Tuesday 29 January 2013

Creative Writing 101: The Importance of Setting Goals


Just a little something that I'd like to share with you all. This was brought to my attention by Allison Morris, who created this graphic which illustrates the benefits of goal setting and why, in light of the New Year, it’s important to commit to our goals.



Originally hosted on the Online Education Database blog.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Creative Writing 101: Writer's Doubts aka Terminal Terminitus




Today is a very important day. It's no less important than yesterday, but it's no more important than tomorrow - neither is it in between the two. But, it's still important. I could ramble on with justifications all day, each no less important than the last...but I'm procrastinating.

Procrastination (DON'T SAY DIRTY WORDS!) is one of many enemies to a writer, another being lack of time. But for many, the title of arch rival belongs to doubt.

Writer's doubt a.k.a. Terminal Teminitus. If Webster was to define it, the following would be noted in the dictionary:

Writer's Doubt (latin: Terminal Terminitus, Scribblius Maximus Gettius Nowhereius). A condition effecting writer's in which they deem their work of too low a value to continue or start. Symptoms include cold sweats, tummy aches, head pains, nausea, nose bleeds, broken pens, smashed laptops, frayed wits, and sometimes death (by stray paperclip).

Have you ever thought that you writing was not good enough to share? Have you given up on a story because it was 'just not good enough'? Have you ever put down the pen before picking it up because you were scared of what might come out? Then this blog entry is for you!

Look, I get writers doubt, so do thousands of others. Best selling authors are struck dumb with it all the time. It's like a personal version of writer's block, but arguably it can be harder to overcome. You aren't just questioning the writing, you're questioning yourself. 

Points to consider.

Play the field.
Don't just stick to one genre. Mix it up. Discover new things with other works. Find a new audience. This will help prevent you from typecasting yourself to a single genre. Just write whatever. Me? I'm a heroic-fantasy writer at heart, but I dabble in Sci-fi to clear the cobwebs (and trust me, these cobwebs are spun by writers doubt, and they smell suspiciously of a toilet!), and 'adult' themes for my fiance (secret's out now!).

Don't Fall In Love With Your Manuscript.
No, it's not a genre breaker. No, it'll never outsell the bible. No, it'll never be bigger than 'The Hobbit' (not literally...well, depending on how thick the book is, and how tall your average hobbit is). You have literally NO chance of writing 'the next big thing'. But, you might just sneak in a sunday stroll of a book - anything more than that is thumb's up worthy. Don't set out to top the pile, set out to WRITE A GOOD STORY.

Enjoy what you write.
It's your thoughts and ideas. If you aren't enjoying it, change it. Who can tell you otherwise?

You're not the only one.
As above, everyone suffers with it at one point or another.

Listen to lovers, not haters.
Ignore those that you have no hope of winning over - if you fight for their approval, you might end up losing your current readers/friends/fans. Write to please, not appease.

Write, don't publish.
Be a writer, NOT an author. Think about it.

REMEMBER: you can always go back and change it (unless you've just hit the 'publish' button on Amazon, at which point you're boned...well, not really, you can go back and change it, but it's a b****!)

The best way to get over Writer's doubt? Allow yourself to write badly once in awhile. Have a guilty pleasure folder where you stow your abominations. Heck, the monstrosities might pull a Frankenstein and lumber into greatness one day! (Nuts and bolts not included, take precautions whilst handling electricity).

And that, as they say, is that! 

D.


((On a sidenote: no writers were harmed in the making of this blog entry - though there was a close call involving a stray paperclip.))





D. E. M. Emrys. Author. Soldier by day, Soldier by night - Writer in Between. 
Author of Heroic Fantasies:

From Man to Man - Currently FREE from Amazon

New Year, New Challenges!




So, it's been awhile?

Firstly, a very belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season(s). Me? As many of you know, I bought a puppy (his name is Ronnie and he's a right little 'boss'), got engaged on Christmas Day, ripped out my kitchen (literally – but I'm putting it back together slowly), and most relative to 'writing' I received a 'Daily Deviation' on DeviantArt for the prologue to my novel 'It Began With Ashes'.

From the fallout of the 'DD' I'd like to welcome all new readers/followers to the fold. The 'Wroge Elements' series has started to gain a little traction on the internet, firstly with the Free release of 'From Man to Man', followed by the push with 'It Began With Ashes'. I'm still new to the publishing scene, but if any of you have any questions, feel free to ask!

In other news...a friend of mine has also received a Daily Deviation for her art. Rachelle fryatt  @Rachelle Fryatt is a fantastic artist whose work has finally received the attention it deserves. She produced the front cover for 'It Began With Ashes' and I ill be working with her in the future. You can view the picture that won Rachell a Daily Deviation, here.

So, busy times aside...how's all with you? How's everyone doing?

I have a question to ask of you all. Something that's just popped into my head, I guess. With the New Year and all, do any of you have a New Year's Resolution to do, specifically, with your art?
Anyways, you'll be hearing from me again soon – time I caught up on my blogging, eh?

D.

D. E. M. Emrys. 
Author. Soldier by day, Soldier by night - Writer in between. Knows war to write war.
'From Man To Man' available from Amazon
'It Began With Ashes' available from Amazon