Broken Worlds.

I wrote this on October 6th, after watching some of the news reports that all but proclaimed the sky was falling.

—–

The world broke today.

Little pieces
Falling
Scattered
Falling
Across
Falling
The ground.

I look up, and step over world-shards.

Antarctica crackles under my foot.

Is it whole above, or beneath my feet in pieces?

———

In other news, I met some very remarkable people this weekend at the seminar, chief among them Kelly Simmons, Kathye Fesko Petrie, Nancy Viau, and Judy Schachner. They’re not only delightful women, but also talented authors as well, who offered some solid advice to yours truly.

(they also thought I was well-mannered and adorable.)

Additionally, I met an agent who expressed interest in my freelance evil geniuses idea, and wants me to do a treatment of it.

I hadn’t thought the entire plot through yet, much less decided the importance of it relative to my other efforts, but thinking about it more (as well as bringing it up in conversation) makes me realize that it would be an excellent project to plunge headlong into.

So, I’m going to put the novel to rest, once it’s “done” (I say that loosely, because a written work’s never really done; it’s just at a point where you feel more comfortable letting go of it), and putting my creative efforts towards this.

Should be fun.

-Brian

P.S. No, I can’t draw that well. Unfortunately, tracing and stick figures won’t really do this idea justice, so I need to find a real artist.

Inspiration on Demand

So, before that New Blog Smell wears off, let’s get in post #2, shall we?

This is the one wherein I talk about that most crucial part of the writing process – finding inspiration. If you’re any kind of writer, amateur or professional, and have been writing creatively for a period longer than, say, six months, you should be stifling laughter right now.

(I am, and I’m writing this blog!)

Inspiration is notoriously fickle. Tapping into your muse is difficult, but here’s what works for me:

1) lots and lots of notebooks, easily accessible.
2) always having pens on me.
3) being prepared.

I’ve heard of musicians having guitars everywhere within their apartments or houses, so that they can get ideas out whenever they have them.

I view the writing process in the same way; when you’re searching for inspiration, you can get it anywhere, at any time, and notebooks are infinitely more portable than guitars.

I also try to do a few other things as well :

1) Associate it with something.
2) Slow things down.
3) Be descriptive.

Normally, ideas rush through the head, and in an instant, they’re gone. Try to make them last, or be more tangible.

• If you can Associate an idea with an image, a taste, a sensation, ANYTHING, you’ll be able to recall it easier later on.

Secondly, Slow Things Down. Sometimes ideas come fast, but you always want to get as much out of an idea as possible.

• If you can take the time to think an idea out, it will be better developed in your head.
  You may miss a couple small parts, but if you’ve still got the central idea, they may come back later.

Lastly, Be Descriptive.

• The more effort you put into your ideas – is the character tall? How does he dress?
  How would he sound in real life? – the more you can hold on to, the longer your idea will last.