This is a post from August McLaughlin, which I find inspiring and also wish that many aspiring writers get to read. Enjoy!
writing ideas
The Ghost of a Thousand Lives
Ghost?! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Muse made me do it …
The Ghost of a Thousand Lives
Where is the crown that makes you king?
Where is the sword that shines of courage?
Where is the stare that froze a thousand fires?
Where is the fire that melts an iceberg heart?
Where have you gone, the eyes cannot see,
If not but a speck of the brave, nor a sunshine ray,
In the depths of the soul, the hero is lost,
All that remains … the ghost of a thousand lives.
Book Progress
This is a short update on my writing progress – it has been a while since my last post about my novels. Currently, I am working on final revisions for two novels. I have decided to work on the third novel which is semi-organized in paper and thoughts, and will postpone publishing for now. There are a few reasons for this, and I rather wait until I straighten some issues. In addition, my uncertainty about looking for an agent and going indie has cleared up. I find that the wait helped me understand indie publishing a bit better, and although not my intention at the beginning (I was thinking about going the traditional route), now I feel that the right path for me is indie publishing. This path seems to agree much more with my personality, work ethics, and working style.
One thing worries me; there seems to be a self-publishing frenzy going on now, and tons of poor quality work out in print. In addition, there is the conflict with pricing issues between Amazon and publishing houses, authors and publishing houses, and everyone and their neighbors … It is obvious that this frenzy will subside eventually, and hopefully, the writers looking for a quick buck will dwindle as well, and just as with an ice age, that the writing environment clears up. These things concern me now and weigh heavy on my decision to self-publish. Added to issues of a pending move out-of-state, financial, and lifestyle changes, the best path is to wait and keep writing the third novel.
A friend told me that I was risking missing the boat by waiting but I disagree. I don’t think anybody’s boat goes missing just because one decides to wait until the time that it feels right (and that is a personal issue and different for everyone). However, I happen to agree with chasing opportunity when it knocks and if you feel ready for the chase. Many times, “just jump now” works; other times, you may find that the abyss could have been avoided if you just waited until your foot was touching ground.
How do you feel about the self-publishing frenzy going on now or about self-publishing in general? Feel free to share your experience in the comment section.
Where to Go from Now
Where to go from now? This is a question that many of us ask, as we tend to worry sick about the future – career, finances, relationships … We make plans, lists, life maps … you name it, in the hopes of being too careful about how we live our lives and plan our future. We dream of better days, success, and happy lives … and that is good – planning for the future is good; however, we forget about the Now.
It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a worry wart or not, we all do it – we lose sleep about the promotion, the query, the bills … however, we forget to live the life that we have been gifted on this day. Sometimes, it takes an unfortunate event, or a series (in stubborn cases) to make us realize that the important moment is the one that we have been given by our next breath, and the gift of a brand new day. NOW is what truly matters. I was having this conversation with one of my sisters and we agreed on how futile it is to sweat the big and small stuff when it hasn’t even showed up.
One of my favorite quotes from the bible Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reads,
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to
embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
I like it because it reminds me of the Now and of the human condition and nature. In my opinion, this verse “gets us.” Sometimes, we don’t even understand our purpose under the sun; however, the Now is always there, and all we have to do is live it.
Next time the question “Where to go from now?” pops in your mind (or heart) answer it with a simple NOW.
The Mausoleum Writer
This post was inspired by a postcard that my husband received in yesterday’s mail. It was a promotional card for buying your own mausoleum. The card is truly cute and kind of happy for such death talk. It is colorful and direct to the point, and I thought that the message was delivered in a smart sassy way and pushed the right buttons – family – significant other – guilt. The words Always and Alone are written in a fun aqua font so talking about the creepy topic is not so creepy, and that leaving the ones that you Always loved Alone to take care of the arrangements, is taken care ahead of time. This marketing card is going to get noticed for certain – look at me, I’m writing about it on this blog. It stands out from other too serious and “party of life poopers” promotional/marketing ads for funerals and mausoleums. The funny thing is that my husband and I have not even reached the age of 50 yet. But this got me thinking. Once you are over the hill, society starts thinking of your funeral, assisted living or nursing home care, life insurance, reversible mortgages … and so on, the promotional/marketing literature keeps on coming, because this is how you are seen, with just a few steps closer to one of those alternatives.
This got me thinking some more – do I view myself in the same light? The answer to that question was a bit conflicting and this is why. I, for certain, don’t feel closer to a mausoleum or a nursing home, on the contrary, I feel young, healthy, and with much yet to live and do. On the other side, realizing that I passed forty and fifty is in the horizon, brings a sense of urgency to my projects and things that I want to accomplish before hitting the mausoleum or the nursing home. I have read more than once, that starting a writing career in your forties, is starting a bit late, and for that matter, any other ventures that may require time ahead of you. I have never agreed with that philosophy. I think that each one of us goes on a journey, and the time is right when the time is right, and opportunities abound at each bent of road. The important thing is to follow your call, live your dream, and love what you do, but do it – no matter what age you happen to be.
I resent being told what to expect at any age, and I don’t like to be told what to do about it either. I am far from a procrastinator; however, I believe that there is a time for everything under the sun, and the sun keeps shining until my last breath – and that is when I would become the Mausoleum Writer.
Here is a picture of the Happy Death Card.
The front of the card.
This is the back of it. I hid the business name, but you can see the sense of urgency, the pretty and happy font, and tons of marketing psychology in between the lines.
We had a good chuckle. Do you think that you are too old for a writing career?
The Worst and Best Motivator
This shot was taken in a very lonely road going outside of Sapa in north Vietnam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Chances are you won’t make it.” – I consider that phrase the worst and best motivator.
Why? Because it can motivate you to fight against the odds, inspire you to prove them wrong, and fuel your heart; but on the other hand, it can take all that away from you, demoralize you and send you to the bottom of the barrel. It is true that many times, it depends on where it comes from – on who said it; however, the attitude you choose is up to you. Either fight back and hold on to your dream or sink to the bottom.
Ah, but is not that easy. When you hear that phrase after many trials and failures it becomes heavier, and your beat up vulnerable heart and spirit has weakened to a point where you think that you have no strength to prove them wrong, to fight against the odds or to keep holding on. It is very different if that was said to you when you started your journey, isn’t it? All fresh, with tons of energy, exuberant and smelling of soon to be success, drunk on the juices of the big dream cocktail and ready to fight against the odds, prove them wrong, and hold on with your teeth if necessary. What happened?
The journey happened. It is all part of the journey, the trials, the failures, the tiredness, the broken heart, the broken dreams, the broken spirit … Until you understand that all is part of the journey, you won’t be able to keep going. It is the path that takes you there, but only you can follow it.
About Creativity and Appreciation
Creativity – Characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative (American Heritage Dictionary)
Appreciation – Recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things. (American Heritage Dictionary)
Looking at those definitions, one can see the close relation between the two words. When we create something, whatever that may be, we put ourselves into that project; we give much effort, and there is a sense of pride in the very depth of our artistic soul. Many times, we are so proud of our work that we want to share it with the world, or with friends and family – many times, there is no feedback, many times, it seems as if no one is listening. There is no appreciation.
And that takes us to the definition of appreciation and why a bit of appreciation goes a long way. Artists/writers are emotional and very creative people, whether they show it on the outside or not. Lack of feedback or appreciation can weaken the artist’s spirit. It may seem as if a vortex has swallowed his/her precious efforts and no one seems to notice. What’s worse is that the artist/writer identifies with his/her work so deeply that lack of appreciation translates into lack of esteem/love/appreciation towards the artist-persona, or the human behind the work or piece of art. Therefore, we as writers/artists tend to suffer when our work is ignored, not recognize or praised, and we may fall into artistic self-pity or worst, depression and lack of motivation, which can only lead to artist or writer’s block and the false belief that “we are just not good enough.”
Next time you are feeling so low in relation to your art or writing, think of why you are feeling that way. It may be that you are lacking a bit of appreciation from the ones who matter most, or even from yourself. If others fail to verbalize appreciation for your work (many times this is the form of appreciation that we pay close attention to or notice the most), then look at the image in the mirror, smile, and know that whom you see is capable of much, much more, and has an eternal creative spirit that wants to keep going.
About Isolation and Inspiration
Namib desert dunes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Isolation – To cause to be alone or apart … (from the American Heritage Dictionary)
Inspiration – The excitement of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity … (see American Heritage Dictionary)
When we look at the common definition of these words, it is easy to see the relationship between being isolated and becoming inspired. One can lead to the next or may cancel the other.
Sometimes, it is necessary to remove yourself from the daily grind for a while and look for solitude, to isolate yourself, to be able to reconnect with the source of inspiration.
Sometimes, too much isolation can kill inspiration. This happens when isolation has led to boredom or lack of excitement, rendering the mind and soul victims of lethargic existence.
While a dose of separation from the world is good from time to time, an overdose will kill the spirit, which needs a flow of the senses, a flow of ideas, to create and rejoice on its creation/inspiration.
Isolation can fuel inspiration in short doses, but it can kill creativity when it becomes self-imposed for long. A bit of both is refreshing to the soul.
Have you experience this relationship between the two? Feel free to relate your writing or artistic experience.
Spotlight? No, thanks.
English: American author Stephenie Meyer at the Twilight premiere. November 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What prompted this post was an old vampire movie that I was watching last night. These days, when I think of vampires, Stephenie Meyer comes to mind, and Dracula of course. Then, I thought of how her quiet life became a frenzy of writing one book after another, short deadlines, one movie after another, many interviews, galas, tons of huge book signings, all marketable Twilight paraphernalia … and so on. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with my inner self that I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes. Why? It seems so exhilarating and who doesn’t love the spotlight?
The answer is me, and I am sure that there are some writers who love their quiet lives and privacy, and would not like the type of success that brings all that frenzy with it. I am not anti-social, I like it quiet, and I love my privacy. I love to give when no one is looking – that is my overall style. Where is Stephenie Meyer today? Probably very busy with new projects and the current ones, as well as dealing with the comet’s tail left behind. God bless her, as it takes a lot of energy and patience to handle that kind of spotlight.
When I visualize a writing career, I see writing, readers, a strong sincere commitment to the readers, and more writing, and more writing, and more writing. Somehow, I wouldn’t want to include galas, craziness, and tons of attention into my writing dreams. Given that what happened to Stephenie Meyer is not the usual way things develop, and at such speed, however, she is a good example of what I wouldn’t want to experience in my future as a writer (and of course, I also want to make a living at doing what I love – the bills have to be paid).
Have you visualized your writing career? Are you published and experiencing it? How do you visualize your spotlight? At the flip of a switch or as a growing light with a dimmer? Which style suits you better – smashing Boom success a la Meyer or rhythmic success a la Coelho? Would you write for the love of it and for that one reader who has to read your book, or for fame? Do you write because you love the craft or with a future dollar sign/spotlight on the back of your mind (meaning becoming famous).
The answer to these questions will help you figure out what you want from your writing career and your internal level of comfort. Feel free to share your point of view.
Celebrate the Good Fortune and Success of thy Brother
Rainbow and Flowers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I don’t understand it when I happen to come across negative and plain disrespectful comments (not real reviews) about a new published book (or art work), whether from an old or new author. What puzzles me is that many times, these comments don’t seem to help in any way the writer or artist who made the comment. On the contrary, I think that this negativity hurts the writer/artist and paints an aura of insecurity or jealousy around the writer/artist. This could end up hurting the artist who might end up loosing many readers/fans for these reasons,
- They may already enjoy the works of the author/artist who’s being criticized.
- They may not like to entertain any kind of negativity or bashing and are ready to cut off the source of it.
- They believe that in this world, there is plenty for everybody and that celebrating the success of another does not take away from your own.
- They may enjoy variety in the books they read or the artwork they love.
- They believe that this world is made of all kinds and everyone has something to offer and contribute to it, even when they don’t necessarily like the piece.
- They believe that if everyone acted in the same way and liked the same things and were mere copies of each other, this would be a very boring world.
- They believe that a step towards belittling someone or someone’s work is a step backwards and does not help personal and professional development/growth.
- They believe that there is a better way to say what they think without hurting the feelings of a fellow artist/writer.
- They believe that acting in a negative and bashful way towards a fellow artist/writer might be interpreted as desperation, frustration, or jealousy.
- They believe that by celebrating the success of others, they attract good karma and bounty to themselves.
- They believe in these mantras – What comes around goes around. You reap what you sow. It is a small world. Be kind to the people on your way up, because they are the same people you will meet on your way down. The wheels are turning. Keep the faith. You never know who will open the next door for you, or who is ready to close it on your face. When words are not better than silence, it is best to not pronounce them. Live and let live.
- They believe that they are a tiny spec on this world, but an important part of it.
- They believe that times change and that “times” are subject to the people who live on “those times.”
- They believe that their art/craft is not about them, but about the ones who will find it and benefit – even if only one person.
- They believe in themselves, and that is enough to celebrate another.
Keep it clean, keep it positive, keep it happy!
Inkspeare 