Next to my bed lies a small box that I found at Goodwill some moons ago. It became home to little trinkets, matches, incense cones, peppermints and scraps of paper that I'd doodled ideas on. This weekend, as I'm organizing my life, I decided to free my ideas and transfer them onto my computer so I can build on the ones that are worthy. Like looking into a journal, I'm always surprised by my own brainstorming.
I've said before that bad ideas should be trashed, but I encourage artists to resist abandoning creative ideas that have potential - even if they seem to be wondering along the road to nowhere. Those little doodles, sketches and notes could lead to marvelous pieces - pieces that may take you places as you channel your creative energy.
In my box there were partial poems and the first page of a promising short story. It feels good to have a place where you can go for instant inspiration. I hope that my fellow artists have a few places of their own.
Where's yours?
Showing posts with label writing tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing tips. Show all posts
Life Lessons that You Shouldn't Apply to Writing.
The beautiful thing about writing is having the freedom to take risks, enjoy the luxury of having no boundaries and as an art, it's a place where you can ignore all basic rhetoric of "life lessons," such as:
Test the water before jumping in. In going about our day to day, it's not always wise to act on impulse. Many scenarios involve a process of critical thinking so we can come out of the the situation victorious. For writing, the opposite applies. It's a must that you jump in. Over-thinking the writing process can stifle your creativity. Allowing words to flow as they come to you in the absence of your own criticism will allow you to produce pieces that may have never made it to paper. Refuse to engage in the tedium of editing while you should be maximizing your creative talent.
Share. We've all heard this since preschool. Share your toys. Share your feelings. We're encouraged to share everything from material possessions to being open about our emotional disposition. It's healthy. It's polite. But in art, sharing isn't always necessary. Sometimes your work never turns into a finished product, but serves as a solid foundation for greater pieces. There's nothing wrong with keeping your writer's notebook and/or sketchbook private. I get completely vexed when people don't understand when I'm not open to divulging everything I write. [No, I'm not opposed to discussing drafts.]
Follow Through. It's not always a bad idea to be a quitter. I'm confused by artists who think they have to absolutely commit to a piece that they've started. Creating any type of art in the absence of inspiration is called 'work.' When creating starts to feel like work, I ditch it. When I'm no longer moved by a character, I write them out. When I begin a poem that isn't flowing naturally, I scratch it. If I torment myself with trying to marry something I've started, I cheat myself out of creative time that could have been spent more productively.
Art is the ultimate expression of freedom. There are no laws, no rules, no rigid expectations.
Test the water before jumping in. In going about our day to day, it's not always wise to act on impulse. Many scenarios involve a process of critical thinking so we can come out of the the situation victorious. For writing, the opposite applies. It's a must that you jump in. Over-thinking the writing process can stifle your creativity. Allowing words to flow as they come to you in the absence of your own criticism will allow you to produce pieces that may have never made it to paper. Refuse to engage in the tedium of editing while you should be maximizing your creative talent.
Share. We've all heard this since preschool. Share your toys. Share your feelings. We're encouraged to share everything from material possessions to being open about our emotional disposition. It's healthy. It's polite. But in art, sharing isn't always necessary. Sometimes your work never turns into a finished product, but serves as a solid foundation for greater pieces. There's nothing wrong with keeping your writer's notebook and/or sketchbook private. I get completely vexed when people don't understand when I'm not open to divulging everything I write. [No, I'm not opposed to discussing drafts.]
Follow Through. It's not always a bad idea to be a quitter. I'm confused by artists who think they have to absolutely commit to a piece that they've started. Creating any type of art in the absence of inspiration is called 'work.' When creating starts to feel like work, I ditch it. When I'm no longer moved by a character, I write them out. When I begin a poem that isn't flowing naturally, I scratch it. If I torment myself with trying to marry something I've started, I cheat myself out of creative time that could have been spent more productively.
Art is the ultimate expression of freedom. There are no laws, no rules, no rigid expectations.
Turning Distractions into Writing Material.
It's 8pm on a Wednesday and I'm determined to stay at home. I have a story idea in my head, begging to be outlined. The first paragraph is already falling from my lips. I just need for my fingertips to cooperate. Then, the phone rings. I ignore it. A text alert follows. "Are we still going out tonight?" Why yes. I'd almost forgotten the commitment I made to my social circle. Not that I have to keep it. After all, planning is for stiff people who don't sway outside of their calendars. I move with the flow of my desires. My desire is to get out of the house, write nothing and escape the four walls of my peaceful sanctuary.
I get dressed quickly and fly down 75 to the tunes of Little Dragon, Gucci Mane and Drake. The roads are smooth and a breeze sneaks through my slightly-cracked window.
This all may appear anti-productive. There was a time I would have agreed.
James Norman Hall once said that "Loafing is the most productive part of a writer's life."
Some of my best writing material comes to me when I've stepped away from the process. Conversations with friends, rubbish on the radio, lyrics and people watching are all contributors to my fiction and poetry. Distracting myself with the world has become ritual in my writing process. While I also find comfort and a mass of creativity during a solitary retreat, I welcome the inspiration that reality offers (most times in overwhelming amounts).
The most important thing is to not get swept away in distractions, keep my third eye open and use my experiences to be a better artist.
I get dressed quickly and fly down 75 to the tunes of Little Dragon, Gucci Mane and Drake. The roads are smooth and a breeze sneaks through my slightly-cracked window.
This all may appear anti-productive. There was a time I would have agreed.
James Norman Hall once said that "Loafing is the most productive part of a writer's life."
Some of my best writing material comes to me when I've stepped away from the process. Conversations with friends, rubbish on the radio, lyrics and people watching are all contributors to my fiction and poetry. Distracting myself with the world has become ritual in my writing process. While I also find comfort and a mass of creativity during a solitary retreat, I welcome the inspiration that reality offers (most times in overwhelming amounts).
The most important thing is to not get swept away in distractions, keep my third eye open and use my experiences to be a better artist.
Microjournaling FTW
I've decided to modify the Twitter phenomena and apply it to my own journaling habits. I'm very guilty of taking my thoughts and overexposing myself on paper. Now, obviously I'm free to be as vulgar and tactless as I please when I'm writing for myself, but as I grow, looking back, there are times when I don't recognize myself. I'm starting to take a different approach to my diary writing by jotting quick summaries of my thoughts of the moment. No more analyzing myself with drawn out passages of chatter. Twitter's got it right, you can say plenty in 160 characters or less. This may not work for everyone, but I've found that the result is a string of decent to excellent writing prompts that can be used for later. I'm still writing to the core, but I'm documenting the flesh of the matter. I started yesterday. I'll share a few ;-)
12.15.09
9am: Wishing I woke up in a different time zone.
9:45am: I should be writing the day away in some isolated room with a fireplace and a teapot.
11:00am: By coming in contact with so many souls, I'm sure to have several monumental heartbreaks.
11:20am: I'm writing a poem at work. I love stealing by supervisor's time like she steals by skills by underpaying me.
1:05pm: I miss the sun. Whoever stole the sky's shine, should return it... stat.
(I'm sure that two poems will come of these.)
12.15.09
9am: Wishing I woke up in a different time zone.
9:45am: I should be writing the day away in some isolated room with a fireplace and a teapot.
11:00am: By coming in contact with so many souls, I'm sure to have several monumental heartbreaks.
11:20am: I'm writing a poem at work. I love stealing by supervisor's time like she steals by skills by underpaying me.
1:05pm: I miss the sun. Whoever stole the sky's shine, should return it... stat.
(I'm sure that two poems will come of these.)
Writing Words from Dan Jenkins.
WordHustler posts some great interviews and features regarding writing and surviving as a literary creative. Today, I happened upon an interview with sportswriter and novelist, Dan Jenkins. I decided to share a few nuggets that I grabbed from the text that I found helpful (in one way or another).
The biggest change in book publishing, as far as I can tell, is everybody wants a blockbuster written by a guaranteed best-seller or a celebrity, even if the book isn’t worth a sh*t. Taste no longer counts.
Be well-read and learn from what you read. Study the ones you consider to be the masters.
Finally, if you want to write, WRITE. Don’t just talk about it. Get a job on a newspaper, if there are any left.
Never start a piece with a quote. Learn to establish your voice without using “I.” Give credit all your sources. Listen. Listen. Listen. And don’t try to force-feed an anecdote into a piece when it doesn’t belong just because YOU are fascinated with it. Save it for when it DOES work.
Read the entire interview here. And if you're a fellow writer, I'd suggest joining the site. It has been a decent resource when I have the motivation to visit.
The biggest change in book publishing, as far as I can tell, is everybody wants a blockbuster written by a guaranteed best-seller or a celebrity, even if the book isn’t worth a sh*t. Taste no longer counts.
Be well-read and learn from what you read. Study the ones you consider to be the masters.
Finally, if you want to write, WRITE. Don’t just talk about it. Get a job on a newspaper, if there are any left.
Never start a piece with a quote. Learn to establish your voice without using “I.” Give credit all your sources. Listen. Listen. Listen. And don’t try to force-feed an anecdote into a piece when it doesn’t belong just because YOU are fascinated with it. Save it for when it DOES work.
Read the entire interview here. And if you're a fellow writer, I'd suggest joining the site. It has been a decent resource when I have the motivation to visit.
When All Else Fails: Revise.
Writers and other creative people are never completely satisfied with their own work. It takes a lot of courage to step away from a piece and deem it worthy of being presented to the masses. So, when I walked away from my first novel, A Teaspoon of Fiction, I was quite proud of myself. However, I recently gave my work of art another once over, and realized that it wasn't a book that I would boast on my bookshelf. Back at square one, and I'm learning that it takes even more courage to pick up a piece that was once considered complete.
A Teaspoon of Fiction was supposed to be my golden ticket into the exciting world of publishing. I'd written what I thought was a killer query letter, compiled my list of relevant agents, and shot out my call for a representative. I took the rejection letters in stride and blamed the undesirable responses on the failing economy. Then the inevitable occurred: I realized that the manuscript I penned was simply not up to par.
Now, I'm not only undertaking the task of writing novel #2, but completely revising #1.
As a word to fellow writers, please don't fear multiple revisions and edits. While it's a challenge to lay down a piece, it's also very difficult to pick it up again. It's very easy to give up on a project when it's not shaping up to what you want it to be. However, I've concluded that a piece worth starting is a piece worth completing.
Wish me luck!
A Teaspoon of Fiction was supposed to be my golden ticket into the exciting world of publishing. I'd written what I thought was a killer query letter, compiled my list of relevant agents, and shot out my call for a representative. I took the rejection letters in stride and blamed the undesirable responses on the failing economy. Then the inevitable occurred: I realized that the manuscript I penned was simply not up to par.
Now, I'm not only undertaking the task of writing novel #2, but completely revising #1.
As a word to fellow writers, please don't fear multiple revisions and edits. While it's a challenge to lay down a piece, it's also very difficult to pick it up again. It's very easy to give up on a project when it's not shaping up to what you want it to be. However, I've concluded that a piece worth starting is a piece worth completing.
Wish me luck!
13 Phrases #4: David Thomas Jarecki
I met DTJ on Issuu, a site where small publications and regular folk can upload documents to share in a smooth page-turning format. He commented on the excerpt from [If] Life's Rotten, Write to the Core. Dave's comments on my work were inspiring and encouraging, especially coming from a fellow writer. Since our first online encounter, David has been sure to keep in touch. Currently, he is busy at work on the next issue of the Kankazine, in which I will be a featured poet. Check him out.
1. By day, I am a Logistician.
2. I write best when I am depressed about universal issues while being content in my personal life and responsibilities. When I am universally content or have challenges in my personal life I cannot focus on writing.
3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I complete the piece. I'll force myself to finish it even if it is in the worst way possible just so that it is done and all concerns about finishing it are gone. Then I go back to the beginning to find what first inspired me about the work. When I see how I rushed through to finish it I get angry at myself for doing so and channel that back toward my original passion to complete it the right way.
4. Three things that help me recover from Writer's Block are: I don't believe in Writer's Block. I believe that writers are in a perpetual state of creation. When we hit a speed bump or get stumped about a piece that we are focusing on that natural creative instinct is subconsciously being focused somewhere else. Here are three things to do when you think you have Writer's Block: 1--Figure out where that creative energy is being focused. 2. Make a decision on weather you should keep it directed that way or shift it back toward whatever you were working on. 3. DO NOT direct your thoughts and energy to feed the notion of Writer's Block.
5. I starting writing because my Catholic school 8th grade nun teacher read a paper I wrote and told me I didn't write it because she didn't see the same effort in my other school work. Day in and day out I worked to prove her wrong. As a side bonus, I love how she contributed in her own way to the fact that I am proud to call myself Multi-denominational when it comes to religious categorization.
6. I continued to write because it was a great release and a better, guilt-free, use of my time than video games. I found it to be more rewarding than anything else that I was doing in my life.
7. I will always write because I can't stop. I am truly blessed that after 7 years of smoking cigarettes I was able to quit cold turkey 7 years ago on the first date with who would become my future wife Nora. After several attempts to quit writing and focus on other things, I have failed.
8. If I weren't a writer, I'd be a film director or actor.
9. The writer(s) who influence and inspire my work are Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger, C. Shoup, Chris Rock, Richard Roeper, James Riordan, John Lennon, Roger Ebert, Paul Reps, Jim Morrison, George Carlin, the Dalai Lama, Allen Ginsburg, David Mamet, Wyclef Jean, Bill Maher, David Koepp, Ain HD, Paul Thomas Anderson, Robert Frost, The Cohen Brothers, The RZA, Richard Kelly, William S. Burroughs, Redman, Roger Waters, Christopher Guest.
10. The most important goal I have as a writer is for people to not scratch their heads as often as they currently do after reading my stuff.
11. People who read my work are most likely going to scratch their heads.
12. My most significant piece to date is The Legend of the Fetal Poltergeist
13. There is nothing more important than not giving up. No matter what your dreams or goals are you will get knocked down many many times--it's part of the process. If we could all snap our fingers and get what we wanted all the time life would be boring. Learn to enjoy and appreciate the moments that you get knocked down. The purpose of those moments is to make the moments that we stand tall more rewarding! Rock on and make it happen.
Excerpt from The Legend of The Fetal Poltergeist:
Breakfast Luck from July
Hoarding all the cereal
on a morning in July.
Mocking the imperial
by laying where I lie.
About that four-leafed clover,
I’ll use it if I can.
Hell is greening over,
the pasture’s where I am!
Embracing my temptation
a deadly fantasy.
Pennies in a fountain,
an imitation of the sea.
I gamble my summer,
Caesar owns its split.
Horseshoes land in winter
from a toasted autumn rift.
Defying this betrayal,
a season without love.
Bowls land on my table
descending from above.
Regales that we greet
are traffic in our jam.
Scratched by rabbit’s feet,
thoughtlessness disbands.
Not ‘til lunch will I be hungry,
independence day is full.
Autumn’s noon is soupy,
who cares about your pull.
My meals are branded sloppy,
my reputation’s stuck.
But I’ll continue happy,
‘cause that’s my given luck!
1. By day, I am a Logistician.2. I write best when I am depressed about universal issues while being content in my personal life and responsibilities. When I am universally content or have challenges in my personal life I cannot focus on writing.
3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I complete the piece. I'll force myself to finish it even if it is in the worst way possible just so that it is done and all concerns about finishing it are gone. Then I go back to the beginning to find what first inspired me about the work. When I see how I rushed through to finish it I get angry at myself for doing so and channel that back toward my original passion to complete it the right way.
4. Three things that help me recover from Writer's Block are: I don't believe in Writer's Block. I believe that writers are in a perpetual state of creation. When we hit a speed bump or get stumped about a piece that we are focusing on that natural creative instinct is subconsciously being focused somewhere else. Here are three things to do when you think you have Writer's Block: 1--Figure out where that creative energy is being focused. 2. Make a decision on weather you should keep it directed that way or shift it back toward whatever you were working on. 3. DO NOT direct your thoughts and energy to feed the notion of Writer's Block.
5. I starting writing because my Catholic school 8th grade nun teacher read a paper I wrote and told me I didn't write it because she didn't see the same effort in my other school work. Day in and day out I worked to prove her wrong. As a side bonus, I love how she contributed in her own way to the fact that I am proud to call myself Multi-denominational when it comes to religious categorization.
6. I continued to write because it was a great release and a better, guilt-free, use of my time than video games. I found it to be more rewarding than anything else that I was doing in my life.
7. I will always write because I can't stop. I am truly blessed that after 7 years of smoking cigarettes I was able to quit cold turkey 7 years ago on the first date with who would become my future wife Nora. After several attempts to quit writing and focus on other things, I have failed.
8. If I weren't a writer, I'd be a film director or actor.
9. The writer(s) who influence and inspire my work are Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger, C. Shoup, Chris Rock, Richard Roeper, James Riordan, John Lennon, Roger Ebert, Paul Reps, Jim Morrison, George Carlin, the Dalai Lama, Allen Ginsburg, David Mamet, Wyclef Jean, Bill Maher, David Koepp, Ain HD, Paul Thomas Anderson, Robert Frost, The Cohen Brothers, The RZA, Richard Kelly, William S. Burroughs, Redman, Roger Waters, Christopher Guest.
10. The most important goal I have as a writer is for people to not scratch their heads as often as they currently do after reading my stuff.
11. People who read my work are most likely going to scratch their heads.
12. My most significant piece to date is The Legend of the Fetal Poltergeist
13. There is nothing more important than not giving up. No matter what your dreams or goals are you will get knocked down many many times--it's part of the process. If we could all snap our fingers and get what we wanted all the time life would be boring. Learn to enjoy and appreciate the moments that you get knocked down. The purpose of those moments is to make the moments that we stand tall more rewarding! Rock on and make it happen.
Excerpt from The Legend of The Fetal Poltergeist:
Breakfast Luck from July
Hoarding all the cereal
on a morning in July.
Mocking the imperial
by laying where I lie.
About that four-leafed clover,
I’ll use it if I can.
Hell is greening over,
the pasture’s where I am!
Embracing my temptation
a deadly fantasy.
Pennies in a fountain,
an imitation of the sea.
I gamble my summer,
Caesar owns its split.
Horseshoes land in winter
from a toasted autumn rift.
Defying this betrayal,
a season without love.
Bowls land on my table
descending from above.
Regales that we greet
are traffic in our jam.
Scratched by rabbit’s feet,
thoughtlessness disbands.
Not ‘til lunch will I be hungry,
independence day is full.
Autumn’s noon is soupy,
who cares about your pull.
My meals are branded sloppy,
my reputation’s stuck.
But I’ll continue happy,
‘cause that’s my given luck!
Contact David Thomas Jarecki:
Email: theothman7@comcast.net
Website: http://www.issuu.com/djareck
Buy: http://www.planetostrogoth.com
Email: theothman7@comcast.net
Website: http://www.issuu.com/djareck
Buy: http://www.planetostrogoth.com
Embrace Your Creativiy: Kuumba!
Happy Kwanzaa! Today is the 6th day of this splendid holiday and the core principle is Kuumba: Creativity. I should be celebrating by propping myself against a tree and writing my soul out. However, beauty calls, and I'm getting gussied up for tonight's NYE festivities. I'm allowed that! I still wanted to share a few tips and tricks with you all in regards to inspiring your own creativity.
1. Change your space: Rearrange. Paint. Throw in a different dash of color. Hang a poster or painting. Move yourself to a separate room altogether. Varying my setting has always proved to vary my thought process. Changing the space around you can inspire the new!
2. Read/watch a success story: I watched a movie titled Man on Wire the other day about a French fellow who was determined to walk on a wire between the Twin Towers shortly after they were built. Philippe Petit made his wire walking passion an art. It was truly motivational to watch this man's journey to the top of NYC. Other success stories have also inspired me to take my creativity to new levels, such as that of Tyler Perry, Oprah and Michael Baisden.
3.Turn off the TV: This is an obvious one and the one I generally have the most trouble with. It's so comforting to hear the dialogue between people as background noise. However, sometimes complete silence leaves you alone with your thoughts and you may be surprised to find what those are.
4. Introduce yourself to new music: If you're a solid jazz fan, throw in some Hip Hop. If you're a Hip Hop head to the soles of your classic Adidas, toss a Blues album in the player. New sounds may open up a new dimension of your creative spirit. Let those melodies and lyrics flow through you like a quick, uninterrupted current.
5. Do what I do: drink a glass of wine and dance about when no one is watching.
1. Change your space: Rearrange. Paint. Throw in a different dash of color. Hang a poster or painting. Move yourself to a separate room altogether. Varying my setting has always proved to vary my thought process. Changing the space around you can inspire the new!
2. Read/watch a success story: I watched a movie titled Man on Wire the other day about a French fellow who was determined to walk on a wire between the Twin Towers shortly after they were built. Philippe Petit made his wire walking passion an art. It was truly motivational to watch this man's journey to the top of NYC. Other success stories have also inspired me to take my creativity to new levels, such as that of Tyler Perry, Oprah and Michael Baisden.
3.Turn off the TV: This is an obvious one and the one I generally have the most trouble with. It's so comforting to hear the dialogue between people as background noise. However, sometimes complete silence leaves you alone with your thoughts and you may be surprised to find what those are.
4. Introduce yourself to new music: If you're a solid jazz fan, throw in some Hip Hop. If you're a Hip Hop head to the soles of your classic Adidas, toss a Blues album in the player. New sounds may open up a new dimension of your creative spirit. Let those melodies and lyrics flow through you like a quick, uninterrupted current.
5. Do what I do: drink a glass of wine and dance about when no one is watching.
Common Sense Tips on Becoming A Better Writer.
Read. Read bad literature, excellent literature and everything in between. Read magazines, read advertising copy, read the lyrics to songs and random blogs. Everything you read with subconsciously affect the way you write, and hopefully that would be for the better.
Write without purpose. Start a blog just to flex your writing muscles everyday. Participate in forums and online discussions that require you to think and communicate those thoughts through coherent copy. Join online communities like Yelp! and write reviews. Obviously, the more you write, the better you will become.
Criticize yourself. Be hard on yourself. Push your creativity to the limit. See a cliché? Delete it. Don't be afraid to revise or too lazy to revisit and change your work.
Which brings me to my next tip…
Understand that a piece is never complete. All poems are unfinished. Every piece of prose can be better. More details can be added. If you're a storyteller, more dialogue can be added to clarify the story. Once you understand this, you'll feel more comfortable walking away from a project.
Ask for feedback. Many artists are very guarded about our work, but although the creative process is self-fulfilling, you have to remember that the end result is for the masses. Don't be shy about hearing people's thoughts… even if they have no clue what good writing is ;-)
Connect with other writers.
Write without purpose. Start a blog just to flex your writing muscles everyday. Participate in forums and online discussions that require you to think and communicate those thoughts through coherent copy. Join online communities like Yelp! and write reviews. Obviously, the more you write, the better you will become.
Criticize yourself. Be hard on yourself. Push your creativity to the limit. See a cliché? Delete it. Don't be afraid to revise or too lazy to revisit and change your work.
Which brings me to my next tip…
Understand that a piece is never complete. All poems are unfinished. Every piece of prose can be better. More details can be added. If you're a storyteller, more dialogue can be added to clarify the story. Once you understand this, you'll feel more comfortable walking away from a project.
Ask for feedback. Many artists are very guarded about our work, but although the creative process is self-fulfilling, you have to remember that the end result is for the masses. Don't be shy about hearing people's thoughts… even if they have no clue what good writing is ;-)
Connect with other writers.
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