Toni Morrison's Motivation

I love hearing her talk.  It doesn't matter what she is saying it sounds super smart.  

Margaret Atwood Creative Process

The opening story cracks me up...if you have to sit and wonder all the time what to write about maybe you need to find another passion.  I have had several people who hear I am a writer and feel the need to tell me they are too but they haven't actually written a thing.  Gotta love those people...wish all the competition was like that.

Always carry something to write on. I do carry notebooks and I have been known to text a note in my phone for story ideas or a character sketch. When I am forced to abandon my preferred hermit lifestyle and engage in social activity I always feel more comfortable sitting in a corner and watching the action around me with a pen in hand making up the story that is unfolding in front of me.  

Elmore Leonard- writing wisdom

Elmore Leonard wakes up and won't let himself get a cup of coffee until he has found his flow for the day.  Rules that he lives by...write.

He says he knows that readers skip through novels but they won't skip through dialogue. This interested me. Dialogue is one of my favorite ways to reveal characters, background and scene. So much can be said by what is not said.

He stated that in the first 100 pages it is all about the characters.  They are auditioning to be the book.  I truly love this idea.  I struggled with my main character in my first novel. I think we were in a power struggle he didn't want to do what I wanted him too.  It is like he says in the video...his character didn't have the right name and so he didn't speak but as soon as he found the right name Leonard couldn't shut him up.

I enjoyed this interview, Leonard reminds me of my Grandfather.  Says just enough and in such a way that it sticks with you. 

Drew Keller- Keys of storytelling

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I think if I did all of the steps that Keller suggest that I would never get started.  I would be instantly overwhelmed and upset. But if a list of lengthy steps gets your creative juices flowing...this one is for you.

James Scott Bell- Get Some Skin in it

This convicted me like a good Sunday service.  The first novel I wrote had nothing of me in it.  It was observation, mechanics, and going through the process. It was not until I started again that I felt I had something in the game. This work in progress I am in, is me.  It is a reflection of parts of my experience.  It is my  art.

Preach it Brother Bell!!!

Inspiration Monday

Spent my day off deep inside my work in progress. It was glorious.  I feel like I have to budget my words here.  I have used them all up and don't have many left.

I need to go back and write. 

Harper Lee

Photo Source

Harper Lee wrote a single book, "To Kill a Mocking Bird." Sometimes one is more than enough.  Could this be proof that there is at least one novel in all of us?

Harper Lee grew up a rough and tumble girl, much like her character Scout.  She witnessed her father go through a similar case as the one portrayed in her novel. Unlike her father character in the book, her dad fell apart after the case.  He stopped being a lawyer and would rarely leave the house.