I Love Cats!

True confession: If you send me a link to a video with cats, or tell me there will be a cat somewhere in the middle of the video if I look closely, or even tell me it just features 1-nanosecond of something that remotely resembles a cat, I will watch it. In fact, I will not only watch it, I will watch it again. And again. And then want to watch the sequel and probably read the book if one exists. 

The other day I got the full package when a good friend sent me a link to the absurdly, impossibly ridiculous faux E-Harmony video of "Debbie who loves cats," that has around 22+ million hits of which I've contributed about 5 or 6. If you've seen it already, I apologize in advance, and if you haven't, well, here it is. (Go on, you know you want to watch it. Again.)

After about the 6th time viewing it, I then realized there were spin-off videos of "Debbie": satires and diatribes, posers and posters and posts and so on. My favorite was the "Songify" version.

And then while I was laughing hysterically, tears at the corners of my eyes, I suddenly took a look at my office and computer table (yes, I know I should have been working on my writing rather than watching viral videos. . .). I was surrounded by cat images, i.e.,

• My hand was resting on a cat mousepad.
• A Mexican cat figurine was on my desk.
• My favorite cat tote bag was on a chair facing me.
• I was wearing cat earrings.
• The binder holding my WIP, a nonfiction manuscript on pet ownership was covered in a cat collage I'd made to inspire my writing.
• A stack of cat stickers was on the shelf of my computer hutch ready to be placed in my journal.
• And for the last few weeks, I've been drawing cats and kittens in my sketchbook.

I was as bad as "Debbie"!

I loved their ears!

I loved their whiskers and noses!

And their little bow ties!

I had a problem!

Or maybe I just love cats?

 

Tip of the Day: What do you love? What's your passion? Basing our writing and creativity on the subjects we love is a surefire way to guarantee a constant source of inspiration.

 

 







Patterns

Happy September! The year is flying by too fast--way too fast, which doesn't mean "give up" because time is running out; it means: Do all those fun things you've been dreaming about!

With that in mind, I couldn't wait to visit The Sketchbook Challenge to see what the latest theme for the month would be, and I was very excited to see it was "Patterns." I've always loved patterns, and am constantly on the lookout for new ones to include in my drawing and collage work. Even better is the way the topic lends itself so nicely to writing and journaling, starting with one of my favorite poems since childhood, "Patterns," by Amy Lowell.

Other than poetry, which is perhaps at the top of literary pattern-making, I also thought of investigating:

• Animal fur, hair, hide, and skin.
• Fabric swatches.
• Architecture: structure, decorative detailing, even the random plaster and stucco work.
• Plant material, e.g., seed pods, bark, leaves, fungi.
• Seashells.
• NASA photos of star formation.
• Antique books with their intricate borders and covers.
• Wallpaper.
• Gift wrap.
• Ceramic dinnerware, good China plates, tea sets.
• Lace, ribbon, and braided sewing trims.
• Jewelry.

I'm sure there are dozens of other sources you can think of too, but this list seemed to be a good place to begin--at least as far as the physical world is concerned. But what about the other side of "patterns," as in "habits," or dare I say it, "ruts"?

I felt I needed to ask myself some questions about my own patterns, especially those connected to my creativity and daily living. Some of the thoughts I jotted down in my journal were:

• What patterns do I fall into too easily?
• How could I create some new patterns for myself?
• What about the patterns I create for my characters--how can I make them more interesting, lively, and surprising?
• When I write, draw, or paint, am I focusing enough on the overall pattern of the actual piece? How can I improve or work on this?
• Is there an artist, writer, or mentor I'd like to pattern my own work/life upon?
• What would happen if I didn't have any patterns to follow?

I haven't written down my answers yet, but I'm looking forward to whatever comes up for me. I have a feeling this is going to be a good September.

Tip of the Day: What are your favorite natural patterns? How can you bring them into your own work? Over the next few weeks, make a daily practice of observing and recording the patterns you see in the world around you.

Stacked Journaling and the Sketchbook Challenge

Over the weekend I discovered two new ways to work in both my journal and my sketchbook: The Sketchbook Challenge, and Stacked Journaling as taught by artist Judi Hurwitt on her blog, Approachable Art.

I found these great sites simply by entering the search terms "how to use a sketchbook." Admittedly that sounds like a really basic search, but I was looking for creative ways to get re-inspired for those times when I sit down to journal and/or sketch and suddenly get a bad case of the blahs.

As soon as I came across The Sketchbook Challenge however, I knew I'd struck gold. Not only was this a place to share and study sketching with an online community of productive artists, the site provides a theme every month for filling up those sketchbooks. No more excuses and I don't know what to draw. . . Right now the August 2012 theme is "Shelter," and so for my first attempt I did a quick sketch with Derwent Inktense pencils of the patio off my new condo's bedroom, a very sheltering place, indeed.

Later that day back on the computer, I discovered the term "stacked journal." As soon as I realized it had nothing to do with turning old journals into furniture or door-stoppers, but instead was a way of writing decoratively into your journal, the idea appealed to me. Basically, the technique is to write a paragraph at one angle, turn your pages to another angle and write over the previous paragraph, and so on until you feel ready to finish. For my first attempt it seemed appropriate to continue using the theme of "shelter," which I added to my drawing of the patio.

Here's a closer look at the journal entry on its own:

The results were extremely pleasing to me, and I know this is something I want to continue using in the future:

• It's a way to turn emotional (and overly-emotional) content into art, with the emphasis on the word "transformation."
• I love line and drawing. Using my handwriting as a line in itself truly expresses my style and direction.
• I can see that it will be an interesting way to match and complement the subject I'm drawing, eventually creating an outline or shape that I can fill in with color or collage.
• It could also be a unique way to deal with "negative space," the area around an object.
• Writing into a gessoed background with a tool such as a paintbrush handle or a twig could create a very special texture for oil pastel, watercolor, and even collage.
• Best of all, it seems an excellent way to write my heart out and then not feel I have to hide or throw away whatever I've put on the page. Instead of wondering "what do I do with this?" it can now be a work of art!
• On top of everything else, it's just so surprisingly enjoyable and attractive at the same time. I'm excited about  the way it combines journaling, art journaling, and my sketchbook all under one umbrella. Very efficient, if you ask me.

Tip of the Day: Okay, start stacking those journal entries! Have fun, let go, and if you need more direction, please go visit Approachable Art. Let me know how it works for you.

Overtaken: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

Before I get started with today's topic of "ideas," here's a good one to mention first: Overtaken is now on Kindle, and for the great price of just $4.99. I'd like to invite all you e-book fans to take advantage of this new opportunity to indulge in the lush, gothic, and romantic world of my heroine, Sara Bergsen. And of course, if you're still like me and not quite ready for virtual reading, you can always order a paperback copy direct from me or any other bookseller.

Which leads me back to ideas in general. While I was submitting my e-files for this new edition of Overtaken, I was reminded of my original inspiration and motivation for writing the story in the first place. So often I am asked (as are most other authors, I'm sure): Where do you get your ideas? On the surface it sometimes seems like a standard question, one that's easy to gloss over. After all, ideas are everywhere, the hard part is winnowing through the crop to finally settle on just one. But when I really thought about it, there were definite instances, experiences, and prompts I could point to throughout my creative life that have each influenced my work and given me my ideas.

One of the main sources to thank for much of Overtaken is The International Women's Writing Guild. At one of the IWWG Skidmore College summer conferences where I was teaching a workshop on self-publishing, I had the great privilege of attending classes with authors Emily Hanlon and Marylou Streznewski. The very last page of Overtaken was written before any other part of the book in Emily's class, and one of my dream sequences I eventually assigned to Sara was written under the guidance of Marylou. So thank you, ladies!

After returning home from the conference I continued to work on the book, mainly in the form of journal entries, morning pages, and other writing exercises from both how-to books and my writing groups. Within these writing sessions I would find myself wanting to write about different times and experiences from my own life, for instance:

• London. Oh, how I love London. And just like Sara, for a while it was my home. Fortunately I've been able to go back a few times, but I still can't get enough of the place, so any excuse to set a story in London takes me back to my favorite shops, streets, museums, and galleries.
• Sara is an artist--and I try my best to follow in her footsteps. Of course she is much more highly skilled than I am (she makes her living as a professional portrait artist), but it was fun to imagine the kind of paintings and style she preferred.
• The Theosophical Society. For many years I've been intrigued and interested in the work of Helena Blavatsky and the society she founded. Even if you're inclined to regard (or dismiss) her writing as sheer myth and storytelling, it's mythology on a grand scale. The language of metaphor, symbolism, and "what if" helped me imagine the possibility of Sara and my other characters inhabiting parallel universes and realities.
• From the TS, I was introduced to the work of Russian artist Nicholas Roerich, especially his costume and set designs for the Diaghilev Ballet, which then worked its way into my plot line as well.
• Editor Ellen Datlow and her great anthologies of speculative fiction. Whenever I've come across these books I've devoured them. After several volumes I was inspired to write my own paranormal tale. The result was Overtaken.
• My favorite pieces in the Datlow anthologies seemed to stem from fairy tales, and my favorite fairy tale of all time was, and is, Lona by Dare Wright. So it was natural that I asked myself the question: What if the Princess has to rescue the Prince? Hence the disappearance of Sara's new husband, Miles, and the primary story problem.
• Greece. Okay, I've never been to Greece, but I've always wanted to go and I wanted Sara to go there too. The best way I found to start my research was with magazine cut-outs and collage. Collage helped me to "feel" where Sara was once she arrived there, and how she would react to her environment. It also provided me with some specific details I would never have found just by reading about the country.
• Color; and the year my mother made hats. This is probably my most obscure motivation for writing Overtaken, but all of my life I've loved color, the more unusual the shade the better, and I think it stems from the time when I was in the first grade and my mother studied hat-making from a Hollywood dress maker. Every day after school we would go to the woman's house which was filled with the most fabulous fabrics, trims, and furbelows I have ever seen then or since. While my mother learned the intricacies of wiring Gainsborough-style brims, I got to play in the walk-in closet and try on the seemingly endless array of netted petticoats and gowns in every color imaginable: peacock blues; poison apple greens; Jezebel scarlets. I was in heaven! Now, as an author, I was able to relive that wonderful time by giving my heroine a similar immersion into her wardrobe, environment, and artistic palette.

Tip of the Day: Now it's my turn to ask you: Where do you get your ideas? Writing down your answers is a great way to prepare your marketing material for editors, publishers, and readers alike. This is an exercise that can work for artists and all creative-types, too. Don't hold back; enquiring minds really do want to know what makes your work personal and unique.

My Blog Interview with Marilee Brothers

I'd like to send a big thank you to Marilee Brothers at bookblatherblog.blogspot.com for her kind offer to not only interview me, but to post it too! Marilee's blog is great place to visit at any time, but if you pop on over to read the interview now, there's an extra bonus of a special book offer exclusive to her readers. So what are you waiting for?

Tip of the Day: Interviews are a fun way to get to know each other better, and they are an especially helpful way to learn more about our fictional characters. Take a cue from magazines, blogs, and even television shows for the best questions you can ask your story people to find out who they really are.

Blog Award Time

Excited to announce I've just received a new blog award--and with sincere thanks to LadyD Books. Great to hear from you my friend; truly appreciated! It's fun to add another award to my list, and it's even more fun to pass the award on.

For some background on the award, LadyD has written that Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, dearest, nicest. . . .  Okay, I'm starting to get embarrassed here! The award is also making me smile for quite another reason: years ago a good friend in California had a German houseguest with a small son stay for the summer. Every day my friend would hear the woman call her son what she thought was, "Liverwurst." One day my friend told me that she didn't think it was very nice of the woman to refer to her son as sandwich filling. Finally she had to speak up, and to her horror she found the woman wasn't saying "liverwurst" at all, she was calling the little boy, "Liebchen," or, "darling, little love." But by now "Liverwurst" was firmly lodged in my vocabulary, hysterically so, so I must say I'm grateful that I didn't receive the Liverwurst Blog Award!

Sandwiches aside, here are the Liebster rules:

1. The selected bloggers must post 11 facts about themselves.
2. They must also answer 11 questions the tagger has asked, and then ask 11 questions of 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers. Be sure to tell them they've been tagged.
3. Remember, no tag backs.

And because I know it's not always easy to find the time to play along, I suggest we all go slow. In this blog I'm only going to name 4 bloggers, with plans to find the others during the coming months. The bloggers that I choose can either find their 11 now, or sometime in the future, if ever. The main point is to have fun and get to know each other a little better.

I'll start with my questions from LadyD:

1. Q: Where is your favorite place to read and write?  A: Curled up on the couch--any couch!
2. Q: What is the one book you loved and why? A: Lona, by Dare Wright. I felt so much like Lona as a child, that I was living in an enchanted castle, and waiting for the "spell" to break. And I adored the photography. I could look at that book for hours.
3. Q: If you could go anywhere in time, when and where would you go? A: Paris in the 1920s. Just like Midnight in Paris!
4. What are the two things for which you are most grateful that your parents provided for you? A: A good education and the freedom to read whatever I wanted.
5. Q: For one reason or another, you must go away to a deserted island. You can take one item with you. What do you choose? A: The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream. Serious good stuff.
6. Q: If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? A: Salad. I'm a dedicated salad fanatic.
7. Q: What is the one book you hated and can't stand? A: Oh, no--this is difficult--but I really do not like Who Moved My Cheese? I had to read it in grad school and I just wanted to throw it at the professor. I thought it was SO annoying.
8. Q: If you could be any magical creature, which one would you be? A: An elf like the ones in Lord of the Rings or the darker fairy tales. Elves always seemed romantic to me. Don't ask why.
9. Q: Name one book you could re-read over and over again A: This is a bit of a cheat because it's actually four books in one, but my answer is The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. My copy is a single volume, and I've read it many times already; I just love that book.
10. Q: Which animated character best matches your personality? A: Well, I've always felt a close affinity to Boo-Boo Bear.
11. Q: List one word that describes you the best. A: Eclectic.

11 Facts About Me:

1. I’ve just sold my house and am now renting a condo—a whole new life and experience for me to have my front yard watered and weeded and a pool right outside my front door.

2. I adore Polyvore.com and find it relaxing, intriguing, and one of the best ways to “write” when I’m feeling stuck or uninspired.

3. I love teaching writing almost more than I love writing.
4. I’m a big Natalie Goldberg fan and have a signed copy of her book of art and poetry: Top of My Lungs.
5. I hate to paint “plein air.” Bugs, heat, wind, flapping paper, lost pencils. Ugh! If I sketch outside, I stay in my car!
6. I’m a vegetarian and love inventing gourmet vegetarian recipes.

7. I just went camping in an RV for the first time and loved it.

8. My favorite season is autumn and all that goes with it: sweaters, wood smoke, falling leaves.
9. I’m not an early riser by nature—I’d do anything to stay in bed till noon.
10. Museums and libraries are my favorite places on earth.
11. If I could live anywhere in the whole world I’d live in London.

My 11 Questions for my Blogger Friends:

1. Where was the last place you went on vacation?
2. What is your favorite board game?
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world—money no object—where would it be?
4. Which three literary characters would you like to invite for dinner?
5. What would the menu be?
6. What’s the next book to read in your TBR pile?
7. What’s your favorite piece of clothing and why?
8. What made you start blogging?
9. Do you have a ritual before you start writing or creating? If so, what is it?

10. Who is your favorite artist, and why?

11. What’s your guilty pleasure TV show?

And my selection of blogs to receive the Liebster Award are:

Diane Grolnick at Abbakiss and the Artist

Virginia Lee, author of Dagon's Blood

Suzanne Blazier, author of Family Reunion Keepsake Book
Charlotte Fairchild author of Murder on the Silver Comet Trail

,

Tip of the Day: Read the fine blogs mentioned here! And thanks for visiting.

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #12: Stay Focused With the Basics

It's been a long journey, but we're finally here at Tip #12: Whenever you feel scattered with too much going on in your life, or you're working on too many projects at once, go back to the basics.

I love staying busy, and I often work on several different pieces of writing or art during any given day. Not only is this a great way to get a lot done, but it keeps me from becoming bored or burnt-out on any one thing. The downside of this, however, is that it can also become overwhelming at times, making me feel I'm going in too many directions without any real sense of purpose. The best way I've found to counter this feeling is to remember how I got to this point in the first place, followed by a session of starting all over again with beginner's mind and simple tools. For example:

• Read one how-to book as if it's the only book in the world. Do the exercises. Take the advice to heart.
• Morning pages--just three handwritten "whatevers" every morning. I find writing on a legal pad with a stiff backing is an excellent way to plow through the noise, dreams, and endless lists of unfinished projects and plans in my mind. It's also a good way to find the answers to what's keeping me scattered and how I can focus in on what's really important to me.
• Write only by hand. The act of simply holding a pen or pencil, listening to the sound it makes working across the page, and letting the words (or pictures!) flow upon the surface can be very healing, and very real.
• Try limiting yourself to just one medium or aspect of writing for an entire week, e.g., just use charcoal for drawings, or paint with a limited watercolor palette of 3 colors. Write only character biographies for a week, or simply block out your scenes on index cards--and nothing else.
• Along the same lines, choose just 1 subject for writing, painting, or collage. Sometimes there are too many choices in life. By selecting a single topic, e.g., apples, you can more easily zoom in and get to the heart of the subject. A good way to tackle this would be to find pictures of apples, buy apples, draw them, write poems, use the imagery to trigger a personal essay. You could even add some of your efforts to your current WIP if you think it will fit.
• De-clutter one area of your house or office: a single drawer, shelf, or magazine rack. Keep this up until you feel you've got more breathing space and working room.
• Go through your TBR pile and pick the one title that seems the most appealing to you right now. Store the rest out of sight in a box or on a specific area of your bookcase. Any books that you've been resisting reading, sell or give them away.
• Plan a week's worth of meals and go to the grocery store to buy only the ingredients that you need to use.
• Stay home. Take a break from meetings and other social activities (including online browsing and networking if necessary!). Rest up until you feel re-energized and ready to face the world again.
• Go to bed early. Read rather than watch TV or movies. If you listen to the radio, try to avoid news programs.
• Meditate with simple visualization techniques for 5-minute sessions. Doing this 3-4 times a day can give you a much-needed rest with a huge boost in energy and productivity.
• Evening pages. List what you did accomplish during the day--you might want to write another three pages just like you did in the morning, but I find a list of 12 can be equally helpful. Another approach could be to write down 12 things you noticed during your day that made it special.

Tip of the Day: Keep a notebook that is solely for jotting down ideas for future projects, or for those perfect plot points or lines of dialogue that pop into your mind at all the wrong times. Label them clearly as where you think they should go, and then ignore them until you've finished your current project.

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #11: Don't Worry

The Big Move is over: (most) boxes are unpacked; old furniture has been gifted to new owners; the to-do lists shrink on a daily basis--and I'm doing my best to follow Stay Creative Every Day Tip #11: Don't worry. Easier said than done, of course--especially when there's so little time left each day for my writing, not to mention blogging, tweeting, e-mailing.... 

And as much as I'm trying to "stay calm and carry on," I know it's natural to worry about things like getting to the post office on time to mail packages, or keeping the refrigerator stocked with more than toaster strudels. What isn't acceptable is getting equally worked up about the times I can't get to my art and writing, thanks to things like moving. I've also discovered that the #1 reason I worry is because I've neglected following my previously-posted 10 tips on how to stay creative every day. For instance, the times I've managed to not have pen and paper handy while waiting for the cable installer to show up, or then trying to write with a faulty pen I found in the trash.

During more settled times, my other "creative" worries can stem from not feeling "good or smart enough" to be a writer or an artist at all. (Tip #8, "Don't compare yourself to others" is the true root of this problem.) Or worrying about not having enough time to accomplish all the amazing goals swirling through my mind, especially in the middle of the night. I'm sure we've all been there, and I'm sure we've all done as much as we can to avoid the worry track, but if you're still feeling stuck and can't see a wait out, here are some ways to approach the anxiety:

1. Worrying wastes energy--energy that can be used for creative work. A good trick is to simply write out or express your worries through any art form: clay, collage, even dancing.
2. Some people are fuelled by worry--and that's okay if it helps get the work done. What isn't okay is wasting other people's time by incessantly voicing those worries, being the kind of worrywart Julia Cameron has referred to as a "toxic friend," someone who wants to stop your work while they complain about their own. Avoid at all costs!
3. Take action! Do one small task toward your goal every day, no matter how small. For instance, because I've had zero time to write, I've been collecting visual bits and pieces for a collage about this current time in my life. It only takes a few minutes, but it does help me feel that I'm doing something.
4. Procrastinating is a form of worry that is self-perpetuating and can only add to your worries. That's why schedules and routines are so important to keep. Even if you only designate 15 minutes a day as the bare minimum where you MUST work on your project, do it.
5. Feeling like your work isn't matching the picture in your head? This is a big one for me. Yet no one else can possibly imagine what I'm envisioning as the perfect story or perfect painting. The same for you, so just be proud of the work you have accomplished and keep going forward. And never, ever point out to others what you think are your work's flaws, or apologize for what you think is "wrong."
6. The sense of being overwhelmed by all that's required to finish any major piece can be pretty worry-making. So while it's admirable to be able to see the whole picture while you're creating, it can also seem like such a huge job to complete it can keep you from ever finishing the darn thing. To counter this, concentrate on a small portion of the work: for instance, just blocking in the hands on a portrait, or just outlining Chapter 7, or looking for new ways to build and increase tension and conflict scene-by-scene.
7. "What if?" is a great question when you're writing a novel or short story, but it's a lousy way to try to get some sleep: What if I can't meet my deadline? What if I get a bad review? What if my manuscript is rejected? Stop! Listen to music, meditate, stop and smell the roses.
8. And have a contingency plan in place: During your down times make a list of positive reviewers who read your book's genre; write up a new daily schedule that will allow you to meet your deadline; prepare manuscript submission packages in advance so that you can send out your work to as many readers as possible.

Tip of the Day:  Every now and then, give yourself time and space to do nothing. Yes, that's right--take a break! Sometimes deliberate and luxurious idleness can be the very cure for all those "must" and "should" monkeys floating through your head. It's also amazing how the very act of refusing to write or draw can drive you right back to your work-in-progress. Typical contrary artistic temperament, wouldn't you say?

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #10: Don't Leave Home Without Your Journal

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”

- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest  

It's been a long time since I've traveled by train, and I don't know if my journals can qualify as "sensational," but Wilde certainly had it right in my opinion. Which is why I believe so strongly in Stay Creative Every Day Tip #10, Always carry a journal, sketchbook, pens, etc. with you wherever you go.

Now that my Big Move to apartment living is in full pack-up-and-go mode, having a notebook of some sort close by has never been more important to me. Not only can I jot down immediate "to do" notes (transfer the power bill; buy more boxes), I can also be working on a WIP or sketching the last views of my backyard while I'm waiting for things to happen (this current move seems to involve a lot of waiting-for-things-to-happen for some inexplicable reason).

However, even when I'm in my new home, settled and back to my normal routine, I'll be sure to follow some of my favorite creativity-starters:

• Always have a dedicated "art and writing" tote ready to go at all times. For me this is a small canvas bag with a journal, a sketchbook, and a pouch with pens, pencils (graphite and watercolor), X-acto knife, eraser, and a waterbrush or two. Lately I've started carrying around a small watercolor set, too. 
• Waterbrushes! Wow, I love waterbrushes so much I have to mention them again. They have all the ease and versatility of a pen and can fit into your purse if necessary. I only discovered these tools about a year ago; now I can't imagine how I coped without them.
• I like to have various sizes and styles of journals, etc. going at the same time, but when I'm out of the house I stick to 9"x12" or smaller.
• It's also fun to have themed journals and sketchbooks just for on-the-go. For instance, in the past I've carried around a journal that was just for freewriting at bookstores, and a sketchbook that was just for trees, leaves, and flowers.
• Sometimes I paste pictures and writing prompts on my blank pages before I leave home. It's amazing how well these "random thoughts" can match the mood of wherever I am, starting a new stream of creativity I wasn't expecting.
• Which gives me a full "idea book" without even trying.
• Drawing or writing out of your usual office or studio space can give you an entirely new appreciation of your surroundings, and a whole new way to approach your work. Whether it's the muzak playing in a crowded shopping mall or the eerie peacefulness of an empty parking lot, the altered atmosphere can't help but change your perspective.
• Artist Date! I've always been a big fan of Julia Cameron and her books, especially The Artist's Way, but too often I couldn't figure out how to keep up with her advice on having an artist's date once a week. Taking my "creativity bag" out for the morning or afternoon is an excellent way to follow this exercise.
• Vacations. We all need them, and recording your experiences with more than just your camera is a super way to make travel anywhere special. I recently purchased a wonderful book, The Art of Travel With a Sketchbook by Marie LeGlatin Keis, that I can't wait to use this summer while I go on (yes!) vacation.

Tip of the Day: If you're anything like me, you probably spend an awful lot of time waiting. Whether it's waiting in line at the post office; waiting for a hair, doctor, or dental appointment; waiting in the car while my husband shops at the auto supply store. . .  Honestly, if I didn't have my journal or sketchbook I'd be bored to tears with all that waiting. I'd also be wasting some very valuable time. One trick I've found to utilize that time to the best advantage is to go to appointments or meetings just a little bit early, even by just an extra 15 minutes. (I've heard this works really well for parents who need to pick up their children from school every day.) So next time you're out on the road, don't forget to take your journal!

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #9: Finish What You Start

Big news: I'm moving! I'll still be in Albuquerque, but I'm trading home ownership for apartment living with more time for writing and art, not to mention a swimming pool. It's a major change, for sure, and as much as I will be glad to leave yardwork behind, the one thing I know I'm going to miss is my little at-home studio. However, in its place I'm getting industrial space with lots of room to go wild with clay, paint, and all the glue I can spill. Watch out Etsy!

In preparation for packing, I've taken stock of my works-in-progress shelf and files and realized that besides my bulging "idea file" I have no less than 22 manuscripts in various states of completion. For some people this may seem an excessive (and frightening) amount, but to me it signifies productivity and never having to say I'm bored. It also means I'm going to be extremely busy for the next few years if I want to get these works into print and/or up for sale. So if my math skills are correct, here's the line-up:

• 5 screenplays. 1 at 3rd/final draft stage; 2 have reached the full first draft stage; 1 is halfway finished; 1 is still incubating.
• 9 novels. 1 is finished and ready for submission; 3 are full first drafts; the other 5 are pretty well outlined considering I'm a dedicated "pantster."
• 4 books of poetry. All complete first drafts.
• 2 short story collections. All complete first drafts.
• 2 non-fiction manuscripts: 1 is a complete first draft, 1 is approximately 200 pages of notes. (Does that qualify as a draft?)

Which brings me to Stay Creative Tip Every Day #9: Finish What You Start. Do your best to not leave any piece of work unfinished. Unfinished work is usually about not knowing what to do next. To find the solution, try being playful: add a new character; paint red squiggly lines down the middle; paste on some text cut from a magazine. If you really dislike a piece and don't want to finish it, stop and consciously throw it away and don't think about it again.

In my how-to book, The Essential Guide for New Writers, one of the most important points I teach is that the only manuscripts that sell are finished manuscripts. Even if you're lucky enough to pitch and sell a 10-book series to an editor by sharing a few ideas scribbled on a dinner napkin, at some stage you will have to write and finish those books to get your full advance and avoid a law suit.

So how to stay motivated and on track even when you've added all the red squiggly lines you can? The top 4 ways I know for completing any work-in-progress are:

1. Be organized. Keep well-labeled, clean, orderly, and attractive WIP files and binders for everything from character wardrobe sketches to marketing plans and multiple drafts. Personalized binders that are easily accessible and a pleasure to work with can help you to stay focused and able to switch between projects if necessary.
2. Make a priority list. What is your most important project and why? For instance, do you have a contest you want to enter? Did you meet an editor or agent at a conference who asked for a partial? Is one of your manuscripts more timely than the others? Or maybe you just want to give books as Christmas gifts, or have them to sell at a book festival. Whatever the reason, it's helpful to have self-imposed deadlines and reasons for completing your work.
3. Keep a log to know where you are with each piece. Give yourself the equivalent of a gold star for every day you achieve your daily or weekly writing goals and quotas.
4. Know you endings in advance. A fun trick is to write your last page or scene first (which is precisely what I did for Overtaken. The last page was written in an intensive workshop taught by author Emily Hanlon, and I've never been more grateful.). I've mentioned this tip before, but it's one of the most helpful ways I know for getting a book sealed, signed, and delivered.

Tip of the Day. I heard a good piece of advice on NPR regarding creative goal-setting: instead of using the words "I hope," try replacing them with "I intend." For instance, instead of saying "I hope I can finish my novel by Thanksgiving," try, "I intend to finish my novel the day before Thanksgiving." Or, instead of "I hope my book finds a publisher," try, "I intend for my book to be published by June 2014." It's an important distinction, and one that I've found keeps me working toward my goals in a more professional and meaningful way.

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #8: Give up Comparisons

I have a friend who hates pink. I adore it. My friend is, I think, a much better artist than I am, maybe because of her palette choices! But I don’t want to give up pink, and I don’t want to berate myself just because someone else doesn’t like roses and kitten paws. Which leads me to Stay Creative Every Day Tip #8: Never compare yourself to others.

The day I learned to stop competing, stop comparing, and truly enjoy the creative life I’ve chosen was a few years ago when I wanted to try using a high-fire glaze on a small vase in my very small kiln. The kiln is capable of reaching a high setting, but that’s more of a theory than a reality. Anyway, I carefully glazed what I thought was one of my best vases in the required 3 coats, let them dry for the appropriate amount of time, and then proceeded to fire up the kiln. After hours and hours of extreme heat, followed by hours and hours of cooling, I opened the kiln. And the vase was absolutely hideous. Not only had the glaze virtually disappeared (what was meant to be a lovely peacock blue was a dull puce) but the clay surface had a weird, bumpy feel similar to ostrich skin. I was miserable. I was a loser. I couldn’t even fire a 4-inch vase. The potters featured in Ceramics Monthly were so much BETTER than me. I would never even make it to my first show. I set the thing aside on a side shelf and tried to find something else to do. 

A few days later the afternoon sun pierced through the blinds in my studio and hit the vase in such a way that made it suddenly glow, forcing me to pick it up for a second look. Miraculously, it was beautiful, as in seriously fine. Sure, the glaze wasn’t at all what I had planned, but it had personality. The “weird” texture was, dare I say, interesting. I found myself oddly moved; I felt that if there had been any failure on my part it was that I had failed to appreciate this little vase that was just trying to be itself rather than the image I had wanted to impose upon it. Now it’s one of my prized pieces and takes pride of place on my bookcase. Lesson learned: Everyone and everything has an innate timing, integrity, and direction. My job is to just let that emerge naturally, and always do the best I can without worrying, and without the need to compare. The best ways I found to do that are to:

• Find what you love to do. 
• Find what you do well—and raise the bar only when you think you’re ready to go there. 
• Don’t give up because someone else is supposedly “better” at your chosen craft. 
• And be honest. Don’t go in the other direction and disparage the “bad work” of others when you might be a teensy bit, um, envious. (Yes, I’ve done that too.)

Tip of the Day: If you find yourself constantly comparing your work to that of others, the best way to stop is to start a daily gratitude and appreciation list. Every evening, list 12 things that you did well that day. They don’t have to be acts of great heroism or award-winning works of art; in fact, the minute you stop judging your accomplishments for NOT being as amazing or fantastic as you think they’re supposed to be, you'll be safely out of the “compare and despair” zone.

Stay Creative Every Day: Tip #7, Use Technology

Hi Everyone! As you may have noticed, I've been on blog-hiatus for the last few weeks. Publishing Overtaken (now with Amazon's "Look Inside the Book" feature!) was a bigger hill climb than I thought it would be, and I needed some serious down time. But it's great to be back and blogging again. I especially want to thank everyone who left comments on my last post, always great to hear from you.

Today I thought I'd continue with my "12 Tips to Stay Creative Every Day, Tip #7:  Take Advantage of Technology." The computer is a wonderful thing—and at least for me, way too attractive when I should be working outdoors or in my studio. Which is why I seem to have a constant battle running through my head about how much time I should spend online. But as much as I sometimes dream about pulling the plug, I have to say the Internet has been a marvelous boost to my productivity. For instance, I can: 

Watch videos. From book trailers to art journal “how-to” demonstrations, some of the absolute best information I've uncovered has come to me via Youtube.com. I’ve learned how to make acrylic gel transfers, draw a frog, and how to use a watercolor travel brush. And that's just for starters. 

Read blogs. I enjoy reading blogs on art and writing, but by simply pushing the “Next Blog” button at the top of many sites, I can go to all kinds of new topics: travel stories, life changing incidents, business advice. I consider my time reading blogs to be the equivalent of the time I used to spend reading print magazines, except the blogs have a much richer and more personal content. 

Prompt Blogs. Word-a-day, picture-a-day, a painting a month, poem starters; the Internet abounds with blogs to help you get started when inspiration flags. Best of all, the sites are mainly about forming and maintaining creative community around individual and group work. Perfect when you can't find a writer's or artist's group locally. 

Online Dictionary and Thesaurus. No more hunting through the pages! My print versions of both my dictionary and thesaurus were so dog-eared and well-worn I had to throw them out years ago. They weren’t even good enough to recycle. Dictionary.com is my lifeline. What would I do without it? 

General How-to. Just ask! I’m still amazed when friends ask me things like, “Where’s a good website about falconry?” Or, “What did children wear to play in during the middle ages?” I don’t know why I give the impression I can answer these questions off the top of my head, but I do know where the answers are online. I just type in my question exactly as I would ask it, and presto—instant answers. (Come on, people, you can do this too!) 

Search engines. I rarely stop at page 1 and the top 10 sites. Instead, I prefer to keep going through interesting tidbits in the same way I used to enjoy perusing the card catalogs at the library. Happy accidents, stray referrals, and odd references can all be good material for inspiration and plot development. 

Alphasmart. I love my Alphasmart. Especially the way you CAN’T go online (at least with the basic model). My Alphasmart saves me oodles of time and I can type as easily on it as I can write longhand, with the same "freewriting" sensation and flow. 

Coupons! Available online and very necessary for art supplies and books in particular. 

Shopping. Bricks-and-mortar stores often don’t have what I want and are usually not interested in ordering products for me. Thank goodness for Paypal.com is all I can say. 

Play with Photos and Other Images. Using sites such as Polyvore.com can help me stay creative during lunch without getting mayonnaise on my sketchbook. Before I know it I have the idea for a story to go with my image composition. It's dreamy and focused and fun. 

Amazingly Helpful Programs. Just to name a few: Book Publishing Wizard, Movie Magic, Photoshop in various versions… Once you have the tools, you can do anything. Anything! 

Tip of the Day: The manual typewriter and treadle sewing machine were once the high technology of their day. Sometimes it nice to go back to basics and re-discover these wonderful old tools and re-envision how to use them. For instance, a manual typewriter could be just the ticket for giving your collaged poems the correct “old world” look. A quilt made on a 1920 Singer sewing machine might have a much more “hand-made” feel that changes the look entirely. Experiment with technology from any era to stay creative every day.

Published! Overtaken

At last!  It's here!  I'm happy to finally announce that Overtaken is now in print, with a Kindle version soon to follow.  At the same time, I want to thank everyone of you for reading my blog, buying my books, and supporting me along the way with your helpful comments, Tweets, Facebook "Hello's" and all the other great social network sites we share.  You are as much a part of my writing journey as my Alphasmart and favorite fountain pens!  What would I do without you?

Although the book is for sale at Amazon.com, my "Look Inside the Book" feature isn't activated yet, but if you'd like to read the quick book description, it is: 

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure." Portrait painter Sara Elliott has never been afraid of risk. Moving to London, pawning her jewelry, taking difficult commissions, Sara lives life on the edge. But when she agrees to marry a stranger days before he is scheduled to leave the country, even Sara wonders if she has gone too far. Over the coming months, alone and uncertain of her future, Sara drifts into an uneasy routine waiting for her husband, Miles, to return. When an unexpected letter suddenly threatens her plans for a settled existence, Sara is forced to question everything she thought she once knew about Miles, her present situation, and her own mysterious past. Caught between her imagination and her desire for the truth, Sara worries she is losing her mind, or worse: has she been OVERTAKEN by a power beyond her control?

And here's the trailer--popcorn time!

Whew.  Looking back over the past year and more, Overtaken seems like one of the longest writing journeys I've ever traveled.  Some days I felt not only "overtaken" myself, but I also feared that I would never, ever reach the finishing line.  When I did get there, though, it was more than a relief, it was an epiphany.  I realized how very much I loved writing and all the many steps that go into making a book--even the frustrating, discouraging potholes and seeming deadends.  Sometimes I think those "bad days" have the most to offer as the best and most genuine learning-the-craft moments.  And it's still not over--the next and biggest step it to get the word out about the book so readers can start reading it.  So tell a friend!  Thanks again for being there for me--I appreciate it.

Tip of the Day:  The best way to stay on course with a WIP and see it through from idea to published manuscript is to absolutely love your characters, believe in your theme and core story, and most of all, believe in yourself.  And stay in touch with your writing buddies--they're some of the best friends you'll ever have.

Winners! And Stay Creative Every Day Tip #6: Collage Your Way Out of Anything

Hurray! We have our winners of the blog giveaway:

1st Prize Kate Spencer

2nd Prize Marilee Brothers

3rd Prize Shawn Murray

Congratulations to these lovely people, and I hope you all go to visit their sites and get to know them better.  I'd also like to extend my thanks and best wishes to everyone who's following and/or recently joined up.  Nice to have you on board; keep looking out for the next giveaway! 

In the meantime, here's Tip #6 from Stay Creative Every Day:  Collage your way out of anything. 

I use collage for my novels, art journals, visual art projects, and as an art form on its own.  Collage has helped me to visualize my goals, dress my characters, decorate my story settings, and illustrate my plots.  Sometimes it’s just about the colors, putting together what speaks to my mood or emotions.  At other times a collage becomes a complete reference on its own, one that inspires me to write or paint it out fully.

To me creativity is all about problem solving, and collage is a great way to get the ball rolling.  It's easy, it's cheap, it's accessible--free magazines, junk mail, old manuscripts, photos, memorabilia, it's all there for the taking.

Although I've written extensively about how to use magazine cut-outs and other collage techniques to enhance your writing and creativity, there's still no end to what you can use collage for.  Here are 12 more ideas to help you in a pinch:

1.  Create your ideal story, artwork, or life in the form of a vision board.

2.  Try it as a medium to illustrate your poetry or children's book manuscript.

3.  Create a visual aid for a pitch when meeting with an editor or agent.

4.  Or to tell your bio in a whole new way--through pictures. 

5.  Along the same lines, instead of a boring list of credits, create a collage of your book covers or magazine bylines.  Put it all together with your bio into a "1-sheet." 

6.  What is your story ABOUT?  Find images when you can't articulate.

7.  Use collage on your website or blog to create more visual interest.

8.  Make your own greeting cards, gift bags, and tags.  Bookmarks, too.

9.  Make your office more interesting with collaged file folders and journal covers.

10.  Why stop at the paperwork?  How about collaging over your furniture items such as filing cabinets or end tables? Or even cushions?

11.  Keep your children occupied and creative while you're busy with your own writing or painting.  Collaborate!

12.  Use collage as the basis for your book trailer.

Tip of the Day:  Happy Valentine's Day!  And what better way to celebrate than with a handmade Valentine?  Collaged, of course.  Gotta keep those glue sticks busy!

Now Write! Mysteries and My Blog Giveaway

It's here!  My big blog giveaway where 3 lucky followers will be chosen tonight at 7.00 PM Mountain Time through a random drawing to receive a variety of prizes, including the brand new Now Write! Mysteries; Suspense, Crime, Thriller, and Other Mystery Fiction Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers published on December 29, 2011. 

And (drum roll, please...) I am so thrilled and honored to tell you that I have been included in this collection.  My article "Deep Motivation: Characters Have Feelings, Too" starts on Page 267.

Edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson, Now Write! Mysteries is the fourth volume in a series that includes Now Write! Fiction and Now Write! Screenwriting.  Right now I'm totally enthralled with this book (and not just because I'm in it...) and I'm happy to report I'm also doing each and every one of the exercises as per my recent post on staying creative every day.  I'm up to page 20 and, people, I am inspired.  This is an amazing book full of great advice.  I think it's going to keep me happy and writing for the rest of the year and beyond.

If you'd like a free copy, there's still some time to follow my blog today and be included in the random drawing tonight via Random.org.  Note:  Anyone who has signed up to follow my blog through my page at JacketFlap.com is considered a "follower" too and will be included in the drawing.

Prizes in the drawing will include:

1st Prize: The Essential Guide for New Writers

Now Write! Mysteries

Unleashed, of Poltergeists and Murder

Better Than Perfect

The Great Scarab Scam

Journal

Pens

Tote Bag

And a Surprise Gift!

2nd Place:  The Essential Guide for New Writers

Now Write! Mysteries

Unleashed, of Poltergeists and Murder

3rd Place:  The Essential Guide for New Writers

Now Write! Mysteries

So is this fun, or what??  You don't even have to leave a comment (but it would be nice to hear from you if you'd like to leave one!)  Winners will have 1 week from the time I notify them of winning to get back with me with their mailing information, etc.  If I don't hear from a winner, the prize(s) will go to the next person in order of the random selection.  I'll announce all the winners after I've heard from each one.

And the best news of all is this won't be my only giveaway.  For every 50 new followers I get on this blog during the year, I'll be holding another drawing. 

Tip of the Day:  Sign up to follow, and who knows?  You just might win a prize!  Best of luck.  Happy writing.

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #5, Go Clutter-Free

Today’s tip from my free PDF over at Live at the Edge with Dr. Doris Jeanette is about one of my favorite topics: being clutter-free. 

Tip #5: Keep your work and living space clutter-free. Let go of anything that makes you feel weighed down, or that you think you’re “supposed to” like or keep. Give away, sell, or throw out whatever might be holding you back, or that takes too much time to maintain. Aim for simplicity.

Yes!

This year I’m taking my own advice a little bit further and really seeing what I can do without. So far within the last few weeks I’ve given away exactly half of my entire wardrobe to a local thrift store; donated a huge amount of “things I might need for a rainy day” art supplies to a third-grade classroom; passed on some very nice but just-not-me jewelry; gave away my sewing machine; emptied and cleaned my refrigerator (right down to the ice cubes); and on a recent trip to California resisted buying a single thing. My closets have never looked better and I’ve never felt more determined to keep them that way.

Maintaining a clutter-free environment is, I believe, a great boost to creativity. Some of my reasons why include:

-  You can find stuff! No more searching for that No. 6 sable brush or the collage papers you just bought last week. A place for everything and everything in its place.

-  Which means you can stop wasting time. Rather than looking for misplaced items, you can actually use them.

-  You can take your workspace from dull and messy to inspiring and nurturing with just a small amount of effort. Colorful organizers, printed file folders, woven baskets, and painted crates can help put the fun back into your creative work. And you can make them all yourself—how creative is that?

-  You can work on several projects at the same time when you’ve got everything labeled and ready to go in binders and clear plastic storage tubs.

-  In case of an emergency, keeping things like back-up discs of documents, pictures, and manuscripts in a sturdy case with a handle—one that you can just grab and go—could be the ultimate sanity-saver.

-  Thousands of people need what you don’t. Whether it’s toys, clothes for work, school supplies, or furniture—someone needs it, badly.

So what are you waiting for? Do a good deed for both yourself and others: attack those closets, purge those files, and let in the light of your true creative, and clutter-free, self.

Tip of the Day: Every year for our holiday party my writers' group has a "White Elephant Gift Exchange." What we do is bring to the party at least six or more wrapped items we no longer want or need. We then set these gifts in the center of the room and after drawing a number, we take turns at choosing the items one by one. Amidst much hilarity and a certain amount of "stealing" from each other, we all end up with some great gifts. Anything that remains unwanted goes in a box we then take to the thrift store. Not only is this a great way to have a gift exchange without spending any money, it makes a good start to a clutter-free new year (or any time of the year, for that matter). You might want to try it this weekend!

Stay Creative Every Day Tip #4: Dress Nice, Eat Well

Happy 2012, everyone! I hope you all had a brilliant holiday season and are now ready to greet a new year of creative joy.  Today's tip from my free PDF on how to "Stay Creative Every Day" at Live on the Edge is something that I tend to let slide too often and want to improve upon this year:

Tip #4:  Pay attention to how you dress and what you eat.  Make an effort to wear “good clothes” that you love, and give up things like fast food.  Make your own food whenever possible.  Cooking is a creative art. 

As with any creative endeavor, the way we dress and the way we eat is all about choices.  For instance, I'm a vegetarian for many reasons, but one of them is to counter all the hours I spend sitting in front of my computer screen or my drawing table.  I know as a fact that when I've eaten too much or too heavily, I'm just not comfortable writing or painting.  I'm too sleepy, too full, too blah feeling.  A diet that includes meat just increases that feeling.

Another law of nature for me revolves around what I call my "yard clothes."  You know, those things we wear to potter around in on weekends.   My problem is I then wear these clothes to the grocery store or library, telling myself "no one will see me."  However, without fail, the older and more hideous the outfit I've chosen to wear, the greater my chances are of running into important people who also just happen to look like they stepped from the pages of Vogue.  You'd think I'd learn by now, but it took a serious near-miss this past summer to drive the lesson home (I escaped without being seen by running out the door when I saw the "important person."  My heart was pounding, I can tell you.) 

So here are my top reasons to unleash your inner fashion diva:

1.  Writers can be shy and introverted.  Dressing smartly can help you be more confident--especially for those grocery-store run-ins. 

2.  Dressing well makes you feel more professional, almost like putting on a costume.  Even if it's just one extra item:  good shoes, or a new sweater, you'll feel more serious about yourself and your work. 

3.   Just like your "good art supplies or writing tools," we all have things in our closets we love, but think we're not supposed to wear except for special occasions.  Guess what?  Today is a special occasion.  Make every day a celebration--and before your favorite outfit is so hopelessly out of style you wouldn't be seen dead in it anyway. 

4.  It's fun to put together nice outfits, especially with jewelry and accessories.  Hats, scarves, gloves--they add color and creativity to your life. Dressing well--and differently--may be a way to break out of routine and habit.  Step out of the mold--express yourself! 

5.  You can inspire others to have more fun too--many people hold writers and artists as people to emulate.  If they see you enjoying your wardrobe and food choices, they might consider that as "permission" to do the same. 

Tip of the Day:  Fashion posts are fun to read and can give you ideas not just for yourself, but for your characters' wardrobes too--especially when you're writing about another generation or culture.  And in case my male blog readers are thinking, "Whoa--no way am I reading a fashion blog!" let me just say if you're writing about female characters, they'll need some fashionable wardrobes!  For instance, "fashion blog" is a good search term to try.