Okay. In keeping with the idea of sharpening your saw... or maybe not. Maybe just because having fun with a writing exercise is it's own reward... This week's exercise involves a single line of dialogue. Use characters from your wip or characters you create just for this exercise. You can start your scene with this line of dialogue, end it with the line, or use the line somewhere in the middle but you must use the line and you must use it verbatim. Got it? The dialogue is:
"What do you plan to do with that?"
Feel free to post a response and let us know if you were able to get something written using this prompt.
Good luck and get writing!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Query Shark!!!
Heads up, query-ers! Janet Reid's got a fun new blog critiquing queries called Query Shark. You have to be a registered Blogger or OpenID member to comment, but anyone can read. Love Janet's wit. : ) Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Quote of the Week
Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.
~Flannery O'Connor
~Flannery O'Connor
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Craft
Wouldn’t it be great if writing was like driver’s education? Pass one class and you’re set for life, with only minimal maintenance work required to be a competent driver. Well, maybe it would be great. I’m kind of glad writing is a continually evolving skill. All the writers I know constantly sharpen those skills with classes, books, critique groups, editors…the possibilities are as limitless as our imaginations. In the last six months I’ve attended a great conference, taken an online class, and corresponded probably thousands of times with my critique group. I’ve consulted my trusty reference books and even skimmed a few new ones. And every time I pay attention to the craft, I end up revitalized and inspired, which of course makes me write even more!
For those that have been able to ‘sharpen the saw’, what’s worked for you? What gave you an ‘a-ha!’ moment that changed your writing? Mine was the 2006 Surrey International Writers' Conference. The whole dang thing was amazing, but most especially the workshops, blue pencil session and general stalking of Jenny Crusie. :-)
If you haven’t thought about the craft of writing lately, I encourage you to take a class, go to a conference, read a great book on the subject…just remember to hone your writing tools with whatever means you have available. If you do, you’ll be in the driver’s seat.
For those that have been able to ‘sharpen the saw’, what’s worked for you? What gave you an ‘a-ha!’ moment that changed your writing? Mine was the 2006 Surrey International Writers' Conference. The whole dang thing was amazing, but most especially the workshops, blue pencil session and general stalking of Jenny Crusie. :-)
If you haven’t thought about the craft of writing lately, I encourage you to take a class, go to a conference, read a great book on the subject…just remember to hone your writing tools with whatever means you have available. If you do, you’ll be in the driver’s seat.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Weekly Writing Exercise
Since this week's topic concerned creating a writing space - or learning to write in whatever space presents itself - this week's writing exercise will play with the same idea.
Use characters from your work in progress, or characters created specifically for the purpose of this exercise. Then send them on a scavanger hunt. Flex your creativity by deciding what items are on their list, but there's a catch. Only one item can be obtained from a location. So if - for a lame example - the list of items to be retrieved contains a golf ball and a golf club, your characters can get only the golf ball at Location A and must proceed to another Location to get the club.
While your characters move about town on paper, you are going to move about town figuratively. Write each items successful (or even unsuccessful) find in different locations. Example, sit in your kitchen to write the finding of item A, sit in your bedroom to find item B. If you can really move about town, "find" items in the coffee shop, the library, the park. Try to include elements of sound (music, water) or silence, or include fragrances, or even try changing shoes.
Once your characters have obtained all items on their list, YOU sit back and evaluate: was there any space easier or harder to write in? any "trigger" (music, silence, lilacs, coffee) that made a difference? Make note of these differences and use it those notes to help "decorate" your writing space - whether real or virtual.
Feel free to let us know what you've discovered about your writing process when you did this exercise.
Good luck and Get Writing!
Use characters from your work in progress, or characters created specifically for the purpose of this exercise. Then send them on a scavanger hunt. Flex your creativity by deciding what items are on their list, but there's a catch. Only one item can be obtained from a location. So if - for a lame example - the list of items to be retrieved contains a golf ball and a golf club, your characters can get only the golf ball at Location A and must proceed to another Location to get the club.
While your characters move about town on paper, you are going to move about town figuratively. Write each items successful (or even unsuccessful) find in different locations. Example, sit in your kitchen to write the finding of item A, sit in your bedroom to find item B. If you can really move about town, "find" items in the coffee shop, the library, the park. Try to include elements of sound (music, water) or silence, or include fragrances, or even try changing shoes.
Once your characters have obtained all items on their list, YOU sit back and evaluate: was there any space easier or harder to write in? any "trigger" (music, silence, lilacs, coffee) that made a difference? Make note of these differences and use it those notes to help "decorate" your writing space - whether real or virtual.
Feel free to let us know what you've discovered about your writing process when you did this exercise.
Good luck and Get Writing!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Quote (s) of the Day
In honor of Vladimir Nabakov's birthday today:
The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible.
~Vladimir Nabakov
And in honor of Shakespeare's (supposed) birthday today, one of my favorite sonnets:
Sonnet 65
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,
But sad mortality o'ersways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O how shall summer's honey breath hold out,
Against the wrackful siege of batt'ring days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong but time decays?
O fearful meditation, where alack,
Shall Time's best jewel from Time's chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back,
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.
The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible.
~Vladimir Nabakov
And in honor of Shakespeare's (supposed) birthday today, one of my favorite sonnets:
Sonnet 65
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,
But sad mortality o'ersways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O how shall summer's honey breath hold out,
Against the wrackful siege of batt'ring days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong but time decays?
O fearful meditation, where alack,
Shall Time's best jewel from Time's chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back,
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Your Writing Space
Your Writing Space:
A very important aspect of writing is your surroundings when you write. Have you created a space that supports your creative nature? Do the things around you, the items in view, the chair you sit in, the smells tickling your nose support or inhibit your creative self? Have you ever thought about this? You should!
Now, admission time, I have to laugh a little at the topic I chose for my blog because I need to follow my own advice. My writing space is most often not inspiring in the least. My desk collects clutter faster than my floors collect my dog’s hair. (Trust me that this is freakishly shocking!) On it, in addition to papers from my children’s school, I see power cords to charge the multitude of electronic devices in our home. I have a sizable stack of papers that ‘must be attended to immediately’ because the basket I have in my kitchen for this stuff is towering and leaning into the toaster. My hands can instantly land on a variety of notes my children have written, like a recent one to my husband from our seven year old daughter, “Dad, I want a chocolate sundae with chocolate sauce. I do not like Greyson (her 12 year old brother) at all.” *sigh*
And this morning, where am I? I’m sitting at my children’s computer because the one my husband and I share has gone on the fritz. So let me look around and see what inspires me this morning. Ah, CD’s and DVD’s and Game Cube games are scattered everywhere. There are numerous action figures staring at me. Ah, there's Phil from Disney’s Hercules glaring at me. Here’s the boxed set of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Oh…and a couple of iTunes gift cards. Could be useful. I wonder if the kids will miss these?
Ok, so you can see that I need to create a space that honors my writer-self. Everyone should. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Don’t over think it. The idea here is that you are a writer and if you treat your space (and time!) seriously, you will then take yourself seriously.
Some ideas are a clutter free desk. (The idea of this sends a flutter to my heart!) Perhaps a bulletin board above your desk with inspirational photos, quotes that speak to you, colors that make you feel good or maybe a mini collage of images that relate to the book you’re writing. Some people light a candle, usually the same scent. I know some people have the same drink at hand, whether it is water, tea, diet coke…whatever helps you feel comfortable and get into your zone.
Your space can be anything, but make it something. Create and honor your writing space. Honor your writing self.
Tell us about your space? Inspire me to spruce mine up, would you please?
A very important aspect of writing is your surroundings when you write. Have you created a space that supports your creative nature? Do the things around you, the items in view, the chair you sit in, the smells tickling your nose support or inhibit your creative self? Have you ever thought about this? You should!
Now, admission time, I have to laugh a little at the topic I chose for my blog because I need to follow my own advice. My writing space is most often not inspiring in the least. My desk collects clutter faster than my floors collect my dog’s hair. (Trust me that this is freakishly shocking!) On it, in addition to papers from my children’s school, I see power cords to charge the multitude of electronic devices in our home. I have a sizable stack of papers that ‘must be attended to immediately’ because the basket I have in my kitchen for this stuff is towering and leaning into the toaster. My hands can instantly land on a variety of notes my children have written, like a recent one to my husband from our seven year old daughter, “Dad, I want a chocolate sundae with chocolate sauce. I do not like Greyson (her 12 year old brother) at all.” *sigh*
And this morning, where am I? I’m sitting at my children’s computer because the one my husband and I share has gone on the fritz. So let me look around and see what inspires me this morning. Ah, CD’s and DVD’s and Game Cube games are scattered everywhere. There are numerous action figures staring at me. Ah, there's Phil from Disney’s Hercules glaring at me. Here’s the boxed set of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Oh…and a couple of iTunes gift cards. Could be useful. I wonder if the kids will miss these?
Ok, so you can see that I need to create a space that honors my writer-self. Everyone should. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Don’t over think it. The idea here is that you are a writer and if you treat your space (and time!) seriously, you will then take yourself seriously.
Some ideas are a clutter free desk. (The idea of this sends a flutter to my heart!) Perhaps a bulletin board above your desk with inspirational photos, quotes that speak to you, colors that make you feel good or maybe a mini collage of images that relate to the book you’re writing. Some people light a candle, usually the same scent. I know some people have the same drink at hand, whether it is water, tea, diet coke…whatever helps you feel comfortable and get into your zone.
Your space can be anything, but make it something. Create and honor your writing space. Honor your writing self.
Tell us about your space? Inspire me to spruce mine up, would you please?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday Writing Prompt
Okay, so here's your task : )
Use two characters from your work in progress or characters you create just for this exercise. Or, because this bit of writing is just for you use characters from your favorite movie or television show. The only restriction is, these characters must somehow be a pair. They are either married, dedicated to each other, life partners, family, or best friends. This is important because...
These two people are going on vacation (and yeah, I kind of envy them!). They've decided to take a driving vacation to see the country(side). (They're fictional; they're not worried about the cost of gas.) So here's the catch. Character One wants to have a plan in place before they depart, preferably including attraction and hotel reservations. Character Two wants to get in the car and see where the road takes them.
Your task is to write the scene between the two characters as they discuss this difference in opinion and arrive at an agreement.
Good luck and get writing!!
Use two characters from your work in progress or characters you create just for this exercise. Or, because this bit of writing is just for you use characters from your favorite movie or television show. The only restriction is, these characters must somehow be a pair. They are either married, dedicated to each other, life partners, family, or best friends. This is important because...
These two people are going on vacation (and yeah, I kind of envy them!). They've decided to take a driving vacation to see the country(side). (They're fictional; they're not worried about the cost of gas.) So here's the catch. Character One wants to have a plan in place before they depart, preferably including attraction and hotel reservations. Character Two wants to get in the car and see where the road takes them.
Your task is to write the scene between the two characters as they discuss this difference in opinion and arrive at an agreement.
Good luck and get writing!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Quote of the Day
It's none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Sunday, April 13, 2008
To Plot or Not to Plot, That is the Question
There is an age-old feud amongst writers: Plotters versus Pantsters. That is, should you plot out the course of your novel, or should you fly through it by the seat of your pants?
In my opinion, you should do both.
I've been on both sides of the feud. I wrote my first novel completely by the seat of my pants, blindfolded and with no map at all. There was something wonderfully spontaneous about it, like I was living on the edge all the time. Every time I sat down to write I was given a new surprise, a new twist that took my breath away. I loved the freefall of it.
But the novel took me five years to finish, and then another year of extensive edits to get it in shape to submit. Granted, that draft got me my agent. But the novel didn't sell, and a big reason, I believe, is because it still needs editing, and a lot of the stuff that probably needs to go is stuff I found while I was on my wild ride and refused to let go of.
When I started my second novel, I didn't want to lose that spontaneity, but I didn't want to take six years to write it. So I sketched out a loose outline using The Hero's Journey (a book by Chris Vogler - highly recommended) template. Then halfway through writing the book I realized that the story needed to start a lot later so I started rewriting the whole thing. I never adjusted my outline, and so once again I was flying virtually by the seat of my pants. That book remains unfinished.
With my third novel, my current WIP (work-in-progress), I decided that I wanted to finish it in less than a year. That meant I needed a strong outline, a clear road map of where I needed to go. I took a class in Plotting Via Motivation (with WriterUniv.com - also highly recommended), I drudged up all my old notes from various plotting workshops I'd attended at conferences and I dragged out The Hero's Journey. I put together a hero's journey template for my MC (main character) and even worked out a scene plot. I'm on track to finish the book within the time frame I've given myself.
The important thing is that even though I have this road map, I'm allowed to veer off it. That outline isn't chiseled in stone. Flights of fancy are of course allowed because characters aren't always predictable and sometimes things happen that surprise us. For instance, I just had a character pop up that I had not planned for or even heard of. But there he is. So I've got to adjust my scene to allow for him. There's still spontaneity. But I have found that spontaneity within a structure is ultimately much more productive - and time-saving.
Writers will debate plotting until they're blue in the face. Terry Brooks swears by outlining. Diana Gabaldon doesn't. Both are fantastic writers. You can't tell from the finished product whether a writer used an outline or didn't. (Well, sometimes you can, but that's a different blog).
It's all about which process works best for YOU. And it may even be dependent on the story. Maybe my first book needed to be written in that meandering, fly-by-night way. My current WIP needs structure. The important thing is to listen to yourself, to your characters, and decide.
In my opinion, you should do both.
I've been on both sides of the feud. I wrote my first novel completely by the seat of my pants, blindfolded and with no map at all. There was something wonderfully spontaneous about it, like I was living on the edge all the time. Every time I sat down to write I was given a new surprise, a new twist that took my breath away. I loved the freefall of it.
But the novel took me five years to finish, and then another year of extensive edits to get it in shape to submit. Granted, that draft got me my agent. But the novel didn't sell, and a big reason, I believe, is because it still needs editing, and a lot of the stuff that probably needs to go is stuff I found while I was on my wild ride and refused to let go of.
When I started my second novel, I didn't want to lose that spontaneity, but I didn't want to take six years to write it. So I sketched out a loose outline using The Hero's Journey (a book by Chris Vogler - highly recommended) template. Then halfway through writing the book I realized that the story needed to start a lot later so I started rewriting the whole thing. I never adjusted my outline, and so once again I was flying virtually by the seat of my pants. That book remains unfinished.
With my third novel, my current WIP (work-in-progress), I decided that I wanted to finish it in less than a year. That meant I needed a strong outline, a clear road map of where I needed to go. I took a class in Plotting Via Motivation (with WriterUniv.com - also highly recommended), I drudged up all my old notes from various plotting workshops I'd attended at conferences and I dragged out The Hero's Journey. I put together a hero's journey template for my MC (main character) and even worked out a scene plot. I'm on track to finish the book within the time frame I've given myself.
The important thing is that even though I have this road map, I'm allowed to veer off it. That outline isn't chiseled in stone. Flights of fancy are of course allowed because characters aren't always predictable and sometimes things happen that surprise us. For instance, I just had a character pop up that I had not planned for or even heard of. But there he is. So I've got to adjust my scene to allow for him. There's still spontaneity. But I have found that spontaneity within a structure is ultimately much more productive - and time-saving.
Writers will debate plotting until they're blue in the face. Terry Brooks swears by outlining. Diana Gabaldon doesn't. Both are fantastic writers. You can't tell from the finished product whether a writer used an outline or didn't. (Well, sometimes you can, but that's a different blog).
It's all about which process works best for YOU. And it may even be dependent on the story. Maybe my first book needed to be written in that meandering, fly-by-night way. My current WIP needs structure. The important thing is to listen to yourself, to your characters, and decide.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Weekly Writing Prompt
Distractions, distractions -- they're everywhere, aren't they? I think we can all agree that being distracted from your writing is a Bad Thing - because then you're not writing, right? But sometimes, distractions can be Horrible Things (distracted driving, anyone?) And sometimes, distractions can be Pleasant Things (the suprising scent of flowers). You know, personally, what happens when you get distracted. What happens to the characters in your work in progress? Or, what might happen when a regular joe or jane gets distracted?
This week's writing prompt / challenge asks you to take a character - one from your work in progress or an entirely new character - and write 1500 words or more on what happens when that character allows him/herself to be distracted.
Happy writing!!
This week's writing prompt / challenge asks you to take a character - one from your work in progress or an entirely new character - and write 1500 words or more on what happens when that character allows him/herself to be distracted.
Happy writing!!
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Quote of the Week
You can't say, I won't write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then… you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer.
Dorothy C. Fontana
Dorothy C. Fontana
Monday, April 07, 2008
Topic o' the week - Distractions
This week's discussion topic is about the little things that distract us from our writing. Not major life events, but mundane items that keep us away from our our love/hate relationship with the keyboard.
Most writers will tell you that the way to get something written is to simply put your behind in the chair and write the dang thing. Yeah, right. We know that it's harder than that. Spouses, kids, jobs, chores, Free Cell addiction...they all throw monkey wrenches in our best-laid plans to craft the world's greatest tome. What are some of the things that can motivate us to face the page and get going?
My own current work floundered for a year or so, until my amazing friends did something I couldn't - set a specific goal. 'First draft completed by year end', they said. After I was done laughing, I realized it would be do-able. I set a word count target per day. I wrote as much as I could on some days, and on others, well... I had to take care of kids, jobs, and life. Doing one hour sprints with my friends brought out creativity in me that I didn't know I had. I wrote over 50,000 words in less than eight weeks - and I have three busy boys, two jobs, and a husband (though he's a very supportive husband). Imagine my surprise when I finished two weeks ahead of schedule!
Your motivation could be a promise to submit to an agent, a deadline from your editor, a contest cut-off date, a looming holiday or upcoming birthday...whatever works for you, use it! Maybe start with fifteen minutes to write or journal. Then make it thirty. Then shoot for a one hour sprint, three times a week. Just keep going! If you love games, make the game your reward for writing a few hundred words. ( A word of caution...if your reward is one dark chocolate M&M per word, it'll only make your behind meld with your chair. I'm just sayin', is all.)
So, what are your distractions, and what motivates you to ignore them and face that empty page?
Julie
**A small plug here...the FTP members took an online workshop from Writer's University http://www.writeruniv.com/ called 'Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors'. It's all about finding out what works for you to make your goals attainable. It's written and moderated by Margie Lawson. http://www.margielawson.com/ I highly recommend any Writer's University class!
Most writers will tell you that the way to get something written is to simply put your behind in the chair and write the dang thing. Yeah, right. We know that it's harder than that. Spouses, kids, jobs, chores, Free Cell addiction...they all throw monkey wrenches in our best-laid plans to craft the world's greatest tome. What are some of the things that can motivate us to face the page and get going?
My own current work floundered for a year or so, until my amazing friends did something I couldn't - set a specific goal. 'First draft completed by year end', they said. After I was done laughing, I realized it would be do-able. I set a word count target per day. I wrote as much as I could on some days, and on others, well... I had to take care of kids, jobs, and life. Doing one hour sprints with my friends brought out creativity in me that I didn't know I had. I wrote over 50,000 words in less than eight weeks - and I have three busy boys, two jobs, and a husband (though he's a very supportive husband). Imagine my surprise when I finished two weeks ahead of schedule!
Your motivation could be a promise to submit to an agent, a deadline from your editor, a contest cut-off date, a looming holiday or upcoming birthday...whatever works for you, use it! Maybe start with fifteen minutes to write or journal. Then make it thirty. Then shoot for a one hour sprint, three times a week. Just keep going! If you love games, make the game your reward for writing a few hundred words. ( A word of caution...if your reward is one dark chocolate M&M per word, it'll only make your behind meld with your chair. I'm just sayin', is all.)
So, what are your distractions, and what motivates you to ignore them and face that empty page?
Julie
**A small plug here...the FTP members took an online workshop from Writer's University http://www.writeruniv.com/ called 'Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors'. It's all about finding out what works for you to make your goals attainable. It's written and moderated by Margie Lawson. http://www.margielawson.com/ I highly recommend any Writer's University class!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Neo-Blogging 101
This is my first ever blog post, and I sorta feel like there should be fireworks and champagne. Or chocolate. Maybe some sort of tutoring manual to show me everything I'm doing right and wrong. Ah, well, I'm sure I'll learn fast enough.
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to being here on a regular basis!
Julie
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to being here on a regular basis!
Julie
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Saying Yes
This is actually Nicole's post, but blogger is giving her attitude this week, so I'm posting it for her : )
One of the things I learned doing the Artist's Way program, and that is also a key component of The Secret, is the importance of saying Yes. This was illustrated to me in the past couple of days.
Remember my story (below) about the film audition? Well, to flesh it out a bit, I was up for the role of the wife of a composer/pianist who has lost his hearing. The role was pretty small. At the audition, the director told me she'd be doing some rewrites before the shoot and that the role could get even smaller. Would I still be interested, she asked.
Yes, I said. After all, I was there to get on-camera experience, no matter how big the part. And a small role is better than no role.
The night before the shoot, the director emailed me in a panic. She couldn't find anyone to play the lead, the composer/pianist. All the men she'd auditioned either weren't right or flaked out on her. If she changed the role to a female, would I be willing to do it?
Again, I said Yes.
I got to set on Saturday morning and I now had the lead role. I got to play the cool, challenging part of a composer/pianist who has lost her hearing. It was fantastic! I had a great time and the director was really pleased with my work. It turned out for the best, she said.
My saying Yes opened more doors for me on this project than I expected!
More success - while on break at the shoot, I was writing in my journal about how grateful I was, and my phone rang. It was the stage manager of another show I'd auditioned for, offering me the job. Now, I wasn't offered the role I wanted, but I said Yes anyway. Work begets work.
So far my reports have been about my acting work, but I have had successes in writing, too. Mainly that I'm getting words on the page and working through trouble
scenes. It's a quieter success than the acting, but it's still a success.
The week lies ahead of me and all I see are possibilities. Stay tuned!
One of the things I learned doing the Artist's Way program, and that is also a key component of The Secret, is the importance of saying Yes. This was illustrated to me in the past couple of days.
Remember my story (below) about the film audition? Well, to flesh it out a bit, I was up for the role of the wife of a composer/pianist who has lost his hearing. The role was pretty small. At the audition, the director told me she'd be doing some rewrites before the shoot and that the role could get even smaller. Would I still be interested, she asked.
Yes, I said. After all, I was there to get on-camera experience, no matter how big the part. And a small role is better than no role.
The night before the shoot, the director emailed me in a panic. She couldn't find anyone to play the lead, the composer/pianist. All the men she'd auditioned either weren't right or flaked out on her. If she changed the role to a female, would I be willing to do it?
Again, I said Yes.
I got to set on Saturday morning and I now had the lead role. I got to play the cool, challenging part of a composer/pianist who has lost her hearing. It was fantastic! I had a great time and the director was really pleased with my work. It turned out for the best, she said.
My saying Yes opened more doors for me on this project than I expected!
More success - while on break at the shoot, I was writing in my journal about how grateful I was, and my phone rang. It was the stage manager of another show I'd auditioned for, offering me the job. Now, I wasn't offered the role I wanted, but I said Yes anyway. Work begets work.
So far my reports have been about my acting work, but I have had successes in writing, too. Mainly that I'm getting words on the page and working through trouble
scenes. It's a quieter success than the acting, but it's still a success.
The week lies ahead of me and all I see are possibilities. Stay tuned!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Secret of The Secret
Before I begin this post, I would like to suggest that anyone following our experiment buy the book or download the video of The Secret. No, I am not advertising, but as an author, I respect copyright. We will be mentioning things in this blog that are derived from someone else's work. That person should benefit from having provided the fodder. 'Nuff said.
I think the single most important principle of The Secret is what they are calling the 'law of attraction.' That is, if we are in a positive place and filled with positive energy, we will attract positive things to us.
The step that we as a group have discussed as being equally important is taking ACTION. Attract those positive possibilities to you with the positive energy your attitude will generate, and then take the steps necessary to make things happen.
How much can we control in our lives by adhering to these principles? That remains to be seen. I believe we will see good things come about in this month (and beyond.)
To be frank, we are all coming into this experiment coping with or rebounding from some astounding hurdles in our lives, including major surgery, marital disintegration, relocation (one coast to coast, one clandestine and another international), family illness, etc. When I say we are going to put The Secret to the test, I really mean To The Test!
In my mind, there is no sense waiting for 'the perfect time' to begin something like this. Life happens. There is always going to be something we can use to keep us from our goals. If we wait for those things to go away, we will never get there.
I'm a prime example. With four kids (five if you count my DH) a puppy and a writing career to manage, there is always something that goes awry. And with all those extra people in the mix (plus editor, agent, publicist, et al) how am I supposed to control my own destiny?
This is the challenge. According to the book, if I command the universe to make this happen, it will. Hey, universe, are you listening?
Stay tuned. This is going to get interesting.
I think the single most important principle of The Secret is what they are calling the 'law of attraction.' That is, if we are in a positive place and filled with positive energy, we will attract positive things to us.
The step that we as a group have discussed as being equally important is taking ACTION. Attract those positive possibilities to you with the positive energy your attitude will generate, and then take the steps necessary to make things happen.
How much can we control in our lives by adhering to these principles? That remains to be seen. I believe we will see good things come about in this month (and beyond.)
To be frank, we are all coming into this experiment coping with or rebounding from some astounding hurdles in our lives, including major surgery, marital disintegration, relocation (one coast to coast, one clandestine and another international), family illness, etc. When I say we are going to put The Secret to the test, I really mean To The Test!
In my mind, there is no sense waiting for 'the perfect time' to begin something like this. Life happens. There is always going to be something we can use to keep us from our goals. If we wait for those things to go away, we will never get there.
I'm a prime example. With four kids (five if you count my DH) a puppy and a writing career to manage, there is always something that goes awry. And with all those extra people in the mix (plus editor, agent, publicist, et al) how am I supposed to control my own destiny?
This is the challenge. According to the book, if I command the universe to make this happen, it will. Hey, universe, are you listening?
Stay tuned. This is going to get interesting.
The Secret: Taking Control
As Jen mentioned below, we've embarked on a month-long experiment of The Secret and how we can make it work for us. We started our experiment with The Burn on Wednesday night, and yesterday was our first full day of the experiment.
As you know, I'm an actress in addition to being a writer, and yesterday I had an audition for a short film. Nothing huge, nothing directed by Scorcese, but a chance to get more on-camera experience which I sorely need. I liked the script a lot and thought the role would be a good one for me. So right before the audition, I took a few minutes to write down what I was grateful for that day. Here's what my list consisted of:
I am happy & grateful for this beautiful day. [I live in Los Angeles and the weather has been amazing here!]
I am happy & grateful that I was able to write today. [I got in 1200 words yesterday!]
I am happy & grateful that Chris is feeling better. [My hubby got hit with a case of food poisoning two days ago, poor thing]
I am happy & grateful that there were so many Shakespeare auditions in Backstage West today.
I am happy & grateful that my dad & I had a great conversation last night.
I am happy & grateful that I have such great friends.
That was it. Nothing earth-shattering, but just taking the time to acknowledge all the wonderful things in my life right now.
Then I wrote that I wanted to get cast in the film. I went to the audition and did a good job. Two hours later, the director called me to offer me the part.
Here's the thing. As artists, we often feel like we don't have a lot of control over our careers. It's up to someone else to cast me in a show or to publish my book. Those things are out of my control. So it is important to utilize everything that is in my control and take back that power. It was in my control to be grateful. It was in my control to send positive energy out to the Universe. It was in my control to do a good job at the audition. All of those things gave me power. And that power landed me the role.
Even if I had not been cast, I could honestly say that I did everything within my control to get that part. And what could be more powerful than that?
I'll be checking in often with more comments on The Secret Experiment and with more successes, I'm sure!
As you know, I'm an actress in addition to being a writer, and yesterday I had an audition for a short film. Nothing huge, nothing directed by Scorcese, but a chance to get more on-camera experience which I sorely need. I liked the script a lot and thought the role would be a good one for me. So right before the audition, I took a few minutes to write down what I was grateful for that day. Here's what my list consisted of:
I am happy & grateful for this beautiful day. [I live in Los Angeles and the weather has been amazing here!]
I am happy & grateful that I was able to write today. [I got in 1200 words yesterday!]
I am happy & grateful that Chris is feeling better. [My hubby got hit with a case of food poisoning two days ago, poor thing]
I am happy & grateful that there were so many Shakespeare auditions in Backstage West today.
I am happy & grateful that my dad & I had a great conversation last night.
I am happy & grateful that I have such great friends.
That was it. Nothing earth-shattering, but just taking the time to acknowledge all the wonderful things in my life right now.
Then I wrote that I wanted to get cast in the film. I went to the audition and did a good job. Two hours later, the director called me to offer me the part.
Here's the thing. As artists, we often feel like we don't have a lot of control over our careers. It's up to someone else to cast me in a show or to publish my book. Those things are out of my control. So it is important to utilize everything that is in my control and take back that power. It was in my control to be grateful. It was in my control to send positive energy out to the Universe. It was in my control to do a good job at the audition. All of those things gave me power. And that power landed me the role.
Even if I had not been cast, I could honestly say that I did everything within my control to get that part. And what could be more powerful than that?
I'll be checking in often with more comments on The Secret Experiment and with more successes, I'm sure!
The Burn
In keeping with the idea that the principles of The Secret utilize positive thinking, and because we begin our Secret Experiment on 3/15, we chose 3/14 for "a burn". So what is this burn? Well, it's a shorthand title for starters - and we've lost track of what the official name is, but the theory and practice doesn't change. A burn is done to banish / release / destroy negative thought. And it is very simply accomplished...
Take a few moments of quiet time - really quiet. Sit with a piece of paper and a pen, and for those few moments "listen" to the negative thoughts invading your conscience. When we burn, our focus is on our writing. So the negative thoughts that might intrude can range from "you can't spell for crap" to "you'll never bepublished". A lot of negative thoughts that could be applied to any daily obstacle - not just writing - may come up, too. These are often along the lines of "you don't deserve success" and "pursuing your dream is selfish". And remember, this is just you and a piece of paper. No matter how absurd the thought, no matter how much your logic brain might try to argue (it might say tostop being ridiculous, pursuing a dream isn't selfish!) that negative thought belongs on the paper. Write it down. No one is going to see this list but you. Go to town with it. Write down every negative thought the voice of self-doubt is shouting /saying / whispering / insinuating.
Once the list is complete take a deep breath, a box of matches, and a fireproof container : ) I use a metal ashtray for this part of the exercise - a hibachi or fireplace of course works even better - and I keep my fire extinguisher close to hand because I have, in the past, been known to set fire to Thanksgiving dinner and my clothing, so I err on the side of caution. Take the piece of paper in hand and reduce it (tear it or use scissors to cut it) to whatever size is needed to fit it into your fireproof container. For an ashtray, make little pieces. For a fireplace, one tear might do. Whichever the case, as you tear or cut the paper, be very conscious of the idea that you have taken the first step toward destroying negative thoughts, the first step toward exerting your power over them. And once you've taken that first step and dropped that list into the fire pit, light it up. Let the heat of the fire consume and destroy the negative concepts that are holding you back from your success. Watch the negativity be reduced to ash and smoke, watch the smoke rise and dissipate to nothingness, watch the self-doubt that was keeping you from success fade and vanish.
And as the fire sputters out and you're left with a pile of ash, you'll be amazed athow good you feel. You've let go of the negativity and made space in your consciousness to allow the positive thoughts to rule.
Try it for yourself. Just remember to keep the fire extinguisher handy...
Take a few moments of quiet time - really quiet. Sit with a piece of paper and a pen, and for those few moments "listen" to the negative thoughts invading your conscience. When we burn, our focus is on our writing. So the negative thoughts that might intrude can range from "you can't spell for crap" to "you'll never bepublished". A lot of negative thoughts that could be applied to any daily obstacle - not just writing - may come up, too. These are often along the lines of "you don't deserve success" and "pursuing your dream is selfish". And remember, this is just you and a piece of paper. No matter how absurd the thought, no matter how much your logic brain might try to argue (it might say tostop being ridiculous, pursuing a dream isn't selfish!) that negative thought belongs on the paper. Write it down. No one is going to see this list but you. Go to town with it. Write down every negative thought the voice of self-doubt is shouting /saying / whispering / insinuating.
Once the list is complete take a deep breath, a box of matches, and a fireproof container : ) I use a metal ashtray for this part of the exercise - a hibachi or fireplace of course works even better - and I keep my fire extinguisher close to hand because I have, in the past, been known to set fire to Thanksgiving dinner and my clothing, so I err on the side of caution. Take the piece of paper in hand and reduce it (tear it or use scissors to cut it) to whatever size is needed to fit it into your fireproof container. For an ashtray, make little pieces. For a fireplace, one tear might do. Whichever the case, as you tear or cut the paper, be very conscious of the idea that you have taken the first step toward destroying negative thoughts, the first step toward exerting your power over them. And once you've taken that first step and dropped that list into the fire pit, light it up. Let the heat of the fire consume and destroy the negative concepts that are holding you back from your success. Watch the negativity be reduced to ash and smoke, watch the smoke rise and dissipate to nothingness, watch the self-doubt that was keeping you from success fade and vanish.
And as the fire sputters out and you're left with a pile of ash, you'll be amazed athow good you feel. You've let go of the negativity and made space in your consciousness to allow the positive thoughts to rule.
Try it for yourself. Just remember to keep the fire extinguisher handy...
Have you heard of The Secret?
It started like this....
Gerb sent us all an email asking if we'd heard of The Secret and the phenomena surrounding it. As is the way of things, I found the arrival of the mail to be pretty amusing, as just a few nights before, friends of mine had left the DVD at my house, encouraging me to watch it. But in the email, Gerb proposed what would very shortly come to be known as The Secret Experiment. She suggested we try applying the principles of The Secret to our writing lives...
(see comments for more...)
Gerb sent us all an email asking if we'd heard of The Secret and the phenomena surrounding it. As is the way of things, I found the arrival of the mail to be pretty amusing, as just a few nights before, friends of mine had left the DVD at my house, encouraging me to watch it. But in the email, Gerb proposed what would very shortly come to be known as The Secret Experiment. She suggested we try applying the principles of The Secret to our writing lives...
(see comments for more...)
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Are You Published?
It happened to me on Saturday.
I told someone I had never met I was a writer. "Oh, what have you published?" And the inevitable sneer and look down the nose when they find out I haven't yet.
It made me feel like I was an inch big. Because what right do I have to call myself a writer when I haven't published anything?
Well, the answer to that is - every right.
I sit down at the computer and my fingers move across the keyboard, my hand moves across the journal, palm cramped around the pen, I live through the lives of my characters, crying and laughing with them. All of these things comprise the act of writing, the physical and emotional act of writing. Every day I do this. Every time I commit words to the page I earn the right to call myself a writer.
The 500-page manuscript in my agent's office, filled with the blood, sweat and tears of six years of work, gives me the right to call myself a writer. The stacks of research books and pages of notes and 200 pages of rough and jumbled words for my new book give me the right to call myself a writer. But most of all, I give myself the right.
It is not for anyone else to bestow that title on me; not for an editor or an agent or the New York Times Book Review. Just me. I am the only person in the world who has the right to say I am a writer.
Remember that the next time someone asks you if you're published. It doesn't matter if you are or aren't. If you have put pen to paper, finger to keyboard, seen the world through your character's eyes - you are a writer.
I told someone I had never met I was a writer. "Oh, what have you published?" And the inevitable sneer and look down the nose when they find out I haven't yet.
It made me feel like I was an inch big. Because what right do I have to call myself a writer when I haven't published anything?
Well, the answer to that is - every right.
I sit down at the computer and my fingers move across the keyboard, my hand moves across the journal, palm cramped around the pen, I live through the lives of my characters, crying and laughing with them. All of these things comprise the act of writing, the physical and emotional act of writing. Every day I do this. Every time I commit words to the page I earn the right to call myself a writer.
The 500-page manuscript in my agent's office, filled with the blood, sweat and tears of six years of work, gives me the right to call myself a writer. The stacks of research books and pages of notes and 200 pages of rough and jumbled words for my new book give me the right to call myself a writer. But most of all, I give myself the right.
It is not for anyone else to bestow that title on me; not for an editor or an agent or the New York Times Book Review. Just me. I am the only person in the world who has the right to say I am a writer.
Remember that the next time someone asks you if you're published. It doesn't matter if you are or aren't. If you have put pen to paper, finger to keyboard, seen the world through your character's eyes - you are a writer.
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