Karinwritesdangerously

Flowers, green grass, Spring sunshine bursting with Vitamin D. With all this surrounding us, sometimes it’s hard to focus on writing. And with the days getting longer and longer, I don’t know about you, but adjusting my internal time clock has been challenging. For help in revving up, I turned to my trusty stack of Woman’s World magazines to find some easy energy boosters for us all:

Eat your oatmeal: Besides being low-cal and fiber-rich, oatmeal is a great source of B6, which activates the feel-good hormone, serotonin. You can get an even bigger boost by adding nuts and berries. And here’s another trick I’ve learned: If you’re like me and enjoy having a morning smoothie for breakfast, try adding a quarter-cup of dry oatmeal to it for some slow-burning protein.

Snack on sunflower seeds: If you’re prone to midmorning or afternoon slumps, you might be tempted to grab an energy bar or a snack that’s high in sugar. A better bet: munch on sunflower seeds. They’re rich in magnesium, which fights fatigue. Other magnesium-rich foods you can snack on for quick energy: pumpkin seeds, avocados, spinach, almonds, peanuts and cashews. Another slump-buster: combine a protein and complex carb like whole-grain crackers and cheese or peanut butter. This combo can give you an energy boost that lasts for hours.

Catch up on C: One in three Americans suffer from low levels of vitamin C according to experts. Since this vitamin helps cells convert food into energy, a shortfall can lead to fatigue. Eating a serving of citrus or taking 500 mg. of C daily can boost your energy in just three weeks. Other sources of C: tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, and leafy vegetables.

Snag a snooze: There’s loads of evidence that taking a short nap in the afternoon can recharge your battery. One study found that astronauts who took a 40-minute nap improved their performance by almost 35% and their alertness by 100%. So if you work at home, you might try this easy and enjoyable energizer. 

If you have any energy boosters that work for you, I’d love to share them. Write on! 

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

As writers, we all know that words matter. And when it comes to our own inner dialogue and self-talk, we can all use a boost. A can-do attitude is a powerful asset we can bring to the page. So here’s some advice from a sports expert we can tailor to our own needs:

“Athletes can use positive self-talk to combat the negative effects of negative self-talk,” according to Patrick Hammond, a coach specializing in performance psychology. “Such encouragement can come from both internal and external sources.”

Hammond suggests pinpointing exactly what motivates you, so that the self-talk messages you give yourself are primed to pack plenty of punch and feel familiar. He also notes that “trigger words” can be especially effective in bolstering positive thinking during tough moments. As he put it, “Trigger words allow coaches, fans, and the athletes themselves to communicate clear messages and trigger positive self-talk.” For maximum impact, these phrases should be short and sweet.

“Trigger words” and phrases are a tool I use all the time: They often give me a shot of energy during my writing sessions and help me when I hit a rough patch. Just to give you the idea, here are a few phrases I find helpful when I’m writing:

My words flow like honey.
A relaxed mind is a creative mind.
Ideas come to me.
Now I’m going to concentrate as hard as I can.
I have everything I need.
I have a passion for completion.
Onward, with velocity!

Feel free to experiment with any or all of these phrases and see if they work for you. Whenever I find a motivating phrase I like, I jot it down on a colored index card. I have a stack of these and sometimes thumb through them and pick out one that appeals to me in the moment. How about you? Are there “trigger” words or phrases that you find inspire your writing and help you keep going? I’d love to hear them! Write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.”

“It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.”

“A pen is to me as a beak is to a hen.”

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
JRR Tolkein

“Not all those who wander are lost” — what an inspiring and consoling thought from that master wordsmith, JRR Tolkein! We’ve all been there: things seem to perk along and suddenly, thump! crash! crunch! thud! Everything tumbles to the ground in a muddle. 

When this happens, it’s helpful to remember that you are not lost, but wandering — you are finding your way, only it may not be exactly the way that you expected or envisioned. I’ve done my share of wandering in the forest of words and here are a few things I’ve learned that may be helpful if you find yourself in a similar situation:

Wandering isn’t a waste: When you find that you’ve somehow fallen off the path you were on, you first reaction may be to panic and feel that you are losing momentum. But consider this: the path you were on may have been a hidebound, limited one that couldn’t supply you with what you need to discover to make your work better, truer, deeper. So don’t freeze, “freelax” as Alex used to say. Trust that something new and exciting awaits you.

Wandering can be refreshing: Sometimes, we can become almost mechanical in the way we approach a project we happen to be in when things start to fall apart. This can be a sign that we aren’t bringing as much creativity as we’re capable of to the job at hand. Being forced to halt our forward march may be showing us that we are putting too much head and not enough heart into what we’re writing. 

Wandering can be wonderful: If we can let go of the fear factor and jump into the mud puddle instead of stepping over it, we can rediscover the fun and sense of wonder that make wordsmithing such a joy. So don’t be afraid to dive in and get messy — and write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu

Sunlight streaming on Incense Stone kindles violet smoke;

far off I watch the waterfall plunge to the long river,

flying waters descending straight three thousand feet,

til I think the Milky Way has tumbled from the

ninth height of Heaven.

—Li Po

« There’s nothing that leads to more wasteful expenditure of the creative energy than to depend on the verdict of others. » Thornton Wilder

Today, April 17, is the birthday of the amazing author Thornton Wilder; he was born in 1897. He is the only writer to win Pulitzers for both fiction and drama. He won three of them—for his novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, and for his plays, Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth.

Here, I’ve gathered some telling comments from his collected letters. I hope you’ll mine them for the gold they may offer you!

On the mystery of the creative process:

“I distrust bringing upward to the conscious analytical level, in myself (in relation to my own works) the various processes and influences which enter my novels and plays. I have always assumed that every artist is a tireless critic–a selector, a rejector, a discriminator–but that those operations take place–as it were–“in the dark.” The practice of writing seems to me to be the gradual acquisition of ever increased experience, in the organization of such thought and material—an experience which frees him from the consciousness of “fabrication” and opens his mind more and more to the appearance of spontaneous and ‘lyric’ expression.

 “Hence, I do not look back on my works: do not re-read them. I even become ill at ease when I recall them. “Forward!” “Let’s make another.”

On where “good ideas” come from:

“You are still haunted by some notion that each good idea is a haphazard descent form the skies–yes, it is also that–but in addition to gratitude to the skies one has the legitimate expectation that all the dedicated work of one’s previous years are also there as support and incitement. This is the popular misunderstanding of the word ‘inspiration’: all work is breath from without, but it is also the reward of being ready–for years–for hundreds of previous inbreathings.”

On “failures” on the public front:

“I was contracted to A and C. Bond for a second novel: They almost turned it down because they felt it was written ‘for a small over-cultivated circle of readers,’ i.e., The Bridge of San Luis Rey.

“On tryout the manager cancelled the second week in Boston because the reviews were so bad. Our Town.

“The Lunts ‘liked’ Skin of Our Teeth but would not consider playing it because it was so defeatist. It reached New York and never was there a play ‘where so many people walked out at the end of the first act’

Merchant of Yonkers failed in New York–with not more than 100 words altered in it ran three years as The Matchmaker. Edinburgh–London–New York–to Los Angeles….

“There’s nothing that leads to more wasteful expenditure of the creative energy than to depend on the verdict of others.”

As Gertrude Stein said, …”the business of life is to create a solitude that is not a loneliness.’ 

Don’t you love it—what came to be Thornton Wilder’s biggest successes were panned by both critics and audiences. How right he is—it’s a waste of creative energy to “depend on the verdict of others.” So let’s march to the beat of our own drummers as we all write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

« A room without books is like a body without a soul. » Cicero

« The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbors, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.” Voltaire

Bravo, Cicero! Well said, Voltaire! I’ve taken their words to heart—just about every room in my house is awash in books. My beloved sister Judy once said to me, “Karin, you think you can find everything in a book.” In a way, she was right: When I see the world through others’ eyes and hearts, I learn about my own life and how I want to live it. 

Books not only nourish heart and soul. As Voltaire pointed out, the instruction they give us is “like fire,” which we kindle in ourselves and then pass on. That’s how I think of my set of writing guides perched on a shelf outside my office, which I dip into for inspiration.

And classic stories I’ve turned to for help in crafting my children’s novel have taught me something valuable that I’ve used to enrich my story and make my characters come alive. 

Pride and Prejudice by the peerless Jane Austen gave me a master class in plot development: After analyzing it, I revamped my novel’s structure. Anne of Green Gables helped me discover the qualities that make for an appealing young heroine. Then there’s one of my all-time favorites, The Secret Garden. Reading this 100+ year old classic several times taught me to trust my own intuition in believing that lyrical language can be a powerful world-building tool.

How about you? As you craft your short story, novel, film or play, are there authors who’ve taught you valuable writing lessons? If so, I’d love to hear about books have fired your imagination as we all write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

“Spring is the time for plans and projects.” Leo Tolstoy

“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the spring, who reaps
a harvest in the autumn.” B. C. Forbes

Robins in the grass. Buds on the trees. Crocuses by the walk. Spring is here! I’ve just put away my winter coat and boots. How about you? 

Speaking of springtime and new beginnings, tips on freshening up our writing arrived in my email box a while ago and brought a smile to my face, so I’m passing on a few ideas you might find inspiring:

Inventory your ongoing projects and organize your computer files: I don’t know about you, but I have lots of unfinished projects floating around my computer: My desktop is looking pretty cluttered. Think it’s time to do a little digital dust-off and see what’s what. It might not be a bad idea to also organize my computer files for easier access. 

Plant some submission seeds: After reviewing your pending projects, you may find a couple that you can move from “stalled” to “submitted” with a bit of fine-tuning. There’s nothing like having a few stories or poems out and about to make you feel like you’re making progress.

Break free of your comfort zone: Spring is all about energy, growth, shaking things up. Learning something new by taking a class can give you a fresh outlook. Whether it focuses on writing, exercising, or pottery making, it can be energizing, physically and mentally. Who knows where it might take you?

“Freshen up the season with new ideas. Sure, you spend time on your works in progress. But what about generating new projects? Why not spend some creative time on new stories, poems, and books? Who knows what seed you can sow that may bear rich fruit!

Let’s bloom where we are planted — and write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

“Will to win and keep on willing, and you will possess a power that is as real as a cannonball. You can’t see it. You can’t lay your hands on it. You can barely describe it. But it will make you irresistible.” Dale Carnegie

“Will and act until victory.” Paramahansa Yogananda

Our boy Dale knew a lot about the power of will power. For years, he bounced around like a loose cannonball: At different stages in his life, he was an actor, a salesman, an event manager, a huckster, a novelist. Sometimes he succeeded, sometimes he failed. But whatever the immediate outcome, he always learned something and applied it. 

Eventually, he found his calling as a motivational public speaking instructor — and, after 20-odd years of honing his skills, he poured out everything he’d learned from his checkered career. The result: How to Win Friends and Influence People, an instant bestseller which ranks among the world’s top self-help guides and still sells briskly. 

We can learn a lot from Dale about grit and staying power — qualities we all need to survive and succeed as writers:

He was never afraid to fail: Dale always started out with grand plans and schemes: His hope for success was high. When things fell apart, it was shocking, but never a fatal blow, because Dale always managed to extract useful knowledge and apply it the next time around. He had more than one losing streak, but his will to win never flagged.

He relied on mentors: At every stage of his life, Dale encountered people whose experience he valued; if their advice seemed sound, he took it. A student in one of his public speaking classes worked for Simon & Schuster and persuaded Dale to turn his series of talks into a book: That’s how the idea for the classic Winning Friends was born. 

He was always writing: Early in his checkered career, one constant emerged: Dale loved to write. He was constantly learning and taking notes from books he valued. At one point, he wrote six hours a day. Everything he learned from honing his craft helped him when he sat down to shape the book that would make him famous. Dale’s first royalty check was a staggering $90,000!

Let’s be irresistible! Let’s fail forward, find mentors, keep writing: We can do this! Let’s be creative cannonballs and write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

“I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.” Oscar Wilde

Is it kosher to begin a sentence with a conjunction? There was a time when the answer was absolutely not! A sentence starting with a conjunction was viewed as incomplete — as a fragment. 

However, even once-sacred grammatical rules change. Most modern fiction writers now agree that using a conjunction to open a sentence is perfectly acceptable. In fact, many accomplished writers violated this long-standing “rule” even in its heyday.

Back to coordinating conjunctions. Among the most common are “for,” “and,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” “so,” and “nor.” Writers typically use these little critters to increase the dramatic impact of a sentence or to emphasize a thought:

I really wanted to see Sarah. But who would stay with Susie?

Do you use a comma after a coordinating conjunction used to open a sentence? Generally speaking, the answer is no — not unless an interrupter phrase (Ex.: And, in fact,) immediately follows it. One exception: the word “So,” is followed by a comma when it opens a sentence because it’s often used to sum up a previous thought:

So, despite all her excuses, she completed the job.

The bottom line: Based on current convention, as a creative writer, you are free to begin a sentence with “and,” “but,” or “yet.” As with all literary constructions, however, it’s probably wisest to use this approach gingerly — otherwise, it will lose its impact. 

And one last note: In certain instances: a formal communication, business writing, or an academic paper, it’s best to adhere to the classic Elements of Style advice of Strunk and White and avoid starting sentences with conjunctions or using sentence fragments. 

So, armed with these helpful tips, write on!

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More

In honor of National Poetry Month, one of my favorite poems, which always makes me think of spring:

Daffodils

by William Wordsworth

I wander’d lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once, I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch’d in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves besides them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed — and gazed — but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For, oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Share this:

•  Print
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn
•  X
•  Reddit
• More