Motivation #2

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Motivation #2

by N. Bright

Do you still waste creative energy fretting over things you can’t control, like rejection letters you can understand or bad reviews from snarky people? I’m blogging about motivation and self-discipline, and finding way to stay inspired.

Read a Book Relating to Your Story’s Theme

Whatever the theme, setting, time period, or genre of your current work in progress, read articles or books relating to that topic. Have you found a picture of your main character’s home? What is the floor plan? Have you researched the history of the town your story is set in?  What about vehicles, food, or clothing? The list is endless.

Bookstore Treasures

A recent rummage through a used-book-story resulted in a 1st Edition copy of A-WOMAN-TENDERFOOT by Grace Gallatin Seton Thompson. This treasure was published in 1900 by Doubleday. I’m holding a 100 year old book in my hands! It’s about camping and backpacking in the Rocky Mountainswritten by a Victorian city girl who refused to allow her husband to vacation out west without her. I loved her adventurous nature.

In her own words, “Dear woman who goes hunting with her husband, be sure that you have it understood that you do no cooking, or dishwashing… Cooking out of doors at best is trying, and certainly you cannot be care free, camp life’s greatest charm, when you have on your mind the boiling of prunes and beans, or when tears are starting from your smoke-inflamed eyes as you broil the elk steak for dinner.”

Her positive nature and sense of adventure when she road through the mountain snow or shot her first elk for their dinner shed much wit on her experiences out west. I hope I can convey the same sense of wonder and freedom in my historical westerns for kids.

Bury yourself in your story. When you’re not writing, you can read about anything and everything relating to your novel.

What Motivates You to Keep Writing?

Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing insight on motivation, and we’d love to hear from you, too.

Thanks for joining us at WordsmithSix!

www.nataliebright.com

A Pinch of Rodeo – STEALING GAS

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A Pinch of Rodeo

By Joe R. Nichols

 

STEALING GAS

Tom Reeves moved in with me when he attended college at Panhandle State University in Goodwell, OK. He had his Pro-card, I was still on my permit. If you gave your membership number to Tom, get ready. He would have you entered in every rodeo from Galveston to the Yukon.

We mounted my old Cadillac one morning to leave on a run. We stopped to get gas at a local fuel merchant in Guymon, where I lived. I pumped the petro, Tom used the restroom. He came out about the same time I had her full, and we took off. A few miles down the road, Tom says, “Joe, did you pay for the gas?”

I said, “No, I have this,,,”

He spun a quarter turn in his seat toward me and interrupted, “You didn’t pay for the gas?” he blurted in a near panic.

Now, I love practical jokes, and it’s not often you get the opportunity to have one handed to you like this. I got him good.

“No, I didn’t pay for the gas, I thought you did.”

“I didn’t pay for the gas,” he said. His eyes were big and his voice quivered.

“You went in there, I never left the car.”

“I just went to the bathroom, I didn’t buy the gas.”

“Oh, I thought you paid for it,” I said disgusted.

“We gotta go back, Joe.”

“Aw, I bet we can get away with it.”

“No, Joe. You gotta go back.”

What I had started to say when he first asked me if I paid for the gas, was; “No I have this fuel card that lets you buy gas 24 hours a day.”

The pumps were at this old filling station that had nothing to do with the tire shop using the building where Tom used the restroom. He never saw me put the card in the pump to turn it on.

“Tom”, I said sternly, “Don’t be jacking with me, you bought the gas didn’t you?

No, all I did was use the bathroom. Turn around and go back.”

“Their not going to catch us now, lets just go on.” I sped up and started looking in the rear view mirror.

“No, you have to go back, they probably got our tag number and called the cops.”

I sped up a little more, “Lets see if we can get away with it.”

By this time, Tom had both feet up in the seat, like he was getting ready to jump. “Come on Joe, turn around, we’ll get caught. We can’t do this.”

I wanted to carry it on some more, but the fear on his face brought out my laughter. When I could control myself enough to explain, he didn’t know if he should believe me or not. I had to show him the card before he settled down.

Tom won over 1.7 million dollars in his career, qualifying for the National Finals 18 times, and won the World Championship in 2001. What I told him that day was certainly applicable. “It’s a good thing you can ride broncs, because you don’t like to work, and you’re way to nervous to steal.”

 

Scavenger Hunt

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

 Scavenger Hunt

 By Nandy Ekle

1.         Horrible divorce

2.         A new apartment

3.         A short round woman

4.         i-phone with Siri

5.         A mom with tons of tough love

This is your list of things to find for our scavenger hunt. These are a few fairly common nouns that you need to find for your new story.

1.         Very shy

2.         Colorless

3.         Depressed

4.         Unbalanced

5.         Lonely

This are the adjectives you need to find. Again, fairly common, not too hard to find.

1.         Hides

2.         Questions

3.         Sneaks

4.         Screams

5.         Moves

And these are your verbs.

Now. Go write your story.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

NAILS

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NAILS

By Sharon Stevens

You’ll never guess what I was doing on Good Friday this year.

For starters, I dropped by Stevens Flowers to pick up a special gift to celebrate a family birthday, a wedding, and a new birth, all in the same family. Stepping out the door I noticed a feather on the sidewalk and knew I was on the right path. Next I stopped by Haley’s Printing, then to Johnston’s Hardware for nails, and then I continued on my journey on past the Palace Coffee House. Another stop was a purchase of the 100-year issue of the Canyon News. Before entering I read the Historical marker about the Warwick family, such a legacy for our town. Round and round I went traveling the entire courthouse square taking pictures of every business and each memory. My final stop was at the statue of the World War I Doughboy to pay my respects, and to read the names on the plaque for remembrance. This is the very least I can do.  Even with the shadowing trees gone that shaded the warrior from the sun, he still stands ever at the ready for whatever battle calls him to arms.

After returning to my place of origin, and before stepping back into my car, I stopped once again at Stevens Flowers and photographed the feather still resting in front of the store on the sidewalk, my heart coming full circle once again.

And the nails…at the beginning of my journey I walked in to Johnston’s Hardware and was greeted by Curt Johnston as always. Even though my husband had been by several times this was the first time I had been in the store since it was remodeled. This was beautiful! Bringing back the tin ceilings showcased all those items found at any local hardware store, but the silver reflecting from above brightened even the dreariest tool.

But my mission was all about the nails.

Curt asked me which kind I needed and what size or for what project. How could I explain to him that I had no clue?

As a writer I wanted the nails to represent so many memories to segue into a story. Since it was Good Friday of course this would connect to the Crucifixion of Christ, but this wasn’t my main focus. I had a thought in my mind that reminded me of a sweet memory shared with me about nails at the family Grove Hill Methodist Church in Leonard Texas. There was another story in my mind about an American Flag I found nailed to the wall in an abandoned house, the sole purpose of this beautiful symbol used only to hide illegal activity. On another vein I also wanted to honor my husband, patiently waiting on me at our own hometown business, the Buffalo Bookstore. He deserved a precious story about his life as a craftsman, and all the things he had built with his own hands over the years. And I could never forget Joseph as a carpenter, and his Son, Jesus, learning the trade of his Father.

There was no way I could give a description or reasoning OR explanation for this piece of hardware so Curt could direct me further. “For want of a nail…” Any piece of steel would do as long as the word, “nail” was listed on the box. I needed something so tangible and physical that it would inspire every sentence, every thought. I knew how Nandy Ekle felt with her Wordsmithsix blog, “The Grail” about her Stephen King cup. If I just had the perfect nail I knew I could create any masterpiece of my choosing. Pain or joy would be at my fingertips, straight through to my soul, exuding my thoughts from pen to paper.

Quickly I chose from the display loaded with every length and penny. Under Curt’s guiding but watchful eye I didn’t want to close my eyes and pick. He probably thought, no, he knew I was already looney, just kind enough not to say so. I chose quickly and took my purchase up to the front, and paid the price worth every cent. I asked after Curt’s family and told him to tell them hello. Precious people in a hometown business, you can’t get any better than this. When I left the store I continued around the circle back to my car and found the feather again.

How could I ever explain to anyone of the significance of the nail?

This coming Monday is Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah). In researching this blog I read so many quotes and memories. Some I found even related to nails. One was a negative connotation referring to being crooked, another was explaining the beauty of nails, (fingernails) with the lighting of the Sabbath candles. Still another describes the reasoning behind Jewish law only allowing natural materials like plain wood for a coffin so the body can return naturally to earth. Nails could be an item that would impede the process of decomposition.

But I think what hit the nail on the head was the note I came across with the founding of this holiday on April 12, 1951 that signified “Devastation and Heroism Day”.

Since Yom Hashaoh is a relatively new holiday there are no set rules or rituals. What kind of rituals could represent the Holocaust?

Dad’s Papers

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Outtakes 88

Dad’s Papers

By Cait Collins

 

I’m really excited about my current work entitled TABLES. The book is a collection of stories about growing up as a Baby Boomer. I have tons of memories, but I have found I can’t recall some of the small details. Since so much of my life involved the Air Force, I decided to go through my Dad’s military papers. Mom kept everything from the time my father entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 until he retired from the Air Force in 1969. What a research treasure I have.

The section I’m writing now tells about our transfer from San Antonio, Texas to St. John’s, Newfoundland. I found the documents detailing our departure from the United States into Canada. I had no idea my first visit to Maine was in the fall of 1955. We crossed into New Brunswick at Calais, Maine. Another little revelation was the fact Newfoundland Island is part of the larger Province of Newfoundland. The bulk of the territory is on the mainland of Canada.

I found the orders allowing Mother to arrange the shipping of our possessions. Dad was on temporary duty (TDY) in St. Johns to secure housing, so Mom was in charge of planning the move. The military paid our moving expenses, but I did not know the limitations. Adults were allowed 350 pounds of personal possessions and children received 175 pounds each.

I recall every address we had during Dad’s years in the service except the address in San Antonio and the St. John’s address. Well, now I know. My Mother had no idea the favor she did me by keeping all those documents. I had so much fun reading them. The information I found will add more color to the stories of my childhood.

Check out the attic, basement, trunks, and cedar chests in your family home. These nooks and crannies might provide valuable information regarding your history. Old documents require special handling and storage. Check with archivist at your local library or do an on-line search for document preservation. You don’t want to lose your past.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

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Reasons to Write

     Why do I write? Is it because throngs of fans demand it, anticipating every word of my next masterpiece? Is it because I honestly expect to make millions of dollars on a bestseller, or desire to be famous? No.

This week I will share with you the 5th reason of why I write                                                                                                                                                                                   

Reason #5 – Endless Possibilities                                                    

On a recent business trip to the west coast, I noticed something amazing. Traveling along the highway, I read the billboards. Some of them knew I was reading them and said things like, “Caught you looking!” or “You’re so good. You read me like a book!” As spots on a connect-the-dots drawing, these towering advertisements had information about the grandest hotels, motels and the cleanest restrooms. They pointed the way to the best buffets and restaurants. Some revealed the places to go for the nightlife, and what it will cost if you drink too much of the highlife and turn into a lowlife while driving.

Occasionally we pulled into roadside rest-stops for short breaks and “free coffee,” and then we would load up on all the local vacation magazines, free maps and tourist information to read along the way. One visitor’s guide said that Arizona has more boats per capita than any other state in the nation—and they’re a land locked desert!

My point is that the possibilities for writers are endless because writing is everywhere. From billboards along the American road to epic novels, behind everything you read is a writer.

Rory C. Keel

State of Mind: Motivation Part 1

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State of Mind:  Motivation Part 1

By N. Bright

 

Rejection is inevitable

— if you’re writing and submitting on a regular basis. No doubt, being a writer requires self-discipline and a whole lot of confidence in your purpose.

After a while you have to learn how to let opinions roll off, and if you haven’t been able to take the critiques that go along with the publishing business, the time is now for a new mindset. Stop wasting creative energy fretting over things you can’t control. As long as you keep writing, polishing, learning story craft and submitting, at some point you will have success.

Sometimes though, I have to admit, there’s always that one comment that gets to me and makes me question the whole process. Was it really necessary for that critic to add one more jab after the ‘no’? These types of rejection makes me loose sleep wondering what I could have done differently. Maybe the ending doesn’t fit, maybe the middle sags, or maybe the beginning needs a prologue. Perhpas I need a complete redesign of the website, to work harder on my blogs or make an effort to be more active with my tweets. And then I become obsessed about working even harder and pushing myself to submit more. Good grief! Writing is the hardest work I’ve ever done.

Motivation to Keep Going

The few months of rejections and a few successes as well, got me to thinking about motivation.

As writers, how can we keep a positive attitude?  How can we maintain our creative energy and be productive despite the ongoing criticism?

How-To by A Favorite Author

If you’ve lost your motivation to write and need some inspiration, find a how-to book about story craft written by one of your favorite authors.

TAKE JOY by Jane Yolen (published in 2003 by Kalmbach Publishing Company) is one of my favorite books on writing by one of the most prolific children’s authors of today, whose career span decades and includes hundreds of books. Right at the beginning of the book she states, “We are talking here about the difference between desire and obsession; between hobby and life. But in either case, I suggest you learn to write not with blood and fear, but with joy.”

Many best-selling authors have penned how-to books, and most are available as eBooks. For a small investment in your career, you can be reading one right after you finish reading this blog. There’s something inspiring and motivating about someone who has worked hard and found success.

Where do You Find Inspiration?

Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing insight on motivation, and we’d love to hear from you, too.

Thanks for joining us at WordsmithSix!

www.nataliebright.com

A Pinch of Rodeo – Hanging around the Best

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A Pinch of Rodeo

 By Joe R. Nichols

 

 Hanging around the Best

The summer before I started college, I worked on a ranch in Nebraska. There’s an amateur rodeo association up there that is very respectable. This made the non-sanctioned rodeos easy pickin’s, and I won money at most all of them I went to. It gave me a false sense of my skill level. I figured when I got to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, I’d make’em bow down. I was so confused.

The Central Plains Region of the NIRA was one of the best in the nation. Young men from all over the United States were recruited on scholarships, and many of them were already competing at the pro rodeos. I was out of my league.

I still believed I could ride at that level and be successful; it just took longer than I thought. My freshman year; blanked. Zip, zero, notta.

At the rodeo in Weatherford, OK (Southwestern Oklahoma State University) my sophomore year, there was one saddle bronc horse that stood out. He was way better than all the rest. Rod Breech had him in the first performance, I had him in the last. Rod’s score had him winning the rodeo.

Rod was one of the reasons why these rodeos were so tough. A top bronc rider and bull rider, he also could beat you in the team roping and steer wrestling. I looked up to him and he was helping me learn to ride. We were becoming friends.

I can’t recall for sure how many points we each had, just that Rod scored much higher than me, but I still won second. What a boost! What a relief!

Years later, Rod and I traveled together in the PRCA. In our rookie year, I remember him saying; “I used to be a hot dog, now I’m just a weenie.” He went on to win the overall Rookie of the Year in the Prairie Circuit, and proved himself as a great professional bronc rider for several years. The point being, he dominated college and amateur associations, but he had to step up his game when he arrived on the pro scene.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a book or riding a bronc, hang around the best in the business and they’ll make you better.

The Grail

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

The Grail

By Nandy Ekle

I found it on line, filled out the order form and typed in my payment information. Then I sat back and waited. I didn’t have to wait long. It came in the mail this week; I was so excited and couldn’t wait to get home from work and open my package. And I was not disappointed.

Of course, it’s nothing more than a plain, simple coffee cup. It has the name of my favorite author printed around the cup and a print of his signature. That’s all it is. But to me, it might as well be the Holy Grail. It looks really cool in my hands, the coffee tastes better, and suddenly my words flow much better.

There is an old story about a child who wants to learn to do something, but they have no self-confidence. They are given some little trinket and told that it has magic powers and they are immediately able to do the thing they want to do and believe it’s because of the magical object they hold. Then, in the middle of a very intense moment, they lose their magical possession, but are able to continue what they’re doing.

The intelligent side of my brain knows this story and laughs at the creative side for believing it. But I guarantee that since receiving my new cup in the mail, I have been able to write again.

Sometimes we just have to do whatever it takes to get the words on the paper.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

 

EASTER

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EASTER

By Sharon Stevens

 

Carla Stewart recently blogged with Susan Reinhardt about writing, and also about her book, “The Moses Conspiracy”. Reinhardt said something that truly touched my heart. Her words… “The novel was born from an experience I had while standing in Gettysburg Square on December 2004. Surrounded by old buildings, I “heard” the forefathers voices, but they were like fading echoes.”

Can you imagine standing in Gettysburg Square? What did Susan feel, sense, smell, hear, or touch with the echoes of the forefathers? Who was there to tug at her thoughts? I am sure she didn’t hear laughter, but then again, what if she sensed the families that strolled through the town at better times.

How many of us stop and actually listen to the voices of our characters? How does the setting change if we turn in this direction? How can we write our stories if we can’t hear what they are saying? So many times we are so afraid of losing the terrific thoughts running through our brain that we forget to forge the story within. We are petrified that if we stop for even just a moment in time, all will be lost and we will have to start all over again. But the opposite is so true. Sometimes, if we breathe with the heart of our character, OUR heart will carry on to complete the scene.

I remember how Natalie Bright told our critique group that her character would wake her up at night urging her to tell the story. Jodi Thomas spent nights at the computer only to hear the alarm go off the next morning just in time to get ready to teach school. Paul Green, who wrote the musical drama TEXAS, said that the panhandle was his thinking day and night.

Without a doubt we need to listen to our characters, but then again, not to forget they also took time out of their busy lives to celebrate life itself.

Someone left behind a desk diary from 2002, “On Writers & Writing” by Helen Sheehy & Leslie Stainton. Each page listed an author and the story of their life. To me, this was a true treasure on every level. The calendar itself had spaces to write thoughts and memories. The birth or death dates of authors were inserted at the bottom of each entry. But it was the stories of all the authors that caused my heart to leap for joy!

The March notation is the life story of Olaudah Equiano who was born sometime in 1745 and died March 31, 1797. Equiano’s life story began when he was kidnapped at age 11 and shipped to America for a life of slavery, “in a state of distraction not to be described.” He wrote an autobiography recounting the violence of being branded and beaten, but also of being taken in by an officer of the Royal Navy who taught him to read. He writes, “I had a great curiosity to talk to the books as I thought they did.” Equiano recalled. “for that purpose I have often taken up a book and have talked to it and then put my ears to it, when in hopes it would answer me.”

As writers, may you always take a moment to listen to your books as they tell their story! And may your books have a story to tell.

Happy Easter!