The Nutty Professor
Inspiration, to me, happens like a laboratory experiment. Each interesting thing that happens in my presence is like a chemical in a test tube. Every once in a while, when my mind wanders, I try pouring one tube’s contents into another.
When something explodes in my face, I have a story idea.
Why I Write
I have found that when I write and expose my inner self, I serve as a counselor to my own soul. I heal myself from pain, stress, and unexplained emotions that are at times unrealized until the pen begins to magically bring the paper alive
Why I write
Because self-expression is enlightenment
Why I write
Because the pen is insignificant, once used, it’s mighty
Why I write
Because there are many loud voices, and my voice must be heard
Why I write
Because writing is the outward expression of who I am and what I feel
Why I write
Because I am not judged on the basis that I am a woman, my writing is faceless
Why I write
Because I am not solely an expression of the blackness of my skin, I am much more
Why I write
Because I am “Superwoman” and my burdens make my experiences valuable to others
Why I write
Because my tongue becomes tied, but my mind and my pen allow words to flow freely
Why I write
Because reason and reality are ever changing, if you fail to note them they disappear
Why I write
Because I am an enigma; and you will never know who I am, unless I tell you
Why I write
Because writing is the calculated release of all that is held inside of me
Why I write
Because writing has become my spine, my support
Be Fearless
What exactly is involved in fearlessness?
Step One: Believe in what you are writing. Have something to say to your readers. Hold nothing back and do not flinch from the truth. Live for the moment when your story comes together–and struggle with the words until you get there. Your words are unique to you alone, born out of your own inspiration and the insight you’ve gained into others’ souls through your experiences. What you are offering is yours alone to give.
Step Two: Be relentless. Never give up. Believe in yourself even when all others are ready to count you out. Go forward with conviction.
Step Three: Here’s the heart of it. Don’t be afraid of writing or life. Be willing to stretch yourself and to take risks. Nothing is more boring than a writer who doesn’t challenge themself. Use your individuality to a competitive advantage and remember that whatever happens the sun will rise tomorrow, those who love you will still be there . . . and there will be more words to write, more stories to tell.
Day 1 of the 21 Day Challenge
Most people believe that it is impossible to write a novel no matter how much time you have. Well, I say to those people that I am from a different school of thought. And to prove this, as of 6:37 a.m. on Thursday morning, January 21st 2010, I have committed myself to finishing the first draft of my new manuscript in less than 30 days (twenty one days to be exact)…and do you know how?
I am just going to write from my inner soul: write from my heart, then rewrite from my head because I trust that my heart is smarter than my head is. My heart already feels this novel, it has already written this novel; its just my head that gets it on the paper.
I’ve already done the hard work. I’ve already explored the story and done the research. I’ve already created the vision and brainstormed the characters, events, and made it linear and, at times non-linear. I’ve already shaken it, smelled it, and looked at from every angle–even upside down–I’ve even dreamed about it. And, I’ve already decided how the story should sound, look, and I know the feel of it and the tone. Therefore since my head has already done the had part, it’s time to let my heart go deliciously free, and to not let the two interfere for the next 21 days.
DAY 1- SPEED PAGES
The plan is to throw down as fast as I can, as fast as it comes to me.
Rule 1 : Don’t think
Rule 2: Take a deep breath, imagine what I see as if it were a movie on the screen. Write what I see.
Rule 3: Go for it
TIMELINE:
From Day 1 to Day 7 I’ll write a very fast and rough random draft. I’ll write for no more than five hours a day, (in broken down intervals, if I have to) that way I can still grocery shop, cook dinner, dust, do laundry, do homework and play with my son, work out, take a bubblebath, read a bedtime story, and have some resemblance of a life.
On Day 8 I rest. (Even God took a break on the 7th day)
On Day 9 I will read my random draft
From Day 10 to Day 17 I will rewrite; doing specific pages each day.
Day 18 to 21 I will tweak and polish
HOW TO BEGIN:
I’m going to turn on my inner movie projector. I’m going to close my eyes and look for visual clues, then I’m going to intensify the images. When I am ready, I am going to open my eyes and type, type, type type, type. I will work with a stream-of-unconsciousness.
The key to accomplishing this task is to turn a hard thing like writing a book into something very simple because Lord knows that my middle name is “Little Miss Perfectionist”; which basically means that I obsess over every little detail. Yes people, even a person as motivated as myself can take forever to write a book, and honey I aint having that. A year from now I refuse to still be bloggng about writing this book. in fact, a year from now I plan to have already moved on the next phase: published and promoting.
So ladies and gentleman, off I go into the wild blue yonder. I will most certainly update this blog tomorrow. Until then, even if you’re not an author, maybe you can apply these basic principles to another aspect of your life. Remember, if God gave you legs and arms, and if you are breathing, then you can do it. Just Free your mind…and the rest will follow.
What a Great Book Can do
I sat in thee most comfortable chair, and I sat there, on those plush sunken cushions that enveloped me like a mother’s embrace and I read for six hours straight
Entheos
When I am writing I suffer from fantastic notions. I overflow with emotions of eagerness, ecstasy, elation, excitement, and exhilarating energy; which are founded not by reason, but by divine revelation. These emotions, this divine revelation, is otherwise known as… enthusiasm.
When I am creating I am passionate in my expression. At times it is even hard for me to catch my breath as my thoughts rush from my brain transforming into words that fight to free themselves…to be written…to be read aloud with the intention of communing and being absorbed.
Before I created this blog I had never truly shared my great enthusisam for writing, nor had I expressed my profound excitement toward my endeavors as an author. I had always feared that noone else would possibly be able to comprehend the intense feelings that I feel when I am inspired. I kept these feelings private because I thought that people may laugh, or mock me, or think that I am a silly and I feared that people would think that I should to be more pragmatic about life. And maybe I should practice a bit more pragmatism but that is simply not how I am built. When it comes to life, and the pursuit of my dreams, I am and have always been hopeless with romanticized fantasies of achieving literary ecstasy.
When I am writing, I am enthusiastic. Every fiber of my being is alive.When I am inspired by something I’ve heard, or read, or incited by an image or song–or whenever I pen a new chapter–it is thrilling to me in a manner that sends chills through my soul and makes me anxious for more. And it is in those exact moments in which I am entralled that I think of GOD. Every single time I finish writing and fall in love with what I have written, I find myself thinking of GOD. Without effort and without even realizing I am doing so, my thoughts wander to GOD.
Maybe I think of GOD because I know that the words that I have etched into the conscious minds of others–words that are considered intelligent, and poignant, and melancholy and humorous and haunting and inspiring– are derived not from me. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I am simply an unspectacular person. I am not being modest. I am trying to convey to you that I can not take sole credit for this gift. These words are not my own. It is almost as if the words were already written on my subconcious mind, flowing freely, and waiting for me to connect with them.
Most of my writing is not intentional, in fact, it is happenstance. Words dangle in my head as a muse. It is as if I am re-membering them and it is the breath of my soul, and the spark of my energy, and the sensation of enthusiasm that bring those words to life.
But it is not just the words that earn my enthusiasm. It is the feelings that are associated with them. It is the experience that is spiritual. Aside from making love, it is the sweetest thing I’ve ever known And I am baited by this.
ENTHUSIASM…
Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” I thought of that quote and wondered why. Why are we, as human beings, so passionate and enthusiastic about our hobbies or our professions or by what we perceive as our calling? Why is my mother so passionate and enthusiastic about teaching children…Why is my father enthusiastic about restoring cars…Why are some people passionate musicians… or chefs…or politicians…or priests?
Why are we, as people, driven by our own singular passion…our own designated purpose in life. Why are we designed this way?
Then I recalled a course that I took back in college that taught me how to define any word by knowing its origin and then breaking the word down by its root. And it hit me all at once, like a freight train, and I began to examine the word “ENTHUSIAM”.
Enthusiam…The source of the word enthusiasm in Greek first appeared in English in 1603 with the meaning “possession by a god.” The source of the word is the Greek enthousiasmos, which ultimately comes from the adjective entheos, “having the god within,” formed from en, “in, within,” and theos, “god.” Over time the meaning of enthusiasm became extended to “rapturous inspiration like that caused by a god”
Simply put, when we are enthusiastic we are inspired by GOD. That is how one recognizes that they are on the correct path with fulfilling their purpose in life, as I believe that we all have one. I believe that we have all been designed with an ultimate purpose imprinted upon our soul, and when we recognize that purpose, we recognize ourselves.
Writing is my calling and my purpose in life.
One day I will be a great writer.
And, like Ralph said, nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Me thinks
Me thinks that I am a better blogger than a novelist…
A Variable Unknown
Thoughts enter my mind like a prism – a prism of light. Fact: Light, if passed through a prism, is divided into seven colors. The experience of light is beyond mind, but the experience of thought is within mind. I am the two combined.
This book is active; it’s actually fucking doing something. It shows my conceptual range. It is unsaturated. Edgy.– a nice balance to my restraint. It has texture. It feels experimental and unique, and at the same time deliberate, intentional, and confident.
I think I’ve created a new genre. I don’t write fiction…I write friction.
I’ll make you regret this.
This is my obsession. This is my conjecture.
Show Me
I will become a better writer once I fully apply the art of showing.
Instead of telling you that the moon is shining; I must show you the glint of light on broken glass…
- Don’t describe what happened, tell me how it affects me.
- Don’t tell me the details, tell me the meaning.
- Don’t SAY you love me, SHOW me you love me.
…these are the lessons I must learn.
Aspire
Although I have been published, I still consider myself an aspiring writer. Because, in my estimation, just because I have been published that does not mean that I have accomplished all that I have aspired to do, and become, as a writer.
Being a lover of all things artistic, I have always had the spirit to push myself further creatively. I have always had a strong desire and ultimate goal to soar beyond any limit.
Which means I will never be finished…I will always be an aspiring author.
I also consider myself an aspiring author because as a writer I am constantly being inspired. I even have a t-shirt that reads, “Inspiration comes from everywhere.”; which sums it up for me.
I know that mastery comes from continuence of study. And I have always yearned to learn. I read voraciously; devouring novels of all genres past and present. I am constantly flipping through magazines and I delve into reference books as if they were deep pools.
I will always have the capacity for growth. There is always an opportunity for further development.
For me, writing is a sweet science of forming mental images from something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses.
I approach this craft with humility and joy.
I will always be an aspiring author; aspiring toward a seismic vibration that awaits me, like an earthquake.