There is reading too.

 

There are times when writing is not really an option.

OKay, let me clarify. Writing is not something you try to do. It's something you do. You write when you are inspired, have a great idea, when you just feel like putting down all the thoughts in your head.

That being said there are times when you have no new ideas, very little inspiration, and a surprising lack of thoughts. Actually the last one can be a good thing. an empty mind is a great receptacle for new ideas.

There are some times when you frankly just don't feel like it.

That's totally okay. I love to cook but i also do takeaway a lot.

When there's nothing going on in the writing department, don't sweat it.

Do something else. This isn't writer's block. it's just a closed for renovations time.

when this happens i suggest, no this isn't homework, i suggest, you go to the library, or check out amazon, or even the books that have been gathering dust on your shelves for years.

Find something that cries out "read me" and give it a go.

You might find something great happens. You get hints, suggestions, ideas of how to be a better writer. 

using the cooking analogy, if you don't feel like cooking, surely you still would want to eat. by going out to a restaurant, you might discover some new ideas and tricks to make you a better chef.

It's the same with writing. We all can learn from each other.

so the solution to procrastination or a dry spell might just be to pick up a good book.

The Eureka Moment

 

This morning I woke up with a story idea. Well, that's normal. A writer always has some ideas rattling around the old coconut. Then one of two things happen. A part of you says, what the hell are you going to do with that? So you put it on the back burner, maybe for some day when inspiration comes to pay a visit.

But then there are the rare, wonderful times when something else happens. Something magical. You start picking up story lines, ideas, descriptions, events. Thought and images that say, "Hmm maybe you have something here."

As I brushed my teeth, a verbal hailstorm pounded at my brain. A story was writing itself in my head, imploring me to take dictation. Bam, what about this?  Crash, how about that? Smash, here's an interesting twist. Thump, here's an interesting character. No false alarm, this is the real thing. 

I stopped my morning ablutions and went to the table. This was more important than anything else. Even as I wrote everything down, more bits and pieces were backlogged in my head, faster than I could get them down. After dozens of aimless leads, the gates were opening and delivering me a scaffold. Is that a mixed metaphor? Who cares. For a writer this is the bona fide "AHA" moment. 

From here is a long road of putting the puzzle pieces together. Exploring each one, seeing where fit. There will be the rough draft. The first do-over. The first edit. And the mandatory third and fourth drafts, possibly more. The additions and deletions. And then the moment of truth, taking it to my writer's groups and listening to their suggestions. Taking the ones that fit and letting the rest go. Then the final rewrite and final edit.

From the first tooth brushing flash, up until the moment I finally deem it ready for prime time, it will be perhaps a week, or a month. It's long grind, but in the end, it will have been a blast. 

So here I am now with a myriad of sticky notes surrounding me. An empty word doc sits ready to be given a "work in progress" title. I can hardly wait to get started. 

More bulletins as events warrant.

Honing your craft

 

I'm think I am getting to be a decent writer. At least people tell me that.

Unless you are a total natural, there is really one thing that's going to help your writing. That's writing. Okay two things, reading to others you respect, getting their feedback and listening to their suggestions. Maybe that's five things. You can decide which ones you need to follow.

I wrote some short stories when I was younger, and looking back on them makes me cringe. I think I was trying too hard.

Then came an unfortunate illness which put me in hospital for a few weeks in England. When boredom began to overtake me, I started an old school, pen and paper, journal.

When I finally got back home, I picked up those notes and started to write them into a diary.

I have to admit I thought they weren't half bad.

A short while later I was talking to customer at the bar we ran, and told them about my writer's aspirations.

She invited me to come to the Parliament Street Writer's, a group which met every Monday to read and critique.

I soon became a regular and began to look forward to reading my works, and also receiving hints. Some I totally accepted, while others didn't always quite fit.

But I was now in writing mode. I began to take the little ideas I had all day and put them into story form.

The more I did, the more the ideas flowed. The more I read them to the group, I realized I did have a knack for story telling. 

The constructive criticism they gave me was invaluable. 

I was starting to love writing, and giving my own takes on the other's works.

This isn't a biography so I will fast forward many years. I am a member of a few writer's groups. In some of them we meet, mostly via zoom and offer our readings and critiques.

Others are more like a social media thing, where we post questions and problems about our writing and offer suggestions to one another.

I have since published two books, which would have been unthinkable back in those early days.

Writing is now a huge part of my life, and although I hope to get better, I am more confident that many people enjoy my stories now.

I am sure even a five-star chef had trouble making a grilled cheese at some point. 

It's all about doing what you love, and accepting constructive criticism and advice. 

It's called honing your craft. Most of us have been doing it all our lives in our chosen profession. In time, you are able to stand back and say, "Yup, I am pretty good at what I do."

Just for Fun

Had a bit of trouble choosing a topic, so i reckoned i'd get some other folks to do it for me. Enjoy.                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                    

     

Don't Let Genre Trap You

 

Having written about writer's block last post, I found myself in the frustrating position of wanting to start a new project, but every time I tried, tried being the operative word, there was nothing, nada. I was drawing a blank. Not that I didn't have ideas, I had some ideas about aliens, alternate realities, a Zoom meeting where people kept disappearing. I got a good feeling about a ghost living in an old mansion dealing with the visitors who came looking for a good haunting. 

There are times when these flashes would send me to my keyboard until I was well on my way to writing a ripping good yarn. But instead the sticky note where I had written my notion, sat there mocking me, daring me to come up with a tale. 

Then the little voice, which I try to ignore most of the time, gently nudged me and asked, "What are you doing? Are those the only kinds of stories you can write? Are you type casting yourself already?

Of course, I've written other stuff before. Why am I limiting my self. It sure isn't working out too well.

After our little chat, I simply went on with my day, and lo and behold not one hour later, I had an idea, a great idea. And there were no spaceships, supernovas, hostile aliens or evil entities. It was something else entirely. No I am not going to say what it was because it's only in the infant stages. But it was off on another track entirely.

I sat down and dashed off the first 500 words in no time. And I had enough notes on my sticky papers to see this baby get fully grown.

So my point is? No matter what you enjoy most, or what you are best at, or most knowledgeable with, don't get stuck in a genre rut. A good Italian chef can make a delicious French dinner. A good sci-fi writer can write a western. Your favourite genre is not your only path to writing. So if you are stuck for an idea in the vein you are used to, step back, open up to all the ideas around you and if it isn't a part your repertoire, then make it so. You might be happily surprised. 

 

The Well Never Really Runs Dry.

 

These two words are the scourge of any committed writer. 

Writer's block.

It might start like this.

You have a vague idea for a story.

So you grab your cup of coffee, sit down and open a word document.

Half an hour later, the cup is empty and you are staring at a blank screen.

A flash of fear crosses your mind.

I have no ideas, I've got writers block.

What if I can't write anymore?

Or maybe it comes down this way.

You finish a story, and you're quite pleased and you can't wait until the next plot line comes to you so you can start your next project.

A few days later you are still waiting. You are looking around for inspiration. But there is nothing. Show me the inspiration. Nada.

There's nothing there. A few days more of this and the panic creeps in. 

What if that's it? What if I never come up with another idea?

Is this the end of my writing career?

 

Here's the good news. Writer's block is not terminal. I don't know a single writer who experienced this dreaded moment, and went on to never write another word.

This too shall pass.

The fact is, you will get over it. You will write again, and unless you have a deadline from a publisher, this is really a non issue.

Ideas are out there all along the road: you just may have taken an unplanned detour.

Maybe you are just tired.

Perhaps you have other things preying on you.

Possibly you just need a break from it all.

So what to do? As the Tao says. Do nothing.

Go for a walk. Take a road trip. Meet up with friends. Read a good book. Seriously!

Above all don't fight it. 

I'll repeat it,

"This too shall pass."

To Write or Not to Write

 

First of all I will begin with disclaimer.

You DO NOT need to be a writer. It's not in the contract you signed at birth. You mean you don't remember doing that?

Well along with that were the other clauses that said you had no obligation to be an actor, or a singer, artist or a dancer or any other creative endeavour has to offer.

But that doesn't mean you can't sing, dance, chant, draw, sketch, yodel, whatever makes you feel good.

So it is with writing. You don't have to have any particular skill, or have taken writing as a major at Carnegie Mellon University.

All that's required is that you have something to say.

One quick look at social media is proof enough that a lot of people, for better or worse, want to be heard.

That means pretty much everyone can write.

Is it good, is it rubbish? Well that's pretty subjective, but you'll never know until you try.

My first real writing stemmed from a diary I kept while in hospital in England, suffering from a viral pneumonia.

When I got home I decided to put it all together and see what i had. Turned out I had something, humour, pathos, drama, it was all there. To my surprise, it was met with some pretty good reviews.

You might dabble with some poetry. Maybe express your feelings. Possibly talk about a dream you had. 

Whatever it is, it is writing. May not be Pulitzer prize material, but it is still valid.

Writing is in our blood. It's as natural as singing in the shower, or doodling on a napkin.

We all have a creative side, and many of us want to express it in some form or other.

SO this post is merely a bit of a pep talk for all of you who have ideas but never put them down. Forget about how you perceive your level of talent, your fear of criticism, or whether anything will come of it. Just write it down.

If that's where is stays, so be it. But if somewhere down the line it becomes more, then all the better.

It might be a few lines you read twenty years from now which rekindles an old memory, maybe it will be a short story you tell you grandkids one day. and yes perhaps it will become something that you work on and nurture which leads to something much more.

In the meantime, if something in you has the urge to write something. Then succumb to it and just write. Good, bad, ugly, poignant, touching, even magnificent, it doesn't matter. 

Hey, you didn't think you were a writer, but you are writing, and guess what that makes you?

Getting a Makeover

 

This is more of an announcement than a blog post. Although it applies to all your writing.

You will notice the theme and background of "Stephen's Scribblings and Scrawls" has changed.

There a couple of reasons for this. When I first selected the theme it seemed to fit in with my writing style, a bit dark and moody. However, this theme also meant that the posts were sometimes difficult to read, what with the murky background.

After hearing from a few readers (thank you for your comments) I decided to give the blog a makeover, give it a brighter more accessible look.

This is the result, at least for now. 

The other reason for change is simple, things get old and sometimes a new look, like a new shirt brightens things up.

Where does this relate to writing? I'll give you a moment to ponder this. Okay,  if you said that you don't need to be stuck in any genre and can explore new avenues any time it feels right, then you earn a point.

If you suggested that perhaps an old story you abandoned long ago could be reincarnated in a new version, you get another point.

Even a published work can be revisited and give the makeover, as many renowned author's have done with their old works.

So, I guess this makeover can serve as one big metaphor for writing.

QED

( quod erat demonstrandum )

Not being a smart ass, just always wanted to put that into my writing. This seemed as appropriate a place as any.

Picking Your Crew

 

You have that great idea for your story. Your plot is masterpiece. There are intimate slices of life, twists and turns, drama, suprises, insight, imagination: everything needed to make a best seller. You've got a pretty good idea of who you want populating this world you have created. 

It's all looking pretty promising. But here's the thing. And you know there's always a thing. 

In order to make your story shine above others, you need these characters to be memorable, unique, witty.

Wait , I hear you say. Do they all need to be positive?

The answer is, not at all.

These beloved characters can be miserly, grumpy, pesty, contrary, and not the kind of person you might choose to be  your BFF.

But what you do next will make them memorable. You will make us care about them. Your readers will turn the pages eagerly to see what happens to these people.

What makes for a good read is not so much the storyline, but the characters who walk that line. From the lead role, down to the cameos, your readers will stick around if they can relate, empathize and feel a connection. 

How do you do that? First, you will give them some redeeming qualities no matter how dastardly they may be. They will be the kind of person you would want to sit down with and see what makes them tick, even if you wouldn't trust them to babysit your cat. 

You've heard the old adage, show don't tell. That's elemental. Don't introduce your character by telling us everything about them in the first meeting. This is not a police line up. 

Sneak the information in as you go. 

Replace descriptions with happenings. He wasn't fat. Instead, he flopped his massive frame onto the couch. He didn't wear a flashy shirt. Rather, when he met his friend, the friend said, "Dude can you turn the colour down?"

His superior attitude towards the waiter in the cafe, shows he is a snob. Her refusal to listen to the good advice of her friends are testimony to her stubborness.

You get the idea. Too much description can be over bearing. Let your character develop over the pages, rather than come completely assembled. That gives the reader more leeway in deciding how they feel about them.

And whether they hate the persona, or love them, the one thing you want them to come away with is that they care and want to see how things pan out.

 

A Word About Words

 

Writing is about words. Anyone have an issue with that? Eating is about food. Agreed? What happens when we eat too much? Our tummies hurt and we have to stop eating. When we try to read overly verbose writing our brains hurt, and we will likely jump ship.

Words are wonderful and they can convey emotion, action, colour, quirks, drama, on so on. But remember they are still just words, they aren't real life. Your job as a writer is to make the two as close as possible, so the reader feels he is living the experience.

Once you start to throw words around like confetti, you cloud the story, you distract from your intent, and you likely lose your audience.

It's very easy to become self indulgent, look at something you wrote and think, "Isn't that clever, let's see if I can do it again." Before you know it ,your story is lost in a forest of verbose, rambling distraction.

By all means use creative and colourful language, but don't use  it just because you can. Be economic; if something is a simple act, it doesn't need a four line description. Save that for the things that can really use some colour. 

Some writing coaches are down on adjectives and adverbs. By all means use them, but only when needed. Why say talked loudly when you can say shouted? Was the sky swirling with dark, black clouds or was it angry? 

When you go to edit, read it as if you are seeing it for the first time. Does what you read take you right into the story, or do you feel like an outsider watching someone show off?

You're a writer, you have a gift. Share your magic with the world. You have one chance to grab a reader with your words, or to send them running to another author. Use you words wisely.

Inspirations and other short stories

Instead of writing a long laborious essay on where inspiration comes from, I'll keep it simple. Truth is it comes from everywhere, full stop. But if you are having some issues with ideas and sources, maybe this will help. 

Hope you find something you can work with here.

BTW it took me longer to make this than it did any of my other posts.