Care and Feeding of Your Muse during the Holidays by JC Hay

Image: Melpomene, The Muse of Tragedy; Elizabeth Sirani

November is drawing to a close, and writers all over are scribbling like mad to hit their word-counts for NaNoWriMo before the month ends. Likewise, those with a wintery bent turn their thoughts to what can be accomplished in what remains of the year. With holidays for many, and gatherings both sacred and secular, it’s a season of hassles, travels, and travails, and it’s too easy to lose the muse in the rush of confusion and crazy. Here then are some ideas I like to use to keep my muse well cared-for.

1)   Keep a notebook with you – if you’re like me, you’re going to spend the holidays around people who are likely to say or do something ridiculous. While I would never insert my family directly into a story, I do like to jot down inspirations and events that I can re-interpret once I’m back in front of the keyboard. Be prepared to grab ideas from all around you, and think about how your characters might respond in a similar situation. The little notes and jots can be a source for scenes, quirks and future stories; just the sort of building blocks with which the muse likes to play.

2)      Feed your Muse – The muse consumes other media as part of her diet, and in the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to forget to feed her. Read every day, or take in a movie, or engage in some other, non-writing creativity. Graphic novels, audiobooks, theatre and film let you look at story without thinking about the words themselves – it can be a good way to help you find new ways into your story. The point is to let the muse kick back and relax, and feel like she’s having fun without boring her. She’ll be fired up and ready to help you when you sit down at the keyboard. Which brings us to the most obvious thing…

3)      Make time to write – Creativity is a muscle like any other, and if you don’t use it, it starts to atrophy. Set aside 30 minutes or more each day, away from the hubbub and craziness, and just write. If you don’t have a laptop, write longhand (the change in process might even fire your muse up more). If you’re not working on a current WiP, then break out a list of writing prompts and write about one of those. Make the time, and make sure your family and friends respect your writing time (lockable doors and hotel rooms help with that).

That’s the things I try to do to keep the fires of creativity burning in the winter. What are your favorite ways to keep the muse engaged through the long dark months?

About JC Hay

JC Hay writes romantic science fiction and space opera, because the coolest gadgets in the world are useless without someone to share them. In addition to Romance Writers of America, he is also a proud member of the SFR Brigade (for Science Fiction Romance), and the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance chapter of RWA. His newest space opera, His Lowborn Heart, is coming in December from Lyrical Press. JC Hay is on Twitter, Facebook, and sometimes even http://jchay.com.

The Art of Self-Actualization by Tigris Eden

Self-actualization, according to theorist Kurt Goldstein, is the motive to realize one’s full potential. It could be in your quest for knowledge, spiritual enlightenment expressing one’s creativity, or the desire to give to society. You don’t have to obtain all to reach this stage in your life. A self-actualizer is a person who is living creatively and fully using his or her potentials. I think it’s very important to do what makes you happy. Every day, I strive to reach my full potential in whatever activity I’m currently pursuing. Self-actualization means to me is I have to be willing to take my goals and aspirations to their fullest potential.  Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

With that being said, I’m repeatedly working on honing my craft until it becomes second nature, habit. That was my moment of self-actualization. Seriously, the light bulb went off for me. I had to remind myself that I couldn’t be a part-time writer, but a full-time writer. (Write something every day) That’s not to say I don’t have a day job, because I do. Everyone has their own goals, each goal is different. Your goals will not be the same as mine. Full time for me, means different things. Example, every day for the past year and a half I’ve made it my mission to write something every day. That for me is fulltime. It’s my habit, it’s my way of meeting my goal to become the best writer I can be.

Writing is a creative process, it’s an art form. We blend, shape, and control the process and flow of words. If done the right way, we can elicit emotion in our readers

When I think back to the beginning of my journey, I’m reminded about all the times I stopped to reflect on what was important to me. Reflection is key, and I think that being brutally honest with one’s self is important to that process. Another fact is what I’ve come to learn is self-fulfilling prophecy. No, I’m not going biblical on you, but one’s conscience can make or break a person. Positive reinforcement is key when wanting to become the next best thing. I hear people tell me all the time how hard it is to get into this business and to stay there and be productive. To that I say, bring on the challenge. Is it hard work? Yes. Are you going to doubt yourself at some point in the process? Absolutely. We’re human. Emotions can be our worst enemy or our best friend. The thing to realize is you must constantly strive to break the mold on yourself. Set goals, reach them, and then set new ones.

Creativity is genius. Literally. We all have a fantastical story to tell. We’ve all had true life experiences that was can draw from. Apply what you know and be receptive to learn more. Rinse and repeat. Be self-aware, and above all have fun.

My art of self-actualization is simple. Create, create, create, and create some more. Our stories are our creations, we mold them from the ground up and make them beautiful. When I go to my day job, if the muse hits me, I oblige it and write it down. I talk to my writing buddies it’s good to stay connected. After work I drive home in Houston traffic and think of ways to improve what I’m currently working on. I try and set a mini-goal every day. It could be something simple as edit 10 pages or write 10 new pages. I try to think of positive things to reinforce in my life. Work-life balance is important to me, and because I have two jobs, the day job and the writing, sometimes I get lost in the story and have to explain myself to my family. For the most part they are pretty understanding, but we have our moments. I know you all can attest to that. My questions to you are when did you become self-actualized and what are you doing to meet your dreams?

Tigris Eden, described by Ty Langston, is beloved mother, friend, cook, accountant, author, wife and weaver of stories long and short. Family, writing, music, and movies are her life. She aspires to be the best at what she does, inside and outside her circle of crazy. You can find her stalking her author friends on Facebook and twitter. You can also find her on her website at www.authortigriseden.com .

PRO News at FF&P

Do you find yourself at a chapter meeting, conference or checking your email and recognizing names faces etc of people who were your peers but have made the jump to PAN? Do you feel envious, sad, depressed because that should be you?

Well, you are not alone. What can you do about it? Well, the short answer is get your butt on that seat, hands on that keyboard and write, write, write. Do you feel even more depressed now that obvious piece of advice is in front of you?

Well -you are still not alone. Reach out to your chapter, online group. Put yourself out there at a conference. Writing is a lonely business - we've all heard that. Writers can be introverted (well most are) Reach out - there are so many things that your chapter, other writers can, want and do provide.

And here’s one you can do right now--

Join the

Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal PRO group!

(Or become more active if you're already in!)

What is the PRO group, you may ask? It’s an online group for folks who have taken that first step to tell the world they are damn serious about their writing. They’ve shaken their fist in the air and said, “I am HERE!” They’ve completed a manuscript and have sent it forth to an agent or editor.

The PRO group is a place to join with like minded souls to support each other, share information, prod each other on. Hold each other accountable to continue being the best writers we can be.

Part of being successful is to put yourself out there - network, make friends with your colleagues. Set yourself a goal of sending one email a day to your online chapter group about something writing related, join in discussions, share information. Make suggestions like WIP tracking groups or chats.

The more you put in the more you get out. The PRO’s group, like all groups, is only as strong as it’s members.

Joining PRO, and more importantly, being ACTIVE in your FF&P PRO group will lead to:

Becoming more PRO-active

in your writing career.

You'll find your daily output of writing increasing as you do timed sprints and having the accountability of a goal group.

You'll find your writing improving doing critiques for your fellow FF&Pers in the Mudpuddle or PRO goal groups.

You'll find publishing contacts and opportunities by sharing information with your fellow PROsters and chapter mates.

You'll find you will be published that much quicker from joining in and then you won't have to stand up at a chapter meeting and feel the need to stand up and say - 'hi I'm ....... (insert name here) and I'm a PRO ho.'

Let us help!

Contact Sandra and Marie- FF& P Co_PRO's

through RWA at: pro@romance-ffp.com

 

pro@romance-ffp.com

 

WORLD BUILDING with Donna Steele

Asked to write about craft? Me? I feel like a fraud, but I'm going to attempt it. Yes, I've been writing for decades, but not for anyone else to actually see, or heaven forbid, read! I wrote for myself for a long time. I created worlds and situations that appealed to me, the kind of thing I could never find at the bookstore. So I did it myself. 

Then it all hit the fan - vampires, shape shifters, aliens, mermen and women, time travel. Thank goodness and where have you been all my life? I usually stuck to science fiction and paranormal myself - I've always wanted to peek inside the head of whoever is talking to me to see if they really believe what they're saying or if they're just checking out that man/woman behind me. 

Okay, every author has to do it, whether they are writing regency or contemporary or steampunk, but those of us that write in science fiction, paranormal or fantasy, really have to do it. For the kind of thing we write, the sky is most definitely not the limit. 

There are as many ways to build a world as there are authors out there. J. K. Rowling took a normal world and added her twist. Stephen King uses even less of a twist, which is why it's so damn scary. But I especially loved Larry Niven. That man took me places I could never have imagined and made it such fun.  

Not all of us are math whizzes or physics geeks, but that doesn't mean we don't know how to create a world. That's where the creative part comes in. Where would you go in your flight of fantasy? What would be the most important aspect of that place? Can you breathe - underwater or out in space. What's the first thing you see? What do you hear? Does anyone else see what you do? Are you taking notes yet? Our minds are boundless and when we let them run free, look at all the trouble, uh no, look at all the fun things they can create.

And there are no rules. Isn't that the best part? I lurked on a thread a short while ago where someone was asking if werewolves were able to do something, I don't even remember what and the discussion continued for a long time before a brave soul finally stepped up and said, hey, it's your story. Do you want them to be able to do it, because it's fiction, and they aren't real. I was ready to applaud. It is your story and you make the decisions because it's yours. And you can write what you want to read. You aren't the only one that likes that stuff. 

Go for it, if you can imagine it, someone out there already wants to read it. I'll end with a quote from someone who didn't write FF&P - 

Dreams, Books, are each a world; and books, we know, Are a substantial world, both pure and good

- William Wordsworth

More About the Author
I’d love to say I’m able to write full time.  Unfortunately my real life demands attention worse than my kids when they were toddlers. Ever since I learned to read I’ve wanted to write. Maybe it was just to escape that "real life" but I managed it! I finally got up the courage to submit a few things and I’m delighted that I finally get to share my passion with you. I write science fiction and mild paranormal usually with an eco-twist, though I am indulging in some contemporary women's fiction. My premiere novel, Rth Rising, was released on March 3, 2012. Learning Trust came out June 7. My women's fiction novel, Homecoming, was recently released. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, FF&P and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. Find out more at:

WEBSITE    TWITTER   FACEBOOK   GOODREADS 

Communing with your Muse by Billi Wagner

            I consider myself a work at home Mom. Some people might say the lack of an outside job should give an author more time to write, not less, but they don’t live in the same chaotic environment as I do. I’m sure other writer mamas out there can relate. Job or no job, when you have kids your work day never ends. It isn’t easy juggling parenthood and trying to jumpstart a writing career at the same time.

            The online writing community is vast and I take advantage of many of the wonderfully supportive groups and opportunities available to me, but they deal mostly with the business side of things. This blog is about the creative process itself. I have so many stories begging to be written, but things don’t fall into place if my muse isn’t willing.

When I say my muse I mean the source of my inspiration, but I often think in terms of a real person, the way a child would with an imaginary friend. She’s as high maintenance as any of my children, demanding her share of my time just like they do and when she gets ticked off I get a wicked case of writer’s block.

When I’m blocked I do all the usual things to jumpstart my brain. I switch projects so I can go back later with a fresh perspective. I listen to music, watch movies or read books in the genre I’m trying to write. Anything to get that spark back. We’ve all been there. The writing is so much better when it flows on its own, when the words aren’t forced.

I’m most inspired most by thunderstorms. The sound of thunder and pouring rain accompanied by those flashes of lightning make me feel exhilarated like Dr. Frankenstein about to give life to his creation. I sit down at my computer and I don’t stop writing until I’m totally spent. Unfortunately, I can’t whip up a storm every time I get stuck on a plot point.

So what other option is out there for our weary creative souls? I have so many friends who get writer’s block and stop writing altogether. They say they’ll write again and some of them do, but some don’t. I’ve been there myself and had to think outside the box to remedy the problem.  

I left the kids with their dad for the weekend, bought a pizza for the road and rented a hotel room. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it had everything I needed, specifically a wireless internet connection for my laptop. A little undivided attention for my muse and I accomplished more in one night than I had in the entire month before.

I’ve been back a couple times since then when I really needed to reconnect and I’m looking forward to going again soon. Sometimes the best cure is simply a little me time. Find someone to babysit. Take a vacation day from work. Blow off the cooking and the chores. Do what readers do every time they pick up a book and take a small escape from your life. Commune with your muse. I promise you won’t regret it.

 

BIO:  Billi Wagner, formerly Billi Pethtel, wanted to grow up and be a published author since she penned her first short story in second grade. A husband and six kids later, that dream hasn’t changed. Her first romantic mystery/comedy novel ‘Painted Jezebel’ is published under the pen name Jolie Pethtel to keep the genre separate from the paranormal projects she is currently writing under her legal name.