Category: on inspiration

The Love (And Hate) Of A Great Book

Tracey Richardson Leave a comment

As writers, we love to read good books. We appreciate them, we celebrate them, we admire them, we lose ourselves in them. Why, then, does reading a good book sometimes cause our writing insecurities to rear their ugly little heads?

One of my writing acquaintances recently complained that while she was loving a book she was reading, at the same time she was finding it discouraging. Why? She elaborated, saying it made her feel like she could never write something that great and so why the hell was she even trying.

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Sometimes, I Surprise Myself!

Lori Twining 12 Comments

Sometimes, I resist trying new things, for fear of failure, but eventually, I force myself to do it. Sometimes, I regret the decision instantly and other times, I surprise myself.

All my writing friends know that I hate participating in writing exercises. Those on-the-spot moments where an instructor snaps her finger and says, “We have five minutes, let’s write something with the words: Baby, Police and Dietary Fiber in it. Go!” And, of course, she also mentions we will be reading the exercises out loud. Seriously, I’d rather stare out the window and count snails slithering by, than write something that will waste my time. AND, there is no way I want to read my drivel out loud into the room where every word can bounce back and hit me in the forehead, reminding me how stupid it sounds. Read more

Today Is Your Day!

Donna Judy Curtin Leave a comment

“Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So… get on your way!”

 

 

My daughter and I were strolling the aisles of the local dollar store, when this little notebook caught my attention. It was leather, and robin’s egg blue and embossed across the front was “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!” with a picture of a creature that could have only been doodled by Dr. Seuss. I couldn’t help but feel this little book held more value than a dollar. Read more

A New Year’s Resolution to Keep!

Bernice Connell Leave a comment

A New Year’s Resolution to Keep!

2018 will not be a year of resolutions to get organized, set a regular housekeeping schedule or become vegan. Similar resolutions made in the past have been dropped by the wayside by February 1st. Typically, only eight percent of resolutions are kept for the year, according to a December, 2016 Huffington Post article. There will be no more resolutions designed to change an undesired trait or behaviour, for me. No more shooting for the moon and setting myself up for failure.

I plan to be part of the eight percent success statistic this year because I am resolved to retire in 2018.

Why do I need to make a resolution to retire? Read more

Group Therapy

Tracey Richardson Leave a comment

When you’re starting to write a novel, you never really know if your plot and characters have legs. You have your main characters, you have a pretty good idea of what’s going to happen to them, you have a central theme, and an ending in mind. All these ideas swimming around in your head may or may not work on the written page.
That’s because what we imagine about our characters and their journey might not translate to the reader. What we imagine as writers may work in our minds, but not on the page. The final result might not resonate or connect with the reader, and this is the worst thing that can happen to a novelist. Not poor sales, not poor royalty cheques, not one or two bad reviews, not failing to win an award. No. It’s having a reader shake her head and say she has no clue what the author is trying to accomplish and feels nothing (or little) for the characters. Read more

Setting & Achieving Your Writing Goals

Diane Ferguson 4 Comments
Paul Zizka Photography @paulzizkaphoto https://zizka.ca/

Is writing your day job? Or like me, do you have to fit it in between the many things that fill a mid-life. I remember days in my late twenties when I could like on the couch and do nothing. Why did I waste so much time? (Okay, I was recovering from getting a university education and further designation, so I won’t be too hard on my younger self.)

But now, with a day job, two teenage girls, several pets, a husband and a house – time is of the essence. Not to mention the biggest time factor in life: getting older. Yet, I’ve decided to start my novel all over again. Read more

Freedom

Kelly Babcock Leave a comment
open gate
I’ll get the gate …

“Nothing happens in my life worth writing about.” “I can’t write.” “I don’t have an imagination.”These are excuses I hear all too often.

And the painful thing of it is that it shows, not that people don’t lead exciting lives, but that people don’t write because they don’t know how this works.

And I, poor excuse for a teacher that I am, intend to set this wrong to rights.

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Writing Life Events

Bernice Connell Leave a comment

I’m a pushover for stories revolving around weddings, funerals, birthdays and holidays. Everyone has experiences of these relatable events.

Life events can make the most of storytelling by giving us a recognizable backdrop along with the unique twists and turns of each story. This is what intrigues me; the combination of the familiar and somewhat predictable components and the inevitable unfolding surprises. There are endless possibilities of tears, laughter, intrigue and celebration, possibly all happening on the same occasion. Not to mention the fun of getting to know characters as mundane or bizarre as you can imagine. Read more