Saturday So What: Inspired Eavesdropping

So normally, I am not an eavesdropper. Just ask anyone. I am the daintiest, most well mannered southern belle you have ever met. (hey, I hear you snorting over there!)

But this past weekend at Storymakers, I made the rare exception and listened in to Howard Taylor, author of the awesome comic Schlock Mercenary and more, talk to an aspiring author about productivity. And more interestingly for me, inspiration. He likened the voice of inspiration to that of the Holy Ghost. The more you listen and act, the more it speaks to you.

BOOM CRASH Mind blown.

 I have always thought of creativity just like any other muscle, you might be a creative person, but you have to exercise that aspect regularly for it to grow. It is an ingrained part of me, so when writer's block strikes, I feel like an amputee. But thinking on Howard's terms, I just kept expounding and expanding on the principle of the spirit.

Sometimes, when I am busy with life, I just cannot receive revelation. Aside from my daily nonsense, I am doing all the right things: go to church, temple, whatever; but I am stressed like crazy, and of course that is when I need the spirit the most. Same things apply to writing. When a deadline looms, sometimes I cannot think of single non cliched thing to type out. Nothing new and certainly nothing that retains my narrative voice. That is when I need it the most and though I am trying so hard and working at it, the muse will not come.

My answer was to just try harder. But I think I will try a new approach, the one the gospel teaches. Clear my mind and let the cares of the world slip away. Listen to the still small voice and act on every prompting.  We all know what that means in the spiritual sense, but in a writing sense that means jotting down every idea. Even if you can't use it in your current manuscript. Even if it's about vampires and completely unsellable at this point. Write it down and file it away, but get it out.

So often when either the Holy Ghost or inspiration speaks, I am to busy... being busy. I recognize the thought as a good idea and file it in my brain. Then I promptly forget it because of all the other crap I am cramming in. How many times have I not taken a card to a sick neighbor? How many bestsellers have I let rot away in the cobwebbed recesses of my mind?

But no more! From this day forth I will keep my little notebook and write down ideas, even the ones with sparkly abs. I will listen and really actively hear.

I will even eavesdrop more often, because who knows what other little nuggets of wisdom I am missing out on.

April Showers...and I'm Not Talking Flowers

I'm so glad April is over.   It was a crazy month.   So frantic that I forgot to write a post here for May 3rd.  Well, I actually wrote it, but forgot to post it. 

I participated in the A-Z blogging challenge during April, which involved writing a post a day, starting with the letter A on April 1 and ending with the letter Z on April 30.  The A-Z challenge is a frenzied, intense brain workout. 

Two weeks in, my dad had some stroke symptoms and was hospitalized.  He did not have a stroke, but it was discovered he did have a brain bleed and would need brain surgery .  B is for brain surgery.  Oh.  My.  Word.

Dad, who would be 90 on May 8, came through the surgery very well.  Three days later, he had a slump, and we thought he'd had a stroke.  S is for stroke.  Holy Moly.

However....he rallied with no intervention and began rehab.  R is for rehab.

After only twenty-four hours in rehab, he had more stroke symptoms.

Back to the hospital.  H is for hospital.

Then, he developed a bladder problem and contracted MRSA.  M is for  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  I see why they call it MRSA.

He is a trooper, my dad - part of that greatest generation - and he stabilized enough to send him back to rehab May 3 (my forgetful posting day.  F is for forgetful.)  Hopefully, he will keep moving forward.

We had a big birthday party for him on the 8th.

We had his favorite foods - honey-baked ham and cherry cobbler.  C is for cherry cobbler.  I'm stuck on this letter thing, as you can see.

I hope May brings less attention to the alphabet and no hospital visits.  I pray May brings strawberries and cool breezes and better days for Dad.  D is for Dad. 

I've got to get off this train.

Are You A Serial Killer?

Here's a light-hearted post for you today:

My sister-in-law and I have attended the LDStorymakers Conference in Utah several times together.  This year, though I was unable to go, she brought along her daughter, my 15-year-old niece.  She related this story to me, and I enjoyed it so much, I had to share it.  (The details may be not be wholly accurate - it is a retelling after all!)

Apparently they were sitting together at a table in the main ballroom, listening to a panel of speakers.  One of them made reference to the Dan Wells book, "I Am Not A Serial Killer."  My sweet niece leaned over to her mother and asked,

"Mom, what's a serial killer?"

My sister-in-law thought about the question briefly before responding,

"It's somebody who murders person after person."

My niece nodded, and looked thoughtfully around the room before saying,

"I guess that means we're sitting in a room full of serial killers."


I had to laugh, because in a twisted sort of way, when you're surrounded by other writers, it's true!   I've even read quotes from authors such as J.K. Rowling where she laments about how difficult it can be to kill off a favorite character from a storyline.  It also reminded me of the movie, "Stranger than Fiction".  I'm not usually a huge Will Ferrell fan, but he won me over in that show.  If you haven't watched it, go check it out.  Pure genius. 

Have a great Thursday!

For the Win!

This blog post (and I really insist you read it because it's amazingly fabulous) has been going viral for the last few weeks, and quite rightly so. It reminds us all that we should stop beating ourselves up about the things we fail at, and instead congratulate ourselves for those little "drops of awesome" we add to our bucket every day. It's uplifting, inspiring and most of all, true. I read it about a month ago and it really has changed my outlook on my life for the better. Thank you so much, Kathryn Thompson. (Why does everything great seem to come from Seattle?)

Then we had the wonderful post from Kasey on Monday about clicking to count our positive thoughts, and how it can really improve our outlook on life. Amen to that, and if I owned a clicker I'd be clicking away. (Seriously, is there anything Hillary Weeks can't do? Is it fair for someone to be that talented at singing, and that pretty and slim, and funny and clever too? She must be from Seattle.)

I've had on my mind, however, something I feel I need to add to all this feel-good stuff. (I've just rebranded my author self: I am now "Your friend for feel-good fiction". So I'm all about the feel-good factor. And the alliteration.)

Three years ago my eldest daughter lost her iPod shuffle. Those things are tiny! A few weeks ago we found it. We were selling our old car, and discovered the little silver iPod tucked into a rusting cranny in the footwell as we cleaned it out.

Naturally the poor neglected thing didn't work. I plugged it in and tried to charge it up, but it wouldn't take a charge and my computer couldn't connect to it. Since eldest child had long ago bought a new one, it wasn't an issue. Pity, though. I'd have quite liked a little iPod shuffle so that I could listen to music as I pottered about doing housework.

About a week later, however, I noticed an orange light on the iPod. Lazy creature that I am, I'd left it plugged into its charger rather than throwing it out. A bit of poking buttons and fiddling, and it sprang to life. My computer managed to discover it, and I loaded it with my music and now use it every day.

Here's my thought: If I had planned to leave it to dry out (or whatever) and by my own clever technological know-how resurrected a dead iPod, then that would be a drop of awesome. That would be me being great and adding to my bucket of awesomeness. But it wasn't anything to do with me. It was something great that just happened.

For the win!

I noticed, right from the next day, that actually many great but little things happen without any input from us. Parking spaces are free, favourite songs come on the radio, or we manage to find the end of the sellotape right away. I'm not talking about the things which we could call blessings–things that we have maybe prayed for, or hoped for, or worked for–just the little, everyday serendipitous occurrences.

I sat down and idly switched on the TV the other day to find a new series of one of my favourite TV shows just starting. I had no idea it was coming back, and could so easily have missed it. For the win!

Although my boss turned down my request for a new laptop computer to use for work, she did give me her old one (and bought herself a new one) and it's almost brand new and in perfect condition and exactly what I would have chosen. For the win! (Meanwhile, my boss is struggling to get to grips with Windows 8.)

A stranger had bought a set of hair elastics in Morrison's last week. It came with a free hairband which she didn't want, so she gave it to my daughter who loves it and has worn it every day since. For the win!

The fact is that not only do we do great things (drops of awesome) every day, but great things happen to us, seemingly completely at random. So while we're adding drops of awesome to our bucket, and clicking for each positive thought, perhaps we should also take a moment to notice the really wonderful things that just come our way.

Every time your size is in stock, or the sun comes out just as you're setting off for a walk, or you bump into an old friend, think, For the Win! And see just how great your life is.

Talking Tuesday: Writer's Block: Is Its All in your Head?

I happily stumble upon a group of authors doing podcast, Author's Think Tank, this week. Today I listened to Episode 11 The Myth  of Writer's Block.  Shirley Bahlmann, one of their guest authors, very confidently says there is no such thing as writers block.  After which she tells us how to get through those hard moments when you are trying to find the direction your story needs to go.  But much like Kasey's post, it can all come down to positive thinking.  When you say you have writer's block you are focusing on the negative.  If you instead approach the moments has an opportunity to choose which direction is best for your story it becomes a much more positive experience.

If we give our thoughts over to negative mantras, "I will never get through this...." or  "I cannot accomplish....", then we are setting ourselves up to fail.  I often run into this same problem when I approach running.  I get to a point where my mental focus is on my exhaustion, pain, and boredom.  When I allow this to fill my mind, it is almost impossible for me to run any further.  The negative thoughts weigh on me as if they were an hundred pound pack.  When I tell myself that I can continue and I focus on a goal, then my determination carries me. 

Our minds are powerful.  Where we choose to set our focus will determine where we end up.  Use your power for good.

Click It! Click It Good!

Okay, the title of this post is completely awful. But it’s late and I’m tired. And when I wrote this title it made me laugh, so it stays.

Anyway, I came across this video clip today and I was really intrigued by this idea. I happen to have a clicker (when I was running long distances on the track I found myself getting lost in my thoughts and having a hard time remembering how many laps I’d done, so I got a clicker so I wouldn’t have to think about it) and I think I’m going to try this.



Anybody else in? Shall we try our experiment for one week and report back next Monday?

:-)

-Kasey

To All Mothers

Thank you to every mother, to every woman who's cared for another, and all those with a nurturing heart. 

 

 

 

I hope you all are able to find the opportunity to thank the women in your life that have loved and nurtured you.

 

I Often Go Walking

 

 

 

Most of all take time to thank our Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessing of having mothers in our lives.



Saturday So What: Lending a helping quill

I'm writing this Friday night, because tomorrow I will be at Storymakers once again, running back and forth through the Marriot lobby, bringing Anne Perry scones (it was really a roll, but I'm sticking to the British thing), trying to joke with nervous authors while they wait for their turn to pitch, and probably at some point trying to remember someone's name who's face I know from Facebook.

But today, aside from sore feet, I gained something new. A knowledge that people actually know who I am. Huh, go freaking figure. Sometimes, it feels like we write words and then toss them into the void, never to be seen or heard from again. I was so humbled and warm and fuzzy feelinged with all the people who came up to me today who said they'd read my book, seen me on the Today show, - and even, yes, regularly read my posts here on MMW. Jeanna Stay- learn that name now folks, cuz you will be seeing it again someday - found me at the mass author signing to say hello and meet the snark in person since she reads my column weekly. I had a lot of fun chatting with her about fractured fairytales, how to get sneak into a trend, and more. And I promised I would include her in tonite's post. Mission accomplished!

Also learned today, were somethings I already knew. Like, Tristi Pinkston is a freaking hilarious MC. Or that agents and editors are really people and don't walk around with pitchforks, torturing poor authors for fun while on break. Having the villain secretly be the Main characters's dad is way overdone. Cheetos will always top Lays. Heels are not smart all day running wear. Annette Lyon is truly the Queen of the Grammar Nazis. And we Mormons have some of the best most creative minds on the planet. And when we come together it makes a super supportive community that lifts each other up and celebrates our success.

My advice to anyone who is reading this today, find your writing community.  Whether online, in your hometown... whatever.  But find some peeps outside your mom and granny who can faux swear along with you when the rejections come, tell you when your character is whiny, and remind you that you are an awesome success with a story only you can tell.

Self esteem and mental health issues are pretty much a mandatory requirement for an author. And the publishing field is littered with land mines that can blow even the best of us to pieces. I am here to pick them up with you. The other MMW's are here. Share your heartaches and your successes. Ask questions or share your wisdom. That's why we're all here isn't it?

If you have something you want to say, ask, names you want to call me or news you want to share - please email me at betsyschow@gmail.com and I will see what I can do to lending a helping quill.

Love y'all

Betsy

Remember Who You Are

This week, my very wonderful mother in law passed away after a five year battle with cancer. In the days following up to her death, the family all gathered and took turns at her bedside. Afterwards we compared notes on the what she told each person. Everyone who she spoke to was told these same words, "Remember who you are. You are a child of God. Stay strong." Knowing that her life was at an end this was the wisdom she felt most important to impart to her children and grandchildren. Because knowing who you are reminds you of where you are going. Having this knowledge through out your life brings so much peace.
It's just as important to remember who you are when you are writing. It's so easy to get caught up in what is selling, or what publishers want, or what the world thinks is socially acceptable that we forget who we are. Sometimes we tell ourselves that our characters are not us therefore we can tell the story from their perspective and be socially acceptable. I'm not talking about writing books that have no darkness. Because you can't show the true power of light without darkness. But if we show immoral things as good, then we are not being true to who we are. I'm not sure if this is making sense right now. My mind is still in a fog. But I want to boldly proclaim liked mother in law did, "Remember who you are!" Don't give in to the voices around you to compromise your standards. Stay strong in your beliefs and always show that you are a child of God!

Leading By Example

This morning I watched my two year old son climb up on a chair and make his own (from a packet) oatmeal breakfast (with assistance from me at the tap).  He measured the water, dumped it in the bowl with the pre-measured oats, instructed me in which manner to carry across the room, and then pushed the correct buttons on the microwave to cook the yummy meal.  After a scoop of sugar and a helping of milk (which he uncapped and added himself), he was happily eating, and I was sitting there in awe. 

On one hand I was thinking, how is it that my toddler can almost independently complete a task that my two school aged children only mastered within the last year?  On the other hand I was worrying about how to keep him from experimenting with his newfound abilities to operate the microwave when I'm not in the kitchen with him?

I tried to reflect on my older children.  They certainly did not express an interest in cooking their own breakfast at the age of two, and I probably never would have even assumed they had the ability.  Is there something different about this child?  Is he smarter, more determined, or more observant?

It's impossible to say with certainty, but the more I think about it, I believe it really has to do with leading by example.  You see, my toddler gets to interact with two older, independent children who treat him like an equal, and in his mind, age difference is not a concrete idea.  He likely sees himself as their peer.  If they can make their own oatmeal, so can he.  He's watched them do it, and he knows how.  The age and authority gap that exists between a parent and child is much different between supportive siblings.  My older children likely could have completed the same task at a similar age, had they had the tutelage of a similar kind.

Which got to me thinking about writing:  Its a good thing we all work at this skill from different levels.  We have varying amounts of experience and education when it comes to being writers, but the key is to be interacting.  While there are giants and professionals in the writing world whose advice and instruction can be of great benefit to our growth and progress (similar to our parents), what we really need are peers.  We need other writers, no matter their stage or experience, to share and learn and grow and interact with.  We need siblings.  Siblings with which it is difficult sometimes to differentiate an 'age difference', though it certainly will exist.  Then we won't know when we're completing a task that should be too difficult for our abilities - because we watched our peers do it successfully.  Once we know we can do something impossible, we can focus on doing it more independently, and with more confidence.

So get out there.  Make some writers friends.  Make some contacts.  Find some peers.  And if you have something great, nurture it.

In the end, what we really need is each other.