After cooking dinner tonight I sat at the computer and headed straight to the Savvy Authors website where I'm taking two classes this month. It didn't surprise me that I have assignments to do in both of them tonight. While one assignment from Angela James is fairly simple (thank God!) because we are just beginning; the other editing class called "Editpalooza" is kicking my ass. Seriously. They want you to read your novel and go through everything. Plot, Theme, Character, Structure, and on and on...
I had no clue what I signed up for. I even asked Liz, the group owner if should I do both classes, and she said SURE. Laugh's on me, Liz...I know. I know. I'll be a better writer after it's over. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. (grin)
I am learning a lot, so I'm sure it will be all worth it in the end, that is if I make it to the end. I have a huge assignment due in a few days and guess what? This weekend is our monthly local RWA chapter meeting, and I'm the Co-Program Director which means I'm responsible for the speakers. This month our speaker is coming from Ohio and her name is Shirley Jump. After I took a few on-line classes from her I knew I had to book her for our local Sola group. She's awesome and I love her books. So, on Friday she arrives at the airport, Saturday is our class and then she flies out on Sunday.
Mean while another fab. author comes to New Orleans this weekend as well. Karen M. Moning. She launching her latest Shadowfever book on Monday or Tuesday and she'll be in New Orleans for her Fevercon event. Yep. I'm attending that as well. (Vampire and Ghost tours, along with breakfast at Brennan's Restaurant, book signings and a book chat with readers) Can't wait to get my hands on my reserved signed copy of the latest Fever book. Moning left us on a very nasty cliff hanger. Not nice!
And last but not least I signed up for a brand new Candace Havens class. With all these classes I should be selling books by the dozen. (grin) I also agreed to do a book review, judge the Golden Heart, do a few interviews and blogs for a few authors, etc.
Plus I have to find time to write, edit and make time for the hubby, kids and day job. So do you think I'm spreading myself too thin? Are you doing the same this year? How do you manage to stay sane?
Born of gods and water nymphs, the muse is cousin to the sprite and faery. Can you imagine the ego of a god and the playfulness of a sprite? Eesh!
People think their muse isn’t talking to them. Usually they just aren’t listening; either that or they ignored the muse for so long that now they are getting the mute-muse treatment.Like any pixie, the muse wants--above all else--to be wanted…and heard. Think “demanding two-year-old” that’s what you’ve got there whispering your stories to you. She wants you to listen when she’s ready to talk and to take it down verbatim (you can put it into proper human language when she isn’t looking).
Any pixie will tire of the game if it is always on your terms. You want a good story; you want it in words, in your head, between the hours of 9am and 3pm. You want, you want, you want…. remember who you’re talking at… a god-nymph. Muse wants to talk in pictures and colors. She wants to show you your main character in the face of a cloud. She wants you to find the rhythm to your poem in the laughter of a fountain. Have you ever been “working” in the yard (nymphs hate it when you think of caring for their homes as work) and been scratched by a rosebush or whapped by a branch? Your muse is laughing at you. This is her way to get your attention. We pixie folk don’t mind if your head is in the clouds but we do not like it when you’re surrounded by a grey-matter storm. So here are some tips for those of you who have forgotten:
Pixie, Sprite, Faery, Nymph, Muse…we can’t be all serious all the time, it depletes our energy. We live on laughter, passion, play, tricks, rebelliousness, chaos... oh, and we love to dance with the elementals, you know, rain, wind, sun…those guys.
Don’t be so mental--be creative; color (preferably outside the lines), or doodle. In fact, doodle a picture of your muse--you know--vanity points.
Ignore the rules; get up at 3am for cookies, milk and muse-chats.
Keep plenty of colored pens around, your muse might be having a terracotta-rose day and here you are trying to write in black ink…blech!
I think you get the idea. When you insist on wearing all of that adult human responsibility stuff it really turns off the muse. She wants you to remember that is just a role you are playing, the real you is a free spirit just like her.
Want to share your musings with Sprite Bobbins? Jot a note in the box! (She’d love to hear all the gossip about your muse.)
As writers, we interview glamorous subjects or humble townsfolk, all who have a story worth sharing. Or we devise fictional characters, both good and evil, and spin their stories into tight, intricate plots. Often, we put a great deal of stock into these fictional and non-fiction expose`s. And sometimes, it seems like we cater to their every whim, ignoring our own personal needs.
When writers immerse themselves so deeply that they forget about themselves, trouble is bound to occur. The brain fogs. Ideas stop flowing. Creativity goes kaput. The next thing we know, we run into a mental block that's stronger than a jolting sip of espresso. We fail to see the big picture because the small steps to get there look bleak and daunting.
That's why writers need to take care of themselves physically and mentally. These building blocks of positive thinking can help you break out of a creative downslide.
- Assume the Attitude. If we express a negative opinion, nothing positive will result. We make a conscious choice every morning as soon as we wake up, electing either to take an optimistic outlook or a pessimistic point of view. Assume a positive attitude, write your new mantra and mean it. Your writing will improve.
- Breathe deeply. Fresh air clears negativity and a single focus. Just spending a few minutes outside offers a new outlook and provides a fresh source of oxygen. It's bound to rejuvenate our thinking!
- Create time for you. If your writing schedule is anything like mine, there are days when I feel I'm writing 24/7. It's not an organization problem. It's assignment overload! Am I complaining? Heck, no! I welcome the challenge. But many writers wonder when they will have to write for themselves. I have the same concerns sometimes, but by blocking a set time for me, I allow myself time from my paying assignments to create personal essays, poetry, and fiction. And who knows? Those works may one day capture an editor's attention.
- Drink H2O. It's true. Water replenishes the body and the soul. Stay hydrated while you're pounding away at the keyboard. A cool glass of ice water sparks your metabolism, or so I've been told, so I keep a cool glass near and drink up when I'm feeling a bit of brain drain.
- Ease into an exercise routine. Whether you choose a spiritual path by assuming yoga poses, pump weights and do cardio, or practice belly dancing in your office chair while typing, tackling an exercise program will pump up your energy level.
- Fight stress. Writers, you recognize when stress creeps up. You're accustomed to creating tension on the page. Now, you need to recognize when it interferes with your writing routine. Combat stress by using one of the above tips or by simply taking a break from your current project.
Staying healthy mentally and physically builds our writing stamina and mentality, and that's important for the real and fictional subjects we write about.
by WOW! columnist and blogger LuAnn Schindler. Learn more about her work at http://luannschindler.com
.jpeg?picon=893)
Hi! I saw you on the Savvy site and decided to pop by. OMG - I am so jealous that you get to go to KMM's launch. I ordered my signed copy and I hope it gets here this weekend like they promised.
*sigh of extreme jealousy*
But, back to finding enough time to breath, I certainly haven't figured it out. This week I'm modding chats, webinars, doing editpalooza, trying to blog, fit in some reading, and my hubby fusses at me - "if you'd stop all THAT you might get a book written" yeah, but then I would have to stop all THAT, and I don't want to!
Let me know if you figure this time thing out!
Melinda
Okay, Dawn, repeat after me (because I've been chanting this mantra since January 2): "My Name is (Insert Name Here), and I am a Workshop Whore." Now, lest you think I'm calling YOU names, I'm only commiserating. I too signed up for Editpalooza (awesome, but OMG) AND a January course by Margie Lawson (300+ pages of notes plus homework) on, ironically, defeating self-defeating behaviors. The #1 SDB I've identified is taking more than one workshop a month, maximum. Writing? What's that? Who's got time to write?
Hi Melinda,
I know all about the hubby issue. When I tell him all the things I'm doing, he shakes his head at me.
And come on down to Nola for Fevercon. I'm sure they still have rooms open...
Hey Suzanne,
Workshop Whore? ha-ha...Seems true for January 2011. My goals were to learn the craft better. Like you said, OMG! And thank God I didn't see Margie's class posted. That would've been four classes. I keep seeing new ones posted for January and I'm like "Don't do it, Dawn! Don't!
Thanks for stopping by.
Ceira,
I got your comment through the email, but for some reason it's not showing up on the blog. No telling...
Anyway, great ideas about writing before work and during lunch at work. That's what I usually do, but haven't lately.
I'll take a class break after these are over. Really. No. Seriously. (grin)
Thanks for dropping by...
Editpalooza is kicking my ass too. If you find a better way...let us know. Yes, joke. A lot of us are dealing with way too much. And people think writers sit around eating bon-bons. Pft.
Good luck with editpalooza, Nickie. We'll make it through - some how...
Thanks for stopping by.
Sanity? What is this elusive creature that you speak of?
I'm over my head and sinking fast-- at least I was! Signed up for Bob Mayer's Warrior Writer course. Defined my startegic goal, assigned tactical goals to make the strategic one happen and it's all smooth sailing! (holding back loud snorts and the strong urge to giggle maniacally!)
Sorry Dawn, I have nothing to offer by way of advice :(
Like Melinda, my husband is foolishly throwing his two cents worth around, (and did anyone ask him? I think not!!,) and pointing out the obvious. I'll add my mantra to Suzanne's:
We do what we do because we love what we do, we do what we do because we love what we do ...
Welcome to my life! LOL Totally different agendas, obviously, but I still almost always feel like I do not have enough minutes in the day to accomplish everything I either need or want to accomplish. You are definitely a busy girl, but it sounds like fun!! And btw, one of my things on my to-do list is to visit New Orleans some day. :)
I'm right there with you sista! That's why you haven't heard from me. Can't wait till Jan is over.
Rachel Firasek
Rachel L ~ I took Bob's class too, but ended up dropping out because I didn't have time for it. lol.
Laura ~ Girl, you gotta c'mon down to Nola. Thanks for stopping by.
Rachel F ~ Same here, cp...I might load you down more to look at a few pages...(grin)