I didn’t plan on posting anything this week, but I had to. The image below, titled Soul Reflection, was created by the wonderful Happi Anarky, and from the moment I saw it a few days ago, I had this story lurking in the back of my mind. In honor of this artwork, I share my story with you now.
**Open with picture of cat to put reader at ease**
Oh, hai, you’re still with me. 😀 Most excellent! Now we can get started.
Forget about fame and fortune for a moment. Take book signings, launch parties, marketing, social media, and all that other stuff out of the equation. Let’s get down to the actual process of writing a book. Writers often talk about inspiration striking out of the blue, long stretches of writer’s block, and any number of levels in between. Of course, for each one who says this, there is another who says “real writers” don’t rely on inspiration, and you’re not a “real writer” unless you write every day. Truth is, there are as many ways to write as there are writers out there, and the trick is to just find the method that works best for you.
Here’s how I do it. The squeamish should look away.
phi·los·o·phy noun \fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fē\
: the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc.
: a particular set of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc.
: a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live
This year will mark the 3-year anniversary of my first big acceptance letter. I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs in that time, learned tons, not just about writing, but also publishing and everything that surrounds it. I’ve also learned a lot about life in general and my life in particular. I am not one of those people who can take a wild leap and believe everything will work itself out. When I approach that ledge, I make damn sure I have a parachute strapped to my back and a safety net at the bottom just in case it fails. That basically means I didn’t drop everything the moment I found out I was getting published. It also… Read More »Lessons In Life and Novel-ing
Humanity has come a long way from reed whistles and simple drums. We have explored all things capable of creating a pleasing melody or rhythm, including our own voices. I don’t consider myself any kind of expert on music. I could tell you the difference between an organ and a guitar, and possibly the difference between monophonic and polyphonic chants, but don’t ask me to differentiate between hard rock and heavy metal. And what exactly is ska? Music is the universal language of the soul. You know why? Because it’s like math, but easier on the brain. It translates math into something that you don’t have to think about. It moves through you and delivers its message loud and clear.… Read More »Let’s Talk Music
You know when you’re out shopping and all you hear are those really weird songs that sound like 60’s TV series jingles? I heard one recently with lyrics about “I love you too much to ever start liking you” and made one of these faces: O_o I though, is it me? Am I just too young to appreciate a good oldie, or getting too old for the trends kids these days salivate over? Or maybe I am just stuck in a generational gap somehow. I don’t have an answer. But every once in a while I will go into a store and hear a song that’s so familiar I could hum it in my sleep, but for the life of… Read More »The Songs That Stick