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Monday, 09.08.2008 |
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| Reclaiming the Magic: A Writer's Guide to Success |
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Product Details
Notes
the seven deadly syndromes of missing magic:
1) the one-trick pony
like the second book syndrome, doubts about whether you got lucky at first
2) the displaced writer syndrome
sometimes happens when you are transferred to a new editor, or changes come
3) the one-track star
reader expectation, having to write only the genre that you're known for
4) the money-minder
focusing too much on the business, writing for money instead of what you love
5) the grieving writer
sometimes you just can't write through the pain of real life
6) the burn-out
there's nothing new to write about, you can't find new excitement
7) the misplaced writer
if you hate what you're writing or you've never sold a book
the five stages of trauma: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
develop your "self-spin" by preparing quick answers to common questions:
1) when is your next book coming out?
2) are you still writing?
3) when are you going to write a "real" book?
4) have you sold anything lately?
5) what's taking so long?
if your business becomes too big, you may lose the passion you had at first
do not write what your editor wants, find an editor you loves what you write
figure out what book you could write that no one else could do
try dictating your book into a mini voice recorder, it's fast to speak the words
the best way out of your pain is through it, grief should not be suppressed
find your theme song, the archetype character and the traits you love most
for me, it's freedom, risk, excitement and adventure, and true-life romance
ask yourself the following questions:
1) what does your main character need to be whole?
2) what is the character's purpose in life? to protect, to be free, to have fun, etc.
3) what do you want the reader to take away from the story?
4) if the character were a figure out of legend or mythology, who would it be?
look for the best times for your natural writing, editing, or plotting
remember to take baby steps toward your big project, do one little thing each day
watch out for Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD)
or Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) such as:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlets Syndrome, Bursitis,
DeQuervain's Syndrome, Tendonitis, or Tenosynovitis
make a wish list of things to do or try, and people you want to meet
experiment with physical relaxation methods to reach a creative trance state
before sleeping, state a problem clearly and think about dreaming of the answer
visualize your life in 5 years, your career, relationship, achievements |
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