I read somewhere that not only inspiration is needed in the writing process but also structure. I have just realized that important tid bit. I use to write when I was struck by an idea, emotion, or revelation. Then some time would pass when I would begin writing again and I never seemed to finish what I had started. I found out that not only inspiration is needed but also a work ethic. Just like going to a job for a certain period of time, you need to also set aside time each day to write. Now this isn't a flawless plan. There has been many times I sat there with pen in hand but nothing on paper. I guess this would be the so called "writer's block." But I learned that if I don't atleast try I become lazy in my efforts. I start getting absorbed in TV shows or other non-sense. I am not saying watching your favorite show is a bad thing, just when it consumes most of your time. I never thought the writing process would need structure the way a daily 9-5 job would. But it actually does. Maybe because I didn't learn this lesson earlier in life, I haven't had much success in completing the projects that I started.
I read lots of tips and feedback on how different authors have different ways of creative writing. I am not trying to replicate them. I merely try to find useful information that I can possible learn from. Everyone has their own style and their own way of doing things. I have to say though I love it more when I am writing with inspiration rather than structure. It could be in the middle of night or during a shower that a thought or emotion strikes me and I have to write it down before I lose it. It is just thrilling to me. I embrace the creative side of my brain. Maybe if I embraced the other side I would be a doctor or a lawyer. HaHa. But I just love books. I love reading them. I love collecting them. And I love writing them. I would love to hear the ways that you write. What works best for you? What sparks your inspiration? Do you have a structure when it comes to creative writing? Let me know! The suspense is killing me.
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AS I AM IN THE MIDST OF WRITING I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT GETTING YOUR BOOK OUT THERE ON THE SHELVES TAKES MUCH MORE THAN JUST WRITING YOUR STORY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH SELF-PUBLISHING. IT SEMMS MOST OF MY TIME IS SPENT PROMOTING MY BOOK. BUT I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I AM FINDING THE PROCESS ACTUALLY FUN AND INFORMATIVE. THE LINKEDIN SITE HAS HELPED A LOT WITH FINDING USEFUL TIPS FROM OTHER OTHERS ON HOW TO GET YOUR BOOK MORE EXPOSURE. I ESPECIALLY FOUND THAT CREATING YOUR OWN BOOK TRAILER TO PUT ON YOUTUBE AND OTHER SITES IS A FANTASTIC WAY OF GETTING YOUR BOOK NOTICED. NOW, MY BOOK ISN'T EVEN DONE YET. I EXPECT IT TO BE PUSBLISHED IN MARCH, 2013. BUT I FIGURED I WOULD GET A JUMP ON THE GAME BY CREATING ANTICIPATION FOR ITS RELEASE.
I ALSO FOUND THAT MAKING A LOT OF CONNECTIONS ON DIFFERENT SITES IS VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE JOINED A FEW GROUPS ON LINKEDIN THAT ARE FOR CREATIVE WRITERS AND AUTHORS. THIS IS A GREAT WAY OF FINDING HELPFUL INFORMATION. I ALSO JOINED GROUPS ON FACEBOOK TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT. ONE FACT I DEFINITELY KNEW BEFOREHAND WAS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE RELATED TO YOUR BOOK. SINCE MY BOOK IS ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS I HAVE TARGETED THE MS SITES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY AND MSCONNECTION. NOW, I AM ALREADY A MEMBER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SINCE I MYSELF HAS MS. BUT MAKING THEM AWARE OF MY UPCOMING BOOK TARGETS A PARTICULAR AUDIENCE THAT IS RELATED TO MY STORY. I AM NOT SAYING THAT I DON'T WANT OTEHRS TO READ IT WHO DO NOT HAVE MS. I WILL NOT BE SO NARROW MINDED. I KNOW MY BOOK CAN BE INSPIRATIONAL TO ANYONE DEALING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS OR BASICALLY ANY CRISIS IN THEIR LIVES. STILL I AM FINDING MY FOOTING IN THIS WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE. I AM LEARNING AS I GO BUT FIND THE ADVENTURE QUITE EXCITING. THERE IS A QUESTION THAT TAKES SOME COMTEMPLATING. E-BOOK VS. PAPER BOOK??!! WELL, FOR ME PERSONALLY I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TO SIDE WITH THE GOOD OLE FASHIONED PAPER BOOK. I HAVE TRIED KINDLE AND THE NOOK BUT IT JUST WASN'T THE SAME. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT I JUST DIDN'T ENJOY IT NOR DID I RETAIN THE INFORMATION AS I NORMALLY WOULD WITH A PAPER BOOK. I AM A VISUAL READER. WHEN I READ A BOOK I TAKE MY TIME AND EVEN RE-READ PAGES OR REFER BACK TO THEM WHEN I AM MORE INTO THE STORY. THIS CREATES ALMOST LIKE A MOVIE EFFECT IN MY MIND. I CAN ACTUALLY VISUALIZE THE STORY IN MY HEAD. I GUESS THIS IS WHY I RETAIN MOST OF THE BOOKS I READ EVEN IF IT WAS YEARS AGO. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WHEN THE MENTION OF A BOOK I READ COMES UP AGAIN IN A DISCUSSION MY MIND DRAWS UPON THE IMAGES I ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I CAN NOT GET THIS FROM AN E-BOOK.
ALSO, I AM QUITE A COLLECTOR OF RARE AND ANTIQUE BOOKS. MY PRIDE POSSESIONS ARE A FIRST EDITION ULYSSES, A COPY OF MACBETH FROM 1881, AND I JUST PURCHASED A FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINT COPY OF A COLLECTION OF EDGAR ALLEN POE WORKS FROM 1911. I JUST DON'T PUT THEM ON A SHELF TO BRAG OR LOOK PRETTY. I ACTUALLY READ THEM EVEN IF I READ THEM BEFORE. THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT AN ACTUAL PAPER BOOK THAT YOU CAN HOLD IN YOUR HANDS AND TURN THE PAGES. I KNOW E-BOOKS IMITATE THIS BUT THEY CAN NEVER POSSESS THAT ACTUAL FEELING. THAT'S JUST MY OPINIOIN. EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN PREFERENCE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU PREFER AN E-BOOK OR A TRADITIONAL BOOK? |
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