Another beautiful day here in west Georgia. I had the thought when I left work last night that we could soon be having our first frost as it was quite cool. Of course, 64 degrees is really very pleasant. Perfect rambling weather, I say. On my walk to the mailbox today I was just enjoying the cool autumn breeze and the wide expanse of blue sky overhead. I call it electric blue, though I can't really explain what I mean by that. Fall has a different type of energy. After sweltering through August, our own energy drained by the heat, the crisp fall air is invigorating. I picked up a few persimmons on the way back, I think this will be the last handful I get. The lack of rain has affected their growth. They are smaller this year, and not as plentiful. But they're still good!
Leaves are slowly turning. I've spotted patches of color in the woods. Little yellow wildflowers line the roadway. I'm on the lookout for goldenrod and ragweed. No new ducks or geese have appeared on the ponds as yet, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for their return. A Canadian friend e-mailed me that they've had their first frost and that snow is already dusting the mountain tops in the area. The Autumn Equinox is Sunday, September 23, the official first day of autumn! I love it!
Read almost any book or article on getting started in your writing career and you will notice a recurring theme -- write about what you know. Sound advice, especially for those interested in writing non-fiction books and articles. Everyone has expertise in some area. It might be a hobby or favorite sport, such as collecting model trains, quilting, or golf. Maybe you have a passion, such as learning about different cultures, or cuisine. Because these are things you enjoy, they are much easier to write about. You've probably been reading, researching, and enjoying them for years.
Writing about the familiar not only helps ease beginner's writer's block, but also aids the seasoned writer who may be going through a 'slump' in their search for article ideas. Write what you know is an important tool that helps you write with confidence and authority. However, if you wish to have a successful career in freelance writing, there will be times when you must put this tool back on the shelf and write what you know--not.
Ideas for books and articles are all around us, and sometimes an idea can come from what you don't know about something. For instance, you might take a historical tour while on vacation and have a desire to know more about the history of a home or the town. Perhaps you heard an interesting anecdote that piqued your curiosity. Maybe you visited a museum and a particular work of art, or artist's technique interested you. Almost anything that leaves you with questions and a desire to know the answers can be turned into an article. Simply go on a fact finding mission and shape your article, or even a book, around those questions. With a little research, using other 'tools' such as Writer's Market, you can find a magazine or publisher to query about your idea.
There seem to be a lot of rules to learn when you're starting out as a writer. Just remember, the rules are tools...guidelines to help you sharpen your skills and perfect your trade. Sometimes you have to put the rules aside and just wing it. So, if you find yourself stuck on what to write, try writing about something you don't know. Ask the questions, search for the answers, then share what you've found out. It's a sure bet someone else wants to know those answers, too.
Happy writing!
StellaD
from Sweetwater Press
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Rambling, Writing, and Celebrating in Nashville
I awoke this morning with the sun and watched as it peeped over the treetops at the eastern edge of the pasture. It's first golden rays swept across the pasture, and in the early light, dewdrops glistened like diamonds. It's a great day to be alive, and I had a strong feeling that I was the first one up in the neighborhood. It's pretty quiet out here in the country at any time of day, but early on a Sunday morning you can feel the stillness. There is such a feeling of peace and serenity. I wish everyone in the world could feel this way.
In an ealier post I mentioned that rambling includes exploring towns along the way as well as parks and other natural areas. Wandering around your own town, checking out shops, cafes, and other venues also counts as rambling. And one person who personifies 'round town rambling is my friend and fellow Fast Track Your Dreams member, Wendy V.
Wendy's passion is music. Her expertise is in encouraging and supporting established and up and coming musicians through her article writing and radio promotion ventures. She gives reviews in her Nashville Blend blog about venues that she attends, and writes monthly articles for Southern Gospel News.com She also offers musical insights and encouraging words through her podcast, WendyV's Pondercast.
Earlier this year, Wendy made a bold decision and an even bolder move, leaving Minnesota to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to the southern gospel scene. Arriving on Easter Sunday, she immediately set about making her own special mark on the music scene. Armed with her tradmark red cowboy hat, she has won many 'fans' herself. While her focus is on giving encouragement to musicians and vocal artists, it doesn't stop there. Wendy believes that everyone needs and deserves encouragement in our lives to be the best we can be. A simple smile has been shown to lift a person's spirits immeasurably, and it is the easiest form of encouragement to give. She offers encouraging words and glimpses into her own personal journey through her newsletter, WendyV's Encouraging Words, and her personal blog, WendyV's Ponderings. Through her Ponderings blog (click the link under my listing of Blogs of Friends Following Their Dreams) you can learn of the mis-adventures Wendy had in getting moved from Minnesota to Nashville.
As you can see, Wendy is really on the road to following her Dream in Nashville. She is an inspiration to all of us at Fast Track, and we are very proud of her success. I once asked her how on earth she managed to keep abreast of all her blogs and websites, plus her venue hopping and article writing while maintaining a full-time job. She answered with typical Wendy V exhuberance, "When you're doing something you love, you don't feel tired. I love what I do." Well put!
Today Wendy is celebrating her birthday, her first since hitting Nashville. Join me, won't you, in wishing her a very Happy Birthday!!
To find links to the blogs and sites noted in this post, visit:
WendyV.com
Happy Rambling!
StellaD
In an ealier post I mentioned that rambling includes exploring towns along the way as well as parks and other natural areas. Wandering around your own town, checking out shops, cafes, and other venues also counts as rambling. And one person who personifies 'round town rambling is my friend and fellow Fast Track Your Dreams member, Wendy V.
Wendy's passion is music. Her expertise is in encouraging and supporting established and up and coming musicians through her article writing and radio promotion ventures. She gives reviews in her Nashville Blend blog about venues that she attends, and writes monthly articles for Southern Gospel News.com She also offers musical insights and encouraging words through her podcast, WendyV's Pondercast.
Earlier this year, Wendy made a bold decision and an even bolder move, leaving Minnesota to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to the southern gospel scene. Arriving on Easter Sunday, she immediately set about making her own special mark on the music scene. Armed with her tradmark red cowboy hat, she has won many 'fans' herself. While her focus is on giving encouragement to musicians and vocal artists, it doesn't stop there. Wendy believes that everyone needs and deserves encouragement in our lives to be the best we can be. A simple smile has been shown to lift a person's spirits immeasurably, and it is the easiest form of encouragement to give. She offers encouraging words and glimpses into her own personal journey through her newsletter, WendyV's Encouraging Words, and her personal blog, WendyV's Ponderings. Through her Ponderings blog (click the link under my listing of Blogs of Friends Following Their Dreams) you can learn of the mis-adventures Wendy had in getting moved from Minnesota to Nashville.
As you can see, Wendy is really on the road to following her Dream in Nashville. She is an inspiration to all of us at Fast Track, and we are very proud of her success. I once asked her how on earth she managed to keep abreast of all her blogs and websites, plus her venue hopping and article writing while maintaining a full-time job. She answered with typical Wendy V exhuberance, "When you're doing something you love, you don't feel tired. I love what I do." Well put!
Today Wendy is celebrating her birthday, her first since hitting Nashville. Join me, won't you, in wishing her a very Happy Birthday!!
To find links to the blogs and sites noted in this post, visit:
WendyV.com
Happy Rambling!
StellaD
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Breaking the Block
It's been quite a while since my last post. I made it through the month of August without roasting. A high pressure system hoovered over our area for the entire month, pushing daily temperatures through the high 90's into triple digits. Nights brought little relief from the heat. This system also kept much needed rain at bay. Storm clouds circled the area and lightning could be seen in the distance, but the rain never came. Now September is here and the feel of fall is in the air. A strong low pressure system has finally pushed into the area, bringing in cooler air and refreshing, if somewhat scattered, rain showers. It's such a blessing to be able to turn off the air conditioner and open the doors and windows to let in the cool breeze. Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer travel season. Days are becoming noticeably shorter. School has started in most places, and football fever is on the rise. The rhythm of daily life changes with the seasons, but is no less hectic. What does this mean for the writer? Possibly more time to write...at least while the kids are at school.
You're all set to work on your writing project. You open a blank page in Word or turn to a clean sheet of paper in your notebook. Your fingers are poised above the keyboard, or grip a pen, eagerly awaiting the rush of words that will set them in motion. But the words don't come. You take a keep breath, release it...still no words. Impatiently you try a few tentative openers. 'It seems'...no. 'The research on'...not that, either. With rising panic, you look around the room asking, "Where the h*** is my Muse?" Quite likely she is vacationing on some tropical island and has left you with a case of Writer's Block!
Writer's block, that frightful malady that strikes without warning, especially when you have an intense project or a deadline staring you in the face. No matter where you are in your writing career, whether newbie or seasoned author, you can be struck dumb by this dreadful affliction. How do you overcome writer's block? Here are three tips to break the block and get the words flowing again.
Just Write
It's been said that the best cure is simply to write. Quite true, but forcing youself to continue writing within the constraints of your project may leave you more frustrated than safisfied. One suggestion is to forget your focus and just write nonsense sentences, such as, 'The cow goes mooo.' 'Marty met Ester at the county fair.' 'What I want for dinner is neither pig nor fig.' This exercise provides stress relief through humor. If writing mindless drivel is not to your taste, there are other ways to break the block.
Get Out
Go for a walk. Forget your project for awhile. Instead, open your eyes and mind to the world around you. Walking eases stress while increasing blood flow to the brain. Relax and observe. As you walk, make up stories about the things you see. Is there an old house on a hill surrounded by shade trees? Is is abandoned, or lived in? What do you think life was like there when it was built?
Stop by a coffee shop and watch the customers. Do you know that fellow in the corner who is preoccupied with his laptop? If not, make up a story about him, telling who he is and why he is in your town. When you return home relaxed, you may find that you can now tackle your project without further problem.
Stay In
Rainy, cold, or too late at night to go for a walk? Try one of these stimulating exercises. Look around the room. Whatever object, lamp, chair, knick-knack catches your eye, write about it. Describe it's shape, color, purpose. This is a more focused exercise as it forces you to think about what you are writing instead of writing disjointed drivel.
Thumb through a magazine or visit an online photography site. Find a photograph that intrigues you. It could be a photograph of a person, or a scenic photo. For a person, give him/her a name and a history. Where does he/she live? Where does he/she work, if at all? Who are his/her parents? 'Her name was Marya Ryan. She was the third daughter of oil tycoon William Huggins Ryan. While old 'Willie Boy' liked things hot--spicy foods, hot coffee, and even hotter women, Marya was as cool as the shade beneath the giant oaks that framed their manse.' Get the idea?
Of a scenic photograph, you might write: 'I propped my arms on the top rail of the weathered cedar fence and gazed out across the open Montana meadow. Clouds roiled over the mountain range in the distance. Already their peaks were covered with snow. Where I stood, the sun still shone, but the wind was shifting. There was an icy feel to the air. I watched the lowering dark mass swallow the mountains. The storm was coming.' Once again, the words are flowing.
The purpose of these visualization exercises is to engage your imagination in a creative, descriptive narrative. The next time you are frozen by writer's block, loosen up by letting your imagination take over.
Happy Writing,
StellaD
You're all set to work on your writing project. You open a blank page in Word or turn to a clean sheet of paper in your notebook. Your fingers are poised above the keyboard, or grip a pen, eagerly awaiting the rush of words that will set them in motion. But the words don't come. You take a keep breath, release it...still no words. Impatiently you try a few tentative openers. 'It seems'...no. 'The research on'...not that, either. With rising panic, you look around the room asking, "Where the h*** is my Muse?" Quite likely she is vacationing on some tropical island and has left you with a case of Writer's Block!
Writer's block, that frightful malady that strikes without warning, especially when you have an intense project or a deadline staring you in the face. No matter where you are in your writing career, whether newbie or seasoned author, you can be struck dumb by this dreadful affliction. How do you overcome writer's block? Here are three tips to break the block and get the words flowing again.
Just Write
It's been said that the best cure is simply to write. Quite true, but forcing youself to continue writing within the constraints of your project may leave you more frustrated than safisfied. One suggestion is to forget your focus and just write nonsense sentences, such as, 'The cow goes mooo.' 'Marty met Ester at the county fair.' 'What I want for dinner is neither pig nor fig.' This exercise provides stress relief through humor. If writing mindless drivel is not to your taste, there are other ways to break the block.
Get Out
Go for a walk. Forget your project for awhile. Instead, open your eyes and mind to the world around you. Walking eases stress while increasing blood flow to the brain. Relax and observe. As you walk, make up stories about the things you see. Is there an old house on a hill surrounded by shade trees? Is is abandoned, or lived in? What do you think life was like there when it was built?
Stop by a coffee shop and watch the customers. Do you know that fellow in the corner who is preoccupied with his laptop? If not, make up a story about him, telling who he is and why he is in your town. When you return home relaxed, you may find that you can now tackle your project without further problem.
Stay In
Rainy, cold, or too late at night to go for a walk? Try one of these stimulating exercises. Look around the room. Whatever object, lamp, chair, knick-knack catches your eye, write about it. Describe it's shape, color, purpose. This is a more focused exercise as it forces you to think about what you are writing instead of writing disjointed drivel.
Thumb through a magazine or visit an online photography site. Find a photograph that intrigues you. It could be a photograph of a person, or a scenic photo. For a person, give him/her a name and a history. Where does he/she live? Where does he/she work, if at all? Who are his/her parents? 'Her name was Marya Ryan. She was the third daughter of oil tycoon William Huggins Ryan. While old 'Willie Boy' liked things hot--spicy foods, hot coffee, and even hotter women, Marya was as cool as the shade beneath the giant oaks that framed their manse.' Get the idea?
Of a scenic photograph, you might write: 'I propped my arms on the top rail of the weathered cedar fence and gazed out across the open Montana meadow. Clouds roiled over the mountain range in the distance. Already their peaks were covered with snow. Where I stood, the sun still shone, but the wind was shifting. There was an icy feel to the air. I watched the lowering dark mass swallow the mountains. The storm was coming.' Once again, the words are flowing.
The purpose of these visualization exercises is to engage your imagination in a creative, descriptive narrative. The next time you are frozen by writer's block, loosen up by letting your imagination take over.
Happy Writing,
StellaD
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