Getting Organized: Do What Works for You
If I’ve learned anything in my creative endeavors with friends, it’s that we all have a different way of doing things. Some writers plot out their stories. Some writers fly by the seat of their pants. Some people build a puzzle starting with the edge pieces, and other puzzlers start in the middle.
Finding out what works for you is the key to staying motivated with a project.
There’s not a right or wrong way to fold towels. There’s not a right or wrong way to organize an invention center. But it is important to take a little bit of time, consider your organizational style, and put your space together the way you like it.
What makes your creative spirit happy?
Do your insides sing when you see alphabetized DVD’s? Do bins in coordinating colors make you relax and want to create something new? Do quotes by your favorite inspirational leaders keep you moving forward? Let those answers direct how you move forward organizing your invention center.
I recently edited a book by the popular lifestyle blogger Sarah Symonds called Designing a Life: From House to Haven. The bit of magic she unlocks in her book changed my perspective on home décor forever. She uses a 10-step method to help individuals discover their creative style and use it to turn their home into a place of refuge. I highly recommend her book, and I’m applying her principles as I build my invention center. [Noteworthy: I don’t receive financial compensation for pitching Sarah’s book – I just found in genuinely useful and wanted to share it. Also, my center doesn’t reflect her style.]
What fuels my creative spirit?
Junk.
Even better?
Junk inside of junk.
In my invention center, I have a shoebox full of toilet paper rolls ready and waiting. Old grapefruit containers are filled with rocks. Acrylic paint is splattered on the table, and the table itself is made of uneven boards and 2×4’s that I cut in straight (warped) lines with a scroll saw.
If you’ll please notice in the featured picture, the top of the table doesn’t match or fit the bottom. And the cat photobombing my art habitually scatters the oh-so-nicely placed scissors and pliers. I’ll be the first to admit it: my center does need a chair. But it’s my happy place, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Let your invention center be your happy place, and just do what you do. Because there’s no one in the world who can invent exactly like you.
Until next time,
Invent your story
Rejection. It’s not really the part of the writer’s life that’s fun to talk about. It’s great writing material – rejection involves conflict! Rejection is interesting! Rejection is an obstacle for the protagonist to overcome!
Rejection stinks.
Sure, it’s expected. Even the extremely successful writers are criticized and rejected by people – or their work is. And it’s a wonderful teacher (that’s for another post). I don’t expect everyone to like my work, but I do hope somebody does.
And since my last post on writing, somebody did. I mentioned WOW – Women on Writing last time because I’d submitted my work to their competition and knew I was a finalist. They liked my work – the question was, would I be a winner?
Drum roll, please….
Runner-up! My story As for Adventure was one of the top ten stories for their Spring 2018 Flash Fiction contest, and it’s so weird to be writing the words you can read my published work by clicking here. You really can. This actually happened.
Every one of us has a story and experiencing this part of mine makes me want to thank everyone in the world who helped me. Because this is something I could never do on my own. I’m thankful to God, my parents who encouraged me, my sisters who’ve always had my back, my husband who’s in my corner, my kids who genuinely care, my amazing friends who’ve walked with me in life, my teachers who gave me tools and encouragement along the way – thank you so much. Without you, I wouldn’t be doing what I do. And so many thanks to WOW with guest judge literary agent Sharon Pelletier of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. If writers didn’t have opportunities like this one, we’d be missing the challenges that help propel us forward. Thank you!
Because this is my first “real success” as a writer, there’s a something I want to share with you that I hope make a difference for someone out there.
I joined a writing group almost two years ago. My first night there, I brought a poem with me, and I was terrified to read it. Terrified, but I knew if I was really going to do this writer thing, I needed to face that fear.
Before I could get the words out, I said:
This is stupid. This is so stupid.
Then I read it. A leader pointed out some of the poem’s strengths and where it could be improved. People liked it well enough, and I was excited to come back to group again – but in the parking lot afterward, a girl came up to me and said
Don’t ever, EVER call your work stupid.
And since that day, I never have. Because it’s not stupid. I don’t approach writing lightly, and I think most writers don’t. My writing group has weathered many rejections with me. Some of my dear friends edited the winning story for me before submission. And this month, when I walked in the door, the entire group burst into applause to celebrate my placement in WOW’s competition. They are amazing people who I love.
If you’re a writer and you’re not connected with other writers, you are missing out. My writing group helped move me from rejecting my own work, to learning how to weather rejection from others, to celebrating success.
Who you journey with makes all the difference.
Until next time,
Invent your story
If you want to follow some of my amazing writer friends who helped improve my story, check out their websites here!
Writing a rough draft is exhilarating. Most of the time. That new idea bubbles up in my mind, tingles my fingertips, and makes me sit my busy butt down long enough to put it on paper. It’s my happy place. However, editing is an entirely different animal.
Editing is like unleashing my inner pack on my writing. I don’t know if everyone has a crowd of canines that crashes into their thoughts, but if you don’t, I’d love to introduce you to some of mine. They’re extremely friendly and helpful. Most of the time.
The Bloodhound: This editor sniffs out each nook and cranny from sentence structure to syllable count. She snarls at spelling mistakes. She barks, “You just wrote two sentence fragments instead of complete sentences. You’re breaking the rules.” Bloodhounds are very useful, and I love them, but sometimes I have to call her off the scent. Once in awhile, it’s okay to break the rules.
The Yippy Cocker: Not all cocker spaniels are yippy dogs, but this one is. She yaps, “It’s too short!” “It’s too long!” “Use better language!” “That’s not right!” “That’s not right either!” “Don’t erase it!” No wonder she always need to pee. If I can calm the hyper, this puppy’s really useful. I just don’t let the little dog run my show.
The Shaggletooth Monster: He’s the dog featured in this post. He’s a mutt. He has no pedigree, and loves everything. He doesn’t bark, yip, growl, or bay – he licks. He will lick the wall, the floor, the couch, the toys, the paper plates…and I forgot he’s supposed to be in my head.
This editor never stops trying to get that last crumb off the page. The truest dog on a bone, he will keep at a piece of work until he’s accidently shredded and destroyed it. So, I love this guy, but at some point I have to pull that drool-soaked manuscript out of his mouth and say, “Okay. Let’s hand this off to someone else.”
If you don’t have a pack of pups on your writing team, I think it’s worth your time to sit down and discover how you think about what you write. Not only is this exercise useful, it can be a lot of fun. I want close with, “Trying it will make you want to howl!” But my team is good at holding me at bay. Most of the time.
Until next time,
Invent your story
This question was posted on #PBParty today: What are 3 things every picture book writer should know? I am writing the long version of my answer today, because this is something I am passionate about. Writers have a responsibility to our readers. There are a lot of wonderful resources out there to help you develop your voice, use writing techniques, and improve your craft. But it falls short of the goal without these three components.
Number 1: Know Who You’re Writing To
More than that, don’t underestimate who you’re writing to. Picture book writers don’t just write stories for children. They write stories for everyone. The creative license is off the charts with children’s books, and it’s easy to get lost in marshmallow fluff and lose substance.
Even if the reader is 3-6 months old and likes to eat a book as much as look at it. That kid is smart. And as pieces come together, authors owe it to their audience to make pages come to life.
Number 2: Know Why You are Writing
This isn’t a question you have to ask at the beginning – but you definitely need to know the answer inside out before you submit your work for publication. What moved you to write what you did? Why did you push through?
Write about the thing that is important to you. You need a compass to complete a writing work. “Why” is a great compass.
Number 3: Know How Will it Benefit the Child/Reader
Say your answer to “why” was “because I like puppies.” I like puppies too. I’ve written about my puppy, and I had a ball doing it. But when you write about puppies, and consider thinking deeper.
Hear me out on this. We can all celebrate puppies – I’m on board. As a writer though, don’t forget you have a rare opportunity to inspire, teach, and build up brilliant young minds. Seize that opportunity.
Let them read your last page ready for more in life.
Invent your story.