Try, Do, Whatever

For those of you who have not yet joined one of the many on line writer's groups, via sites like facebook, linkedin, or private groups, I recommend you do that now. And you do that before you dot another "I" Bob Crachit. The point is, many of these sites have members willing to engage in meaningful dialogue, and exchange questions and insight. And in case you haven't gathered by now, none of this is a bad thing.

This lengthy intro is really a segue into talking about the questions I have been asked recently regarding my own method for dealing with writer's block, or as I would rather call it, a speed hump in the writing process.

It seems this is a common complaint or concern. People get upset when the ideas don't flow freely. Well I have to admit staring at screen which has no more words on it than it did an hour ago, is a bit discouraging. But it is not the end of world, or even your writing career. It's just a sign that a mental reboot is in the offing. 

Now there are writer's who are able to faithfully put aside work  time and spend those hours each and every day engaged in productivity. To be clear, most of these have more of an incentive, like a publisher who is demanding a manuscript on their desktop yesterday.

For those of us who are a bit less fettered to our craft, our writing may be more random, and much more connected to our inspirations. When we finally sit down to write, we may be deflated to find out the well is dry. Even when we thought we had a great idea. So then we try. And we all know how well that doesn't work. It's like trying to go to sleep. As Yoda said, "Do or do not, there is no try."

While our Yoda was a very sage man, he was clearly not a writer. Because even if we forgo trying, it does not mean we can necessarily DO at that moment. 

What we can DO though, is give it a go, but if we come up drawing blanks, have the wisdom to pack it up for awhile and wait for the next epiphany, or at least the next idea which makes us think we are on to something, or at least doesn't suck. If we sit and fret and fuss, we will only get dug deeper into a rut. We have to know when to let it go, and when we are close to something we can build on, or dare I say it, turn into something great.

So to get back to the original question about how I handle a writing drought, or dry spell. It's simple. I either do or do not. And I've been at it long enough to know which is the best route to go.

That way I don't drag myself into the depths of despair because the words won't come. On the other hand, I don't throw in the towel because the words are not flooding on to the page. Yes, after all this time I have a pretty good idea which road I should take and then I follow it. And if it turns out to be a dead end, no matter, I just regroup and start again.

Does that help?

Is That All There Is?

 

First, I'll start with a bit of a disclaimer, or is it an apology. I have been MIA for quite some time, and for those who read my blog, then okay it's an apology, and for those that don't, it doesn't matter anyway.

If it's an apology then I suppose some lame excuses are in order. Well, the best I can think of is the fact I spend most of the summer travelling, England, Korea and local.

It was amazing, but now winter is coming and time to get back to business.

If you have just finished publishing a book, and a neat little stack of your works is sitting in a spot where people can see it when they come in, then congratulations, and I wish you great sales and recognition.

Here's the thing, neither are likely. Pretty brutal I know but also true. All those friends and relatives that said they would buy your book have either done so, or totally forgot their promise. So be it. It is what it is and all that.

You've done some promotion and you've made some connections on social media.

First point; if those connections are legit, please keep up the connection. The algorithm is simple. 

More connections=More recognition=Better sales.

Please don't just let it go once you've made a few posts.

You need to spread the work ad infinitum until people are sick of seeing you ad nauseum.

Believe me, you may not see instant results, but they will come in time.

Remember when people go to find something to read they are not looking for you. Likely they don't even know who you are.

The ball is totally in your court here.

Keep posting, join writer's groups with people in the same position.

Update your author's page on Amazon if that's where you are.

What ever you do, don't let the embers go out. If you keep fueling them they will make a flame in time.

So in answer to my initial question: Is That All There Is?

The answer is an unequivocal NO!

Keep posting, produce some videos (if you need a platform there are lots out there. It'll cost you a bit, but it won't break the bank.)

It's actually fun and if you aren't expecting sales to go through the roof tomorrow you will get better, and you will see results.

And, hey, as i have always said, you are a writer, so get back to what you do best, writing.

And here's the book plug.

Just Write Already: Porter, Stephen F C: 9780995960343: Books - Amazon.ca

Thanks for bearing with me all this time.

Practicing What I Preach

 

                    Practicing What I Preach

So now the book new book is published (time for the shameless push) and i'm into the promotions stage.

Just Write Already: Porter, Stephen F C: 9780995960343: Books - Amazon.ca

I finally have some time to get back to writing. I do have a storyline i thought up when i was in England. I began writing it a few weeks ago, but the plot had two distinct threads, and no matter how hard i tried i couldn't seem to get them to come together. As i do preach, this is nothing to panic about, the ideas will come when they are ready. You can't force it, blah blah.

So i put it on the shelf. Today though, i glanced at the cover of my book. There was my motivation cajoling me to get off my writer's butt, or onto it as it may be, and do something with what i believe could be a pretty good tale. 

And at that point i decided it was time to put my money where my mouth was. I just picked up where i left off and started writing. I had a goal in mind somewhere, but it wasn't really clear. However i did know that if i just started putting my ideas down on paper i would find direction. It might lead me to chucking out a lot of old ideas, and adding in new directions, but i do know i will start the fire burning again, and eventually i will have a story i look back on and smile.

I will let you know how it goes.

Finally the baby is delivered, the cat is out of the bag and other overused cliches.

 

It's taken months but finally my new book is up on Kindle. 

For those who haven't followed the blog before it's called "Just write already", and it's the result of a couple of years (Is it more?) of writing this blog designed to help encourage would be writers to take the leap of faith and step into the (usually)  rewarding world of writing. Throughout the course of the blog I have tried to dispel the usual objections and doubts people have about their ability, and creativity. Thus the title of the book, Just Write Already.

Yes I know it will not work out for everybody, but to use the old cliche (not a fan) if you don't try you will never know (there's another one.)

My hope is the those hiding in the shadows will come out and say "What the hell", and give it a go. Nothing ventured....well you know how it goes.

This isn't a commercial, but none the less i hope you will check it out. It's available at:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D79QTCSY

Once you get to the chapters about promoting your book, you'll know what the next step for me is.

As always, thanks for reading my blog, and as before, there will be more to come.

 

Land Ho

                                                                     Land Ho

I believe I used the ship analogy to mark the progress of my new project, in the last post.

To refresh your memory that is where I take the posts from this blog and turn them into a book.

Why on Earth would i do that? Simple really. I had a lot of feedback from fellow writers and fellow not writers and they all stated that they thought these posts might provide help for people who are thinking of writing, but for myriad reasons have never put pen to paper, or fingertip to keyboard. 

People have their reasons, insecurity, fear of failure, even fear of success (more common than you think), no ideas, lack of time, no one to direct them, no knowledge of the process, lack of confidence. You get the idea. There are lots of reasons why people who seriously want to write, just end up never doing it.

The purpose of the blog and now the book is to help would be writers deal with these issues, and take the first step. And then to help the go through the next steps to completion. 

If they want to take it further, then I have walked them through my path to publication. 

All the way I keep making the disclaimer that i am not a writing professor or a best seller. However this will be my third book. I've had a lot of positive feedback and I have had a gas doing it all.

In this particular venture, I took all the posts, made each into a chapter, added a brief introduction and an illustration, just to make things more like the original blog.

I have taken several weeks to rework some of the posts, while leaving them as close to the original as possible. Also I have edited many times until I believe I am ready to send it off to my formatter. 

When that's done, she will send it back to me with suggestions. I will submit it again to her, and when we agree it is ready for prime time I will upload to Amazon-Kindle for the e-book, and then send it to another publisher to make hard copies.

Having done this before, the process is no longer daunting at all.

I also have had a lot of help with publicizing my last book from my writer's group, Indie Best Writer's out of L.A. and have learned a great deal about maximizing my brand on social media.

So as you can see, I have not docked yet, but i can see land straight ahead and I hope to set my feet on dry land shortly.

I thank you for your patience, and I do hope once this is available that it will do exactly what I hoped and that's to make the writing process a little big less scary, and in fact help would be writer's get out there and give it a go, and then find out how much fun the ride can be.

Still Here

                           Getting Things Ready For Prime Time

You have a perfect right to wonder where I have been. In fact I would be thrilled if a few people really did think about that. Thing is, I haven't been anywhere, Still at the same keyboard but busy, nay, inundated with other things. 

There are writer's meeting, promotions for Teaching in the Spirit, and The Quick and Quirky, and the new Nick Bannister Story, which is rapidly evolving into a Novella. 

Most time consuming is my decision to take this blog and turn it into a book. I mentioned it some time ago, but for those who didn't take notes, the idea is to use the posts from this blog and create a short book that can hopefully help would be writer's muster up the confidence to start putting their thoughts down on paper.

And then walking them through my own personal path to publication. I won't reawaken the ghosts of posts past, but over the course of my blog I described how I took ideas, turned them into stories, and then dressed up these stories until i was confident in sharing them.

I then described how they were reworked, re-edited and renovated for publication. Then there was the process of getting published, and the crucial steps of getting noticed, and publicizing my work.

Through it all I've reminded readers that this is only my take, and there are many other routes to the finish line. But they worked for me when I had no experience whatsoever. What I did have was access to some great people who were willing to share their own knowledge and wisdom. That is what I hope any would be readers will take from my posts and upcoming book.

The working title is "Writing and Other Short Stories" although it in not dyed in ink, yet. And just to mix it up, I will include a few of my newer as if yet, unpublished stories.

It's still very much in the works, but I hope it will be out there in the next couple of months, and I hope you will enjoy reading it.

Thanks for following along, it's great to have you aboard. I'll let you know when we are almost in the harbour. And yes, please enjoy the mixed metaphors and cliches.

Steve

In The End It All FIts

 

If you were paying attention, you would remember that I have mentioned I am going to turn this blog into a new book. If you weren't paying attention then this is all new, which is just fine as well.

There are dozens of books out there which give instructions and rules to help you become a better writer. They are largely written by language scholars who really do know what they are talking about. The problem with the ones I have read, is that by the end I'm really not sure what they are talking about and how it's going to help me. The fact that reading academia is not my strongest suit, doesn't help.

I'll be the first to admit, I am not one of those writing experts. I have one thing going for me though. I love to write. Well two things. I love to write and I've turned that passion into an avid pastime, if not a career. I've done this is by listening to and asking those who know, networking with other writers and writing groups, and of course that old favourite, trial and error.

So now I've convinced you that my project may have some merit, let me just go through the steps of this undertaking in the hope that it will help you with your goals.

A couple of years ago I started writing the blog you are currently reading. Simply put, I wrote the posts to both explain how I write and the procedures I used to finally get my books out there.

Then I had a brilliant idea. Why not make these posts into a kind of how to book? A guide for would be writers, to help encourage them to pursue their passion and then walk them through the processes I've used.

I will make not make promises or pretense. This is merely my way of doing things, with the help of some very helpful people. There are many roads you can take, this just happens to be the one I landed on. I am not a writing teacher, but then again many coaches have not gone to Uni for coaching courses. It's their experience and knowledge of the game that makes them competent in their career. 

This isn't a commercial, that will come later, but I do hope once this book is available, you will recommend it to those who aspire to be writers, but are unsure of themselves and have no idea in which direction to go. You see how i avoided using a preposition at the end of the sentence? That must be worth something.

The nice thing about making this blog into a book was that most of the content was already done. All the posts are in there. From there I needed to put them into a solid order, and give a brief intro for each. Following that, I needed to remove those cute little images I had put in. If you choose to put images in your work, you will need to do the same. Google images are not free domain. There are companies that specialize in that at minimal cost. One example is Deposit Photos. That way you have no worries about people claiming you are using their pictures without permission. 

Unless you are a publishing savant you are going to need a good formatter. This person will help take all the information you send, and turn it into something professional looking, something you will be proud to put your name on.

They will also take those photos you have selected and put them in the places you suggest.

One of the first suggestions was to let go of the cutesy colours and fonts, and size changes to make it look more professional. Something that looks a little less like "Diary Of A Wimpy Kid." This required a pretty massive refurbishing, although it wasn't overly difficult.

And that's where i am at now. As I have advised over and over, several edits are needed before you submit this masterpiece. That will include sending it to your formatter a few times and following their advice without question, until you are both satisfied this is what you had in mind.

Over the next few weeks I will do the last edits, submit it until it is right and then go through the publishing process, which is a piece of cake compared to the rest.

Hope this helps you get an idea of what getting your ready for prime time and published entails. It's not nearly as daunting as you think. Five words: one step at a time.

More bulletins as events warrant. 

Happy writing.

 

Following The Trail

 

I had a story idea very recently. Just an idea. One simple line. Unlike most of my story ideas, it did not come replete with supporting details.

Of course I wrote it down. Well, to be honest, it did come with one more notion. That was to compose another tale involving my favourite Integrated Investigator Nick Bannister, and of course his two cohorts.

Now when a decision is made like this, to revive old friends you have more than a story line. You have your characters already assembled and ready for whatever action you send them. This is huge, because good characters are hard to find, and voila, you have them.

Now I've mentioned before, that my characters are living breathing people to me. And I know them well enough to realize that soon enough they will start to tell me where they want to go.

No I am not looney. Most people have favourite heroes on screen or in literature and fantasize about their next adventure. Why, because you are so close to them, it's only a small step to putting them to work.

Surely enough, a time and place came to me. It was London in the time of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. It was going to include my boys merging their twentieth century know how and gadgets with the late 1800's. So perhaps I was looking at my first attempt at Steampunk, a brand of fiction which does exactly that. 

Then I needed a premise. Well that was easy. They were transported back there. Remember when you have an idea, it's not necessary to explain it right away, just take it for what it is. You'll figure it out later.

Then I needed a reason they were whisked so far away. Obviously they were there to present some manner of disaster. 

At that time there were two reprehensible characters kicking around, one real by the name of Jack the Ripper. The other fictional, none other than that most sinister of evil geniuses, Professor James Moriarty, foil to Detective Sherlock Holmes. Either of them would fit the bill of maker of mayhem.

I would never presume as some have. However, to compose a new Sherlock Holmes yarn. But what about if his partner Doctor John H. Watson became part of the fun? 

This all fit together nicely. And i will say no more, because that would be a monumental spoiler of a story I plan to include in my next book.

The point here is that this meal did not come with a side dish of suggestions. It came one course at a time and from there, blossomed a ripping good yarn which I have enjoyed written immensely. If you are lucky, and alert, this may happen to you.

More details to follow.

Don't Fight, Write

 

When I thought of the title for this entry, I have to admit I cringed a bit. It seems very cheesy and contrived, that, along with simplistic, corny, low brow and somewhat tawdry. Well  you get them point. And besides I have preached that message several time before in my posts. But one of the other things I have been a proponent of it coming straight to the point and not smothering a message with unnecessary verbiage.

Kind of like I just did I the last sentence.

In the near future I am going to take my posts and make a few basis renovations, and add some thoughts, change the illustrations and pass it off as my new book. 

Of course it will be fresh, but based on my own past observations.

The idea will be to make this a book for people that are unsure of their ability to write, or go through the process of getting their work published.

Now who am I to write such a book. I did not even take language in University. I took Poli Sci if you must know. That does qualify me to offer a course in bullshitting your way through exams, but not to teach writing.

Ah, but there's the difference. I am not even pretending to teach writing. I am instead hoping to guide potential writers through my own experiences in the hope it might get the fence sitters off the fence and behind their laptops, tablets, or even old school writing pads. 

My credentials then are simply, experience and I think a knack of putting a good yarn together. The satisfaction of finishing something, whether it be short story, novel, or non fiction and realizing it's really quite good, cannot be measured. 

If you fancy being a writer I don't want that to go unexperienced, and yes i do mean "un" and not "in"

Every idea you have is worth considering. When I have an idea, but no idea what to do with it, I write it on a sticky and put it in a plastic case with the title "BIG IDEAS". There are no small ideas in writing.

Once in awhile I fish around in there and find some hidden gold. A story I can run with.

When I have one of those "Eureka" ideas, as i mentioned in a previous post, I immediately write it down and then everything else that comes to me about it, and i just get started.

That way nothing is wasted.

These are all notions I have touched upon before. But they bare repeating just to emphasize the point. No matter where you end up with your writing, you won't accomplish anything unless you start.

Cliche maybe, but that doesn't make it not true.

So don't think of reasons for not writing, if you want to write, then just get started.

Now my title doesn't seem so lame after all, does it? 

No Offence Intended. No offence taken.

  

                                                       No Offence Intended

fff                                            

Di                PS I used the British spelling of the word offence. I hope nobody is offended.

     What is offencive? Here’s the dictionary definition.

“causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry”

That’s fair enough. But then the question of what causes those feelings comes up. Personally, I’m not offended if someone curses. However, if a group of people are letting the expletives fly at the beach when I have family there. Then that’s a different matter.

Oh dear, then we have the question about what a curse word is. And there is intent. If someone drops a casserole on their foot and let’s the “f” word fly, is anyone going to take offense. If someone uses the word as every third word, that’s another matter.

What about subject matter. Someone once said you should never discuss religion or politics. And indeed there are people that are offended if you say anything that goes against their own beliefs. So then it comes down to the actual content of your book. If what your are saying integral to your story, then by all means say it. If you are just on a personal mission or vendetta to piss people off, then maybe you can leave it out. And even the word piss off was extremely offencive 40 years ago. Now you can hear it on the 11 0’clock news.

Then there’s sex. Yikes. Some more gentile folk bristle at the mere mention   of the word. Others wouldn’t bat an eye if a bus load of tourists disembarked and started fornication in their hotel lobby.

Being offended is very subjective. So when you are writing what do you avoid; or do you?

Simple answer for me is nothing. If you have something to say, say it. But there is a caveat. Well, several. If your book is deemed to have the potential to offend two-thirds of the people who read it, then perhaps you need a few tweaks. You also don’t want a reputation as an abusive, intolerant pratt. You want people to read your book not squirm in their seats because of your comments.

The fact is, there are people who are offended if the sun comes up. They take offense like it was their day job. To those folks, I can only say no one is forcing them to read the book, so why worry?

But on the other hand, I see no purpose in deliberately setting out to say hurtful things, or to be disrespectful to the average person. You can be critical without being completely nasty. You can call out someone without resorting to childish insults.

You might have a sex scene, a violent altercation in your story, but there is a point where is just becomes gratuitous, rather than descriptive.

I could go on about this with a dozen more examples but I think you get the point. Don’t let fear of offending someone stand in the way of what you need to say. On the other hand, don’t feel you have a mission to shock or outrage people. Leave that to the shock jocks.

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing The Good Word

 

After writing this blog for some time, I really had to ask myself what would be the next step. I mean I have been sharing my take on how to write and I think I have managed to cover most of the angles.

Now you have to remember I am not a language PHD. Aside from teaching grade school students, I never shared my own thoughts on writing until I published my first book and did some workshops that led to this blog..

Here's a hint by the way, I have used the same term twice in the above paragraph. That's a bit of no no. Can you find them?

Moving on. The purpose of writing this has been to give people who want to write, but don't really know how to start, some pointers that might help them fulfill their dream.

I've tried to write it in basic terms, and not to preach the virtues of perfect grammar, or promote any writing style. My message has always been, "Just write." 

The next logical course of action seemed obvious. Why not put my blog posts into a short book for the aspiring writer?

Writing instruction books are a dime a dozen so I wanted mine to be more, shall we say accessible.

It would have to be amusing, to the point, and more important, be something that anyone with the inclination could follow.

I do remember the language books we had to read in high school. Most were so dry it's a wonder they didn't spontaneously combust. I am sure there are those who were so turned off, that they were reluctant to even write their own name after being forced to read those books.

So while I may not be the most academically qualified to write a book about writing, I have a pretty good idea of what works for me, and I am sure it will work for others who are dying to try their hand at the craft.

I am sure I have mentioned in a couple of posts that being too wordy is a failing in many writers. I think I have made my own point here. But hey, I needed to fill the page.

So over the next few months, I am going to go through the old posts, do some tweaking and transform them into book material, whatever that is.

I am also going to incorporate new images. 

Here's a teachable moment. The images in my blog are just google stock photos. If you are going to publish, they must be free domain. So you need a site that specializes in that. You'll have to pay a bit, but their selections are awesome.

When it's all done I will let you know and you can do what your want. Although of course I would prefer you buy the book. Believe me I will let you know where it's available.

In the meantime I would love some feedback, any feedback on my idea. Not that's it's going to change my mind, but I do like input. Please don't be shy about making a comment.

Believe me getting people to make comments on blogs is like getting a mule to go up a ladder. See how I had to sneak a funny simile in there?

I'm excited about this new project, and I'll let you know how it's going on my future posts.