Writing Bravely

Do you know what's the hardest thing about writing a different genre? Of course you know. You've been struggling with it for a few months now.

Voice.

You want the new book to have your trademark touch--that special male POV--yet different because it's a different genre. Dilemma, dilemma.

Your trying First Person POV is making a difference. Stop second-guessing about first-or-third-first-or-third and keep writing. Because the moment you can stay in one character's head and move the story, you'll forget to worry about anything but the story.

The First Day To Greatness

All right.

Vacation's over.

You KNOW IT'S TIME to get back into the story. There is pain and pleasure in writing, in any creation. You have had the pleasure of reading and rereading, now because you've been eating too many sweet books and procrastinating, I must whip the words out of you.

Today, you will start a new chapter. Literally. It's the first day of the year, my dear girl. Write outside if you have to, but write. It'll take off from there.

Hmm. The sound of a swishing whip is rather sexy.

The Excuser

You have been reading. And learning from reading. That is good. But now you need to sit down and write. You have been ignoring your problem and instead have taken to walking down the path admiring other people's roses. That's well, for a while, but when you do that:

1) the writer in you loses focus
2) the creator in you starts dozing
3) the story in you wanders away
4) the doubter in you begins doing that horrible disgusting self-emolliation thing that makes me want to kick your backside. Hard.

The Inner Mind Is A Freezer

Rules to feed the Muse:

1) You have to write something creative everyday. I thrive on your imagination. If you don't use it, I have nothing to say. And the more you don't use it, the more I freeze.

2) You have to read the newspapers or a good magazine. Watching the news is not analytical and it stimulates your other senses. I need you to work that muscle that enjoy the written word. It slows down the "here and now" factor and makes you pause. Images are powerful, but you're a writer. You have to create life with words. Therefore, you need to absorb words too.

3) Travel alone if you can. A short trip is fine, but you must be alone. No family or lover. Let me be your sole companion. Yes, I am a possessive friend.

4) Think of your belief system. Religion--be in Christian, Judaism, Buddhism, anything-ism--is always good for internal conflict. It also provides you with soul food. A belief system helps shape your writing and bring out your voice.

5) Laugh. It's good to see humor in life. I thrive on your fun and joy. It's not fun to write everyday when there's nothing to smile about. Everything tastes like freezer-burned ice-cream when there's no humor. I don't like that. It makes me think about killing your characters because life is so damn bleak when ice-cream tastes like that. (See, I made you smile.)

6) Feed me with your pain and use me as an outlet. I'll find a way to give you comfort. Your private loss will be shown to you in secret through your writing, and it'll be universally shared. It is the writer's right to bare her soul.

7) I'm not a wedding cake. Do not freeze me and wait for some special anniversary. Don't wait. Write now. Create now.