what bad writing is (in your opinion). This will help you with your own from there.

Edit

At one point or another, you will need to edit your own writing. Whether it’s a blog post, a chapter, an article, or web copy – you will have to learn to self-edit and self-critique. This is often the boring part of being a writer, but the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. And then, every time you do it, you’ll actually be teaching yourself (subconsciously) what works and what doesn’t with what you write. Thus, your writing will improve.

Know your genre

If you want to be a novelist, in particular, it would be a good idea to get clear on what genre you wish to write in. Even if you’re a freelancer or blogger, it’s still a good idea to know your niche/genre. This will help you to curate your content. It’s important to write in the genre and don’t dip out of it too much, otherwise people won’t know who you are. People like to go to you for that set thing. Take me, for example, my audience knows that they can come to me for fantasy novels and lifestyle/self-help information. My two niches/genres/areas are Fantasy Fiction (YA and MG) and Self-Help essays, guides, information, blog posts, podcasts, and advice.

The way that I present my work may be different, but they will always be under one of the two genres, fantasy or self-help. People trust me to deliver on that.

But why else does this matter, besides getting an audience? Well, it helps you, too. I think it’s powerful for a writer to know themselves; to know what they’re good at writing. Confidence in your work and knowing your work will better your work, I believe. You can also then go on to researching and reading in those industries, which will enrich your work even further.

Know the industry

This is important if you want to write professionally in any way. You need to know your industry. How does it work for your pursuits and your genre/niche? How does your target audience usually find your kind of work? Who are the top-dogs in your industry? How did they become successful? What advice do they give?

It is important to know these things in order to become a successful writer who makes a living through their work. It will help you to do the right things to get noticed, it helps you to tighten your work, and it helps you to network in your niche. It’s a good idea to model the successful people in your industry who have been there and have done it.

Share your work

Of course, you need to share your work as a writer. Not all of it, but some will need to be shared at some point. I love what Elizabeth Gilbert once said on her podcast, that you are allowed to make art for yourself. You’re allowed to make bad art that will never see the light of day. But she also said that you don’t learn or grow (and you’ll never succeed as a writer) if you never show your art/writing.

So, stop being scared. Whether you fail or fly, it doesn’t matter. By sharing your work, you’ll have something valuable – knowledge about what works and what doesn’t. Then, you can go forward with this information and get better.

Take on criticism

When you share your work, you will receive criticism – positive and negative. I’ve had people tell me good and bad things about my work, but you know what, that information helps. It’s hard to hear at times, of course, but it does help you a lot. Now, not all criticism needs to be taken on board. Some people are wrong! But, that’s your decision. Be open to it, be honest, and analyse what you feel is true and what isn’t for your art. But allow the criticism to come and don’t take it to heart, instead take it in as a tool for getting better.

Find a nook

The last thing, as a nice addition, is that you will need a writing space. Writers need a laptop, a notebook (or hundreds), pens, sticky notes, journals, a cute backpack to carry them around in, and most importantly – a writing space. A place where you can go and you know it’s go time! Time to write! Finding this space(s) will help you feel like you’re channeling your inner writer, and ready to get in the zone…

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