Suite T "Nostalgic Theme": Writing Inspiration by Jennifer Wilck

 

NOSTALGIC MOMENT

Monday, December 15, 2014

What’s My Writing Inspiration?



By Jennifer Wilck


One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by people when they hear I write romance is, “Where do you get your ideas?”


The question is surprisingly difficult for me to answer, or at least it used to be, because it makes it sound as if I’m sitting down and consciously making an effort to come up with a plot and characters and a conflict. Perhaps some writers do that, but for me, the process is more organic.


My best ideas for a story come to me when I’m most relaxed—right before I fall asleep, while I’m driving (and trying to shut out my kids’ music) or when I’m walking the dog. They are all times when I’m not thinking about what I should write. Although I think he’s gotten used to it, my husband doesn’t really understand why I bolt out of bed and race to my computer in the middle of the night, rather than waiting until a decent hour in the morning, and my neighbors know me as the crazy lady who talks to herself while walking the dog.


But that’s how my brain works best, and I’ve gotten used to keeping a pad beside my bed (if I can’t race to my computer) and downloading a robust dictation device onto my phone (so at least I can pretend I’m talking to someone). The ideas are ephemeral, so I have to jot them down when I get them.


Sometimes the inspiration pops into my head as a conversation between two heretofore-unknown characters (and when they use accents, it’s amusing). Other times I’ll see something and ask myself, “What if...” I could see a character on TV and wonder what would happen if I put him or her into that situation X. Occasionally, I’ll pass a store or a billboard that intrigues me and provides a setting that I want to flesh out. And once, I was inspired by touring an old Victorian mansion and imagining who would live there now and why (I’m still working on that story, actually).


Once I jot down my idea or scene, I flesh out the characters, figure out their motivation and conflict and try to get them to their happily ever after. There’s always a lot of emotion in my books and I favor strong, sassy heroines and strong but vulnerable heroes.


As you can probably guess by now, I don’t outline ahead of time, but I do create one afterwards. As I start round one of edits, I write down what happens in each scene and chapter, where certain descriptions are (that helps me make sure that blue eyes don’t change to green midway through the story) and the progression of the love scenes.


There’s a fine balance between the discipline of writing and the creativity of my muse. The key to completing my manuscript is maintaining that balance. Tell me, where do you get your ideas and how do you turn them into a book?

UPDATE:  2021

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong, and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

She is an award-winning author of contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Wild Rose Press.

She can be reached at:

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

Writing Inspiration

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

It’s official. Summer is here, so let the writing inspiration begin. I’m always energized by warm summer days. Ideas abound for writing projects. How about you?

Best-selling author, James Patterson says in a 2017 interview, I’m “inspired when they (stories) occur to me and I go, wow, now that’s a neat idea for a story. I don’t know how to describe the process, but I have to see the whole story in my head. Crime details and the rest fall into place later, after I’ve figured out the main twists and turns.”

I’m intrigued by Patterson’s latest endeavor, a collaboration with former President Bill Clinton. It is sure to be THE beach read of the summer. 

How did this unusual pairing of authors occur? A New York Times article advises, “The project came about late last year when Robert B. Barnett, a lawyer at Williams & Connolly who represents both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Patterson, had the idea of pairing them up on a novel, according to someone familiar with the project who did not want to speak publicly because the publishers were holding back details about the publication. Mr. Barnett, who also represents the Obamas, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Laura Bush and other politicians, first approached Mr. Clinton to see if he was interested in collaborating on a novel with Mr. Patterson. President Clinton, a longtime reader of Mr. Patterson’s breathless thrillers, was game, so Mr. Barnett took the idea to Mr. Patterson. Mr. Patterson wrote an extensive outline. So far, they’ve written a few chapters into the novel, which will be edited by Sonny Mehta, chairman of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Michael Pietsch, chief executive of Hachette Book Group.”

How did they do the writing? In a recent Time article, “The authors, both of whom favor writing in longhand, spent a year passing handwritten drafts back and forth. The publishers have ordered a first print run of 1 million copies—more than double the already considerable amount for a typical Patterson release.” 

The new political thriller, The President is Missing, releases this week the authors are both on book tour together this month. I’m sure the conversations at these various events will provide for a lively exchange. 

Watching these two authors may provide me and others with possible inspiration for a good thriller story. You can find inspiration anywhere. Enjoy the unexpected inspiration you may find in Summer of 2018. Where have you found inspiration?

Writing Inspiration

By Lynn U. Watson

Where does one find inspiration to bring exhausted material to life in a brand new way? Joy sprouted in my heart when God asked me to write a devotional based on essential oils in Scripture. The journey began in Solomon's Locked Garden (Song of Solomon), where Solomon describes his bride as nine spices and essential oils. Lost for months in that garden, breathing in its aromas, and gathering impressive amounts of research prepared me to write a tedious account of an otherwise fragrant and flavorful topic – an account I was sure would be the perfect antidote for insomnia. I expressed numerous concerns to God, especially when He insisted I showcase their kinship to the nine fruits of the Spirit and the Proverbs 31 Woman.

“Proverbs 31 and the fruit of the Spirit! But Lord. . ..  You do have a plan connecting these two overcooked topics with this garden, and You will help me turn into something special, right?”

Unashamed to admit my discouragement, this daunting task required serious creativity. God delivered in ways far beyond my wildest expectations.  The Essence of Courage: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Solomon's Locked Garden and inYour Heart, sprang to life with fresh, unique, eye-opening insights.

·       From her Coffee Cottage fictional character, Cinnamah-Brosia (and friends) pour out wisdom from lessons learned of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

·       Scriptural glimpses into each spice and essential oil bloom with insight.

·       Up close visits with real women of the Bible provide snapshots of how they displayed fruit of the Spirit in amazing ways in their lives.

·       Fun facts and activities bring each essential oil and spice right to the reader's table.

In the book the reader enters effortlessly into casual conversation at the Coffee Cottage, relates to timeless struggles women face, and gains dear friends. Contemporary women and women of the Bible together challenge the reader to discover faith and fragrance-inspired courage for their lives, regardless of era or circumstance. Far from boring, the snooze button no longer holds a spot on the menu.

Writers, where do you find inspiration to overcome the mundane, and create fresh perspectives and inspiration for your readers?

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Lynn U. Watson was pulled reluctantly into women’s ministry nearly four decades ago, Lynn Watson now treasures the opportunities that were provided to lead, encourage and mentor women through relationships and Bible studies. She wrote a few of the studies, too. Drawing from those experiences, along with years serving others professionally in the complementary healthcare field and her love for essential oils, Lynn delights in bringing her readers freshly inspired insights drawn from and focused on the many fruits, plants, oils, and spices mentioned in God’s Word. Married since 1973, Lynn and Steve call Bartlett, Tennessee home. Their home is filled with handmade treasures and lots of love for family, especially their five beautiful (of course) grandchildren.

Readers are Rubberneckers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

While driving along highways, I take particular interest in the overhead LED signs with their traffic safety messages. When they're imaginative they can conjure a smile, plus their pointillistic letters remind me of the Lite Brite I used to play with as a kid.

Some messages are strictly business, warning of a lane closing or a road crew ahead. But sometimes they make an effort to be memorable.  Here are a few slogans you may have seen:

ALERT TODAY - ALIVE TOMORROW

FAST DRIVE COULD BE LAST DRIVE

BOOZE IT AND LOSE IT

DRIVING FASTER CAN CAUSE DISASTER

BETTER TO BE MISTER LATE THAN LATE MISTER

I try to picture the person who's writing these.  If they work for the Department of Transportation, it's probably their most creative moment of the day.

Here's a message that I actually saw yesterday while driving along I-40 in Memphis:

AVOID A WRECK - DON'T RUBBERNECK

I kept an eye out for the accident it might be referring to, but saw none and wrote it off as a generic admonishment.  Ironically, driving past that same stretch of highway three hours later, there was indeed an accident in that very spot.  Apparently, Confucious was doing the signs yesterday.  Then again, on I-40 it was bound to come true sooner or later.

But it got me thinking about the sign again and the fact that people do have a tendency to rubberneck. As drivers inched their way past the tow trucks, they seemed to pay less attention to the policemen directing traffic than they did the state of the cars involved and whether any victims could be seen. (Don't worry, it wasn't that bad of an accident.)

People inherently want to know who, what, when, where, how, and why, even when it's really none of our business.  We turn on the news at night to see what happened to people we don't know in places we've never been to.

Don Henley's 80s hit "Dirty Laundry" included a line that has always stuck with me: "It's interesting when people die." Dark as that sentiment seems, it's very true, and maybe it has something to do with our own underlying sense of mortality, visiting it second-hand and coming out alive. That would be a question for our psychologist author friends, and you know who you are.

All of this is terrific news for writers. Since people are curious by nature, they are always in search of a good story, making them willing to invest the time it takes to read about the imaginary characters you've cooked up for them. As we write, it's a good practice to think about these rubbernecking readers and what kind of details they are hoping to get out of the experience.

Meanwhile, drive safely, and let's flash our lights in honor of the writer who came up with this one:

DONATE BLOOD, BUT NOT ON ROADS

Writing Inspiration

By Carolina Carter

Late in the sweltering August of 1998, I found myself in my kitchen, cutting butter into flour for a piecrust.  When each pass of the oscillating fan, bits of ingredients flew into my ponytail.  On the television perched on top of my fridge, the evening news murmured on.  My thoughts wandered, focused on my task but also drifting this way and that. Recently and suddenly, I had lost my young uncle to lymphoma.  I missed him.  I wondered what it meant that he could disappear so quickly. 

Pieces of the news filtered in and out of my consciousness like the flying bits of flour and butter.  When a news hour essayist began to read his piece, my imagination entangled with his ideas.  His essay covered people who have departed, and he made the point that “we don’t like to think of them as dead.  We like to think of them in some paradise, leading a new life.  Somewhere, Judge Crater sits in a nightclub sipping champagne from a floozy’s slipper. Somewhere, Amelia Earhart tends her garden and watches jet planes overhead.”

I stopped.  At the desk in the kitchen, on the notepad next to the telephone, and I wrote down what he said.  That slip of paper, nearly two decades later, still has the stain of butter and some permanently affixed flour.  I couldn’t understand then that I had begun Under the Legend.  While it would not arrive until 2016, it would be about his imagined paradise on earth.

You have scrawled notes like this in your house I know it.  Even if you are already an established writer, you have scraps of ideas that don’t appear to hold the weight of an entire novel.  But you also have, I am certain, a powerful imagination.  That tendril of an idea can become an intractable weed, impossible to eradicate from the garden of your thoughts by no other means than writing that novel.  An idea has chosen you.  Don’t let it down.

Every writer has a recipe, and here is mine: read your idea, and then ask yourself “but what if...”  Repeat.  At some point early on, a character will begin speaking to you.  Listen to her.  The voice will not be your own, and that is frightening.  Keep listening.  You may not be able to do this immediately, as I was not.  Many years might pass before you can translate the story you’ve been given.  Consider this proofing time, and not procrastination. 

The novel I am writing now started as a dream.  When I woke from it at 3:00am, I wrote down the idea, and the title, Watching the Caitlin Channel.  At first light, however, both my handwriting and the premise appeared too small.  But as the morning unfolded, I managed to remind myself that it was not up to me to choose an idea; an idea had now chosen me.  The missing ingredient to this novel was not a new premise, but an old and beloved standby: faith. 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

Carolina Carter is the only child of an independent bookstore owner. She spent much of her childhood in the backseat of her mother's yellow Volkswagen bug, traveling the United States on book-buying adventures. Now a professional writer in New York City, Carolina balances her urban life with frequent escapes to the beach towns on route 30A along Florida's panhandle. She still enjoys a long road trip, a dusty bookshop, and the adventure of the perfect read.

Writing Inspiration

By Niles Reddick

Inspiration can come to writers in many forms that have included current events, family, memories, friends, and even music, but reading other writers can also trigger stories you need to write. All of these influenced my new novel Drifting too far from the Shore and in very different ways. The title was influenced by the gospel song that I heard sung by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner on YouTube, my main character’s name came from two of my great grandmothers, tragic real-life events were included in the narrative, and memories of the Southern place where I grew up are woven into the narrative like a patch-work quilt.

Writing is best done when motivated and creative juices are flowing, or one might find himself staring at the computer screen. I write early in the morning after a couple of cups of coffee before anyone is awake and even on weekends. I love what I do, so it’s not really work. It’s more of a calling, but I don’t write every day. Some days, I read or watch television and those activities, too, can generate ideas.

Young people always want to know if writing pays well, and I tell them, “absolutely,” just not monetarily unless one hits it big like Stephen King or John Grisham. I never took up writing for money because I simply had to write. A writer friend of mine used to say, “Don’t give up the day job.” Truthfully, I probably couldn’t pay one house payment with what I’ve made from writing.

In the beginning, I got mad when I got rejections, and there have been hundreds of them. Even after three books, rejections still come when I submit stories. It’s not personal. It’s just that sometimes stories don’t fit a particular journal or magazine and often writers may not know that in advance of submitting. Keeping a positive attitude, and saving those rejections, can be motivational. I wrote two novels that were never published and hundreds of poems that were lost. From the novels, I got one story! But I never gave up.

Editing and rewriting are an important process of writing. I read everything I write out loud to my wife. She doesn’t always want to hear it and she sometimes doesn’t like it, but she reads a lot and I think she knows what is good and isn’t. Reading out loud to her allows me to “hear” mistakes, areas that need to be rewritten or things that don’t sound natural. I might not get that if I just read it silently to myself. I edit multiple times before I finally send a submission off, and even then, it’s not perfect. I don’t believe in perfection, just movement in that general direction. I do get discouraged, though, when I see excellent writing passed by in favor of some pretty shallow reality TV shows.

_______________________________________________________________________

Niles Reddick’s newest novel Drifting too far from the Shore has been nominated for a Pulitzer. Previously, his collection Road Kill Art and Other Oddities was a national finalist for an Eppie award and his first novella Lead Me Home was a national finalist for a ForeWord award. His work has appeared in anthologies Southern Voices in Every Direction, Unusual Circumstances, Getting Old, and Happy Holidays and has been featured in many journals including The Arkansas Review: a Journal of Delta Studies, Southern Reader, Like the Dew, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, The Pomanok Review, Corner Club Press, Slice of Life,  Faircloth Review, and many others. He works for the University of Memphis at Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee. His website is www.nilesreddick.com and on
https://www.facebook.com/niles.reddick.9

Not Afraid of the Dark

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


If I was to bring up the name of writer J.D. Salinger, most people would think of one of two things:

1. Catcher in the Rye, his first and most well-known novel.

2. John Lennon, whose assassin was reading Catcher in the Rye prior to the shooting.

But if you're a writer, there's a third thing Jerome David deserves to be equally famous for. He gave us one of the great quotes about writing:

"Novels grow in the dark."

Meaning that our mind continues to process for us even after we turn out the lights, figuratively as well as symbolically.  Hemingway was a proponent of shutting off his creative mind when he was done writing for the day, knowing that the empty space will renew itself for the next morning.

On a related note, another great truth comes from Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?"

“Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it.”

Fortunately, our subconscious is equally willing to cooperate with us. When we invite our mind to open up to an idea, it accepts the invitation and starts working on its behalf.  How often have you wracked your brain to remember something, only to let it go, and within a few minutes the answer magically appears?
 

I've lost count of the times a brainstorm has come to me when writing was the last thing on my mind.  An almost hypnotic activity like cutting the grass or drifting off to sleep can trigger a revelation about an existing project or an all-new one. Even when we're dreaming, our brain is literally putting ideas in our head.  We may succumb to slumber, but our synapses never nap.

As a bonus, our conscious mind tends to be a critic, while our subconscious is not.  Letting go and letting the muse take over is where the magic often happens.  I know I do my best thinking when I'm not there.

Like J.D. suggests, we needn't be afraid of the dark. Sometimes that's the best place to detect a glimmer.

Instant Inspiration

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

Much like our own bookshelves, I've always considered the magazines in a doctor's waiting room to be a reflection of the person running the joint. I appreciate a physician who caters to multiple ages and interests by supplying a broad selection of periodicals.  While waiting for a dental checkup this week, I had just such an opportunity to choose from a fair variety.

Being both a movie and news junkie, I'll often reach first for an Entertainment Weekly or a Newsweek if they have it.  But today I decided to broaden my horizons and look at magazines I would never normally read, purely in the interests of inspiration and enlightenment.  And perhaps fodder for a blog post.

The first magazine, which dealt with outdoor adventure, was a radical enough choice to start with, since my loyalties firmly lie with the great indoors. Pledging to read whatever article I randomly opened to, I found myself learning about the Beer Mile, a fad from Australia which encourages runners to attempt a five-minute mile around a four lap track, downing a brewski upon each lap. Few apparently succeed upon consuming all that ale, and I must admit that I bailed on the article when I saw that it consumed eight pages of the magazine.  But it left me interested in the fact that the organizers of these events almost have to do so under the radar because they are fraught with the potential for negative publicity.

Another magazine—and one I really had to bite the bullet to pick up—was a golfing magazine.  The first page I came to was a Q&A with an expert on country clubs across America.  A reader asked what course he might recommend for a vacation spot based on his preferences for a warm climate, nearness to a historical site, and whatever.  Before I put the mag back, I considered the value of planning a trip based on very specific criteria, such as researching a city one might want to set their next novel in.

My third magazine was devoted to living in trailers (which made me wonder a little about my dentist).  The page I opened to happened to be an ad for a race track where their spring weekend event will include entertainment provided by Beatles tribute band Ticket to Ride.  The next night will feature a Neil Diamond tribute band.  I had no idea there was such a thing as a full-fledged Neil Diamond tribute band, and it made me wonder what other tribute bands might exist that I don't know about.

Soon after that I was summoned for my appointment, but not before I took stock of the new insights I had gleaned from this free source of inspiration.  In that short amount of time I was given the nucleus of a story idea that might involve a fan who is so infatuated with their favorite singer that they move to his city and organize a questionable event that they know the singer will want to be a part of, and mayhem ensues.  In fact, if you'd like to write it, go for it because I'll be busy working on my tribute band.  I do a mean Gilbert O'Sullivan.

Which is all one way of saying that I recommend branching out and reading something from the road less traveled.  You might indulge in similar pages of offbeat randomness while standing in a checkout line, but the opportunity to take your time and expand your mind in the relative comfort of a waiting room could be just what the doctor ordered.

Songs in the Key of Life

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


"Where do you get your ideas?" is one of the most-asked questions of any writer, and almost always the answer involves simply observing real life.  Our daily experiences are a constant source of inspiration for any practitioner of the pen, and some of the most famous examples have endured the test of musical time.

Is Paul thinking, "Hold your head up, you silly girl"?

Throughout the songwriting of the Beatles, real life runs rampant.  "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" gets its name from a classmate of John Lennon's son Julian, who drew a picture showing her with diamond-shaped eyes. John's deceased mother Julia was the inspiration for a number of his songs, as was Paul McCartney's mother ("Let It Be") and his sheepdog ("Martha My Dear").  "Lovely Rita", about a meter maid, was sarcasm in song after Paul was issued a ticket by a female parking attendant. "Michelle" started out with similar farcical intentions, ridiculing a French art student Paul had seen singing at a Liverpool party.  "Hey Jude" was originally titled "Hey Jules", intended to encourage John's son Julian during his parents' breakup.  I could go on and on, and I think I just did.

Rumors have survived the decades regarding Carly Simon's biggest hit, "You're So Vain", mainly because Carly still playfully refuses to identify the victim of her vitriolic vocals, said at the time to be anyone from Warren Beatty to David Bowie.  She has at least confirmed that it was not Mick Jagger, who sings backup on the song, nor her soon-to-be husband at the time, James Taylor.

Speaking of Sweet Baby James, Taylor's first hit "Fire and Rain" was written after the suicide of a childhood friend named Suzanne ("Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you").  It also includes allusions to his early failed band The Flying Machine ("Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground").

I'd be remiss not to mention Stevie Wonder (since I stole one of his album titles for this post). Among his 500+ compositions are the hits "Isn't She Lovely" (written after the birth of his daughter Aisha), "Sir Duke" (a tribute to Duke Ellington and other artists of the big band era) and "My Cherie Amour" (dedicated to a girlfriend whose name was actually Marsha).

For anyone who remembers Gilbert O'Sullivan's breakout hit "Alone Again, Naturally", it's only natural to feel a little sorry for this young lad for whom "reality came around" and cut him into little pieces after being stood up for his own wedding.  The song continues to lament how he "cried and cried all day" when his mother passed away.  But don't feel too bad for him; every bit of it was fictional and Mrs O'Sullivan was just fine.  He later, however, wrote a hit song about his real-life niece, "Clair", which became one of the most popular baby names in the months that followed.

More recently, Heaven help anyone who gets on Taylor Swift's bad side.  John Meyer, Taylor Lautner and Kanye West are purportedly among the targets of her poisoned pen.  Swift neither confirms nor denies any speculation, because a lady never tells.  She just writes songs about it.  You kids.

It's only human nature to want to hear the stories of others.  It's our calling as writers to share those stories with the world. The joys and sorrows we live through aren't just personal experiences, they're endless ingredients for whatever literary cake we choose to bake.

10 Things Writers Can Learn from The Beatles

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


With the 50th anniversary of The Beatles being celebrated this week, it seemed like a good time to review some of the things the Fab Four taught us about creativity, collaboration, and just plain cool stuff. Here, then, are selected lessons from Liverpool which writers can benefit from eight days a week.

1. They studied their writing heroes.
In their first few albums The Beatles included 23 cover songs by songwriters and artists they admired, from Chuck Berry to Buddy Holly and even Buck Owens. By following the examples of the masters in their field, they learned the ropes and climbed them to a whole new level.

2. They built a platform.
Before they ever showed up on vinyl, they took the long and winding road to stages from Liverpool to Hamburg, making a name for themselves and creating a demand for their product in advance of the product.  Youngsters bombarded record stores trying to buy something that didn't even exist yet.  If The Beatles were starting out today, you can be sure they'd be all over social media and YouTube.

3. They drew inspiration anywhere it could be found.
(No, I don't mean marijuana.)  You may have heard the story of how "Yesterday" came to Paul in a dream, and how a drawing by John's son inspired "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", but that's just the tip of the idea iceberg.  Circus posters, ambulance sirens and wives who wouldn't return phone calls led to some of the most memorable songs in the Beatles catalog.

4. They weren't afraid to experiment.
(I'm still not talking about marijuana.) Their quest for creativity knew no bounds. They were always pressing producer George Martin to come up with new recording effects and unique instruments to try. Even the sound of Ringo's drum kit was revolutionary because for the first time, microphones were placed close to the drums instead of at a distance. Pop music has been miking drums that way ever since.  From string quartets to sitars, from backwards effects to tape loops, The Beatles introduced things teenagers (and most adults) had never heard before. What new tools might you use today?

5. They were tweakers.
To hear their meticulously crafted songs it's hard to imagine the rough first drafts they started out as. But outtakes don't lie, and it's a fascination to hear the sometimes awkward and even sloppy early versions of some of their greatest hits, which sometimes took two dozen or more takes before they were satisfied. Lyrics were especially prone to revision. Lennon's beloved "In My Life" (left) was originally an ode to Liverpool landmarks until he rewrote it as a love song.

6. The Quiet Beatle didn't stay quiet.
With frontmen Paul and John writing hit after hit, one might think George Harrison wouldn't even try to compete as a songwriter and invite unfair comparison in this most visible of venues. But he let his own talent speak for itself and wrote roughly 1/10th of the Beatles 200+ album songs. His own "Something" remains the second most-covered composition in their catalog behind "Yesterday".

6. They were smart collaborators.
Relying on their individual strengths, the songwriting team of Lennon & McCartney was often really just one or the other, with a healthy dose of influence from the silent partner.  Legend has it that Paul kept John from getting too hard, and John kept Paul from getting too soft. Other times they would both come in with unfinished songs, and then put them together to create a complete composition. They were also not opposed to enlisting a little help from their friends, like Eric Clapton, who plays one of the most famous guitar solos on the White Album.

7. They knew when to change course.
That is, they recognized when spending too much time touring was cutting into the creative process. When they performed their last concert in 1966, it was specifically to spend more time writing and recording. Several years later, they saw that artistic differences were getting in the way and broke up.  They could have hung up their hats while they were on top, but instead embarked on successful solo careers.  Worth pointing out also is that John later took five years off when he decided it was more important to just be with his family.

8. They had great covers.
The Beatles invited you to judge a record by its cover, via some of the most imitated album art in history.  How many people have had their picture taken walking across Abbey Road?  And the cover of "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" attracted more analytic attention than virtually any album before or since. Of course, they didn't create these covers themselves.  They had the pros do it.



9. They paid it forward.
After achieving success of their own, they found and fostered others with budding talent, most notably Mary Hopkin ("Those Were the Days'), Badfinger ("Come and Get It"), Billy Preston ("Will It Go 'Round in Circles") and James Taylor (too many to count).  All of them started out on the Beatles' Apple label.

10. All you need is love.
Writers who don't write typically blame it on not having enough talent or time, or because they think they won't succeed.  Writers who do write do it because they love writing so much that they have no choice. Those are the folks who go from being a nowhere man to a paperback writer. For them, happiness is a warm pen.

So get back to where you once belonged (at your computer, writing). A good time to start might just be Wednesday morning at five o'clock, as the day begins...

 

Carved in Stone

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


While visiting favorite relatives in North Carolina this weekend, I joined them for an excursion to historic downtown Hendersonville, where their fine arts festival, Art on Main, was in full swing. We strolled the streets, encountering metal workers, portrait painters, authors, blacksmiths, and apple-flavored ice cream, though my favorite discovery was an enormous general store called Mast, a multi-story warehouse of curiosities which was like a Farmer's Almanac come to life.  Their candy department alone was a treasure trove of forgotten and obscure confections.

Taking a break from all our walking, we soon camped out on park benches next to a city building.  As I toothfully worked on my first-ever Big Hunk (a taffy-like creation of honey-flavored nougat) I couldn't help but notice a concrete memorial right in front of me, honoring Vietnam veterans. It caught my eye because of its unique shape (that of the Vietnam coast itself) and also because at the very bottom was carved "Designed by Jerry Gordon, 1947-1995".

I thought it was ironic that someone who took the time to design this tribute has himself been immortalized, to the point where his name will also be seen in this spot for generations to come.

It brought to mind that you and I will someday leave behind a legacy of our own. The question is, what will that legacy be? As writers, we may hope it will be in the form of a bestseller that's still available fifty years from now.

(clockwise from top: Poe, Hemingway, Twain and Seuss respected in their respective stomping grounds)

The great authors who came before us are not only remembered via the printed page, but were found worthy of their own memorials. The homes of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost are popular Gracelands in their own right. Walt Whitman and Kurt Vonnegut have libraries named after them. A wax figure of Mark Twain can be posed with in more than one American city, as well as in Canada.

These beloved writers became beloved by leaving a legacy of literature that captured the times as well as  the hearts of their readers. The book you're working on right now may well become the masterpiece that defines 2013 to a generation to come.  A lofty suggestion, perhaps, but it's unlikely that Nathaniel Hawthorne ever imagined that his likeness would grace the place he used to embrace.

 

Our literary efforts may or may not earn us a concrete memorial or a statue in our local park, but it's something to strive for.  Next time you're thinking that writing is a monumental task, celebrate the fact that it actually could be.

Personally, I'd be happy if they'd just name a candy bar after me.  I like to think they already have.

Lighting is Everything

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


"A change is as good as a rest," my grandmother used to say.  I thought she came up with that one herself until I grew up and heard that other people's grandparents said the same thing.  It took me almost that long to appreciate the truth of that proverb.

A musician friend of mine jokes that when he starts to feel songwriter's block, it's time to buy a new instrument. (This fellow, for the record, has more guitars than songs he's actually written.) There is, however, validity to that concept.  If you're a songwriter who plays keyboard, just noodling around on a new synthesizer and having a different variety of sounds at your fingertips will get fresh ideas rolling around.  It inspires chords and progressions you simply never thought to try before.

The same image in black & white and in color

Professional photographers know that the difference between a good photo and a great photo is often in the lighting. You can be as keen and adventurous as you like with the angle, aperture settings and all the rest, but in the end, the proper illumination is critical to capture a classic shot. 

As writers, we seek to capture our vision through the lens of our pens.  When we find it hard to see what that vision is, it can help to see it in a different light, by taking in a change of scenery or trying a different approach.  If you write at your desk all the time, you're attached to the same keyboard, desk, walls, pictures on those walls, etc.  Certainly there's a lot to be said for familiarity, and the quiet environment of our office can be far more preferable to a busy coffee shop (unless you're Sandra Balzo and you're crafting Coffeehouse Mysteries).

But sometimes a bustling, noisy environment can be just the ticket to wake up your muse.  Has your mind ever taken a path less traveled while sitting on a mall bench, observing the madding crowd?  When you're away on vacation, aren't you itching to get back to your computer because of all the new ideas you can't wait to write?

If you write nonfiction exclusively, try your hand at a fiction piece; and vice versa.  If you write all your stories starting at the beginning, try writing the ending first and see what new inspiration comes. If you outline your novels, try writing your next one free form. You're guaranteed to see your familiar craft in a new light. 

Creativity finds its nucleus in change. We can emulate something that's gone before, but to make it something our own requires taking it in a different direction. Once in a while that begins with us trying something new ourselves. As the saying goes, "If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done before."

When she told us that a change is as good as a rest, my grandma merely sought to convey that a change of pace can restore peace of mind.  In truth, change can be the spark that ignites the fire that helps us get our writing down.  That's the kind of peace we're always looking for.

Lighting the World

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

It is so amazing; we are all so incredibly powerful. Writers are, you know! With the stroke of their pen, we can write words that will soothe the beast of most and stir the hearts of lambs.

Writers can paint pictures with words that allow the blind to see and turn around, and write scathing words of do’s and don’ts to their congressional representative, newspapers and businesses.

A writer can lift up the most downtrodden lost soul and then create a wonderful world for a child to play and talk with the animals.

Perhaps as writers, we should remind ourselves that we have this tremendous power to make things better, or worse, in our world. The question we need to ask is which will we choose?

May we be writers who choose not to hide their words, but rather let them be a light to the world.

Summertime and the Writing is Easy

by guest author Kala Ambrose

I’d like to think of myself as a “seasoned” writer, as over the years, I’ve learned that my best work comes when I follow the natural rhythm of the four seasons.  I do my best research in the Fall, like the good student going back to school, my best writing in the Winter, going within and being introspective, my best ideas burst forth in the Spring and become my garden to grow and in the Summer, I enjoy the fruit of my efforts and take some time to play in the sun.

As a born and bred Southern writer, I know all about pacing myself in the heat of summer. I rise early and while enjoying the brilliant colors spilling forth from the dawn, I jot down ideas as they flow through my mind. By mid-afternoon, I surrender to the heat and humidity and find somewhere cool to curl up with a good book and read before drifting off to sleep.  Late at night under the stars and the full moon, I’m refreshed and ready to write again. 

Want to explore writing in harmony with seasons?

Here are Five Tips To Writing in the Summer Season:

1.      Turning Lemons into Lemonade

Often I have ideas that don’t make it into book form, but are great fodder for articles and blog posts. When I have a deadline to write for in the summer, I pull these out and the work is mostly done. I tighten them up and away they go.

2.      A Picture Contained to Only 500 words

I find the photos on Pinterest so invigorating. When I’m looking for some inspiration, I often gaze at a photo that inspires me on an emotional level. After a few minutes, I usually have to reign myself in to only writing 500 words for a blog post.

3.      Step Away from the Desk and Take a Vacation

There’s a reason when students return back to school in the fall, that the first essay they are asked to write is “what I did on summer vacation”. Summer is a time for making memories with family and friends.  These adventures generate a wealth of material to use on cold winter nights.

4.      Meditate to Stimulate

Meditation is a wonderful experience for the mind, body and spirit. The most popular guided meditation CD I created is called Spirit of Hawaii, designed to visualize being at the beach when you can’t get there in person.  As the warm breezes surround you, you relax and before you know it, you’re drifting off to a land of intrigue and adventure. 

5.      Engage in Sensory Overload

Summer to me is warm nights in a convertible under the stars, the delight of a cool breeze breaking the heat before a big storm, the ripe delicious pink color and taste of watermelon at a picnic and eating peaches over vanilla ice cream. I can think back to any summer and remember the waves at the beach, the laughter of friends as we sipped Sangria in the afternoon and the scent of honeysuckle on the vine as my grandmother and I sat rocking in chairs on the front porch.  All of these beautiful sights and sensations are lovingly stored in my creative mind, ready to be shared with others when I write.

Summertime, when the writing is easy and the season is filled with love, light and laughter. Enjoy every moment. 

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Noted wisdom teacher, author, intuitive, inspirational speaker, and host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Radio and TV Show (www.ExploreYourSpirit.com), Kala Ambrose's teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Kala is the author of four books including the award-winning 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of theMystery Schools Unveiled, GhosthuntingNorth Carolina, The Awakened Aura:Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body and coming September 2012, Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses,Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead. 

Masterpieces are Padded with Doozies

by guest blogger Anna Lee Everhart

Jerry Maguire did handstand push-ups; I prefer listening to the quiet. Whatever your technique may be, we all need one for moments of writer’s block. Oh, the delight of sitting in your creative space and fervently writing the words as they flow freely from your intellect to the pen and finally to the paper.

But what about the days when your creative space feels dull and any glimmer of witty dialogue or ironic word choices just effervesce before they become a complete thought. The feared writer’s block sets in and can last for minutes. Days. Oh, please don’t even say it . . . weeks! Annnnnnnd I’m stuck.

Don’t be discouraged in those moments of mental numbness. Hang onto the fact that even the most creative people in history had several doozies between the masterful works for which we praise them (think Picasso), and follow a few of these tips:

Change up your writing space. If you normally type on your computer indoors, try going outside with a notebook or laptop. Or, find inspiration by people watching at a park or coffee shop.

Introduce a schedule. Write at the same time of day, every day, and your brain may follow suit and begin to show up when you do.

Set goals and deadlines. Nothing motivates like a little pressure. Giving yourself deadlines for word counts or chapters you want to accomplish is a great way to keep interested enough in your project.

Listen. When your thoughts become forced, it’s time to clear your mind. Try laying on your couch to rest, enjoy the silence, and soon enough a thought will sparkle to the surface.

See what’s trending on the web. Expand your reader base by looking on social media sites to see what’s trending. Find a topic that speaks to you, and add hash tags to match the trends.

Just write. When it comes down to it, just show up and write. Even if you come up with one stellar sentence in 600 words, well, it’s a win.

It can take some time, editing, and a darn thick skin, but before you know it, your words will come together effortlessly, and the ironies and character development will make that perfect, sexy combination that ends up nabbing you a publisher (hip hip!). Next time another writer’s block is about to ruin your day, remember back to the gleaming moments of creative bliss and know a similar moment is not far away. That block is actually a step. A step up toward the finished piece! Up and over you’ll soon enough go. Just make sure you have your pen and paper at the ready!

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Anna Lee Everhart is the author of the children’s book, Bearful Bear and his New Moves. Visit BQB’s online store to learn more about Anna and to purchase her book in paperback or hardcover. Bearful Bear and his New Moves is also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and through your favorite bookstore.

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