Thou Shalt Not Smite Thee In The Name Of Success

For centuries, empires were built on the ruins of others. One might say, “It is the natural order of things.” Wars have casualties and they will continue to occur whether it is justified or not. The debris field that is left behind can be difficult to clean up. One has to repurpose what is left and begin again.   

As big as this world is, you would think it was big enough for everyone to feel safe to carve out his or her own destiny. Unfortunately, there are other disturbing trends. It is evident in the highly publicized feuds in the music industry, in workplaces and in reality competition shows like Big Brother.  It is disheartening when talented people try to malign others to get ahead.

I came across a quote by John B. Gough that highlights an important point.

"If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a-coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence."-- John B. Gough

The quote reinforces a value my parents instilled in me from a young age. It is important to build a career by providing the world with skillfully written stories that ignite dormant passions within the reader.  Therefore, I invest a considerable amount of my time writing in the hopes of perfecting my craft. Therefore, I shalt not malign the efforts of other. 

 

★★Valuable Writer Tips★★

★Use your time wisely by improving your writing.

★Research new marketing strategies to boost your readership. 

★Attend writer’s conferences. Some public libraries and colleges have FREE workshops.

★Connect with your core audience. For example, Facebook, create a fan page, street team, join book clubs, and Twitter.

★Find a critique partner who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.  It will be unnerving at first but it will improve your writing.

 

Author On The Scene

Authors gather inspiration for their stories from various sources. However, authors use different aspects of each source to aide them in the creative process. Life experience is one of the most fruitful sources to use when writing.  Traveling to foreign countries and listening to music from other cultures can give an author a new perspective. We can learn a lot about our culture through the eyes of someone from another culture. Movies  aide an author with the creative process. No matter what source an author uses it can be an essential part of the journey.

 Academy nominated movies can be extremely helpful. When I watch movies, I watch them to get a sense of how the video editor creates a product that flows from one scene to the other effortlessly. Though I am sure the video editor would not say it was effortless. It is a difficult task. It requires a keen eye and attention to detail. The same is true for music. In every great song there is consistency or else it will sound disjointed. Music can be magical when it is produced properly.  Traveling can be expensive but you do not have to get on a plane to travel. You can watch the Travel Channel, or read travel magazines. When I travel, it brings out my inner child.  I become curious about everything and want to experience the environment.

A movie director, music producer and an author essentially have the same duties.  They create an experience that touches the audience. If there are hiccups in the delivery, it will muddy the experience. 

ü  It is important to blend scenes by connecting something in the previous scene to the next. If a scene ends with a woman swimming at the beach, the next scene can begin with water running over her head in the shower. Water is the common denominator in both scenes. 

Creating seamless scenes is not easy; it takes time to get it right but the reader will be grateful.

Examples of excellent scene transition:

1. The Color Purple – You will need a box of Kleenex. It is a tragic story but the transitions are beautifully executed. 

2. Everybody’s Fine – It is a thought provoking movie with nice transitions.

3. The Avengers – It is an action packed movie with nice transitions.

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I'm curious...how do you create seemless scenes?

  

A Look Inside,The Mind's Eye

There are so many things going on in the mind of an artistic person. Writers suffer from a constant stream of information. Authors and inventers have many things in common. Inventors create objects and authors create worlds. Inventors make our lives easier, authors provide an escape from the real world.

The journey to novel writing was an overnight impulse. During the joy of sleeping, I mentally thought of the beginning of a story. I woke up the following day and frantically searched for a paper and pen. I began to write. I wrote every day, on the way to school, during my lunch break, and while waiting in line at the bank. Every ounce of my free time was dedicated to writing. I finished writing three months later with a 40,000-word manuscript.

The writing process allows me to put my thoughts on paper, it's relaxing and it frees up  space in my head. I often wondered, was I the only one with all those thoughts running around in my head? Two years later, I enrolled in a writing course at the university and my question was answered. For the first time since my writing episode, I felt that I was somewhere where like minded people could be themselves. I learned many things, but the most valuable lesson was that I was not the only one with chapters in my head. Taking a writing intensive class freed my creativity. I felt complete.

My advice for anyone who desires to get into the business of creative writing:

·    Take a writing course at a community college. (It's cheaper than a writers workshop)

·    Improve your writing. (Quality sells)

·    Choose a genre you love ( Do not write a genre because it is in style)

·    Join a writers group or get a critique partner (It may take some time to find the right fit) Also, if you have a critique partner he/she should be someone who is supportive of your desire to write, but not afraid to tell you when something sucks!

·    Write every chance you get

·    Always take a writing pad and pen wherever you go. (Don't forget to put one next to your bed)

·    Network with other writers (Published and unpublished)

It is important to mention, there is no single method that guarantees success. Keep writing, continue on the endless pursuit of improving your craft and never give up on your dream of being published.