The Worry Monster Sinks its Teeth in!

Today, I talk about how The Worry Monster sunk its teeth into me and how I found its kryptonite, claiming what is mine:

http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/the-worry-monster-sinks-its-teeth-into-the-very-unsuspecting-writer/

The Green-eyed Monster Should Not Stay for Tea

Visit me over at Emus where I explore where jealousy comes from in writers, artists, musicians, and other creative types–and how we can deal with it.

http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/the-green-eyed-monster-should-not-have-tea/

All I Really Wanted to Know About the Writing Life, I Learned in Kindergarten:

All I Really Wanted to Know About the Writing Life, I Learned in Kindergarten:

 Mastering the alphabet will help.

 Books are great, but let’s face it…full-on celebrations make them even better. Throw parties for books. Huge, overdone parties with music and color and way too much glitter glue. Paper crowns aren’t a bad idea, either.

 That first big step onto the bus is going to be tough but so worth it.

 Writing is like using Play-Doh. You imagine something and then try to create it with your hands. You may not be happy with it at first but that’s totally okay; Play-Doh can be reshaped again and again.

 Dick and Jane told us to “LOOK!” Instead, focus on SEEING.

 Be patient. When you plant that seed in the Dixie cup, it takes attention and time to grow. So do writers and/or manuscripts.

 Making friends in the literary sandbox is essential. You learn things about your craft, as well as yourself, by opening up to other artists/writers.

 If someone in the sandbox throws sand, walk away and let it go. Life is too short.

 Get messy; you’re supposed to.

 Don’t worry about being the best in the class. You have a special gift that is unique to you and you alone. Think about honing that gift rather than comparing your gift to others’ gifts.

 Know how to find the bathroom. (More people will sit with you at lunch this way.)

 Moving your body is good for your mind; go swing on the monkey bars.

 Writing for publication is like “Show and Tell” on steroids.

 A new batch of pens, pencils, notebooks, and a cool backpack are going to make you really happy. Trust me on this.

 There are times to walk in line with everyone else.

 Do your best work to get your writing posted on the bulletin board. Perhaps, your teacher, Mrs. Kirkus, will even give you a star.

 The ride to school can be bumpy, but there’s a lot to observe and enjoy along the way.

 Unchain the muse from the desk. Dance and sing and paint and play. Laugh and wonder, walk and question. Your writing will be better for it.

 A morning meeting is the way to start your day: say hello to your friends, get organized, make note of the weather, weigh-in on current events, check your calendar, and set goals for the day. Then, get to work.

 Enjoy creative license. Skies don’t have to be blue. Grass doesn’t have to be green. Color outside the lines.

 Fitting in is important. But, standing out is, too.

 A little quiet time is good.

 Celebrate even the smallest of successes in a big way.

 If you really like a song and it inspires your muse, sing it over and over. And over.

 Try to remember that others are on the same challenging journey as you, so don’t be afraid to slide on over and offer to share your snack.

(Thanks to Robert Fulghum for inspiration)

The Teacher Becomes the Learner

This teacher learned a most essential writing lesson by teaching children:

http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/my-former-life-an-apple-versus-an-orange-versus-a-wombat/

The Road to Heaven is Paved With Sharpies

Can revision deadlines and real life co-exist?!

http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/

The Double-Edged Sword of Vulnerability (or) What is Writer’s Bloc?

So, what is the double-edged sword of vulnerability? What IS writer’s block, anyway? Where does it come from?

I try to answer these questions and more here at EMUSDEBUTS:

Why Did the Monkey Cross the Road?

So, everyone is all a twitter (literally!) about online marketing! Here are some things, however, that prospective and dubut authors should consider *beyond* online promotion:

Head on over to EMU’s Debuts to read my post: Why Did the Monkey Cross the Road? Because the Other Side Had Paperback and Foreign Rights.

Defying Logic, Fighting Gravity, and Other Lynda-esque Kinds of Things

Visit the EmusDebuts Blog, where I have given all writers and creative-types something to consider–the double-edged sword of vulnerability as it relates to creativity.

http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/defying-logic-fighting-gravity-and-other-lynda-esque-kinds-of-things/

The Editor Letter and Revising—(A.K.A. Slaying the Self-Doubt Monster)

Today, at the Emus Debut blog, I posted a blog entry on receiving my ONE FOR THE MURPHYS editing letter from Nancy Paulsen. What an incredible experience it is to receive such a letter–once you slay the self-doubt monster, that is!

The Emus Debut Blog

Peace,
Lynda

Climbing into the Basement

Well, I’ve set a goal to blog more. Problem with me and blogging is that I think too much about it, I think (there I go again!) I analyze what I should include rather than just being honest like I am in my writing. Today, I’ll not analyze and critique and wonder how the post will be taken. Today, I’ll just be…honest. For better or worse.

I recall reading a book entitled, THE COURAGE TO WRITE, several years ago. It was recommended to me as part of a writers group run by Anita Riggio. It’s a terrific book to read if you want to write but hesitate for any reason. If you deal with pesky voices asking you who you think you are to attempt such a thing. I feel like I could use a little of that courage today. If I were feeling brave today, I would not be blogging. I would be writing.

I have been working on a novel that I think is pretty decent. It is completed, my agent thinks it’s powerful, and I am now working on revisions. I did some work on it yesterday–mostly notes. You know the rule–if it’s hard to write, it’s probably pretty darn good! By that standard, it must be…well…really, really good.

I remember talking to author, Nancy Werlin, a few years back about going into your own basement. She had said that if you wanted to write authentically, that you needed to crawl into your own cellar. Touch the things that hurt most, the things that make you vulnerable. I’ve been doing that. It hurts but feels good at the same time. I guess this is why writing can be considered so masochistic sometimes!

Weird things is, that plot-wise, this story resembles so little of my life. But there is a thin thread of me that runs through it. The emotional thread. By climbing into that basement. Touching those hurts. I help my character with his pain.

And he helps me with mine.