Scarlett Van Dijk's Blog, page 9

Keep Calm and Have a Bath

One of the most common questions I see aspiring writers asking is, “How do you get inspiration? What do you do when you’re out of ideas?” It’s a writer’s biggest fear, running out of ideas to write about, to get ‘Writer’s Block’. Here are my top tips for sparking the imagination (or at least this is what I do). Have a bath
This is the first thing I tell anyone who asks me this question. I don’t make this my number 1 tip because I think cleanliness is inspiring… I say this bec...

Guest Post: Justine Manzano - Kill The Superstition, Save the Writer

“I can’t write unless I have a cigarette, am sitting in a particular room in my house, on a particular chair, writing on a yellow legal pad with a red marker pen.”

The above sentence sounds, to me, like a funeral march, and it has nothing to do with the cancer stick. It is the death of that person’s writing career.

Don’t get me wrong. I know that there are some people for whom these conditions are easy to obtain reliably, but very few of us modern day writers live on a planet where they woul...

A Writer's Internal Struggle

"This is possibly the best piece of writing I have ever done!"

"Ugh! What was I thinking? This is terrible!"

"Mmmm… Actually this sentence is pretty good."

"No one will ever want to read this!"

"OMG, this is wonderful. I must share it with everyone."

I imagine every writer has had this type of conversation with themselves. One part of their brain telling them that they are pretty much a literary genius, the other telling them to hide away give up on the mess they call 'writing'. It is a...

Guest Post: Roxanne Smolen - The Hidden Message

I write to entertain. That’s the plan, anyway. But beneath the tomfoolery of my books is a hidden message. It has to be hidden because no one, especially a teenager, wants to be preached at. Most readers are blissfully unaware of the theme—but their subconscious won’t be, and that’s where I’m aiming.

My books are about werewolves. Not the growly kind. No, my main character is a bumbling nerd who turns into a bumbling wolf. One of my favorite scenes is when his girlfriend yells at him for...

Guest Post: Bob Kat - Imagination... Take Me Away

Where would you go if you could travel back in time? Who would you want to meet? What historical event would you like to witness? What era’s pop culture, fashion and music would you like to experience? Of all the concepts, I think time travel would be the most amazing adventure.

That was the idea that sparked our Young Adult series CUL8R (for all you old folks, that’s See You Later). We wanted our teenagers to be able to go back and see how average people lived, and, along the way, experience...

Guest Post: C.D. Gorri - On Writing

If I started out saying writing saved my life it may not be too much of an exaggeration. It certainly has saved my sanity. At any rate writing has really helped me clear out and organize some of the “stuff” my mind is crowded with.

I consider myself an eternal student so I am always reading, looking things up, watching educational programs, listening to music, googling stuff on the web. I would have stayed in school forever if possible. I mean I was probably the only one student out of e...

Now I Get It

Until now I never completely understood the fear that so many authors get: the fear of no one liking your novel. The fear of sharing your heart and soul with the world.

Last weekend I published my debut novel, Sky Stone. It is now out there for the world to buy and read.

My reason for publishing was fairly simple. I wrote it, so I published it. I spent so long writing Sky Stone that I figured it would be a waste if I didn't. Besides, I might as well put it out there to read. What else do...

Guest Post: Ashland Menshouse - "You're Writing a Blog?"

“HOAKER CROAKER!”

I look over my shoulder, away from the computer screen. “What?”

Buzz leans down, his black curly hair prickling my ear. “You’re writing a blog?!”

I lean away and scratch my nose. “Yeah, I’m trying to.”

Pulling his inhaler out of his mouth, Aubrey steps up on my opposite side. “But you said you’d never write about yourself.”

“I know. I know.” I rock my head side to side. “But if more people are gonna read about you guys, it’s what I gotta do.”

“Who’d want to read about these...

Last Minute Rush!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately everyone, there has been a big flip in my writing life. That is Sky Stone is to be published tomorrow!

Over the last couple of weeks I have done a final edit, marketed, decided on a self-publishing platform, laid out the inside of the novel, created a final cover, written a bio, and all the other fun things that go with self-publishing! I feel so close and yet this night feels unending. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight!

I want to thank everyon...

Guest Post: M J Henry - Something to Think About: Why Do You Write?

When I was a kid, growing up in a small Texas town, I found that when I wrote my “stories” I would have a large audience on the playground any day after lunch. All I had to do was to bring my most recent chapter to read. I guess I really liked the feeling of importance. More than that, I really liked the feeling I got while I was putting my thoughts on paper. This phenomenon continued through junior high school and high school. I would write and share; but I never saved anything.
Growing How...