You all are in for a big treat today. Cate Noble is a fabulous author who writes thrilling and sexy romantic suspenses for Brava. Her latest release, DEADLY SEDUCTION, continues the saga of three missing CIA agents. Her 2009 book, DEAD RIGHT, has been nominated for a RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards. She has previously published as Lauren Bach and currently calls Panama City, FL, home.
I’m so excited to have Cate with us here in the jungle, and she’s going to talk about a subject that I think all authors (published and unpublished) can relate to at some point in their writing careers. I know it’s a topic that I desperately need to apply to my own writing and life! She’s also giving away THREE copies of her newest release, DEADLY SEDUCTION, so reader or writer, be sure to comment to get your chance to win, then check back tomorrow to see if your name was picked! And now help me give a warm jungle welcome to Cate!
REDISCOVER THE JOY IN WRITING
I recently completed certification as a Life Strategies Coach. My emphasis was on creativity through writing. No surprise, since I’m a novelist, right? What’s significant is the why. I sought certification for a non-fiction endeavor because I’d lost my joy for writing fiction. Fiction had become drudgerous. A thing to be circumvented. I was skating on the thin ice of procrastination.
Ironically, the urge to create was still present, albeit in a less than robust measure. Part of me wanted to write, but the joy, excitement and passion were AWOL. I felt hexed. I couldn’t let go of my desire to write, yet the stories weren’t flowing. So I dawdled and avoided my office, ultimately forcing myself through the door because I had a book deadline. The stuff of dreams had turned nightmarish.
Was I burned out? Tired? Frustrated? Undoubtedly. I also had a series of ugly life challenges hit one after the other. That I developed a penchant for whining and thinking negatively didn’t help, for in true like-attracts-like fashion my free fall accelerated.
Fast forward two years. I’m sitting in my office smiling at the projects I’ve got neatly organized in bins. Three fiction, one non-fiction. (One is a deadline project – my next novel. It’s my primary focus and gets the lion’s share of time. The others get smaller slices of attention as they await their chance to be number one.) But back to my smile. Did I mention that it’s noon? And that I had started writing right on schedule – 7:30 a.m. – and already first-drafted 10 pages? My goal for this particular draft is 15 pages by 4:00 – which I can usually hit with no problem. (Some days I hit 15 before 2:00! Imagine the body rush!) Today, however, I’m stopping at noon, as planned, to work on this unexpected-but-delightful chance to blog. I’m still smiling as I mentally dance with ideas for this project, even though part of me is eager to get back to my other story. To get back to The Plan. I look forward to writing each day as scheduled, even when the writing is not going ideally. Most afternoons, I have to make myself stop working because I need to fix supper. Sometimes I write on weekends, but usually not, due to family/social/other commitments.
Now my purpose in sharing that last paragraph is two-fold: First, I want to give you a new frame of reference. One where the writer feels in control, empowered – joyful even – as she dives into work she loves, using processes well suited for her, going after goals that set her on fire. Contrast that to the images conveyed by these famous quotes:
“Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” Gene Fowler
“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” E.L. Doctorow {{{shudder}}}
The second reason for sharing is that the paragraph is loaded with clues. It’s a snapshot of my perfect work day. How would the version of your perfect work day read? By ‘perfect,’ I mean doable. Every action has to be within your direct control and capacity. Aspirations and dreams – i.e., hitting the bestsellers list, all things Johnny Depp – belong in the perfect fantasy paragraph. Make sense?
Note that the turnaround didn’t happen overnight. I’ve been working it for two years, in part because the process is ongoing and fluid. And fun! Recapturing joy isn’t as much a goal as it is a lifestyle and mind set change. The process takes on a life of its own, which means I expect to be in an even better place in two more years. That said, once I made up my mind to recapture the joy and started baby-stepping, I did notice improvement within the first month. The process then provided its own incentive.
Obviously, my exact steps and missteps can’t be fully explored in this format, but I’ll share my top five tips. Here goes:
1) With God as my witness…
The first step to rediscovering joy is to declare open season on it. Draw a line. Be determined to do what it takes to bring passion back. Hoping, wishing, or waiting till a better time doesn’t cut it. Like writing, you either do it or you don’t. Be proactive. Take 100% responsibility for your joy.
Start by remembering how it felt to love writing. What did your magnificent obsession feel like once upon a time? What elements characterized joy? Make a simple T-chart and label the left side THEN, the right NOW. Write down what changed. Life throw you a curve ball? Did you have more time back then?
Did your characters and stories feel fresher? Did the writing process enthrall you? Has something physical changed in your environment? Have commitments shifted? Has your circle of influence (friends, info sources) changed? What about your thinking processes? Have your skills atrophied? Has the journey left you scarred? Have you become cynical? What would it take to leave you awestruck these days?
Next, try this: List three situations or chronic habits that if changed, would significantly impact your excitement levels. If three feels overwhelming, go with one. You can add others later. Brainstorm enjoyable ways to break your log jam, but keep it real. The rule of thumb in all this is “do-able by you-able.”
2) How do you define “hard work?”
Nathaniel Hawthorne said it first: Easy reading is damn hard writing
Has writing come to represent an activity you don’t want to do because it’s “too much like hard work” – something that needs a lot of effort? Have you started to view writing as difficult, onerous? An act you dread?
If you view hard work through a negative lens, you’ll either avoid it or do it quickly just to get it over with. Neither of which implies joy.
Writing does take effort. Is does require skill. It is also rewarding, challenging, stimulating, freeing, empowering, fulfilling, energizing. But you have to enjoy the work itself, not just the end result.
I love the ballet and for a short period, I contemplated being a ballerina. What I discovered was that while I was enthralled by the end result – that lovely performance on stage – I didn’t want to do the hard work to get there. The years of practice, the auditions, the dedication. Hence I was never a very good or happy ballerina and quickly abandoned that path.
If writing is your passion, then the effort necessary to achieve your goals should feel natural; something you feel compelled to do regardless of effort.
3) Know your stats
I view myself as a player in a game I’ve freely chosen. A game means it’s fun. I want to be here! It means I know the rules and agree to play by them. I don’t expect the rules to change to accommodate my whims.
There are established techniques I can study and ways to improve my personal performance. Just like a pro athlete, my level of mastery grows with practice. I experiment and weigh the feedback. While I acknowledge the current superstars in the game and even aspire to be like them, I compete only with myself. I track my growth by keeping score. My improvement becomes apparent when I compare the today me to the yesterday me. Competition should inspire not discourage because inspiration is the fuel for motivation/action. (Highly recommended: THE GAME OF WORK, by Charles Coonradt)
How does this apply to seeking joy? I’ve made sure that my goals “fit” – meaning they are achievable and exciting. I frequently reassess, making sure my goals are still valid, the methods appropriate. I’m continually growing my game, polishing my skills. This game truly fascinates me! To further improve, I’ve identified my weakest areas and am working those first. For example, I want to boost my productivity, so I’ve been working on writing faster. Greater skill makes for greater ease.
4) Fall in love with your work daily
What’s your process for getting into writer-mind before you pick up your pen or sit at the keyboard? Do you read a synopsis? Do you close your eyes and imagine sitting in your hero’s lap as he whispers what he’s going to do to you in the next chapter? If I asked what you loved about your story or characters, would I regret it because in your excitement you’d blather on and on for hours?
Do you set forth an intention for the writing to be joyful? Do you set your mood…or do you wait to see what you feel like? You can be more purposeful! You can control your thoughts! Oh…and don’t think that my life is all joy, all bliss. Yes, the majority of it is, but that’s because I’ve been determined to crank up my life satisfaction levels. And I’ve found that I’ve had more great days via setting the tone purposefully versus twiddling my thumbs waiting to see if the Good Mood Fairy makes it by.
Explore ways to put your writing first, not because you “should” but because it’s that important to you. Plot reasons to adore what you do. View your talent with high esteem, but be smart about your methodology. If you only have 15 minutes to write, you can’t spend 14 minutes getting jazzed. Preplan some fast trigger points. I know exactly what flow feels like and recalling that sensation is a great warm up.
Don’t forget to look at the subject matter you’re writing. If your story (or scene) isn’t thrilling, are you looking at ways to make it more exciting? What would it take to make your story/scene one that you can’t wait to write?
5) Know your optimum settings
To the best of your current abilities, create an environment conducive to joy. What things make it more enjoyable to write? Fresh flowers? Hazelnut lattes? Total silence? Ocean waves? Do you have tricks for tuning into your writer’s frequency on demand?
Establish a routine. Come up with a plan, but don’t overcomplicate things. I struggled with planning for a long time, thinking it had to be formal and elaborate. It strangled me. What works for me is to dash off a weekly plan for my writing. Broad strokes like “Draft first five chapters by Friday. Revise synopsis by Wednesday.” Notice I said my plan for writing. You won’t see plans for promotion or reminders to take the car in for an oil change. There are other lists for that.
My weekly plan is general. Most days that’s enough. Other days I need greater focus. That’s when I take another sheet of paper and scribble the three magic words: TODAY I WILL. I might spell out exact page counts. Or start and stop times. There you might see a note that reminds me of a dentist appointment at 3:00 which means I need to stop writing by 2:30. (It’s always about the writing.)
The bottom line is that once I decided to make joy a priority, doors began opening. I read books, I asked questions. I took courses. I experimented and found what worked for me.
So what about you? Is there a particular element of writing that’s lost the glow? Do you want to brainstorm it? Also feel free to share you own tips and tricks. How do you keep the joy alive in your writing?
And before we dive into comments, I’d like to thank the Plot Monkeys for inviting me here today. These awesome ladies are proof that jungles can be fun!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 40 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
ANOTHER WILD WEDDING NIGHT
Hard to Hold
Love Me If You Dare
Wild For Him
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Comment
Wow! What an awesome way to start the weekend. This is an excellent, doable plan.
I tend to not plan well for the writing—it’s more scheduled in after all the other life stuff gets done for the day. That is not a good plan. That just leaves me to pursue one of my most important priorities after I’m stressed and exhausted. But actually writing that sentence is making me see how counterproductive that is….
I know that going back over my work, reading sections that really sing helps put me in the mood. There again, it’s not the quick trigger point you’re talking about. So I should definitely work on that, too.
Thanks so giving me so much to think about! I’m looking forward to checking back and seeing what everyone else has to say.
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Hi Gillian!
I love that you had an Aha! moment in writing your comment. The process of rediscovering joy is one of self-discovery. You can’t apply the right fix until you’ve clearly identified the problem. So have you brainstormed ways to move the writing up in priority? Baby step it: try making it your top priority one day a week, then expand from there.
Mastery is a by-product of practice. “Repetition is the mother of skill.” (Tony Robbins said that, I think.) My first attempts at quick trigger points were not all that quick. But with practice, I learned to identify the key good feelings and could zero in on those faster.
Best,
Cate Noble
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Well, I’m not a writer so I can’t speak to that, but when I find myself loosing interest in things I usually step back and don’t do them for a while until I feel like I can do them justice.
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Hi, Linda!
Stepping back, regaining interest and perspective is a good method. It sounds like you know, from experience, what works for you. In my case, I didn’t feel I had the luxury of time to wait until my interest piqued on it’s own. And I was also concerned it wouldn’t return! Hence I formed a posse and went after it
Best,
Cate Noble
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A P.S. from Cate…
Linda, your comment also hit the point that losing interest or joy in something is a universal occurence. It doesn’t just affect writers!
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Wonderful post, Kathy!
I’ve been hit with so many shocks over the past few weeks that I’ve been left reeling and in perfect position to reboot my writing life. I have a wonderful manuscript I’m afraid to edit (sigh) the NEXT book idea chomping at my heels, an injury that sidelined me (and reminded me of my own mortality), a recent milestone birthday, and we’re currently in the midst of a winter blizzard that’s allowed me the rare luxury of finishing up some latent obligations.
I have all the tools at my disposal, and the gift of focus now. Your post comes at a brilliant time! so thank you!!
Your new book looks amazing, too!! Can’t wait to check it out!
Jenn
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Hey, Jenn!
I could identify with your post! My greatest moments of self-discovery have always been spawned right after life sets me a-reeling. I’ve learned a lot from being knocked down, but I learned “smarter” once I realized there were more proactive, less painful, ways to learn. Like you, I had all the tools at my disposal. The problem was I either wasn’t using them, or was using them improperly. (Insert picture of me sawing a board with a hammer here.)
Sounds like the blizzard is a blessing in disguise. Just don’t forget to add YOU to the list of latent obligations you’re tackling. In fact, I’d slot it in as job number one.
Best,
Cate Noble
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Hello Cate, welcome to the jungle, and thank you for taking time out to swing with us. I loved this blog. It is quite informative. As I was reading it, I wasn’t so much focused on writing, but rather, looking at how your plan could parallel with that of daily life. I am a newbie writer, so any tip can dispensed is very helpful for me. I love the idea of “broad strokes” to plan. That would be much more feasible for me. I don’t jazz myself up to write, but I do write when the mood hits me; this practice has got to go, if I ever want to be successful, i.e. finish writing a book. I am still working on the process. I like the five points you highlighted here. Thanks again for hanging with us. I won’t be around much today, basketball tourney, but I will be back later on tonight. I hope you enjoy your visit with us.
Janelle, thank you for inviting our guest today.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Acck! Finger bumbles! Paula, I didn’t link to your comment properly…please read comment #16 to see my reply to your post.
Cate
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Today I will…Your tips and clues make it all seem possible, and wonderful. Thanks so much, Cate!
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Thanks, Leigh. TODAY I WILL has worked wonders for me. It’s simple and effective. It works just as well when I scribble it on a napkin as when I type it neatly into a list. (Confession: I NEVER type it neatly. I scribble. And at the end of the day, I review the list – to keep score – then I toss it.)
Best,
Cate
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What a great blog, Cate! I’ve had a rough last year and a half, so the idea of sitting down to work each day and feeling joyful sounds like bliss. :-) I feel so blessed to get paid to make things up for a living, but it’s easy for me to get caught up in the crazy parts of the business and lose the joy in the process itself.
I’m actually taking this month to give myself a clean slate. In fact, today I’m purging files and stacks from my office to clear away the old and make way for the new. Add to that my shiny new MacBook Pro (I just made the switch from PCs) and an iPhone and I feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel to this technology overwhelm. My two key words for this year are “Simplify” and “Harmony”. :-)
Thanks again for a wonderful (and very timely) post!
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Kay! Go you on the clean slate! The process you described, purging and making way for the new can be magical. My goal is to do that regularly – quarterly or semi-annually – tackling it in a planned (preemptive?) manner versus waiting for things to implode which then forces me to react on a time schedule that isn’t my own.
And re: feeling blessed to get paid to make things up. Weren’t you blessed before you sold?
You got “paid” because you wrote a great story, because you did the necessary work: learning the craft, writing the story, submitting the story, learning from rejection and submitting again. And again. Did timing play into it? Luck? Sure. Timing and luck play into everything and are a little harder to pin down sometimes. What we can control is strategy, practice, skill and, of course, perseverance. All those things I know you did.
I’m loving your key words: simplify and harmony. I’m gonna borrow them.
Best,
Cate
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Welcome to the Jungle, Cate!
This is a great blog today and timely for me. One of my goals this year was to increase my productivity and I have definitely been doing that. One of the things that has really helped is the purchase of a mini-laptop. Writing in different places like at the breakfast table or writing while my daughter has her skating lesson or yesterday I wrote at the doctor’s office. I can even write while I’m making dinner. I am learning to tune out background noise, to just sink into my story and let it flow. I’m also learning to “Use The Gift”. I have that taped to my monitor. I am learning to trust in my own abilities as a writer and to stop questioning them or comparing them to other writers. This has been very freeing. I also fired my muse and hired a new one.
HUGE difference.
Thank you for being here today
Cher
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Hi, Cher!
Thanks for the welcome.
I loved reading your post. You’re doing it! I especially loved that you canned your old muse. “You’re fired!” (Ha! Take that you old harpy!) And did you spell out your expectations to your new muse? Does she know she’s on probation and that if she doesn’t perform to your specifications you’ll dismiss her too?
You hit on another magical phrase in your post: “I am learning to…” Wow, does that open doors of possibility.
Best,
Cate
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Yes, Cate, my new muse is actually a “he”. But his assistant is female. She dresses like a very efficient secretary but she carries a flame thrower, ready to vaporize any negative feelings or doubts should they come around. She keeps me on track as my muse feeds me ideas. So far, I’m very happy with both of them. But if anything changes, I won’t hesitate to turn that flame thrower on them!
Cher
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Yes! My muses have always been male. Never thought about flame throwers, though. Hmmm…
Cate
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Julie, I noticed the new Blaze. The cover is totally different. Have the Blaze covers been changed or is this new look just for the one book? Inquiring minds want to know.
Cher
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Hey, Cher. Gorgeous, isn’t it? I’ll “introduce” it to Plotmonkeys officially on Wednesday, but I had some time to mess with the sidebar yesterday (which requires the re-reading of technical instructions…no easy feat for me!) so I put it up.
Blaze is getting a new look, but I don’t think this is it. I’m not sure why my book looks so different, but as I’m totally in love with it, I’m not asking any questions.
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Yes, it’s fantastic! I love it! Can’t wait to see what the new look for Blaze
Cher
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Great blog Cate. I have to tell you that I am definitely not a writer. Just writing this comment is like pulling teeth for me.
Your book sounds really fascinating.
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Hello Joyce,
Glad you enjoyed the blog. Your comment “like pulling teeth” got me thinking, though. Did you mean the sensation of YOUR teeth being pulled? Or you having to pull somebody else’s teeth?
Either one gives me a visceral reaction.
Best,
Cate
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Hi, Caroline!
As excuses go, YOUR OWN WEDDING is a fairly major trump card. Seriously, life *does* get in the way – on a fairly regular basis these days, which is why planning is important. I periodically scan the horizon for upcoming events and then look for a way to work them in while keeping the writing a priority.
That’s what is key for me…looking at everything from the perspective of protecting the writing first. It’s not always possible, but my success rate is higher than it used to be.
I adore writing weekends. May the 19th supercharge you! And congrats on the upcoming nuptials. Weddings make me weepy…happy weepy.
Best,
Cate
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Nope not a writer, but with my drawing I was the same… I had lost interest for a while… let it go and tried new things, but then I wanted to draw again…
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Hey Colleen,
You’re right! The waxing and waning of interest/joy is universal. Writers sure don’t have a monopoly on it.
So…did you start to draw again? And did it feel good to be back at it?
Best,
Cate
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I’m not a writer, but I know that if there’s something I don’t want to do I just have to jump on it and not stop until it’s complete. It’s easy to come up with excuses so you just have to jump in and keep going.
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Hi, Joder!
I admire your determination. Your method is elegant in its simplicity.
Best,
Cate
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Welcome to the jungle, Cate. Although, I am not a writer, but a SAHM, I have found those lessons to be true. Finding the joy in everyday life has made my job joyful (even when it’s stressful).
Another Julie book!? Whoot!
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Thanks, Katie!
You summed it up nicely: “Finding the joy in everyday life…even when it’s stressful.”
And I’m with you on another Julie book! Cause to celebrate!
(I’m having fun with all these uber cool animated icons!)
Best,
Cate
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We love the icons, too….I’ll have to check out your books!
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Hi Cate,
Congrats on the new release. I’m not a writer, but a reader and I loved your Lauren Bach books. I’m looking forward to reading Max’s story.
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Hi, Jane!
Thank you for the congrats on my new book. And I’m tickled to hear you liked my Bach stories. The Noble books are faster-paced and grittier, which was part of the reason for the new name. I hope you love Max’s story…he’s one of my favorites.
Best,
Cate
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Hi Cate!
Thank you for your motivating post. Lately I’ve had major procrastination issues. I think part of the problem is the waiting. Hurry up to enter a contest, wait months for the results. Send a synposis and first three chapters to an editor, wait months for a reply. Am I wasting my valuable time writing when my manuscripts may never be published?
Then I read your post: You have to enjoy the work itself, not just the end result. And I do enjoy writing. So for now, I’ll focus on that. If publication comes in the future, even better!
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Gee, Wendy, did I write that first paragraph? Waiting used to totally derail me. (Oh, who am I kidding – EVERYTHING used to totally derail me.) It took me a long time to learn to enjoy the journey. Here’s a couple of distinctions that made a difference for me.
As soon as something was mailed, I had to forget it and leap into the next project. I needed to keep sending ships out to sea, searching for treasure. (Side note: I don’t recall the source, but I read a story about how sailing entrepreneurs in old England used to build ship after ship, outfitting them with a crew and goods, before sending them off in search of profitable trades. Back then – no phones, no radar, no radios – when a ship left the port you’d never know when, or if, it would return. Pirates? Storms? Dragons? So you started building another ship, provisioned it and sent it off. That cycle continued until one day, someone spotted one of your returning vessels on the horizon and called out “your ship has come in!” I’ve probably botched the retelling, but I adore the imagery.) Another aside: this is where my love of craft springs from. I was determined that every ship I sent out would be better than its predecessor.
The second distinction ties into my realization that the publishing game is just that: a game. For years I tried to reconcile my career as a writer with other, more traditional careers. Like accounting. It was like comparing apples and orangutans. I wasn’t even in the right ballpark. Once I accepted that publishing was a different animal, I was able to rethink my approach. Nothing that I already knew about it changed: the odds are tough. Rejection is the norm. Waiting times are horrendous. Lots of people jockeying for a limited number of slots, etc. None of those factors were within my control. At that point I had to decide if I still wanted to play the game. I did. That’s when I started concentrating on the factors that were in my control. The daily writing. The learning. The sending out of better ships.
I learned to enjoy shipbuilding. And I got a feeling you will too. (My apologies for rambling!)
Best,
Cate
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Thanks again, Cate!
Your words of wisdom came at exactly the right time!
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Thanks for the welcome, Paula. I’m delighted to be here! Your remark about being a newbie makes me smile. I first published ten years ago, yet I still consider myself a newbie – hope I always do!
Broad strokes and baby steps are crucial parts of my strategy. I stacked the deck in my favor, rewrote the rules to serve me. By keeping score and competing only with myself, I expanded my base in a way that encouraged me. A simple example: when I was writing NOTHING per day, my score was zero. That was sure easy enough to beat.
And once I was doing two pages per day consistently, that score was easy to beat by doing three pages. I didn’t compare my score to my writing buddy who was doing ten or more pages a day. Broad strokes allowed me to make forward progress, which of course built momentum.
Hope your tourney day is great!
Cate
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Thanks for the response. I am batting zero right now. I always say I will write on the weekend, but life jumps in. I need to grab the time when I can and make sure that I get things done or I will never finish. Thanks again for this great workshop today.
The tourney went well, my school won. Now, I am going to Providence to watch the Brown women play Cornell. I hope they have the same luck as my middle schoolers did.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Cate — Thanks again for joining us today in the jungle! It’s such a pleasure to have you here, and with such an AWESOME workshop! I’ve already printed it out, because I know I will read it OFTEN!
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Thank you for having me, Janelle! Everyone’s made me feel warm and welcome. Such a pleasure!
Hugs & smiles,
Cate
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Hi Cate, thanks for visiting with us today! I’m not a writer- but I think your post works well applied across the board, really. I think being happy is a lot harder than people like to admit. Will not get into the flip side. :)
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Hi, Lime
You’re so right…the basic principles apply broadly.
I don’t think being happy is as much “hard” as it is “habitual.” A lot of people have developed – consciously or unconsciously – the habit of being negative or unhappy. Their thoughts just follow the established pattern. Changing or installing new patterns or thought-habits takes consistent effort, but once mastered joy becomes the norm. And once you get used to broadcasting at a higher frequency, the “squelch” experienced when you encounter a lower frequency is profound.
Best,
Cate
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I’m not a writer. I do keep a journal but I noticed the entries were getting smaller and I take less time to describe the details. I often feel: well this is obvious why write it down extensively. When I last reread my entries they felt uninteresting and it was really a moment in which I thought I’ve lost the joy of keeping a journal. I took a 2 month break and have now been writing again. Not every day but once a week, two pages. I force myself to linger on smells and colors. Sounds and feelings. As if making them understandable for someone that has never heard, seen or felt it before. I can’t say that I’m enjoying it again like I used to but I’m making an effort to be creative. I’m hoping the love will seep back in at some point. (BTW, I enjoyed your post.)
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Hello, Kirsten!
I love the way you’re using sensory images in your journal writing. Thanks for sharing. I journal most mornings. That’s where I explore me! I don’t know what you write about, but have you asked yourself, in writing, what it would take to make it enjoyable again?
I’ve used some of the techniques from Eric Maisel’s book SLEEP THINKING, where I pose a question to myself before going to sleep, and then writing about it first thing the next morning. I got amazing clarity from the process. I, too, had drifted away from journaling, but reading Maisel got me going again. (I’m a huge fan of ALL of Maisel’s books. His next one, “BRAINSTORM: HARNESSING THE POWER OF PRODUCTIVE OBSESSIONS” doesn’t come out until June and I get hives just thinking about how long I have to wait.) Time for a Benadryl!
Best,
Cate
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I am a reader but if I have problems getting into something like quilting I just put it away for a while and take a break. This seem to help me get back into it again.
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Hi, Quilt Lady!
You’re instinctively doing what works for you! So do you switch to another creative project or just a take a complete break? Or does it vary?
Best,
Cate
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I’m sorry I’ve been gone all day! WELCOME CATE! I’m thrilled to see you in the jungle and with new books!
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Phenomenal Blog – apologies again for being late – I hope you’ll pop back on and read my reply: I periodically find and lose the joy. I have learned that the beginning to first half of any book is painful – and the second half/end eventually flows out of me. I’ve learned over time that I need to set mornings aside to write = and DO IT – but that happens consistently at the end of a book, not at the beginning. I don’t know why.
I used to write by the seat of my pants and my stories flew. The plotmonkeys began plotting in earnest – and when we don’t have time or fully intensely plot, I tend to run into more walls in my stories; the transitions are harder for me to push through. New scenes – where do I go from here and how do I get there that’s fresh – is harder for me to figure out alone. I HATE THAT. I want the day sback when the stories flew.
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Hey, girlfriend! I was hoping you’d *poof* in while I took a wine break.
Beginnings are always tougher for me. We create stories from scratch – and nowhere is that scratch more apparent than in the front. When there’s little to-no momentum with characters and plot, I need lots of do-overs. Once I get rolling, the story takes on a life of its own and, well, rolls.
Two things that help me in the beginning: Before every scene, I brainstorm on paper what’s going to happen in that immediate scene. (and only that scene!) I doodle with clusters or maybe list what I don’t know. Or I play with ways to make my current idea more exciting. (I mean that literally – I will write my scene idea in the center of a page and then write – “What would make this better?”) What usually happens is that sparks start to fly…my mind starts reeling with oohs and aahs as new excitement builds. Then I immediately launch into writing the scene. If I start losing steam, I glance back at my scene doodles. Or make new doodles.
Like you, I’ve got a couple critique partners that are rainmakers when it comes to plotting. But since we’re all working writers, it can be difficult to mesh schedules for long blocks of time. However, I’ve found that if one of them can give me fifteen minutes by phone just to hash through a scene or section, it’s enough to jump start everything. (I focus solely on scenes. I don’t think in terms of the whole book, or even chapters. I just want a solid, compelling scene. Then another. And another. ) My CPs usually know the gist of whatever book I’m working on so I don’t have to spell out the whole story. And always their insights are brilliant. (I think it’s interesting that TV-show writers frequently work in pods/clumps. They have to produce top quality work in a very short period of time, so they use the power of a group-mind. Yet we novelists too frequently slug it out alone.)
As noted, once the story hits that certain point, it soars to the end. That means I may check in with a CP ten or fifteen times during the first half of the book and not at all during the second half. (I, of course, reciprocate for them .) When I forget to call one of them and instead suffer in silence it serves no one.
Also, when you look back at what you “used to do” – back when it flew – look at the emotional connection you felt to your characters or story. If you look at just the process, it’s usually empty. What carries us is feeling. We connect with our stories first through the heart. Then we switch to the brain to write. In the beginning it’s an intuitive process. But after we sell, and have to produce on command…we frequently try to start with the brain first.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Cate
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It’s taken me all day to get through this whole post but I finally made it!
It was so important that I kept it open so I’d make sure I got through all of it.
Great information and I’m so glad you’ve been able to rediscover your joy! Thanks for a great topic and some great advice!!
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Hi, Alannah!
How neat that you’ve been with us all day. I like your analogy: Being joyful is so important that we keep it open – at the forefront of our awareness – all day.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the topic. I love talking about it…can you tell?
Best,
Cate
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I love to try new authors. I really hope to add you to my list of my favorite authors and books to read!
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Hello, Theresa.
Finding my way to new readers is what it’s all about.
Thank you for posting!
Best.
Cate
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It’s so much fun to learn about new authors!
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Hello, Caitlin!
It’s been fun being here. Thank you for posting!
Best,
Cate
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Cate’s advice is very practical and it’s relevant no matter what your profession is. I will save it and forward to friends when their careers hit a slump.
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Thanks, Enyl!
I’m pleased you enjoyed the post. It is practical stuff! Kind of one-size-fits-many. In these days of multi-tasking, we need multi-applicable solutions.
Best,
Cate
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Wow…what a day! Thank you to everyone who stopped by. Janelle, I really appreciate the opportunity to be explore the jungle
To close, I’m going to post three more tips that didn’t make the first cut.
Hugs & smiles,
Cate Noble
Look from a different angle
If you always print Courier 12, double-spaced, one-inch margins, try Times New Roman 10, half-inch margins, one-point-five spacing. Switch to landscape mode, two columns. Your words will look different – more like a galley page. They’ll read different too. Mistakes jump off the page while brilliance shines.
“People only see what they are prepared to see.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fill the well
Self-enchant more. Replenish your creative reservoir.
Find a restorative practice for your soul…Meditation? Reiki? Chanting? Walking? Dancing?
Go to the library and look at picture books. Photography, art, travel, science.
Don’t read text – just love the pictures.
“Your life is not your master. It is your child.” Emmanuel
Find a hero
Life is short. Take shortcuts. Follow in the greatest footsteps you can find.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve
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congrats on teh books and nominee, are u nervous and excited
great to have u here and great interview
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Hi, KH!
Thank you for the good words on the nomination. Yes, I am excited. No, I am not nervous. I feel I won by simply being nominated.
Have a great week!
Best,
Cate
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This was such a great post…it really came at a great time. What I love was the idea that we need to stop sometimes and remind ourselves that we can impact our own world by how we react to what’s going on.
I lost myself for a couple of years and played at writing, but this year I’ve re-focused, and things are happening. But…it’s been a tough month after some good things happened, so this was such a blessing for me to read. Thank you!
And K…hugs and love. I miss seeing you and hope we can connect soon!
Robin
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Robin!
So good to see your smiling face
I’m pleased you enjoyed the post…but I’m more pleased to hear you’re refocused. I know you’ve been through a lot. I also know you are determined. You *will* make it. Or else. (Don’t make me come out there.)
Nashville?
Hugs & smiles,
Cate
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I just found this link, and what a high to see this subject discussed so beautifully! Thank you for the mush-needed boost this blog gave me, and here’s to the writing joy!
Light,
Nancy
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Hello, Nancy!
I am so very glad you found this link! This was an incredibly dynamic exchange. It gave ME an incredible boost, too. I am so psyched and ready to write tomorrow. Light back at you!
Hugs & smiles,
Cate
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Hi Cate!
It’s a good thing I always stop in at the Plotmonkey’s. What a wonderful blog to start the weekend off. I now have you on my to get list when I go to B/N on Wed. I saw your book and I said I already have 5 in my basket so I will have to wait till next wk to buy it. I read so much and I wish I could do the writing part.
Have a great week.
Nancy :)
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Thank you, Nancy! For the good words on this blog AND for adding me to your list!
I hope you enjoy the book.
And stopping at Plotmonkey’s is always a good thing. The mojo here is awesome.
Here’s to a great week to you too!
Best,
Cate
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Cate, I’m very late, but, honestly, while not a writer, I think your post is the most illuminating I’ve ever read about what it takes to be a writer. Thanks for the wonderful insight.
Patricia
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Hello, Patricia!
Thank you for the compliment. Everyone who commented expanded the content. I went to bed very pleased last night.
Have a wonderful week!
Best,
Cate