"Write now is good."

How was your vacation?

Photo: "the perfect vacation" by OneGreatClick

How was your vacation?

Did you relax your body and mind completely?

Are your batteries recharged? Have you again pinpointed your creativity's source on your artist-self map? Ready to write, draw and blog anew?

Did you get a necessary change of scenery? See new places? Smell different, more fragrant air?

You did? All of the above? Wonderful. So did I.

Wait — you didn't? No worries — August's remainder beckons. There's time enough for a last weekend escape — or at least one earnest day trip, swimming in a sea of daydreams.

Journal as map, compass and guide

Photo: Morocco Journal 2007 - pg. 45-46 by retro traveler

This post by Steve Osborne at TheWritersBag reminds me why keeping a journal is so worthwhile. An excerpt:

...Journaling is not an act of record-keeping for me, although that is a side benefit. I do it because it is an exercise in self-reflection, and the tech-free process of writing by hand – much slower and more deliberate than entering text on a keyboard – is the perfect preparation for climbing inside myself.

Not only does it force me to think before I lay words indelibly down on paper, it also frees me from the distractions that come with the territory of digital writing tools like computers and PDAs. I don’t have to turn on my paper notebook and wait for it to boot up. It never freezes or crashes...

I hadn't thought of journaling as an antidote to being over-connected in the Digital Age, but Osborne makes a solid case. Whether you are a writer, creative, or knowledge worker, I recommend reading his complete post; in it, you may find your own path to clarity, organization and insight.

On a side note: I searched for "journal" on Flickr Creative Commons, and 36,397 journal-related images appeared. Amongst these are the odd Wall Street Journal photo, but most are well-loved journals full of travels, musings, sketches, found objects — personal records of the maps of our lives in progress. Very enjoyable to look over.

To be real

Photo: Acme Oyster House Waitress by Candlemaker

A good friend told me this story. He heard it on NPR, and now I can't remember on which show and neither can he. Here is my retelling. (If anyone knows who originally told this, send the URL and I'll gladly link to it):

A family sits down in a restaurant and starts to look at their menus. After a few minutes, the waitress comes over and first takes the parents' orders. She then turns to the little boy.

"And what would you like?" she says.

"A hot dog," he says.

The father looks at the son and then says to the waitress, "He'll have the roast chicken."

The waitress then turns back to the little boy. "And what would you like with your hot dog?"

"French fries," he says, quietly, looking sheepishly at his father.

The father states, "No, he'll have the rice and broccoli."

The waitress, writing nothing down, then turns back to the boy. "And what would you like to drink?"

"Chocolate milk," the boy says.

"He'll have the plain milk," says the father, looking directly at the waitress.

"Alright. That'll be a hot dog, french fries, and chocolate milk for the little mister," the waitress repeats back. She turns and walks towards the kitchen.

The boys turns to his mother and whispers, "She knows I'm real."

When you write, think of whom you're writing for; picture your audience, and stay on course for them. Listen to people who give you feedback on your writing; they are giving you something of value, even if you may not agree with it, so be sure to take in what they are saying. Think of the people in your daily life, those who often become invisible.

These people are real. See them.

The next story you write

Photo: Awaiting a fairy by Tangent~Artifact (time out)

Question: What should I write about next?

Answer: Think of what you would most want to read.

Take a pen and a blank page, and precisely describe the most amazing, thrilling, moving, inspiring, insightful and life-changing tale you can dream of. When you are done with this description, make a quick list of major action points in the story; this is your first basic outline. Now, start writing that story!

An interview

Photo: the interview by Stitch

When your story's characters start to speak to you, how do you respond?

Do you keep on typing anyway, muttering, "Not now! Not now! I'm in the middle of an important scene!" Do you get up and call a friend on the phone? Do you get up and turn on the TV?

When a main character in a story first began to tell me about her life, I was shocked. I didn't believe what was happening to me. It's not that I heard a voice in my ear or a whisper over my shoulder. I did not feel her actual presence with me in the room. But my fingers began to fly with an intense focus that I hadn't experienced before, and her story poured out of me through the ends of my hands. I felt electricity rush through my shoulders and neck as I typed madly to keep up with what seemed to come from the air around me, stopping briefly in my brain, and rushing quickly out to be recorded via keyboard.

I do believe in magic, and this felt magical. I'm a spiritual person, and this felt spiritual. I live thinking that the Universe is conspiring in our favor, somehow, and I felt like a gift given from someplace alien and kind was unwrapping itself before me.

And at first, I tried to ignore it. To have a character speak so strongly as I wrote felt overwhelming. It felt extremely overwhelming because I didn't have to think my story anymore at that point. I didn't have to force it or worry over it. And I was very used to thinking about it, and forcing an awkward scene, and worrying that it didn't work. I wasn't used to writing in flow.

This character helped me experience "flow," which feels almost like a rushing river of nothingness. It is fast moving yet surprisingly empty, except for all the words — the words that appear as mysterious phrases, or that describe strong flashes of images, or that can be a simple narrative tale or song or poem that is supposed to somehow fit into the story. It often doesn't make sense, but its presence cannot be denied. It has to be accepted in the moment. Some may call it inspiration, or some think that muses or creative faeries set up a tent and start telling their campfire stories under endless stars until the sun rises. I call it "being in flow." For me, it happens occasionally, and I've learned to ride with this flow whenever I'm treated to a visit.

This brings me to my primary point. When a character begins to speak to you, stop what you are doing and listen. (If you're driving a car, pull over to the side of the road. If you're operating heavy machinery, safely empty your load and turn off the motor. If you're in a boring meeting, slip out quietly for a moment. Stop safely — you get my drift.)

After you've safely stopped, listen and get ready to take notes. You can even ask your character questions, but only if you're really going to listen — and hear — the answers.

Much like a real interview with a living, breathing person — but who's not to say that your characters don't live and breath? — a successful one is about listening. If you love telling stories or writing stories or creating music or making art, then you definitely enjoy the expressing part. I recommend enjoying equally, if not more, the taking-it-all-in part. Drop any agendas you have, let all preconceived notions go, and, with complete, rapt attention, listen.

After I first listened to my character, and I listened well, she returned every time I sat down and continued the tale. A main narrative of this novel draft began to appear consistently, and other characters chimed in. It's as if she told her friends, "Hey! Go to her! She'll actually listen to you." And I did. I listened to all of them. At the end of the novel, it looked completely unlike what I thought it should be. I didn't recognize about 80% of my original plan or outline in it. But it felt so strongly "right" and real. This was it. 

At the final wrap-up of this storytelling, when I punctuated that last sentence, ending this draft, my character had a question for me. "Did you get all that?" she asked with a laugh, acknowledging that I had to let a lot go within myself to keep up with her light-speed pace.

"Oh, yes," I replied, nodding my head. "Thank you for this." I closed my eyes and exhaled.

Welcome, Lifehack readers!

A big thanks to Lifehack for naming my blog one of their "10 Sites Every Writer Should Bookmark (Besides Lifehack)" as part of their "The Ultimate Writing Productivity Resource". I am truly honored!

So, new visitors, what would you like to see here? I often take feedback from readers. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions for me. Lively conversations are always welcome.

Based on past reader ideas, I featured a very successful blog series for writers and creatives called "Organizing the Writing Life". Click here to read all twelve posts; each one provides solid insight and practical methods for making one's writing life more efficient, productive and enjoyable.

Welcome, everyone, and enjoy!

The creativity link

Photo: The Swirl by everhalle

When I am around creativity, I become more creative.

A movie, a song, a poem — works that feature genuine sparks inspire me to new levels, fresh perspectives, vivid dreams, long-lasting results.

A person — a creator who, through discussion, questions, laughter, storytelling, memories, and sharing, propels my thoughts and energies to composition.

Creativity is continually created in any given moment. When we enter the creation circle's flow and swim about in it, savoring its waters, we emerge renewed. With covered layers now brought to the surface, we glow.

What have you done for your muse lately?

Photo: The Nine Muses by dunechaser

How is your muse?
You don't know, you say?

When was the last time you talked with her (or him, or it, or them)?
What?
You don't remember?

It is time to starting talking, my friend.
Ask all the right questions, and listen intently.
With the canyon of silence between the two of you,
You must begin to repair your work relationship at once.
Immediately.
Your writing and creating depend on it.

I recommend the following approach:
Sit quietly without distraction (like teh Interwebs, caffeinated beverages, and juicy blackberries of both fruit and tech kinds).
Ask one question without speaking it aloud. (Muses do like quiet minds and spaces.)
Then wait and listen.

And wait.
And wait a bit more.

Do you hear her (or him, or it, or them)?
Do you recognize the voice? The words? The advice?

Listen carefully and then ask a second question related to what your muse has shared.
Keep listening, keep talking.
A conversation has begun.

Make a promise to talk to and listen to your muse regularly.
Write down key points of your talks — the inspiring mantras, the mysterious phrases which repeat and make no sense, the common-sense reminders of good writing habits.
Review them often.
Acknowledge that your writing needs this ritual,
And that nothing great is ever created alone.
(Or, as my muse-coach likes to bellow, "It takes team work to make the dream work!")

Some wise people I know bake delicious blueberry pies for their muses. It takes them, and their writing lives, very far indeed.

What you least expect

Photo: Sock 1, complete. by moonrat42 

"I'm looking for inspiration, but I don't know where to find it," the student told her teacher.

The teacher thought for a moment, then replied, "After you answer all of these questions, you'll find it. Are you ready?"

"Yes," said the student. "Should I write these down?"

"No, they're very simple, so just listen," said the teacher. "Here we go—important questions used to find inspiration: What color is it?
Does it make a sound?
Is it a dog?
What is its name?
Did the sky rain it down?
How many of them are there?"

"Uh, teacher?" the student said quickly, raising her hand.

"Wait, I'm not done yet," the teacher said. "Is it made of wood?
Does it taste good?
Is it in your tummy?
Does it wiggle?
Do people pray to it?"

"Teacher," the student said, much more slowly and loudly than before.

"I have just a few more," the teacher said, holding up one finger. "Is it wearing socks?
Does it like bedtime stories?
Do you dream about it?
How old is it?
Can you carry it in a bucket?"

The student leaned forward and looked directly into the teacher's eyes. She silently mouthed the words "Bye bye" and waved. She then turned and walked quickly away.

The teacher smiled. "She'll find inspiration," he said. "If it doesn't find her first. Whatever it is."

Finding a forgotten corner

Photo: Light in the Kitchen Corner by Orin Optiglot

A student brought a problem to her teacher. "I dreamed last night that I was in a small, square room, yet the room had only three corners. I could not find the fourth one, no matter how hard I looked for it."

"Continue," said the teacher.

"I'd search and search," the student said, "and could find only three. Many times, I was on the verge of finding the fourth, then some great distraction would pull me away. A bird would fly into the room and I'd have to chase it out. A leak would spring from the ceiling and I'd have to patch it. Exhausted from dealing with the distraction, I would fall asleep, then wake in a panic at remembering that I still hadn't found it."

"Distractions, sleep, panic," the teacher summarized. "And no fourth corner."

"Yes, exactly," the student answered. "It was so frustrating that I kept forgetting it."

"Did you really forget it?" the teacher asked.

The student paused for a moment. "Yes, I'm sure I did. And I never found it when I remembered it. I've tried to picture the room in my mind all day, and I still can't see the corner. I'm afraid that this dream will repeat tonight, and so will all the distractions and feelings of frustration."

The teacher handed a notebook and a pen to her student. "Write down everything you remember about the room from your dream. Everything."

The student took the notebook and pen, frowning. "How will this help?"

"As long as you keep writing, you will find the answer for yourself," the teacher explained.

The student sighed and opened the notebook. She closed her eyes for a few moments, then began to write. She described all details she could grasp. The worn wooden furniture and the faded rose-colored wall paper. The floor's sun-lightened planks full of knots. The warm cinnamon smell that wafted up from a bustling kitchen. The day's fading light. The metal bucket and soaked towel she used to mop the leak. The red-tailed hawk that perched on her bed's side table and the wind that blew it in. Occasionally, the student would again close her eyes, then continue her scribbles upon opening them.

Suddenly, the student stood up. "I found it!" she shouted. "I found the corner."

The teacher nodded and smiled.

"How did you know that this would work?" the student asked, curious.

"Through your writing, you found a place for all of the room's details and distractions," the teacher explained. "After clearing out the clutter in the dream room and in your thoughts, the corner would eventually appear."

"I knew it was there all the time," the student said, smiling.