It’s In the Details

Recently, we stayed at a resort close to the Camelback Mountains, in Arizona. Unlike hubby, who was stuck in meetings all day, I was lucky enough to sit in a lounge chair by the pool and drink in the beauty of these magnificent hills.I sat in the same chair every day. Directly in front of me, “attached to the “head” of the camel, was an outcropping of rock called “The Praying Monk”.” Now, I have a confession to make. Even though I had been at this resort for close to a week, I didn’t see it – the praying monk, that is.

The mountain as a whole had my undivided attention, but I hadn’t bothered to take in the details.

For someone who likes to create shapes out of clouds, I was stumped. And then it hit me – the aha moment when all becomes crystal clear – and when I wasn’t even looking for it. I glanced up from my book and saw it. It was glaringly obvious. There he was, in all his glory: a monk. Head bowed, kneeling in prayer, a cloak covering his head.

After spending nearly a week here, why hadn’t I seen it before? And then it struck me. Just like the Praying Monk, epiphanies hit you with the suddenness of a lightning bolt, when you least expect them. At the moment you stop actively searching for the answers and allow the universe to provide them, crucial insights will surface.

There’s a divine order to these things, I think. Time and again, the perfect solution to a gnarly question falls from the sky: a perfect blending of the right place at the right time and our own ability to put the knowledge into action is all that’s required.

I still shake my head in wonder as I look at the photo of what was right in front of me.

In much the same way the key to moving forward with my novel sits right in front of me. I had allowed the mountain of paper on my desk to stifle my creative flow. All I could see was a vast expanse of white. Was this a novel? Novella?..or maybe a short story! The questions swirled in my head, but I no longer knew.

I couldn’t see what was smack dab in front of me.

Write. And keep writing.

The details will emerge when I get out of the way and simply allow my characters to tell their stories. I’m in the right place at the right time, and I’m more than willing to put this knowledge into action.

Time to Write

Recently I stumbled across a blog post on “How to develop a story for your novel“. The blog’s title says it all for me: ‘Time to Write’.

To backtrack a little, I spent the spring and summer packing up my house. Writing took a back seat, as did visits to the dentist (my abscess tooth moldered in my mouth for a full two months), and anything that didn’t have to do with Moving House.

It struck me that this is a pattern I’ve cultivated in order to avoid loathsome tasks. My mantra had become: focus on one thing, to the exclusion of all else. Did writing a novel fall into the ‘loathsome task’ category? I thought so, until I spent a Sunday morning, recently, surfing the net. Before I knew it, I had read a dozen blogs – all of them were writers’ blogs, as it turned out, instead of the self-help, motivational ones that leave me feeling more drained of motivation than anything.

But after reading Jurgen Wolff’s practical tips on getting unstuck and moving forward with your novel, I realized that writing a novel isn’t what I’m avoiding in my life.

It’s the feelings of not measuring up, not being good enough, and therefore being unworthy. It’s the pain that follows on the heels of these feelings that’s kept me from the keyboard.

Jurgen Wolff has made it easier to stick my toe in the water. I don’t need to plunge headlong into the deep end.

Instead, I can start at the beginning. He suggests asking the question, What if? Start with the bare bones of your character’s life and flesh out a few possible scenarios.

“Sometimes at the end of a string of “what if” explorations you end up with a totally different character or story than you started with. That’s fine, you’re just playing around to explore and you keep going until you have a story you will enjoy writing and people will enjoy reading.”

In other words, what if I could have fun with it?

How to Be a Writing Maverick

by Sophronia Scott

Let’s face it. You read and study and seek advice from writing professionals like myself because you want to understand the convention of the publishing industry so you can be accepted and be successful in the realm. There’s nothing wrong with that. But I would like you to think about this for a moment: Sometimes there’s even more success to be had by going against the grain of what’s usually done. And there isn’t a better time than now to experiment with new approaches because these days “what’s usually done” in the publishing world isn’t working.

But before you set out to write the book that shatters convention or create the promotion that makes us all rethink how to sell a book, here are a few tips to keep in mind to help smooth your unpaved path.

Be Clear For Yourself
Know what you want to do and why you want to do it. Don’t worry if the reasons don’t make sense to anyone else. I’m sure no one could really understand why real estate maverick Frank McKinney wanted to write and publish a spiritual book, a real estate guide and a young adult novel all on exactly the same day, but I bet the reasons were crystal clear to him! Everyone else could only stand back in amazement as each book hit bestseller status. If you’re clear on your reasons for writing against the grain, it will help you to…

Be Strong in Your Conviction
Many people will tell you why you can’t do something–I could even be one of them! But if your plan is sound, and only you can know that for certain, move forward in the direction of your dreams. The book publishing industry has operated on convention for ages so it doles out the rejection slips like sprinkles in an ice cream shop. Authors like J.K. Rowling got more than their fair share. But because she held firm in her belief that her story of boy wizard Harry Potter was worthy, she was rewarded with a fortune.

Execute Well
It’s one thing to be a maverick. It’s quite another to be a bad maverick. I’m not even sure if there’s a proper word for a bad maverick. You’re just considered bad! If you’re going to write a book like no one has ever seen before, then it has to be good. There will be too many people waiting to say, “See, I told you it wouldn’t work.” Your work has to be on target and so polished it shines. A half-baked job won’t cut it.

Get Others On Your Bandwagon
When you write against the grain, it helps to have your own support team. You’ll need the positivity to outweigh the “no’s” you might hear along the way. Plus you’ll enjoy celebrating your triumph with people who were there with you the whole way–no johnny-come-lately’s at your party!

Show Some Personality
Now is not the time to sit back and be conservative with your writing. If you’re already stepping out to write something different, you may as well go all the way. Don’t be afraid to show your personality. Your brash mind came up with the idea–let it come out with all that brashness intact. You’ll draw more interest in your project, and you’ll have a lot more fun creating it!

One Last Note: Don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. If you’re doing something totally new, you might hesitate to talk about the project and keep it too much to yourself. Remember (and I learned this from author and coach Barbara Sher), isolation is a dream killer. The more people you tell about your bold vision, the more good energy you’ll build around it. And you’ll be that much more likely to drive that bold vision home.

© 2009 Sophfronia Scott

Sophfronia Scott is Executive Editor of the Done For You Writing & Publishing Company. Learn what a difference being a published author can make for your business. Get your FREE audio CD, “How to Succeed in Business By Becoming a Bestselling Author” and your FREE online writing and book publishing tips at www.DoneForYouWriting.com.

Laugh in the Face of Fear

This video cracks me up. And it gave me an idea. I keep bumping into gratitude, lately. Which is to say that sometimes I feel like I’m stumbling about in the dark when I’m facing a major decision, and then, out of the blue, a feeling of deep gratitude will wash through me. Like today, for instance. Since the New Year, I’ve been working on my novel. Or should I say, working on working on my novel. The story itself has fled for the hills, apparently, leaving me with the daunting task of starting the whole thing over again. Sigh.

Should I keep the main character? Or merely change the circumstances she finds herself in? And now that you mention it, just who is my heroine? These, and many other questions, sneaked up on me during the night, and left me staring at the ceiling. Blindsided by fear. Like a cunning Survivor member – Russell Hantz comes to mind, immediately – Fear knows exactly which buttons to push. And like Russell, fear won’t hesitate to cut you out, and cut you down to size, when it suits its purposes. As business coach, Aprille Janes once said, “Never underestimate the Inner Saboteur. He/she is very smart, AND just when you think you’ve successfully banished him, viola, he has henchmen!”  

I read today that 

“Fear is a mysterious thing. It’s mostly imagination based, but we live our lives as if it were the most physical thing in our existence. Many times in your life, you have probably discovered that things you were afraid to say, do, or have, were nowhere near as bad on the other side of them. At this time in our cultural history we are facing many real fears, including layoffs and financial losses, and while it’s worrying, and perhaps threatening, it’s not the end of the world.

Making changes in life is hard at the best of time. We like the ‘comfort zone’ of our existence, but many times we are deeply uncomfortable. We have a million reasons why we can’t or won’t do something, even when we know that doing things differently will improve our lives.

We are in transition with no way of knowing what’s next, and that’s when fear likes to show up. It lurks in the GAP between the known and the unknown. It keeps our mind locked on overdrive, worrying if we will survive.”

 Fear lurks in the shadows of the night, waiting to pounce. Last night, I took it by the hand and gladly invited it into my bed. Fear became my bedfellow, when really I should have treated it like an intruder.

In the clear light of day, as I stopped what I was doing and literally smelled the flowers, I found that gratitude is one of the most powerful antidotes to the poisonous presence of fear. And did I mention that it doesn’t hurt to laugh in the face of it?

Think Different

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes…”

I wrote this post a few days ago, but saved it in my draft folder. Almost as if I hadn’t finished with it, almost as if I needed to read someone else’s perspective. And then I stumbled upon a blog post that so closely mirrored how I was feeling that it took my breath away. The author captured that moment when we are suddenly aware of our surroundings: the mud beneath our feet, the clouds in the sky, and the various sounds the wind makes.

I realized that there was something I had left out in my own post. Gratitude. And I am thankful.

I am in Phoenix, Arizona, sighing with pleasure as I bask in the sun and stare at a robin’s egg blue sky. It looks like someone has stretched cotton batting across its surface, so I am playing a game of “What Shape Is It?” I used to play this game when I was little, but I can’t remember the last time I gave myself permission to play it. When my kids were small, maybe?

One of the shapes looks like the Snow Queen from Hans Christian Anderson has spread her arms wide in her quest to reach the heavens.

The sad truth is that I don’t allow myself the luxury of playing creative games like this, now that I’m a grown up. Or, at least, not very often. Why not? The obvious answer is that I consider them to be a waste of time – time that could be better spent cleaning, preparing meals, or writing.

In short, I could be doing something more productive.

So, it’s clearly time to “think different”. In that light, here is today’s intention: I will take at least 5 minutes every day to merely observe. Whether it’s a snow-capped mountain in Phoenix, or a snow-covered hill in my backyard in Toronto, I will rest from the need to do.

Because if something lifts your spirits – like watching a sunset that would take your breath away, or flakes of snow sliding down my kitchen window – then what in the world could be more productive than that?

And let me add another intention: I will practice being grateful. Gratitude will be the first thing I choose to embrace each morning, rather than choosing to focus on my to-do list.

And, lastly, I will count my blessings, rather than keeping a list of grievances. Because, when all is said and done, I have a pretty good life.

Come to the Edge

By Sophfronia Scott

How big do you think? When it comes to thinking about writing a book or planning strategy for a business, it seems we’re constantly being told to “Think Big”. Goals are supposed to be just big enough to make us uncomfortable. I do understand the importance of thinking big: it makes you stretch yourself and test your abilities.

But there’s a downside to thinking big: it can inspire fear. When you think too big or try to do too much, the possibility of failure looms. You fear failing, you fear trying. Next thing you know, you’re frozen with fear. I walk this line constantly. My current writing projects can easily be described as “ambitious” so fear is constantly lurking at the edge of the forest of my mind. Can I really write this? Can I finish it? When the fear rises, I find these two quotes to be helpful:

“‘Come to the edge,’ He said. They said, ‘We are afraid.’ ‘Come to the edge,’ He said. They came. He pushed them… and they flew.” — Guillaume Apollinaire

“You don’t have to save the whole world in a single bound. Small steps, taken again and again, will accomplish far more than any grandiose scheme.” — Ralph Marston

Notice in the first quote that the “they” do not have to start out flying. They are not asked to jump. They only have to “come to the edge”. The rest of what they needed–momentum, circumstance, opportunity (or, in this case, a friendly push)–showed up and took them the rest of the way. In the second quote, again, you see that you don’t have to accomplish the big thing all at once. You start small and you do something small. As you walk you achieve the world along the way.

You don’t have to write a 400-page book or execute a million-dollar business strategy all in one week. But you can write one page. You can send out one email or one letter to promote a product or service. You can then write another page, mail a postcard, or start a newsletter. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way.

And here’s the best part: as you’re moving along and taking your small steps, you won’t have space in your mind for fear. Every small accomplishment will push it further and further away. Then your book will be written, your business will be successful, and you will be flying. Come to the edge.

© 2010 Sophfronia Scott

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but you must include this complete resource box with it: Sophfronia Scott is Executive Editor of the Done For You Writing & Publishing Company. Learn what a difference being a published author can make for your business. Get your FREE audio CD, “How to Succeed in Business By Becoming a Bestselling Author” and your FREE online writing and book publishing tips at www.DoneForYouWriting.com.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
Just go to The Business By the Book Blog.

Writing is a Job

In a recent Washington Post article, Ann Patchett made a New Year’s resolution. She discovered a “radical concept — time spent working equals output of work.” It dawned on her that writing is a job, and therefore not to be taken lightly. You mean… it’s not something that I squeeze in between jaunts to the supermarket, dry cleaners, hair salon, and doctor’s appointments? Not to mention laundry, scouring the oven, and cleaning toilets?? All of which I do to avoid sitting down at the computer and facing my Inner Editor, by the way.

It’s not that I’m actually afraid of my Inner Saboteur (who, when my writing instructor asked the class to put a face and name to it, turned out to be an annoying Leprechaun, utterly devoid of the power and magnificence of The Great and Powerful Oz).

The fact is…I buy into pretty much everything he has to say. And it turns out that I’m not the only writer who does.

According to Ann Patchett (who, incidentally, is the author of five novels, including Bel Canto (winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize),

“Writing is an endless confrontation with my own lack of talent and intelligence, because if I were as smart and talented as I ought to be, I would have finished this book by now. I would consider avoiding work the better plan were it not for the fact that to have written a book, to have finished it, is such a glorious thing that it is worth whatever suffering is meted out in the process.”

The trick, I think, is to see the Inner Editor for who he (or she) truly is: the man behind the curtain, whose sole purpose in life is to keep us safe – protected from even a glancing blow of failure.

Once I managed to see his true colours, I took great delight in throwing back the curtain, and showing him the door. Not that he doesn’t skulk into my office whenever he can get the chance. But, he’s an intruder, and ever since the day I stood up to him and stripped him of his title of General Know-It-All, I was ready to accept a new voice into my creative hub room. A voice that gently guides me through the miasma of creating something even vaguely readable.

So, who knows? Maybe, now that I have a new boss, and I take the time each day to actually work on this novel that’s been taking up every square inch of space in my brain for the past two years – actually see it as a job – the results won’t be half bad. Or, as Ann Patchett said, it “may well be brilliant. Now there’s a beautiful thought.”

5 Ways to improve your writing and concentration :: 10,000 Words

{{desc}}

via 5 Ways to improve your writing and concentration :: 10,000 Words.

Photo:  dbdbrobot

Going After the Things You Want

“Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done” – Ernie Kovacs

I have the kind of cold that sends you underground. This place is either your bed, or the room where your TV resides. I grew up in a home where daytime TV was considered verboten. The message I absorbed was that couch potatoes fall into two categories: (1) they suffer from a debilitating illness, or (2) they are malingerers.

So, of course, when this mother of all colds hit this week, I hit the TV trail. And Oprah was my first pitstop. Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle were her guests, and I settled in with my blankie, a box of man-sized Kleenex, and a hefty mug of scalding tea. My greatest wish was to escape, even for an hour, the constant need to blow my nose and hack into my arm.  

What I didn’t expect was that I’d end up sobbing into my Kleenex, while warbling along with Adam Lambert. And I certainly didn’t expect to be jolted out of my snug, safe place by two such divergent personalities as Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle.

As soon as the credits rolled at the end of the show, I ran for my journal. My hand flew across the page, downloading everything that’s been sitting inside, afraid to show its face to the world (or at least some of it):

• Don’t be afraid of what you want.
• And don’t be afraid of going after it.
• Visualize your dream; then take action.
• Take what you do seriously, but have fun with it.                                                           
• Your gift lies within, but it belongs to the world.
• So give it – fearlessly, willingly, lovingly. The world has never seen your gift before, I promise you.

Why Be a Fearless Writer?

Last week I started a conversation about fear and declared this year to be “The Year of Living Fearlessly”. I mentioned that writers already hold a certain amount of fearlessness. This week I’d like to go a little further and think about what fearlessness looks like to a writer–and why it’s so important for you to cultivate fearlessness.

There’s a piece from a book review written of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden that I keep on my desk. It refers to the book as, “A novel planned on the grandest possible scale…One of those occasions when a writer has aimed high and then summoned every ounce of energy, talent, seriousness, and passion of which he was capable…” Now one could say that if a writer is “aiming high”, he is working from ego and hubris. That may be true.

But I think what such aim really requires is fearlessness. Only a fearless writer can dive into the depths and truthfully describe what he observes in the most devastatingly beautiful way he can. Only by facing the fear of your writing not being good enough can you ensure that it will become excellent.

Learning how to handle fear, I believe, is one of the most important skills we can master. The author Matthew Kelly, in his insightful program, Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose, points out that the phrase “Do not be afraid,” appears over a thousand times in the Bible, words often attributed to God Himself. Why is that? Because, as Mr. Kelly says, “God knows the measure of our life is the measure of our courage.”

I believe he’s right, and that’s why I feel it’s important to have this discussion right now. The measure of your life will be the measure of your courage. It is up to you to decide whether you are up to the challenge or whether you will fall short. But I will tell you this: I believe you can measure up to be far greater than you imagine.

© 2010 Sophfronia Scott

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but you must include this complete resource box with it: Sophfronia Scott is Executive Editor of the Done For You Writing & Publishing Company. Learn what a difference being a published author can make for your business. Get your FREE audio CD, “How to Succeed in Business By Becoming a Bestselling Author” and your FREE online writing and book publishing tips at www.DoneForYouWriting.com.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
Just go to The Business By the Book Blog.