Ever noticed how extremely proliferate, clever, and creative writers have equally creative and stimulating hobbies? Most NY Times best-selling writers boast of exotic pastimes which include fencing, martial arts, playing musical instruments, sketching/painting to name a few. How do they do it all?
Writers, in my humble opinion, are often creative in many areas not limited to the written word. Look at Stephen King and his Rock Bottom Remainders band. Members include Dave Barry, Scott Turrow, and Greg Iles, to name a few. Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files series, is a martial arts enthusiast and really, really into Live Action Role Playing. Then there is my all-time favorite author, C.J.Cherryh. She does it all. Sketching, figure skating, horseback riding, photography, ancient languages, and she plays the guitar. Whew!
This list of creative pursuits raises questions not limited to how the heck do they find the time to fit everything in AND write best-selling books? I’m not a NY Times best-selling writer and can’t speak to that, but I do suspect that these “hobbies” are essentially tied to their creativity – and perhaps to their success. Look how often each creative outlet (hobby) shows up in their finished work.
Occasionally, I enjoy working in my yard. I’m no gardener. I’m no landscaper. I admit I don’t get the urge often, but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to stop the lawnmower and sprint inside for a pen and pad to scribble down a plot fix or an eureka idea. Hobbies don’t have to be as extreme or lofty as fencing and martial arts. Ask Livia Quinn who loves the open road. Put her behind the wheel, give her a pen and scrap of paper, and voila! she’s plotted a whole new story. However, even she will admit this is a living-on-the-edge form of creativity as it’s rather difficult to write while keeping the car out of the ditch!
How about you? Do you find that your “hobbies” are integral to your writing? What do you do to increase your word count? I’d like my fellow Musers to weigh in and tell us how their pastimes and leisure activities influence their writing.
Fire and Blood
Book One of the Immortal Firewalkers
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Southern Fried Gothic: Getting Into the Southern Rhythm With Author Caden...
Southern Fried Gothic: Getting Into the Southern Rhythm With Author Caden...: Welcome, Cadence, to Southern Fried Gothic! Tell us about yourself. I'm a lifelong southerner, living on the Louisiana side of the Miss...
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Hand Me the Rose-Colored Glasses
Rose-colored glasses: noun. A cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis.
Some examples of folks wearing their rose-colored glasses include –
The 75-year-old customer who purchased two pair of five ½-inch glittery pole-dancing shoes to take with her on her cruise. She had the reputation, she proudly informed me, of climbing on top of bars and dancing on tables.
The customer with the black and pink Mohawk hairstyle who substitute teaches at her teen daughter’s Junior High School.
The 52-year-old customer who, having lost fifty pounds, has decided we need her to model our clothes. I salute her herculean accomplishment, but I did say I work in a Junior’s boutique, didn’t I?
What these women have in common is their incredibly optimistic attitude and very, very positive self-image. That and the fact they have been seduced by the pink lenses.
Having just climbed off the editing merry-go-round, I still find myself wearing the ugly, hypercritical, magnifying glasses, which my inner Muse loathes. So, what’s a writer to do?
Sometimes – most times – we need to give ourselves permission to view our WIPs through the “pretty” lenses. We need to nurture those infant stories and give our Muses a healthy dose of positive reinforcement. We need to maintain that “cheerful view” regarding our work in order to create, to brainstorm, and to move forward in our writing life.
So, take a moment to be your own cheerleader and remind yourself how talented you are. Today, dust off those rose-colored glasses and admire yourself and your latest project.
Share with us your favorite rose-colored moment and one lucky poster will receive a copy of my latest book, Fire and Blood.
Now available on Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00789YWBY
Some examples of folks wearing their rose-colored glasses include –
The 75-year-old customer who purchased two pair of five ½-inch glittery pole-dancing shoes to take with her on her cruise. She had the reputation, she proudly informed me, of climbing on top of bars and dancing on tables.
The customer with the black and pink Mohawk hairstyle who substitute teaches at her teen daughter’s Junior High School.
The 52-year-old customer who, having lost fifty pounds, has decided we need her to model our clothes. I salute her herculean accomplishment, but I did say I work in a Junior’s boutique, didn’t I?
What these women have in common is their incredibly optimistic attitude and very, very positive self-image. That and the fact they have been seduced by the pink lenses.
Having just climbed off the editing merry-go-round, I still find myself wearing the ugly, hypercritical, magnifying glasses, which my inner Muse loathes. So, what’s a writer to do?
Sometimes – most times – we need to give ourselves permission to view our WIPs through the “pretty” lenses. We need to nurture those infant stories and give our Muses a healthy dose of positive reinforcement. We need to maintain that “cheerful view” regarding our work in order to create, to brainstorm, and to move forward in our writing life.
So, take a moment to be your own cheerleader and remind yourself how talented you are. Today, dust off those rose-colored glasses and admire yourself and your latest project.
Share with us your favorite rose-colored moment and one lucky poster will receive a copy of my latest book, Fire and Blood.
Now available on Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00789YWBY
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Why Can't a Woman Write Like a Man?
When I first began kicking around the idea for this blog, I’d just come off a reading binge of best-selling novels by male authors. I began with “The Magicians” and “The Magician King” by Lev Grossman and finished up with a Jim Butcher / Harry Dresden marathon. What did I learn - besides the fact the above mentioned are kick-ass writers that I would happily give up a finger or toe just to write half as well? I learned that these talented men do a boat load of “telling”. They use dialog to lecture, they shamelessly insert page after page of backstory, and then “tell” the characters’ emotional responses to said lecture and backstory. I recognized what they were doing and, at first, tssked at their blatant “rule” breaking, then I became curious as to why their “telling” did not overly distract or take me out of the story. Their “telling” well…it worked. The next question to organically follow the first: Why the heck must female writers (especially writers of the Romantic persuasion) faithfully follow the “show, don’t tell” rule? It didn’t seem fair that the girls couldn’t grab the “telling” ball and run for the end zone.
So, I Googled “Show don’t tell” and the results were eye opening. Most of the results I found were courses, blogs, or articles written by Romance writers (women) for Romance writers (uh, women?). Yes, there was a reference about the Show v Tell in an article about Style, but it was a mere sub-point. Not the carved in caps in stone majorly big deal that we’ve had drummed into us. Wow. This was a somewhat profound moment for me, I will admit. I will also admit to a bit of curiosity about the differences in style, or, why a woman writes like a woman and a man, like a man. I love Google.
According to Beth Hill, freelance fiction editor with A Novel Edit, men get to the point sooner, jump into action without belaboring the situation. They are plain talkers, with characters that have clear goals, strong motivations, and few hesitations. She says that male writers use direct, surprising dialogue. They are unafraid and to the point. She also stated that she wished more women writers would adopt these traits.
Joe Ponepinto, the book review editor for the Los Angeles Review, says that the difference between a male writer and a female writer is physical and cultural. The man defines himself by his job, the woman is woman first, career choice second. Okay, a bit simplistic and vaguely offensive, but could be he has a point. Peacemaking, nurturing, and never rock the boat is deeply ingrained in my dna. Risk taking is really, really out of my comfort zone.
Martha Barletta, MBA expert in women’s marketing and author, says that men start with the headlines then provide the specifics. Men are single-minded and focused; women are multi-minded and open. Men strip away all the muddying details and focus on the bare bones elements while us girls believe the big picture is not simple, but filled with complexity. Before we tell you the headlines we want to set up the situation – give you all the backstory. This, says she, drives men eye-rolling crazy. What say you, D.T.?
Recently Nobel Prize winning novelist, V.S. Naipaul caused a furor with his sexist statements regarding female writers. He claimed he could read a paragraph or two and know whether it was written by a man or woman. Women writers, he stated, are sentimental (weak) whereas men writers are the masters of their houses. (A little harsh, this Mr. Naipaul who is a complete stranger to political correctness.)
After a couple hours online and a pot of rich, dark roast java, I was surprised by how far I’d followed the rabbit away from my original question: why can’t women write like men? My conclusion is that it is a combination of biology and culture. Testosterone and Progesterone. It is complex and simple. While interesting, the results are not earth shaking. I’ve added a couple goals to my Improvement list. First, I want to be more direct, more headlines and bare bones, second, I will stick out my tongue to the rule makers and allow myself to “tell” in my work…but only in a tasteful way, of course.
So, I Googled “Show don’t tell” and the results were eye opening. Most of the results I found were courses, blogs, or articles written by Romance writers (women) for Romance writers (uh, women?). Yes, there was a reference about the Show v Tell in an article about Style, but it was a mere sub-point. Not the carved in caps in stone majorly big deal that we’ve had drummed into us. Wow. This was a somewhat profound moment for me, I will admit. I will also admit to a bit of curiosity about the differences in style, or, why a woman writes like a woman and a man, like a man. I love Google.
According to Beth Hill, freelance fiction editor with A Novel Edit, men get to the point sooner, jump into action without belaboring the situation. They are plain talkers, with characters that have clear goals, strong motivations, and few hesitations. She says that male writers use direct, surprising dialogue. They are unafraid and to the point. She also stated that she wished more women writers would adopt these traits.
Joe Ponepinto, the book review editor for the Los Angeles Review, says that the difference between a male writer and a female writer is physical and cultural. The man defines himself by his job, the woman is woman first, career choice second. Okay, a bit simplistic and vaguely offensive, but could be he has a point. Peacemaking, nurturing, and never rock the boat is deeply ingrained in my dna. Risk taking is really, really out of my comfort zone.
Martha Barletta, MBA expert in women’s marketing and author, says that men start with the headlines then provide the specifics. Men are single-minded and focused; women are multi-minded and open. Men strip away all the muddying details and focus on the bare bones elements while us girls believe the big picture is not simple, but filled with complexity. Before we tell you the headlines we want to set up the situation – give you all the backstory. This, says she, drives men eye-rolling crazy. What say you, D.T.?
Recently Nobel Prize winning novelist, V.S. Naipaul caused a furor with his sexist statements regarding female writers. He claimed he could read a paragraph or two and know whether it was written by a man or woman. Women writers, he stated, are sentimental (weak) whereas men writers are the masters of their houses. (A little harsh, this Mr. Naipaul who is a complete stranger to political correctness.)
After a couple hours online and a pot of rich, dark roast java, I was surprised by how far I’d followed the rabbit away from my original question: why can’t women write like men? My conclusion is that it is a combination of biology and culture. Testosterone and Progesterone. It is complex and simple. While interesting, the results are not earth shaking. I’ve added a couple goals to my Improvement list. First, I want to be more direct, more headlines and bare bones, second, I will stick out my tongue to the rule makers and allow myself to “tell” in my work…but only in a tasteful way, of course.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Fa la la la bah!
Christmas is two days gone and every trace of it is gone. Disappeared into the closets, nooks, attic hide-aways for another year.
Actually, I deconstructed Christmas nearly two weeks ago - on the heels of our annual family gathering.
And why not? My daughter, the sole fruit of my loins, was spending Christmas with her betrothed and his family. Why shouldn't I take down the garland, trees, and lighted village? Believe me, the pack could care less. Just make sure there is a good supply of Dingo treats and Oinkers. That's all they care about.
Christmas 2009 was possibly the most stress-free holiday yours truly has enjoyed in years.
Decades.
Maybe, forever.
It could be just me, but do you ever feel - after all the presents have been opened and the tree is bare - a sense of gloom? You know, there's such a build up to Christmas that it's pretty much a sure thing that there will be a total let down. I always feel it.
But not this year.
What I feel, with a house devoid of all Christmas trappings, is a sense of freedom and...hope! For the first time in God-knows I look into the New Year with anticipation.
I like this.
I will sooo do this again.
Happy New Year, guys!
Actually, I deconstructed Christmas nearly two weeks ago - on the heels of our annual family gathering.
And why not? My daughter, the sole fruit of my loins, was spending Christmas with her betrothed and his family. Why shouldn't I take down the garland, trees, and lighted village? Believe me, the pack could care less. Just make sure there is a good supply of Dingo treats and Oinkers. That's all they care about.
Christmas 2009 was possibly the most stress-free holiday yours truly has enjoyed in years.
Decades.
Maybe, forever.
It could be just me, but do you ever feel - after all the presents have been opened and the tree is bare - a sense of gloom? You know, there's such a build up to Christmas that it's pretty much a sure thing that there will be a total let down. I always feel it.
But not this year.
What I feel, with a house devoid of all Christmas trappings, is a sense of freedom and...hope! For the first time in God-knows I look into the New Year with anticipation.
I like this.
I will sooo do this again.
Happy New Year, guys!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Yeah, I know...I suck
Newsflash!!!
I'm not much of a blogger.
Okay, well, not so much of a newsflash then seeing that I've been MIA since...oh...February or so.
"But I've been crazy busy," I insist in a self-righteous tone with an index finger pointed skyward.
A sad excuse, that, since there are so many of you diligent, daily bloggers (hate you) who have much more on your plates than I and still manage to keep all your balls in the air. Did I mention I hate you??
So, it is with regret and a smidge of self-loathing that I admit the truth...I suck.
There. Said it. Owned it. Let's move on.
Last you heard, I was hard at work on my WIP with hopes to complete it by June. June. Right.That sooo didn't happen.
124,000 words and four months beyond my June goal, I finally typed "The End" and let out a war-whoop that had the dachshunds running to investigate.
It took me ever so much longer than I thought. Naivete, at my age? You scoff and I don't blame you. I'm not my friend, Marley, who can crank out the words - beautifully, I might add - and have a total of 77k at the end of NaNo. Go girl!
I struggle. I fight. I tooth-and-nail it for every word.
The sweet spot, you know the one where the story flows like a river from the creative brain to the keyboard, is as elusive to me as the winning lottery numbers. Nearly.
Anyway, these last post "the end" weeks have been chock-a-block full of inactivity and simple laziness.
I've enjoyed them, but the Revision monster has begun to raise its head and, like my Roxie who can sit at the back door and bark for hours until I finally get up and let her in, has begun to growl for my attention. However, first I must finish developing the basic language for my immortals, nail down the culture for a couple groups, and review a couple workshops on basics - backstory, sentence structure, etc. After I gird my loins, then I'll put on the gown and gloves, pick up the scalpel and begin the surgery.
Where does blogging fit in the schedule?
You tell me...
I'm not much of a blogger.
Okay, well, not so much of a newsflash then seeing that I've been MIA since...oh...February or so.
"But I've been crazy busy," I insist in a self-righteous tone with an index finger pointed skyward.
A sad excuse, that, since there are so many of you diligent, daily bloggers (hate you) who have much more on your plates than I and still manage to keep all your balls in the air. Did I mention I hate you??
So, it is with regret and a smidge of self-loathing that I admit the truth...I suck.
There. Said it. Owned it. Let's move on.
Last you heard, I was hard at work on my WIP with hopes to complete it by June. June. Right.That sooo didn't happen.
124,000 words and four months beyond my June goal, I finally typed "The End" and let out a war-whoop that had the dachshunds running to investigate.
It took me ever so much longer than I thought. Naivete, at my age? You scoff and I don't blame you. I'm not my friend, Marley, who can crank out the words - beautifully, I might add - and have a total of 77k at the end of NaNo. Go girl!
I struggle. I fight. I tooth-and-nail it for every word.
The sweet spot, you know the one where the story flows like a river from the creative brain to the keyboard, is as elusive to me as the winning lottery numbers. Nearly.
Anyway, these last post "the end" weeks have been chock-a-block full of inactivity and simple laziness.
I've enjoyed them, but the Revision monster has begun to raise its head and, like my Roxie who can sit at the back door and bark for hours until I finally get up and let her in, has begun to growl for my attention. However, first I must finish developing the basic language for my immortals, nail down the culture for a couple groups, and review a couple workshops on basics - backstory, sentence structure, etc. After I gird my loins, then I'll put on the gown and gloves, pick up the scalpel and begin the surgery.
Where does blogging fit in the schedule?
You tell me...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Facebook insanity
Okay, I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack, not the sharpest tool in the shed, maybe even a few frenchfries from having a happy meal...or however you want to say it.
I ain't computer saavy.
There. I admit it.
So, I was reading some blog or maybe it was Matt Lauer on the Today show...whatever. An expert said that the only way to get where ever it is you want to be is via the internet. One must, the expert said quite firmly, get a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and shed a few decades. At least it wasn't pounds. I work around teens, I can get help with the whole decades thing. The weight's not going anywhere too soon...but that's a whole other whining blog. Anyway, I set up my Facebook page and purposefully excluded family and friends when I send out my invites, but wouldn't you know it...I get inundated with friend requests from the very people I was dodging. What's up with that? Here I am trying to set up a "professional" real author-type page and I get all the down home types firing off questions and opinions.
Either the experts are wrong or I'm too gulible. Or both.
I ain't computer saavy.
There. I admit it.
So, I was reading some blog or maybe it was Matt Lauer on the Today show...whatever. An expert said that the only way to get where ever it is you want to be is via the internet. One must, the expert said quite firmly, get a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and shed a few decades. At least it wasn't pounds. I work around teens, I can get help with the whole decades thing. The weight's not going anywhere too soon...but that's a whole other whining blog. Anyway, I set up my Facebook page and purposefully excluded family and friends when I send out my invites, but wouldn't you know it...I get inundated with friend requests from the very people I was dodging. What's up with that? Here I am trying to set up a "professional" real author-type page and I get all the down home types firing off questions and opinions.
Either the experts are wrong or I'm too gulible. Or both.
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