Practice Makes Perfect

Have you ever had your writer’s creativity energy flowing only to get to your keyboard or paper and find the ideas have gone?  There are ways to overcome this type of writer’s block, procrastination, laziness, or fear of writing something that is not good enough. Whatever you want to call it, don’t give up.  You just need to be disciplined enough to sit in front of that blank page or screen and work with what you have.

 

Try to mix and match stories as a way to work through the writer’s block.   Take David and Goliath and let them met Peter on the road going to tell others about Christ.  Or take two of your favorite authors and mix their stories together.  How do you think that would turn out?  Writing prompts such as this help to give ideas to get that writer’s creativity flowing.  Two different stories coming together make for an interesting tell. 

 

How about taking the story of Deborah and turning it into a sci-fi adventure with the battle raging in outer space! What an idea.  Do you think that would help get the juices flowing?

 

Then there is always asking the question “what if.”  Suppose that Joseph had been the one to get the message about the birth of Jesus first, instead of Mary.  What if the Jewish nation had been faithful all these years, instead of being taken captive by the two different nations?  What if Babylon had not been a great nation?  What if the Assyrian had never come to power?  Where would our world be today? These would make great stories if you could only work out the detail. What if the story of one of your favorite authors ending changed to what you would like to have read, the boy doesn’t get the girl in the end, the problem doesn’t work or the protagonist and antagonist change places. 

 

Practice makes perfect. Let the juices flow with ideas such as this and writer’s block will soon be a thing of the past.  Inspiration for a new story idea is just a daydream away. You will have so many stories ideas, writing will not be a problem.  You will not be without a story in the works at all time.   So put your blinder’s on and stay focus with what you have to say. 

 copyright(C) 2016 Donna Germany

Imitation to Authenticity

 

 

We are often told we should be original.  But copying is the best way to learn something.  Unconsciously we have the tendency to imitate others. We mostly imitate others we like. We imitate the things we desire.  A desire is triggered by another person desire.  If we think something is attractive it is because someone else thought so first. If we see a person reading a book, we want to read that book.   

Imitation makes us more empathetic toward people.  We are always inspired by example. Remember what touches, moves, stimulates, and inspires you and use those insights in your own life.   Input can be from anywhere.  A favorite author’s writing style can become your own. Remember it is not where you take things from it is where you take them to. 

Everything you do and think you borrowed at some point from people around you. 

The crux is trying to turn our imitations into following our own inspiration.  When we are inspired we put certain qualities we see in others into practice in our own lives.  Select only things to imitate that speak directly to your soul.  If you do this, your work will be authentic.  Authenticity is invaluable.
copyright (C) 2016 Donna Germany

Did you know there was an “International Day for Failure,” a day meant to encourage people to “celebrate our shortcomings and failures, share our experiences and promote the understanding of failure as a learning experience.” The creators of the “Day for Failure” encourage people to quite literally “share” their stupidities, errors and awkward moments with others.

The Old Testament recognizes the importance of learning from the errors we make and actually records how the foundations of human history are built on failures.  Old Testament writers could elaborate on their failures in life. Present day writers should do the same. 

The failures of early humanity recorded in the Bible are epic. Following each failure, however, humankind moved forward. Our present day failures can become great stories, maybe not epics, to share with others. To err is human - but to strive to do better is to aim for the Divine.

With our failure comes doubt and fear of rejection. However, that does not mean we should turn your back on someone in need.  If you see a fellow church member in need, reach out to them. A helping hand can come in the form of a friendly smile or a simple hello. Let them know you are praying for them and pray with them.

                       

At the same time, express gratitude to God for our lives through prayers. We are so blessed.  Everyday has a blessing that we need to express with thanksgiving to God.  Offer prayers of thanksgiving for all things. We don’t always understand the actions of God. 

 

Be aware of your spiritual health as well as your physical health.  In this time of flu season, so many of us are looking at our physical health but we should be aware of our spiritual health as well.  It is a season for being busy. Remember to included God in the things that you do.

 

Why bother denying your failure.  Take responsibility for your actions.  We become better Christians because of it. Sometimes we have to learn and relearn.

 

copyright (C) 2016 Donna Germany

Resolutions

 

 

What New Year’s resolution did you make this year?  Popular ones are to lose weight and exercise more.  Years ago, I decide mine would be to learn one new thing during the year.   That first year it was to eat sushi.  Then, learn a new craft.    But now, I have goal is to finishing a book.  Not just any book, but one that I have knocked around in my head for years.  I believe I can do this.  There are writing challenges that have you finish a book in a month.  But I think I will take a few months. 

I read blogs about writing, blogging, and getting published.  I read books about writing styles and techniques.  Some author say writing has to be a calling on your life. Anything else is self-oriented and can never really satisfy. You have to write or feel out of the will of God. 

There are blogs posting about insights to getting your book written in 2016.  Here are some ideas from Jerry Jenkins’ new writing class “Finish Your Book in 2016” for getting started.

• Set a goal/deadline of pages or word to write per day.
• Schedule your daily writing plan.
• Expect delays.
• Manage your procrastination.
• Relax and sleep well anyway, knowing your subconscious is working on your book.                                                                                                                                  
• Manage time wisely, adjusting your pages-per-day, but don’t let the days or number of pages get out of hand.
• Keep your deadline, if at all possible.
  Other blogs and magazines suggest reading about writing.  William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style was a book my high school English teacher recommended.  William Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction was mentioned in Writer’s Yearbook 2016 magazine as a book that sold more than a million copies.    Jerry Jenkins’ blog also suggested Dean Koontz’s How to Write Bestselling Fiction.  I didn’t have this book so I did a search on Amazon. It is only in hard back and is out a publication.  Imagine my shock when the price was $170.00.  WOW.  I made out an interlibrary loan in hopes that I can get it just to read.  I told the librarian that this book was gold, treat it with care.  I will, too. 
  What do you really want from your writing? Do you know what truly matters to you?  Is it fame or glory or just getting words on paper in hopes that it will inspire someone else?  Do you know what you stand for?  Are you fixed in your belief and have your eyes set on God?  Are your priorities God oriented?  Without having inspiration or a calling from God your writing may not stand for anything important. 
  I want to be a writer in the worst way. The passion of writing keeps me up at night.  I want to tell my story and really reach to inspire readers. So, if that is what you want from your writing you'd better believe in what you write. 
   
  Works Cited
  Jenkins, Jerry. "FINISH YOUR BOOK IN 2016Lesson 1: How to Overcome Fear and Procrastination (So You Can Finish What You Start)." Finish Your Book in 2016: Lesson 1-3. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
  Friedman, Jane. "2015 The Year in Review." Writer's Yearbook 2016 Winter.2016 (2016): 5-9. Web. 2016.

            copyright 2016 DonnaGermany

Originality, Overrated

Writers who admit to not being original with their ideas.

Edith Wharton, a secular writer, said of her book Ethan Frome, “I make no claim for originality in following a method of which “La Grande Bertêche” and “The Ring and the Book” had set me the magnificent example; my one merit is, perhaps, to have guessed that the proceeding there employed was also applicable to my small tale.”  She admitted to having her ideas come from other writers and was a bestselling author of her time.

Many other writers admit the same.  They read an article in the local newspaper, magazine or hear a radio broadcast, their story line explodes into their own ideas of “what if.” 

Even Einstein was inspired by the likes of mathematician Minkowski, physician Lorentz, the Latin poet Lucretius and Gandhi.  Again, someone whose inspiration came from others.

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

C. S. Lewis

So if it is your dream to be a writer, professional or hobbyist, just look around.  There are plenty of ideas for stories from everywhere.  It makes your work no less brilliant, but something unique does not always come from nothing.

 

Now is the time to get inspired to write a story of the newspaper article you read this morning.  That radio journalist your listening to can give you the inspiration you need to be the next great author of our time.

I have read RL Stine's new book, Red Rain.  It is an adult novel of horror.  If you loved Stine as a youth with Goosebumps, this should terify you as well.  

     My library receives advanced copies of upcoming books.  I was lucky enough to read a copy of The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury.  Few editorial mistakes were noticed.: page 60 has "bigat" which should be big at and page 160 has "theyever" which should be they ever.  Maybe they will catch it before print time.
     The story is a great Christmas miracle story. The plot so typical of our times.  She brought to light the great gulf between wealth and poverty.  The struggles with the economy and the natural disasters that are destroying so many lives.
However, she didn't seem to have any scripture references in this one! One that kept coming to my mind while I read was 1Corinthians 10:24; Let no man seek his own but every man another 's wealth.  Maybe she could have used it somewhere with one of her characters.  Even if it wasn't the main ones.
    Overall, the story was true Karen Kingsbury.