Stephen's Scribblings and Scrawls
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Taking my own Advice
Thursday, February 13, 2025
The Pearl In The Oyster
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Just Writing Already
There's nothing like starting a long overdue post with a commercial. BTW I discounted it for Christmas and didn't change it back.
Just Write Already: Porter, Stephen F C: 9780995960343: Books - Amazon.ca
Since my new book is entirely based on my blog, that would seem to make sense. Yes?
So now we have that out of way, let's get on with it.
A lot of people ask me what I am writing at present. I really can't come up with a bombshell announcement in that regard. I have no new book currently in the works. No articles. Certainly no periodicals. But having said that, when I am not writing with an end in site, I am still writing.
I think once you get into a writer's state of mind, the ideas don't stop. You may think you have gone dry, but if you stop thinking that you have to have a goal and just write whatever ideas come into your head, then it's all good. Everything doesn't have to have an endgame, and I think that's what many writer's misunderstand. You do not have to have the next Giller Prize novel in the works. On the other hand, I do believe you need to keep in the game and keep sharp all the time.
Since my last entry here, I've had two stories on the go. I just completed the second draft of the first two days ago. It clocks in at about 30 pages. The second one is about half done I reckon, and likely will be a similar length. So when someone asks me what I am writing, I won't say nothing (pardon the double negative ). I AM WRITING and that's enough.
As I had the storyline for both at around the same time, I switched back and forth as new notions came to me for each. There was no agenda, or schedule. I had some ideas, and the more I wrote the more they came together. And contrary to what one might think there was no confusion about story lines and characters. Each has it's own identity and genre.
I'm pretty happy with the first one. The second needs some direction but it will come. In the meantime if I come up with another plot, I'll start that and see where it goes. And yes I do have many unfinished tales in my files. Maybe they never will be. But to use a corny metaphor, not every seed becomes a rose bush.
In addition to that, each story will likely be edited five or six times before I consider it ready for prime time. So I will be a busy boy.
Back to the first question. Yes, I am always writing. Where it leads is a mystery, but that's half the fun and reward of the trade. And if I really like what I have created, I will definitely pursue it.
More bulletins as events warrant.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Try, Do, Whatever
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?
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Is That All There Is?
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Practicing What I Preach
Practicing What I Preach
Sunday, July 21, 2024
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.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
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.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
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
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
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.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Following The Trail
Taking my own Advice
If you're going to have a post based on giving advice, then you need to have some faith that what you are saying at least comes close ...
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Well it seems i've been at this for just over a year now. Huzzah! A note of thanks to those who have followed me faithfully or even n...
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Getting Things Ready For Prime Time You have a perfect right to wonder where I have been. In fact I would be thri...