Packing More into Your 24: Habits of the Highly Creative

Keeping vodka bedside and imbibing snuff daily are two of the not-so-nice habits of many creatives, according to a recent buzzworthy book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Curry.

However, there is much for even Christian authors to glean from the ideas here.

Ever since I found this infographic making the rounds on facebook, I've found myself wondering what do these people do that I don't? Apparently, lots. (Be sure to click the link to study the charts for yourself!)

So what do the top 16 creatives (including Franklin, Darwin, Dickens, Milton and the lone female inclusion Maya Angelou) have in common? How can these insights help us in our quest for building our own creativity?

1) To sleep, perchance to dream:

In this busy world, lack of sleep becomes a brag point, especially in the trenches of the career and parenting years. Its as if our puffy, violet-rimmed eyes are a badge of honor.

However, with the exception of Mr. Freud's 6 hour stretches (mayhaps that may explain a theory or two?) the individuals identified as the most creative slept 7-8 hours per night.

I know for me my clarity in thinking IS affected by even one night of lost sleep, apparently the same is true even for the most well-known minds.

Something as simple as turning off that light at night and allowing yourself to get those 8 hours might be a game changer for your story.

Ever hear the phrase, "sleep on it?" A nap might be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing again.

2) Have an unchanging block of time devoted to writing:

But you may say, I'm not a schedule person. I fly by the seat of my pants.

I find whatever I don't include in my schedule has a tendency to not get finished.

How can you be more intentional about having a block of time every day:

-Creatives know their best times of day: If you are one of those people who can't function without a long shower and coffee, then perhaps the 5 am. shift isn't the best time for you to write. On the other hand, take into consideration the schedules of your family. If you have young children, an afternoon naptime block may not be the best time for you creatively, but you may need to learn to work within this timeframe for now.

-Creatives understand what type of time blocking is best for them.Perhaps you need a shorter span of time, an hour when you get up for writing, then an hour during your lunch break, and a last hour at night. Or maybe you work best in one block.

-Creatives stick to their routine day in and day out until it becomes a habit.

3) Shake your body:

Almost all of the people on the list take a daily walk. Several run. A few on the list take walks that last for hours at a time. Milton walked up and down his garden for four hours a day.

-Moving your body increases your energy and work output throughout the day: I find working out is a game-changer to my whole day. Although carving the hour out of my day is a challenge, its amazing how it adds productivity to the rest of my day.

subtract time, add energy is a winning balanced out equation!

-Walking in beautiful surroundings provides inspiration. There is a great series of books entitled Great Hikes in (name your state) which lists noteworthy spots. If you are stuck for ideas, often a change of setting helps. Also, don't forget you can be doing research on the very real settings around you to make your own settings more realistic.

-Exercise is a great time for thinking and praying about your story. Time free from the noise and busyness of cell phones (leave them at home), computers, and the hustle and bustle of life in this 21st century may be all the quiet you need to think through your idea. Our loud world is a big time creativity blocker and we need to be intentional about finding solitude and silence as it just doesn't happen naturally.

4) Social time:

Kant visited with a friend for several hours daily. Balzac's evenings involved a bath and receiving visitors. And Victor Hugo, creator of Les Miserables, took a long carriage ride with his girlfriend daily.

-Observing and listening improves your characters and your dialogue. Real-life people are the fodder for your stories. Clothing, gestures, facial expressions, body language can all be observed in the process of everyday life.

-A fuller life equals a fuller writing life. There is a certain joie de vivre that spills out from our everyday life into our writing life allowing us to write words that minister to others.

5) Prayer and meditation:

There are few things that can nurture our energy more than time spent with the Lord. Make sure you keep it as a part of your unchanging daily routine.

I know many writers start their writing time in prayer and it has definitely helped me. Not looking to God as a magical genie to fixing your writing problems, but instead he is working on your character through your calling to write.

6) Read, read, read!

A majority of the top 16 minds listed spent time daily reading. They recognized that other's knowledge can help us grow and had a hunger to learn at the feet of other greats. Even if its 10-15 minutes, make time daily to read and not just in the genres you want to write in. Read a variety of topics, genres from many mediums.

7) Find time to do what energizes you.

Whether taking baths, bicycling, carriage riding, spending time with friends, or drinking black coffee (Balzac was said to have drank up to 40 cups daily!) all creative people spent time doing something that they enjoyed daily even if only for a few minutes. What can you make the time for today to energize you?


What habits have helped you in your quest for creativity?

Julia writes contemporary fiction to mirror truth. A former assistant librarian, she now channels her card cataloguing skills into homeschooling her elementary aged littles and writing for Library Journal. She has reviewed for a variety of websites for several years.

A Season For Everything

On www.freedigitalphotos.net by Naypong

I've never been one to sit around and stew for very long. I am a fixer. If it's messed up, I immediately scramble for a solution. If it's a "no" and I want a "yes" I begin to contemplate scenarios to work toward a change. Maybe one would call me a go-getter...or a spoiled brat (cringe). Sometimes it's a good trait and sometimes it's a bad trait. Just depends on the situation.
Lately though, I have stumbled into situations where the "fixability" is just not so obvious...the quick solution is just out of the question. I have felt broken (click here for my personal post on this).
Whether it be a slew of rejections on the book of my heart with less and less hope for a "yes", or a broken relationship where time is the only medicine, I am starting to realize the importance of a season versus a momentary lapse.

On www.freedigitalphotos.net by Grant Cochrane

I would rather throw a fit, move forward, and slap a huge happy band-aid on my struggles. It's worked before. A new contest to enter, a new book proposal to whip up, an apology, a change of scenery...

But what happens when those things just don't cut it? When the future...while glimmering with hope in the distance...just isn't all that pretty in the up-close? When the writing doesn't come, the desire is as parched as a dried up inkwell, and chaos is frantically buzzing around?

If you are anything like me, I don't give myself a chance to just mourn the situation. I feel lesser and selfish when I do. I want to pick myself up by the bootstraps (pardon my cliche...not shooting for a polished contest entry) and brush it off and prove that I am strong, mature, and following God's wisdom. It's a good attitude to have right? But it doesn't always heal...it just has me walk away from one mess and straight into the next one. It's like cramming for a test and forgetting the knowledge as soon as you put your pencil down.

You don't learn a darn thing.

I'll admit, that lately, I have given myself time to mourn...personal stuff and writing stuff. I have sat here and felt like a wilted flower that, no matter how my friends and my God try to lift me up to standing, I have no will to look toward the sun or receive refreshment. I have wallowed, I have cried, and I have done absolutely nothing to change the pace.

On www.freedigitalphotos.net by Serge Bertasius Photography

You know what though? I needed that rest. It didn't look pretty, and it certainly felt stagnant, but it gave me the chance to weep when I needed too, to flesh out all the horrid thoughts and regrets, and to remember I am nothing...without Christ.

 I just need to give myself time. And not always try to push through. I need to be still in the season and know God will work. His word is clear:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:...a time to weep and a time to laugh,  a time to mourn and a time to dance..." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

There is a season for everything. Why do I always hope for Spring when Winter must run its course first?

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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

What's Up the Street for Next Week?

Photo Credit

Is spring late in coming to your neck of the woods? 

It seems to be dragging it's heels throughout the nation.

Do you have the hopeful peek of the tulips from the flower beds or is snow burying any hope of green shoots and pink flower buds?

What's up next week on the Alley?

Angie shares about a season for everything with us on Monday.

Tuesday, Julia continues her series on creativity. What are you doing to feed yours this weekend?

Wednesday, our resident Aussie, Karen pops in from the future to share her post on how blogging can improve your novel-writing.

Ashley is your hostess on Thursday!

Have you met the Alley's miracle baby yet? Amy will pause between rocking baby Eisley on Friday to share her special brand of writing wisdom.

Hoping for plenty of bunnies and green grass in your area!

An Interview with Christina Tarabochia

Casey here: I am excited to have Christina Tarabochia on the Alley today. Christina is one of my favorite authors and is now an active royalty paying publisher--Ashberry Lane-- who is setting up shop in the Pacific Northwest. I'm excited to have an interview up for you here today. Who knows--she might be someday be publishing your book. ;-) 

Welcome, Christina!

Hello Christina Tarabochia! Welcome to The Writer’s Alley. :- ) What can you tell us about your publishing company that you have opened?


Founded in early 2013 by myself and my mother, Sherrie Ashcraft, AshberryLane is a small, traditional publishing company. We had originally planned on only publishing our own work, but it quickly became apparent that God’s plans for us were far bigger than that limited vision. In the words of Ephesians 3:19-20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (NASB)

We come from a tight knit, crazy-fun family. Authors who are brave enough to sign with us become part of it!

What prompted you to open your own publishing company (Ashberry Lane)?


At first, again, it was to publish On the Threshold. We had worked for about nine years on the story. Of
course it evolved many times as our skill grew. A large Christian organization/publisher wanted to contract it to launch a fiction line but soon went through a period of layoffs. Our dreams seemed to be put on hold. Again and again we’d make it to committee but could never secure that final contract. Feeling that we knew enough to be sure we wouldn’t be embarrassed to release it ourselves, we decided to self-publish.

There are so many GREAT writers, and large houses have such a limited number of slots open each year. Of course smaller houses have a limited allotment as well, but we don’t have to take on as much of a risk as the large publishers when we publish a book. That means we can take a chance with a manuscript set in a foreign country, an uncommon mix of genres, or other twists on the usual books.

What are you currently looking to publish? Are you open to submissions or are you trying to be a bit more selective?

We seek to bring glory to God and entertain with Heartfelt Tales of Faith. That vision stretches over many genres and time periods, even to creative non-fiction and children’s books. We like long, satisfying books, so here are the specifics on word counts.

Fiction length (includes YA): 80,000-100,000 words
Non-fiction: 50,000-55,000 words
Middle Grade Fiction: 30,000-40,000 words

The hardest part of running a publishing house is sending rejections letters, but we are extremely selective and realize this business is incredibly subjective. (Translation: maddening to authors!) We’ve been blessed to have authors respond professionally and graciously when we’ve been unable to offer a contract. That kind of attitude can take a writer far, whether with us or with a different publisher. It’s easy to spot those who are eager to learn and improve.

You recently released a novel by the late Dianne Price. Can you tell us a little bit more about the story and why you decided to publish it?

Years ago, Dianne hired me as the freelance editor for all six of her Thistle Series. These novels focus on the continuing romance of Rob, an injured American bomber pilot, and Maggie, the RAF nurse who cares for him. Set on the fictional Hebrides (Scottish) isle of Innisbraw, the whole series is a rich, deep read. When I first read her work, I immediately thought of Dianne as the Christian version of Maeve Binchy or Rosamund Pilcher.
Shortly after On the Threshold released, Dianne revealed she was dying of a very slow-moving cancer. Her heart’s desire was to see Broken Wings and the subsequent books find their way to print. We soon signed her, working with Terry Burns of Hartline Literary. Sadly, the cancer’s growth sped up and she passed into Glory only one week before Broken Wings released. She had just turned 80.
Care to chat with us about the process of publishing Dianne’s book? From beginning to end, what proved to be the most challenging and most fulfilling?

What were we thinking of, taking on a foreign setting with foreign customs and language for our first outside contract? Seriously! And a series, at that!

Editing can be a challenge because I’m used to working closely with authors as they improve their manuscripts. With Dianne no longer here, I have to make decisions I think she would be proud of, or at least accepting of, while polishing as well as I know how and honoring her memory.

The most fulfilling moment was when we worked with our Head of Marketing, Nicole Miller of Miller Media Solutions, to design the draft of all the covers before Dianne died. Since we often use live models on our covers, Dianne helped chose the models. She was able to see the series of cover mockups shortly before her death and was overjoyed to see her characters come to life.

Though you didn’t ask, I will add that the most touching moment was when I opened a document of a book in the series to begin the second round of edits and found a sweet note from her that I’d never read. When I spend time with Rob and Maggie, I feel that Dianne is right beside me.

Thank you so much for joining us today! Is there anything else you would care to share with our readers today?

Dream big. Never give up out of discouragement. Give up or “give over” only if God tells you to. His imagination far outshines ours and He has amazing plans for each and every one of us!

LET IT GO--- FROZEN writing tips

I've now seen the movie Frozen about 1,243,438 times.

Okay, maybe not that many.

But it's close. Much too close.

I've even seen it once in French, because my eldest daughter is facinated with the language and has vowed to learn how to sing ALL the songs in French.

I can't tell you how much that excites me. (Insert sarcasm here)

For some reason, this movie has taken hold of the hearts of children and adults alike. While there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, what is it about the movie that has made store shelves empty of the DVD?

And what can we learn from that for our writing?

Well, the first thing we can't replicate. Frozen has some amazing songs that caused even some super fun weatherman to mimic.

But catchy music aside.... there were several WINNERS about Frozen that helped make it the HIT that it was.

1.) Comedy. While most Disney "princess" movies have a few slices of funny in them, Frozen had more than most. It was FILLED with them, even though the movie itself wasn't a comedy at all. Some of our families favorites:

Olaf. Need I say more?
Ana walking like a penguin in her frozen dress.
The talking Sven.
The adorable trolls trying to matchmake:-)
"What if you hate the way he picks his nose.... and eats it?" "EWwww" "All men do it."

Those are just a few:-)

Regardless of your genre (except maybe thriller...), putting a couple natural giggle moments is a fantastic way to retain your readers attention. Giggle moments stay in our head almost as much if not more than deep emotional moments.

2.)  GREAT dialogue. I don't think there was one moment in the movie where the dialogue seemed unnatural. There were some GREAT lines in there...

"Just roll with it..." (Kristoff talking after the rocks rolled in and turned to trolls)
"If only there were someone out there who loved you..." (The turning point where we find out that the prince is not so prince-like afterall)
"Someone has to tell him..." (Kristoff talking to himself after Olaf's Summer song)

And probably my favorite... "Some people are worth melting for."

There were so many great lines in the movie, I couldn't possibly list them all.

Great lines are memorable. And we want memorable lines of dialogue in our books too!


3.) Romance. I've said this for years and I still remain true to this point. Romance makes every story just a little bit better. Obviously I write romance, so my books are going to have this as a central theme, with other things such as suspense and drama playing an important secondary roll. But even if you aren't writing romance, adding a sprinkle of romance to your novel can serve to be a wee bit of zing that helps your book be memorable.

4.) A takeaway. Spiritual theme. Frozen's theme was that an act of true love is more than true loves kiss. It is sacrifice. Risking ones self for the sake of another. That true love can thaw even the most frozen of hearts. While romance is a lot about love... love isn't all about romance. It's one of the things I loved about the movie, the hero's love didn't save the day (although he absolutely helped) but Ana's love for her sister is what saved the day.

5.) Speaking of heroes.... Kristoff was pretty cool. A GREAT example of an imperfect hero that you grow to love. He's an orphan and super rough around the edges. He begrudgingly helps Ana instead of being the over the top prince who dashes off to save her. (In fact, THAT guy ends up being a total dweeb.) He's real and has real issues... and loves his sled just a wee bit too much... but his redeeming qualities totally make up for it.

6.) A REAL heroine. She wasn't perfect. She's flightly and impatient and a bit cocky at times. But she's also fun and energetic and has charisma. And in the end, she lays down her life for her sister.

7.) A loveable villain. Elsa. A villain of sorts... but we love her. We don't want her to get hurt, but we want her to fix her mistake. She has a reason she is how she is, it's not really her fault, but then again, it is. If she'd just told Ana... then her sister would have understood and not provoked her, right?

8.) Suspense. Just like Romance, a little suspence, even if not the main thread, makes every story a little better. How were they going to stop winter? We thought we might know.. until we realized who the TRUE villain was.

9.) Body Movements. This is one of the things I noticed in Frozen that I don't remember in a lot of other animated movies. One moment in particular, when Elsa had just built her castle of ice, she was walking out to the balcony and her hips sashayed as she sang. That little movement told me more about what she was thinking than even the song itself. She was owning her power, her womanhood. It was her moment of throwing off everything she'd been taught and deciding she was her own woman.

That is something we can definitely do in our writing, and I confess. I forget about it myself. The importance of a flick of a wrist, a hand on a hip, a chest puffed up, shoulders sagging, or even a simple clenched fist. These all can SHOW our characters feelings without having to tell them. 

10.) And yeah. Great songs. I think maybe I need to make my song-writing hubby write me a song for a book trailer or something. It probably won't be Frozen quality... but hey, never hurts to try, eh?

Let it go... Let it go......

Sorry.

Discussion: Did you catch the Frozen craze? What are some of your favorite dialogue or comedy moments? Any story-writing lessens you learned?

How to Best Communicate with our Audience

Early in March, when snow still covered much of the United States, the movie Frozen won an oscar for best animated movie. 

Somewhat based on Hans Christian Andersen's story, The Snow Queen, this delightful tale captured my attention from the beginning and held my attention to the "Easter egg" which followed the credits. You did stay to watch it, right?



Those of us who have experienced the joy (or trials) of this snowy winter found a haven in this delightful story. And not only a haven, but fantastic, creative party ideas. Hah! I've seen those Frozen kid sleepover pics on FB with ice cream and other icy treats. What fun times.

BUT

Did you know, in Tucson, Arizona, and probably similar typically toasty settings, the story didn't communicate the same meaning to young audiences. 

My adult daughter went with a friend and her child to a theater in Tucson, where a room full of children and their guardians packed the seats. The opening scenes, which told a fun story of sister play, delighted the children. However, when the snow fell and the ice coated the landscape, the young audience wrestled with questions. The interesting and amusing blurts of child misunderstandings peppered the storyline. 

The main issue: how can something as light as cotton candy be hard enough to walk on? Great question. On the few occasions snow sprinkles in Arizona, it melts almost as quick as it falls. Who could possible walk on it, or sink to their knees in it?

When my daughter told me what the children said and described their perplexed faces, I realized this audience did not share the same experience as those who've lived through frozen winters. Especially this year.

Though entertained, the young summer state audience may have been so consumed with the strange white substance that their take home thoughts of the story were different. Nothing wrong with that, of course. 

Ah hah, I thought. The perfect concept to address on the Alley. (Please keep in mind the movie Frozen ranks tops in my mind and this following simply is a springboard from the kids response).

All genres from science fiction to historical, fantasy to contemporary, romance to thriller/suspense need to grab their audience on page one and clutch with the claws of an eagle to the last page.

Unlike the children who became fascinated with a new perspective of snow and ice, adult readers will endure only a few perplexing questions as they turn the first pages in a story. Oddities in an adult story jeopardizes believability. If not satisfied in a page or two, the book will be closed and left to collect dust. 


How can we best insure communication with our audience?

1. 3-D storytelling. Whether the story takes place in a fantasy world, in days long ago, has characters who are more than eccentric or personified, each page must contain vivid storytelling. This is best done by incorporating sensory clues so realistic the reader can't help but live the moment with the character even if one is propelled in a rocket soaring to the sun.

2. Dialogue. Spoken words need to reveal more than conversation. Questions of the heart and mind, when said out loud, insight rebuttals, emotions, and other questions. Don't be afraid to put a thought inside the quotes and open the door for other characters to verbally respond with their emotion.

3. Pacing. There are moments when readers need a chance to process and other moments when pages need to fly. If our books were musicals, a song would be inserted. For example, in the movie Frozen, Anna (the younger sister) was lonely. She met a handsome prince at the coronation. To speed up their attraction and marriage proposal, the song, Love is an Open Door was inserted (A hilarious song). The words and actions clarified and even justified Anna's reasons for saying yes so quickly. For books, an anecdote could be inserted. What else could be done to give readers time to process or fast forward?

4. Reasonable components of reality must be integrated.  Winnie the Pooh, though a toy, was hungry and thirsty. True to history, Confederate soldiers died and plantations burned in Gone With the Wind. Harry Potter was bullied. Dracula could die. The snowman in Frozen saw the world upside down when his head wasn't on right. Each of these examples serve as a key to open the door and welcome the reader/viewer into a believable story world.

Here is a brainteaser. If you were the screenwriter for Frozen, what would you have added to the script to help children living in strictly summer climates to identify with the story?


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This blog post is by Mary Vee

Mary has moved to Michigan with her husband, closer to her three college kids. She misses the mountains of Montana, but loves seeing family more often. She writes contemporary and romance Christian fiction, is honing marketing and writing skills, and loves to pen missionary and Bible adventure stories on her ministry blog, God Loves Kids.

Visit Mary at her website and her ministry blog to families: God Loves Kids. Or chat on Facebook or Twitter

How Writers Can Use Pinterest

Many writers shy away from Pinterest thinking it is just another social media platform to steal away their writing time, but I'm here to tell you that Pinterest can be a great way to collect and store research for your novel.

Before we get started in the practical ways you can use Pinterest for your writing, let me tell you about the basics. When you sign up for Pinterest, you put in a profile and begin creating Boards. Think of these boards as a bulletin board that you pin pictures or information you want to look at later. Or you can think of it as a file folder where you collect information.

You also have the option to install a PIN IT button in your toolbar...which you will want to do. This is how you collect your Pins (or information) on your Board. When you are surfing the web and find something you want to remember or read later, all you have to do is click the Pin Button on your toolbar and a small screen will appear. You can choose what Board you want to Pin to. Once you submit it,your picture is pinned onto your board, along with the link to the site the picture is from.

People use Pinterest to pin recipes, inspiration for decorating the home, landscaping, birthday party ideas, gift ideas, DIY projects, cool clothing and accessories, etc. The list is endless!

So how would a writer use Pinterest? I'm glad you asked! In the upper left hand corner there is a search bar. If I start typing the word writer, even before I finish the word several options show up in a drop down list: writing prompts, writing inspiration, writing process, etc. If you click on writing inspiration look what shows up.

But what if you wanted to organize the research for your novel? You can create Boards for each category you want to research.

• Settings: Overseas, travel guides, city facts, etc. Below is a picture of what I found when I searched Scotland.

• Costumes: period dress, fashion show clothing, etc.  Below is a picture of what I found when I searched Regency dress.

• Characters: Pictures of people who make great heroes and heroines. Here is my board of people I've pinned for future character templates.

For a look at a writer who best utilizes Pinterest for writing is Kaye Dacus. Her Pinterest boards are chock full of boards for writing historical novels. There are many boards for period fashion organized by decades. There are boards that showcases History on screen for different time periods. There are also boards for various places around the world: New Zealand, Canada, Tennessee, etc. You may not be a historical writer, but her boards will spark your creativity and will get you thinking of what kinds of boards you might need for your research.

So if you are a Pinterest user, do you use it for writing? 
If you don't use Pinterest, why don't you? 
How do you organize the research for your novel?
What kind of categories are your boards for novel writing?
Any tips to share?

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.