Author: joshpcreative

As You Grow in Writing, Look Back in Gratitude

Remember: As you grow as a writer, you’ll build a writing business. You’ll publish books. You’ll find that you derive greater and greater pleasure from editing, proofing, and finding just the right way to say what you want to say. But do me a favor–don’t forget your roots. Maybe it was a third grade essay you wrote on your favorite food (note: it was pizza). Maybe it was a high school paper on a great book you read. Maybe it was a journal you kept in college.

Who knows?

But passion began somewhere. Your love affair with the written word shined through at some point. Something led you to the path of the pen. Whatever it was, don’t forget it. Don’t minimize it. As you grow creatively, never forget to look back and thank the initial sparks that started the fire. It really can help you find new inspiration.

“Should I Write a Book?” Well, the Answer Is Up to You!

“Should I write a book?”

That’s an excellent question. I’ve heard it before–mostly when people find out that I am writing books. The “Should I write a book?” query usually signals to me that a person has already taken their first steps down book avenue. In other words, if someone has formulated that question, then they already have the desire and have set their feet (or mind) on the path. The question is: do they have the determination and patience to see it through?

I love this era we’re in–the era of self-publishing. According to Bowker, there were over 458,000 self-published books in 2013. That number is growing, I’m sure. I know so many people who have a book inside, waiting to leap out, and now it’s possible for them to bring it all to life. No permission. No gatekeepers. Just a person and his or her story. Of course, this also brings to light this problem: if everybody can do it, then how do we know who’s doing it well?

My answer to that is usually that it’s a matter of taste. The person who published a book on his or her own probably likes what they’ve written. Their mom also probably likes it. But it’s no guaratee others will. The point is, you have decide what your motivation is for self-publishing. If you are doing it simply to get your ideas out in the world or to hold your book in your hands, then you’ll likely be immune to criticism from readers or the market. Just do what you do! However, If you want to make good money, get your book into a lot of hands (as well as onto tablets and into stores), and get your ideas out there, you probably have to take things like cover design, layout, and story edits to the next level.

In the end, it comes down to you and nobody else. “Should I write a book?” isn’t a question we ask a literary agent or publisher. It’s a question we ask ourselves. As you sit down in front of a blank page to write, remember that in this era of self-publishing, we can be our own answer.

If you have already asked and answered, “Should I write a book?” in the affirmative, here are some useful resources. I am not saying you should or shouldn’t follow the advice given in the blog posts that follow here. I’m just putting them out there for your review. Let us know what you think!

Self-Publishing – A 10-Point Must-Do Checklist for Authors – Part 1

Self-Editing Your Book: The Ultimate 21-Part Checklist

How To Start Your Own Publishing Company – 10 Essential Steps

 

Piper Flint Reminds Us One Word Can Change Thoughts and Emotions

[In this series, Creative Blog Profiles, joshpcreative.com takes a peek at what other creative bloggers are producing and profiles them here. They don’t necessarily know it’s happening (although we do the pingback/trackback where we can), so we’re prepared to remove an entry if they get mad. Hopefully they won’t. We just want to find creative stuff to tell you about.]

Rolling through blogs this morning, I parked my eyes at a post about a simple way to help children feel better about themselves. The stop? “Piper Flint – Jolie and Piper’s Writing.” The simple post is only about 70 words, and it has a great idea for a way to inspire kids (and adults!). It’s a colorful block with the words, “I am…” When you are feeling down, you’re supposed to write a word on it that completes the sentence and inspires you and brings a feeling of love. So, if you write “happy,” it would then say, “I am…happy.” Check out the post here.

Aside from the great UX of the post (short, sweet, and self-explanatory), it provides a valuable reminder as we cruise through our creative passions. When we get down on our writing, art, or whatever, and believe that it’s not good enough, the tendency may be to scrap it all and give up. But what if we were able to open a page and write a few words? What if we set up a blank canvas and made just one colorful brush stroke? Would that get the motor running? Would it inspire us to remember why we do what we do? One word. One stroke. One reminder….

You see, Piper Flint’s love block project isn’t just about changing our thoughts from sadness or depression to love. It’s also about changing the emotions with which we surround ourselves. So, if you’re having a thought that you’re not good enough as a(n) [enter creative pursuit here], you are also creating emotions around that thought to color your world. If you can remind yourself that you are [enter positive word here], it might make you think better. If you think better you might feel better. If you feel better you might take positive actions. And from there? Well, anything’s possible.

So, take Piper Flint’s advice. Make an “I am…” block, page, note, or whatever. Put it where you can see it. Better yet, put it near a project you’re struggling to finish. If you think you aren’t good enough, put down a positive word and then get to work on being the best, most creative version of youself you can possibly imagine.

And if nothing else, you have a cool block with some great words on it.

Presidential Election 2016 Means Your Chance to Create

So, I won’t go into the horrible horribleness of the 2016 presidential election cycle (which, incidentially, seems like it’s been going on for four years). There’s enough stuff in the blogosphere about that.

However, I want to make a simple suggestion. After you cast your vote (you are going to vote, right?), then get in front of your computer and tap into your inner creative. Why? Well, with all the emotion and energy swirling around the election, perhaps you find yourself full of opinions. Perhaps you want to vent. Perhaps you just want to escape.

Well, that’s all grist for the writing mill.

I know it’s sometimes hard to sit down and write, and we can’t always pick the exact moment when inspiration will strike, but I really would harness the power of November 8. Even if you just spew out a bunch of your feelings as to how the 2016 presidential election made you feel, well, that’s progress. Trump and Clinton have been so much with us lately, let them inspire your characters. Perhaps Johnson and Stein can join the action as well in the supporting cast? What of all this espionage talk?

See, the best stories are all around us. We don’t have to make them up if we’re immersed in them. When high tension moments like the 2016 presidential election come around, find time in your schedule to write. Because, long after these folks have left office, the characters they inspire can live forever.

Optical Illusion of Old Man and Young Woman Tests Who We Are

An MSN link crossed my desk today. It took me to a Today article by Scott Stump relating to another Internet-breaking optical illusion (from Playbuzz) featuring two pictures that supposedly determine your personality. You can see the story and the illusion here. Click the link and then take a quick look.

So, what did you see first in the optical illusion? The old man? The young woman? A bunch of scribbly lines separated by a question mark? Well, according to the news story, the picture you see determines your personality. Just an FYI, I saw the young woman first. That means I’m positive and optimistic, but sometimes impulsive. Hmmm…. I mean, yeah, I’m a positive and optimistic guy , and I’m sometimes impulsive, but geez–I like to think I have some of those “old man” qualities as well (calm, faithful, good leader, and a bit of the ol’ perfectionist).

Oh, internet. The tangled psychological webs you weave.

Anyway, all of this optical illusion stuff got me thinking about how what we see so often defines us. Not just what we see, but how we see. I’m sure the world is full of calm young women who have great leadership skills. I’ll also bet there are plenty of older men who are positive and optimistic, yet make impulsive decisions–especially when it comes to golfing attire.

See, it’s not so much about what we see when we look out at the world. It’s more about how we interpret what we see. If we are younger, and have disdain for the older generation, we may not want to follow the lead of even the most calm, assured leader. If we’re older and a little jaded, we may not think the younger generation–with their smartphones, tablets, and optical illusion websites–has much to contribute, no matter how positive and optimistic they are.

I know I’ve turned the science of the story on its head, but I guess I’m more in the it-doesn’t-matter-how-I-am-if-I-don’t-appreciate-who-you-are camp.

Anyway, I bring this all up because I believe that in the creative world, we can transcend the borders of how we’re supposed to be, as well as get past our judgments of how we believe others should be. When we make or play music, write or read books, or get in front of the computer to write (or read) a blog post, we should try to get past snap decisions about who we think someone is, and delve a bit deeper into who they are. A poem on a website with no picture or name is what it is, no strings or illusions attached.

You see, creativity is a window into a person’s deepest places–beyond quick pics and scribbles. Whether you believe you are the old man or the young woman in the optical illusion, you can push past that and create worlds of your own. If you’re a calm leader, then tap into your impetuous side and write a quick short story that’s out of your comfort zone. If you’re a positive and optimistic person, then visit your shadow side and play a darker song on that guitar.

Take another look at that optical illusion. I’ll wait.

Did you see both the old man and the young woman? Good. Embrace that view.

(Note: if you want to play on Playbuzz.com, check out the original game here.)

Link: Writer’s Block – What Do the “Experts” Say?

One of our favorite subjects here at Josh P. Creative is writer’s block. Not because we perpetually suffer from it at JPC (we don’t), but because all the writers we know suffer from it at one time or another (they do).

It’s a thing. A phenomenon. A reality of life. If you spend money, you’ll pay taxes. If you spend creative energy, you’ll hit a block. It’s very simple. Anyway, I came across a very interesting article at The Writer on writer’s block, and  wanted to share it with you. Here it is:

http://www.writermag.com/2016/09/13/beating-writers-block/

Check it out–not because you’re blocked, but because you’re creative. It never hurts to read about how others overcome their challenges.

 

I Wonder if Socrates Kept a Journal…

While scouring the web this past weekend for some book research, I came across some of Socrates’s musings, and it got me thinking again about the good life. What is it? Why pursue it? What impedes it? And, I realized something very important: one blog post can’t answer all those questions.

So I won’t try.

However, I thought about my history and my pursuits and realized that I have been asking and answering those very important questions throughout my life, whether or not I knew it. In fact, I was asking (and answering) them even before I knew who Socrates was.

You see, scribbling words has been an outlet for me for years, and when I took some time to reflect on the contents of some of my journals and papers, I realized so many of them are about working out what I value and what I want from life. Even my own “ancient” writings (y’know, from middle school and whatnot) describe the things I liked and disliked. Some entries dealt with people, some with food, and some with plants and animals. I took a look at the things about which I chose to write, and it was powerful insight into the things I value today.

As I take stock of life moving forward–as a person and as a writer–I am astounded at how the events of the past have conspired to drive me towards a clearer vision of my purpose. The things I embraced and the things from which I turned away have all had a profound impact on me and have delivered me to this place, this post, this very moment.

If you want to know where you stand personally, or what you truly value, then investigate. Get a pen and a piece of paper and write about it. Reflect on the things you love and the things you’d prefer to leave behind. Write out your personal history and let it instruct you. Take stock not only of what you write, but also of what is left unwritten.

You see, the answers to life’s toughest questions are already inside of you. All you need to do is ask the questions and let the craft of writing take the lead as you search for answers.

If Socrates were in my office right now, I think he’d agree: when it comes to discovering what we value, the best place to start is with questions. And perhaps the best way to get those answers is with a pen, paper, and a willing heart.