Helping the Writer’s Mind

Oh my God! I desperately wanted to finish that story. Look! I have abandoned it. I had been working on it for the past one month. It’s been six weeks since I haven’t touched it. Would I be able to resume it? How could I do justice to the story, now, after such a long time of discontinuation? I do have some notes made from the times, while I worked on the stuff. I do not think those notes are of any help, anymore, though. 

It is clear to me how vague the classification of writers would be if I categorized them based on such feelings as above. A writer, at almost all stages of his or her growth feels this way. Most of those super-successful writers may not experience it the same way, because they have the ability to pursue writing without bothering much about another day-job, but apparently have other issues that affect them the same way.

If writing gives a person immense pleasure or joy, and the person is forced to work in a bakery in order to make a living, the resulting conflict could damage the mental equilibrium of that person. Those person(s) who have no aptitude for working in a bakery, when forced to compromise their psychological ecosystem with the sophistication of an altogether different system of things, creative writing suffers. This is when one feels; “Oh my God! I desperately wanted to finish that story. Look! I have abandoned it.”

The fear for being not able to do justice to one’s work of a lifetime deserves wise handling. If not, it will consume the writer, wholly. The totality of all fears has their common grounding in the unknown. In the case of the above-mentioned writer (let us call him Paul), the unknown part is the quality of his work. Paul does not know and fears this fact: how would it all turn out to be. How could I do justice to the story now, after such a long time of discontinuation?

In order to undo the fear of the unknown, the simplest method can be the Jungian concept of assimilation of psychic realities. Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) was a German psychoanalyst, whose groundbreaking theories on human mind, guided the world into a modern-renaissance. He argues about a specific course of action through which a human being can bring out the contents of his unconscious and experience it in the conscious level in order to alleviate the pressure from the unconscious side.

This same method is useful in undoing the fear for the unknown in Paul’s case. If Paul is uncertain of the results his work could bring him after a considerable gap in the process of writing, he should first, look at the results. There is only one way he can get the result—by completing the work. Paul just needs some gut feeling to cross the initial fear.  

If one is stuck with the fear of how the work would turn out to be, the possibility of writing a book or a story is obliterated entirely. It is up to you to take that step courageously. Your work deserves to be born, simply because you have such strong feeling for it. Let your fears not obligate the stopping of your creative work.

About Anu Lal
If you liked this article, you might like my book too. Take a look.

Anu Lal is the author of Wall of Colors and Other Stories. He lives in Kerala, South India. He blogs at The Indian Commentator 

You can catch up with him in Facebook too.      

etymologically speaking: a creativity warm-up &/or writing challenge

"Tête de Mort"
A vintage postcard I own,
The artist is fabulous,
Yet unknown

Here's a challenge:

Choose a word and create a history for it. Don't google-cheat. Make it up! Use a word you know little about, or one you've heard but are clueless on how to use, or even spell. This diddy could be an etymology (or entymology) story, a piece of usage guidance - whatever. You've probably at least a bubble of an idea already, so I suggest running with that! Really, ditch this, and go jot down your idea. This post isn't going anywhere; it can wait for your non-return.


In case you've returned, here's one I've been thinking about today:

MORTALITY is a word used only by those who haven't experienced the thing. The use of the word mortality perpetuates the notion of immortality. We believe ourselves to be immortal 'til we're not.  Mortality is something others around us fall victim to, like a genetic disease that we didn't seem to inherit. It's a sweaty match of Russian Roulette, and, so far, we're winning.

Mortality statistics spoken from powdered and hairsprayed newsanchors are treated with an air of victimhood. The boogeyman got the poor, mortal souls, and we, the Eternals, continue to be so.

There is a reverence and a kind of sympathy the Eternals express when confronted with death. It can be any combination of:

"How could this happen?"
"No one saw it coming."
"She's in a better place."

But amidst the deep sadness, is there not a message hidden in between the breaths? The negative space seems to say, "I'm sorry that death happened to them."

"I thought we were in this together! I thought you were one of us."
"Death? That still exists? What happened to modern science?"
"This place is fine for me, sayonara."

It's as if there are two species - Homo sapiens sapiens mortalis, and Homo sapiens sapiens eternalis. With every death we encounter, with every utterance of the word "mortality," our god complexes are fed, and our belief that we are the latter species crystallizes.


On that note (I hate it when my creativity follows the well-worn path of morbidity), I hope your internal investigations are more brightly colored. Well, no. I don't hope for anything. I am genuinely curious, though. Tell me I'm full of bull pucky if you think so. Better yet, give me your stories and they'll get compiled and published on our little blog! You can email them to quoz@riseup.net or post them in the comments. I eagerly await!

Brighter next time,

Quozimodo

Launching through the Stellardoor

Imagine, if you will... 

...a place outside of time, beyond the boundaries of this earth, floating in space, an astral step through a stellar door. 

I am exploring rare experiences and places, the esoteric and mythical, the mind boggling and seemingly mundane yet out-of-place oddities that only show up to entice us to new realms. 

My name is Stellardoor. I have something for you. It is my gift to give to whomever I wish and I wish to give it to the eager seeker. What I do - what my greatest ability is - will be to find the doorways to new dimensions. It will be your job to open the door. Now, let me explain.

I am also known as Kim Lacey. I was born during a rare stellium of planets in Aquarius that has marked the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. According to my mother, my first word was light. My Aunt Maxine would carry me around the room and I actually have a memory of her holding me, pointing to the wall lamp and laughing as she would carry me over to the light so I could be closer to it. Over & over again - always moving, entranced, toward the light. 

I carried this desire for the light into all things throughout my life. Later I explored the dark and embraced its understanding. We will get into that as we become familiar with our relationship to the wildly esoteric and seemingly simple side of life...and beyond life as we now know it. We have much to cover. 

For now, suffice it to know that I have traveled astrally and physically through dimensional portals and I wish to show you the way. One of the "ways" is through imagination. We will use imagination and creativity to hone in on the portals. We will discover unusual beings that have much to teach us on our travels. I need only to gather the ones that are ready...yearning to press forward. I am seeking inspired fools - fools of inspirited inspiration. We will interact and help each other along. I will be the dog nipping at your feet. But first we must discover your wings and how to use them. Let's go, Grasshopper. 

Read At Your Own Risk

The Doctor

Whoa! Did you feel that?!
This blog just got even more awesome.  While continuing to enjoy the invaluable wisdom of previous posts, you will begin to notice a twist. Twist? An entanglement with eccentricity, an inkling for thinking out of the cube, and a fresh breeze of weirdness. After all, being true to the Muse often means a grope in the darkness, a risky move that scares the bejeebers out of you, or accepting the likelihood that you will be labeled 'weird.'  Thank your lucky star if that should happen, because 'standard' and 'ordinary' do not make for great (or even enjoyable) works of art. I can hardly stand to look at a painting if the painter wasn't at least half crazy.

Well, I might as well introduce myself. Everyone thinks my name is Lindsey. Y'all are about to hear the truth. Lindsey is an alias to veil my true identity. Are you sitting down?

No, I'm not Batman. Sorry.

My name is Dr. (Ki)2. I bring with me a few particularly talented individuals. Together, we're a sort of Superhero Blog Squad. I'll let them introduce themselves, because I sure don't know how to describe their, er, unique attributes. We plan to support the creative community, because it is the lifeblood that keeps passion in our souls, elevates emotions and aspirations, and lifts us out of our comatose state of sleepwalking through life, confusing reality and Facebook while worrying about jobs and laundry. Creativity lifts us to a higher plane of thought and contemplation- to a place we can really learn something about ourselves, expand our worldviews and reevaluate our values.

Change.
 Change is scary.
  Change is absolutely necessary for growth.
    Change helps sensitize the artist to the creative impulse.
      The creative impulse, inspiration, light bulb above head, the Muse... The world of the artist has no map.
        Impulse and intuition are essential, but must be balanced by context, perspective, and motivation. All is naught if the fire of desire to Make isn't blazing, and sometimes we all need a little help fanning the flames. That's why I'm here. As your Doctor, I will regularly prescribe a task intended to light you up and enhance the creative process.

Today's Prescription:  LAUGH.
We're talking deep-belly, uncontrollable, unstoppable laughter. Laugh until you cry. You may then commence weeping if you're the swift mood-shift type. Equilibrium and poise have plenty of merit, but sometimes you need a swift rush of chemicals in the head; such as an adrenaline rush, the hot blush at the smile of your crush, and the reckless abandon of unbridled laughter. It's like a flood of water breaking through the dam of tension, worry, and stress -all of which directly counteract the creative act.

What makes you laugh? Share in the comments section below, because everybody deserves a good laugh. It changes your perspective from gloom cloud to rainbow, or from ghetto to palace, or whatever.
Every artist has their toolbox, and if yours doesn't have a sense of humor in it, I urge you to obtain one. How?
I don't know! I find most things amusing, at least, and a great many to be absolutely hilarious.
I recommend purposefully seeking out things/people/activities which have been known to squeeze a chuckle out of you. Make them regular events in your life. Yes, you do have time. We are talking about your artistic soul, here! Without a sense of humor, you are crippled.

Here is a glimpse at what you have to look forward to:

• There will be more on the Artist's Toolbox.
• There will be prescriptions for your creative health.
• It is possible that I may reveal my superpower; but don't get your hopes up.
• Caution: There is significant risk of exposure to absurdity and whimsy directly followed by solemnity or grim determination.
• There will most definitely be local artists -indie and legit- of many flavors and mediums and styles.

There are artists of so many varieties making mindbogglingly magnificent creations all over the place. We plan on tracking them down and publicly exposing their brilliance. If you know someone whose artwork isn't receiving the celebration it deserves, hit us up. You can name-drop in a comment or contact us via email.

      Take 2 bouts of raucous laughter and call me in the morning.
~Dr. (Ki)2
brainfingers@gmail.com
Chapter One and Book-It!

Bin to Bestsellers: the Importance of Other People in your Writing Life

Making money writing is the hardest job on planet earth, however, there are people who do it effectively and make a living out of it. Being not one of them is not your problem, but aspiring not to be one is.

Is finding a publisher the best option for you as a writer? Richard Bach once mentioned in an interview; it’s not a publisher a writer searches for, but an editor. This relationship is one that should last for a lifetime. An editor understands where the music of words has to be slowed down or where it must run faster. But to get one worthy enough, you must do a lifetime’s waiting.

As a beginner in freelancing and in professional writing, how do you get an editor whose service can be worthwhile? Beginners are always stuck with the same problem; lack of funds. This in turn hampers your look out for an editor. Good editors are sale items with relatively high price money. There are many writers’ communities that offer editing services. Even some literary agencies offer you with editing services. However, if you are a first timer and one without enough weight in your bank account, hiring an editor for your book or manuscript will not be, normally, easy.

The best way to tackle this situation is to find reliable and easy options for editors. One need not go much farther for this end. Just look around and you will find yourself to be blessed with many minds, gifted with the one serum of eternal life—love—around you, ready to help reading your manuscript.

Showing your manuscript to your friends and family or girl friend would be a better option. In such a case, the money spent would be much close to null on editing services. The best editors are those who actually care for our work. You must be open to their criticisms; however, in harsh criticisms you can always rely on their lack of professional experience as the hideout from humiliation.

Stephen King, when he wrote his first novel, Carrie, did not think it would make up to the publishing standards and threw it into the bin. But his wife Tabitha King accidentally discovered the manuscript and read it. Thinking that it would be something worth of a quality, she put it back on the table and later helped King to rework on it. The novel went to become a best seller of its times and was made into a successful Hollywood movie.

This is one real life example from the life of America’s most celebrated and enthusiastic writer, Stephen King. This could be yours too. A relationship not just helps an individual to maintain one’s emotional health but the creative output as well. Now wait your sweet heart to tell you where to put the period.

If you liked this article, you might like my book too. Take a look.

About Anu Lal:

Anu Lal is the author of Wall of Colors and Other Stories. He lives in Kerala, South India. He blogs at The Indian Commentator 

You can catch up with him in Facebook too.      

 

23 Tips from Famous Authors for New and Emerging Writers

I.

“I have advice for people who want to write. I don’t care whether they’re 5 or 500. There are three things that are important: First, if you want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you. Where you just put down what you think about life, what you think about things, what you think is fair and what you think is unfair. And second, you need to read. You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader. It’s the great writers who teach us how to write. The third thing is to write. Just write a little bit every day. Even if it’s for only half an hour — write, write, write.” ― Madeleine L’Engle

II.

“Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done, no shortcut. The young writer would be a fool to follow a theory. Teach yourself by your own mistakes; people learn only by error. The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him.” ― William Faulkner

III.

“Read Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande. Then do what it says, including the tasks you think are impossible. You will particularly hate the advice to write first thing in the morning, but if you can manage it, it might well be the best thing you ever do for yourself. This book is about becoming a writer from the inside out. Many later advice manuals derive from it. You don’t ­really need any others, though if you want to boost your confidence, “how to” books seldom do any harm. You can kick-start a whole book with some little writing exercise.” ― Hilary Mantel

IV.

“Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that – but you are the only you.” ― Neil Gaiman

V.

“Becoming a writer is about becoming conscious. When you’re conscious and writing from a place of insight and simplicity and real caring about the truth, you have the ability to throw the lights on for your reader. He or she will recognize his or her life and truth in what you say, in the pictures you have painted, and this decreases the terrible sense of isolation that we have all had too much of.” ― Anne Lamott

Best Route to Success?

Image Courtesy: www.birminghampost.net

Lee Child, the bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, once, in an interview remarked that the best advice for a beginning writer is not to listen to any advice at all. This seems to be the best advice any writer has given anywhere in the world, about writing to a beginner.

Beginning is always a confusing stage, where the person is not at all sure which way to turn at the fork on the road. Writing classes, interviews, biographies, memoirs, and newspaper advice gurus become the best way and the beginner is often lost in chasing one of them for the best advice.

If you listen to John Irving, for example, you will begin your novel writing the end of the story first. If your faith leads you to Jeffery Deaver, you will spend the rest of your life plotting and planning. Stephen King will tell you never plan, just follow your story, which is an advice much like what the great master Sidney Sheldon might give you as well.

The difference between writing advice and the materialization of a manuscript is a term called ‘Self’. Every snowflake is unique in its own way, says science. Every drop of honey is sweet with its own sweetness. Philosophy calls this uniqueness ‘qualia’. Similarly, every individual is unique too. This uniqueness has a name—Subjectivity. Creative energy takes its own course in through every individual. It is different with each individual.

The varying opinions of each of the above-mentioned masters of the craft prove the same. You have a way of yours’ own with words; this is the truth, the only, undeniable, unalterable, unquestionable truth.

Successful creation of a story of any length depends on the trust a writer develops on one’s own way with words. Plot your story or do not plot your story, you are still the best and no one can change that.

The only thing that matters is the finished manuscript of your book, short story, or poem and the courage to send it to a publisher or post it on your own blog, for the public to read.