The Advantages of Suffering

There are some writers who go to the best schools, come from the richest families, learn from the most renowned teachers and step into the limelight with a swagger. Their writing may be deep, insightful and widely published, but, unless they have experienced one vital part of life, their works are just pleasantly written passages.

That part of life is suffering.

Too often writers believe that their writing isn’t good enough because they haven’t attended the most expensive schools, they don’t come from families filled with literary luminaries, or learned at the feet of the most famous authors.

They don’t understand the advantages of suffering.

Real struggle, deep pain, true tragedy teach principles of wisdom. Without such wisdom writing is vain and superficial. With such wisdom writing grows from grace to grace, opening the hearts of readers to new understandings that change them, forever.

This doesn’t mean that budding writers should leap out into the world and do bad things so they can suffer. Most of us suffer enough, just by living. But, each writer should look back at every event that caused them pain, spend time empathizing with family members and friends about their struggles, seek to learn what suffering has to teach.

This kind of insight moves writing beyond superficialities of style. It grows into a wellspring of wisdom that can infuse our work with depth.

Remember the value of suffering. Always see it as an advantage, not a burden. Thus, your writing can become powerful and poignant, while suffering, in all its pain and anguish, can grow into a mighty teacher that transforms mediocre writing into great art. 

Tune In by Tuning Out

 Our writing becomes richer when we tune in the world around us. To do this, we must tune out those ordinary noises, sounds, scents and anxieties that act like static to the creative mind.

Imagine a safe place, a secure place (either wild or peaceful), where you are surrounded by beauty. For some this may be a quiet nook in a library or a waterfall in a park or a bridge crossing a roaring river. Wherever you find harmony, imagine yourself there.

Then, tune out the physical world around you and tune in the imaginary one. Tune it in completely. Taste the air, smell the leaves, feel the grasses blowing in the breeze. There is fire in the atmosphere of such imaginings, coals of creative genius too often buried beneath the ash of daily business. These coals burst into conflagration when we give them attention.

Always include something you love in the tuning in process. Always be specific.

If you have a passion for food, be specific about which kind of food you want to dream about. Maybe fruit? Which fruit? Gale Brandeis said, in her book, Fruitflesh, “We are fruit with breath inside…Breath invigorates us, fills our blood with oxygen, fills our bodies with vitality, fills our language with possibility. Breath, literally, inspires us.”

We must know the wilderness within, the peaceful meadows of the heart or flaming atmosphere of the spirit, before we can craft eloquent phrases that not only touch but move the hearts of our readers. It’s not hard. All we must do is tune out daily care and tune in creative genius. 

Everyone Can Write

From our youth, many of us have been taught that only special people can write. You must be a genius, an artist, someone with a unique gift, before you can put pen effectively to paper.

Nonsense! That’s the kind of twaddle that egotistical pseudo-intellectuals tout to trembling students. It’s ugly and elitist and just plain wrong.

Remember, when you were a child? How everything from words to works of art poured easily onto the page? Without pretentiousness or snobbery, children create beauty. Once we become educated, however, once we become morbidly conscious of critics and audience and the how-to’s of this and that, then our writing fails.

Brenda Ueland puts it simply yet eloquently. “Since art must truly be felt and cannot be willed, since it has to generate spontaneously in the artist’s inner self, there comes into existence willed, brain-spun, pseudo-art. And, one common kind of pseudo-art is that which pretends to be very hard to understand, subtle and abstruse, so that only a very exclusive few, a few extremely cultured people, can understand it.”

Children, moved by spontaneous emotion, rashly express with genuine abandon. As adults, we must revive such authentic creativity, often with a blinding flash of discovery that changes our viewpoints, forever.

The truth is that everyone is born with an innate ability to write. Whether we write with crayons or poetical feather pens, each of us has an inborn gift that can be cultivated, until it becomes as easy as breathing.

Have faith that you can write. Believe that you, too, are a genius. As you do, you will discover the precious artist within and a multitude of stories already created and ready to spill onto the page.

Tips on World Building

When it comes to building your imaginary world, remember the following keys:

1)     Every world is run by laws. Your hero and heroine must abide by those laws, as well as events that occur in your plotline.
2)     Fill out description with the senses. Using the senses brings readers into the story.
3)     Make sure your world is filled with ideas that readers can relate to. If it's a little familiar, they find enough stability to accept what is new or strange.
4)      Show don't tell. Sometimes this is tricky, but showing is far more compelling than telling.
5)     Create a culture. This includes religious themes, dress, hairstyles, politics, food and anything else that affects how characters relate to each other or the plot.

There are many more keys to world building. Review your favorite books and watch how those authors do it. Build your world with passion and love and it will fascinate readers, everywhere.

Dream your Dream of Authorship

Many of us push aside dreams of actually authoring that novel, autobiography, article or poem, because we believe we're not worthy. After all, when we look in the mirror each morning, we see someone that has made mistakes, hurt themselves and others, or failed to achieve an important goal. If we buy into the comparison mentality, we may actually think that we are less valuable because of the errors in our history, because of the lack of dollars in our bank account, because we are not famous or fabulously talented.
NONSENSE! You are worthy of your dreams of authorship.
Mistakes are great learning tools. Being an ordinary Joe grants freedom from the Paparazzi. A low bank account can motivate creative thinking. Pain is the precursor to wisdom.
You are worthy of your dreams. The first thing you need to do is dream about those dreams. Imagining how you would feel if you had written that novel, autobiography, article or poem is the first step to actually accomplishing it.
No one sees like you do. No one feels like you do. No one writes like you do.

Dream your dream. Then, make that dream real. It's a gift that only you can give the world.

Feeding your Muse

The creative mind hungers for inspiration. Writers and artists often refer to their source of imagination as their Muse. A Muse was a Greek goddess, the source of creativity for art and literature. Too often, the voice of our Muse may be smothered by daily cares and the hustle and bustle of life.

Here are a few ideas for feeding your Muse:

• An hour at the library. With your cell phone off, this can be a time of quiet reflection and study.
• An afternoon in the park. Immersing oneself in nature refreshes and inspires the Muse.
• Writing poetry. Most of us don’t sell poetry; such a creative journey is taken for the love of the journey, itself, a way to renew the Muse.
• Fifteen minutes with Shakespeare. Reading anything written by the immortal bard is a wonderful way to tap into the power of your Muse.
• Play musical pillows. Stretch out and listen to your favorite kind of slow music; this means mellow not manic. Classic blues or Beethoven may nourish your inner Muse.

 Other suggestions include outdoor concerts, fun or fine dining, even doing a kindness for someone else. Find what puts you in touch with your quiet center, then invest a few moments in that activity. Your Muse will thank you for it!

Write for your Life

Writing is more than a mere passing pleasure. It is a power that can change minds, societies and worlds. During revolutionary times, writers have been proscribed, jailed and killed. Why? Because writing affects society.

Writing changes how people think, which also changes how they see, feel and act. The tone of every human group can be swayed by the simple act of writing.  Knowing this should affect why and how you write.

With great power comes great responsibility. Every writer has power not only to entertain but to influence. We redefine the roles of heroes, heroines and villains. Those goals to which others aspire are either supported or decried by our writing.

Think deeply about this truth. Your written words can cause real and permanent change. Do you seek to inform, educate, proselytize or spread propaganda? Whichever you choose, your writing can transform your world.

You will have to live with whatever changes your words inspire. So, write the truth. Write for truth. And, write for your life.

Every word counts…  

Quotes from Great Writers

Great writers struggle with their writing, just like regular people do. Sometimes they cope with humor, sometimes with wit. Whatever avenue they choose to express themselves, their thoughts on writing are memorable.

If my doctor told me I had only six months to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster.                                                                                     Isaac Asimov

Contests are wonderful whetstones for sharpening a manuscript.

Elizabeth Lyon

Sir, I admit your gen'ral rule
That every poet is a fool;
But you yourself may serve to show it,
That every fool is not a poet.

Alexander Pope

The poorest of us shed our blood over every chapter. The best of us start from scratch with every new book.                                                      Raymond Chandler

Every reader finds himself. The writer's work is merely a kind of optical instrument that makes it possible for the reader to discern what, without this book, he would perhaps never have seen in himself.                                             Marcel Proust

It's easy to get an agent. What's hard is writing a salable book.

                                                          Michael Larsen
  A good book has no ending.

                                                                               R.D. Cumming

McKee on Story

     In Robert McKee’s brilliant book on screenwriting entitled, Story, he outlines powerful proven writing principles and why they work in all genres. At the beginning of this fine work, McKee quotes Kenneth Burke as saying, “Stories are equipment for living.” This truth provides an unerring direction for how to apply the principles taught in Story.

     “A rule says, 'You must do it this way.' A principle says, 'This works…and has through all remembered time.' These opening sentences pave the way for other even more enlightening truths. “Your work,” McKee continues, “needn’t be modeled after the ‘well-made’ play; rather, it must be well made within the principles that shape our art. Anxious, inexperienced writers obey rules. Rebellious unschooled writers break rules. Artists master the form...

     “The archetypal story unearths a universally human experience…an archetypal story creates settings and characters so rare that our eyes feast on every detail, while its telling illuminates conflicts so true to humankind that it journeys from culture to culture…Stereotypical stories stay at home, archetypal stories travel…

     “Once inside this alien world, we find ourselves…we discover our own humanity…We do not wish to escape life but to find life…Screen and prose writers create the same density of world, character and story…Story is about the realities, not the mysteries, of writing.”

     If these wise sayings fascinate you, buy the book. There are many marvelous tomes delineating how to write a book, short story or screenplay. This is one of the most detailed and eloquent.

     “On the screen there’s no place to hide,” McKee continues. “Story is about mastering the art, not second-guessing the marketplace…Rather than agonizing over the odds, put your energies into achieving excellence.”

     Each writer has his or her own calling to fulfill. Knowing the principles of writing can help realize such fulfillment more quickly. Make your story brilliant by applying writing principles proven over time.

The Truth Behind Great Writing

Writing that touches home, that stirs the heart and creates memorable, clearly experienced moments, is writing based on truth. This doesn’t mean that one must live a bohemian lifestyle, break the law or rebel against cultural mores in a quest for truth. People that rebel, especially famous accomplished people, are often merely self-indulgent rather than truthful, growing selfish, hard and mean instead of enlightened. (And, isn’t personal growth our most important truth?) Writing from truth means that you must be in tune with what you believe, that your heart and the ideas that live there must be known to you, intimately.

This is the character behind your writing, the very real spiritual blood with which you mark the page. If your stories are rooted in a desire for money, fame, popularity or sophistication, they won’t ring true. Only when you know your truth, in all its tarnished beauty, can you write the truth.

Children speak truth with an ease that adults often find embarrassing. That's because they are genuine, with no hidden agendas. Basing your stories on truth can inspire great writing. Your personal connection with truth may take time to develop and a willingness to examine not only what others expect of you, but your own hidden motives. Once you touch base with these truths, your stories will sound intuitive, sympathetic and real. In other words, they will attain greatness.

One Irish proverb says, “Seeing is believing, but feeling is God’s own truth.” Write from divine truth and your readers will feel deeply and remember the truth you portrayed for a lifetime.

New York Times Best Sellers

Reading great books not only entertains but trains our writing skills. When we hone eye and heart with fine literature, we become better at concepting, developing story structure and crafting script. All of the following are current best sellers. Compare them to books in your personal library. 

1. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
2. LETHAL, by Sandra Brown
3. THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE, by Darcie Chan
4. HEAT RISES, by Richard Castle
5. SON OF STONE, by Stuart Woods
6. HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
7. CONFIDENCE MEN, by Ron Suskind
8. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand
9. MONEYBALL, by Michael Lewis
10. THE NIGHT CIRCUS, by Erin Morgenstern
11. REAMDE, by Neal Stephenson
12. IN MY TIME, by Dick Cheney with Liz Cheney
13. EVERY THING ON IT, by Shel Silverstein
14. WONDERSTRUCK, by Brian Selznick
15. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, by Ransom Riggs
16. THE POWER OF SIX, by Pittacus Lore
17. THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak
18. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan
19. THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN, by Sherman Alexie
20. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
21. CLARK HOWARD'S LIVING LARGE IN LEAN TIMES, by Clark Howard
22. TIPPING POINT, by Malcolm Gladwell
23. THAT USED TO BE US, by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum
24. IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS, by Erik Larson
25. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
26. CRAZY LOVE, by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski
27. EAT TO LIVE, by Joel Fuhrman
28. FORKS OVER KNIVES, edited by Gene Stone
29. SILENT RUN, by Barbara Freethy (Barbara Freethy)
30. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, by George R. R. Martin (Random House)
31. A KILLING TIDE, by P. J. Alderman (P. J. Alderman)
32. MILE 81, by Stephen King (Scribner)
33. A GAME OF THRONES, by George R. R. Martin (Random House)
34. THE PARIS WIFE, by Paula McLain (Random House)
35. THE RACE, by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott (Penguin Group)
36. THE ART OF FIELDING, by Chad Harbach (Little, Brown)
37. THE CONFESSION, by John Grisham (Knopf Doubleday)
38. THE REVERSAL, by Michael Connelly (Grand Central)
39. A STORM OF SWORDS, by George R. R. Martin (Random House)
40. SECOND SON, by Lee Child (Random House)
41. AMERICAN ASSASSIN, by Vince Flynn (Simon & Schuster)
42. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson (Knopf Doubleday)
43. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, by Nora Roberts (Harlequin)
44. A FEAST FOR CROWS, by George R. R. Martin (Random House

The previous list includes books that currently top the New York Times Best Sellers List. It covers suspense, crime, fantasy, non-fiction and many other genres. Read, learn and, most of all, enjoy!

How to Choose a Ghostwriter

           Many people need help when writing books, speeches, ads, and autobiographies or other professional written works. Using a ghostwriter is a timesaving way to get the job done, while supervising script development. Here are a few keys to choosing a ghostwriter that is a positive fit.

1)                 Love the Project –

Writers always write better about topics they really care about. Pre-screen prospective ghostwriters. Make sure you’re on the same page with topic fascination.

2)                Experience Counts –

Make sure your ghostwriter is a true professional. Review past projects and past clients. Only then sit down and talk money.

3)                Stick to your Budget –

Ghostwriters are available with a broad pallet of skills and expertise. And, you really do get what you pay for! Make sure you know exactly what you can afford and stay under that financial bar.  

            In the last few minutes of the movie “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner, frustrated and unfulfilled, said, “I’ve done everything you wanted and I never asked, ‘What’s in it for me?’  Well, ‘What’s in it for me?’” Most ghostwriters come from the same place.

They want money. Plain and simple.

Most ghosted books are assigned as Work-for-Hire for between $15,000 and $40,000, by average industry standards.

The good news is that, once your ghostwriter is finished, you own the results. And, believe me, it is your work. No ghostwriter came up with the concept. No ghostwriter spent hours hammering out storyline details. No ghostwriter paid for the labor. This is your baby and you deserve the credit.

So, get a good ghostwriter, make sure that your minds are in harmony, and provide the leadership to see your project through.

           Ghostwriters are great resources to help you achieve your dreams!

Life Lessons from Steven R. Boyett

Steven Boyett, internationally famous author of the novels Ariel, Elegy Beach and Mortality Bridge, gave a keynote speech at the La Jolla Writers Conference in which he delineated life lessons learned during his years as a writer. A renowned writer/teacher of fiction, screenplays, collegiate writing courses, seminars, and workshops, Boyett has published stories in literary, science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies and magazines. It’s interesting, therefore, to learn that the greatest lessons acquired by this exquisite writer and fascinating instructor came when he chose to distance himself from writing, and plunge into hobbies that brought enrichment and delight.

Many rising lights in literature, like Blake Hutchins, Patrick O’Sullivan and Laurie Tom, have written award-winning stories that I recommend beginning writers to read. They are fine examples of high concept development and story structure, as well as eloquence of execution. Yet, feeding the soul is also a real way to make our writing better.

The keynote speech delivered by Steven Boyett, a life changing talk for all writers, is easy to access at the Internet address listed below, although you may have to cut and paste it into your browser window. Thank you, Steven, for making this presentation available for all.
 http://www.steveboy.com/blog/?p=1666