happy halloween!

Hope you all have a day full of surprises and a scary night too!  Australia is still yet to fully embrace this tradition (much to our dismay) but my kids got a fright last night when the doorbell rang.  It was too late for visitors and we were watching a scary movie with our jack-o-lantern burning brightly and stuffing our faces with popcorn.

They looked at each other, then at me, and then the hallway.  Ooooo.

They were delighted when I opened it to find trick or treaters!  Lucky for me I had some goodies in the cupboard or I was about to be drenched by a few witches and superhero's wielding loaded water pistols.  So now my kids know our new neighbourhood celebrate, they are keen to join in next year! 

Costume ideas needed!

;) Emma

Song Of The Day

Thriller - Michael Jackson



I couldn't resist putting this up!  I was so keen to watch this when it came out - I was 6.  Of course at that age it was forbidden by my parents, who, rightly so, said I was too young.  So of course I didn't listen and watched it at a friends! 

This is a brilliant song and video that took imagination to another level for it's time.

Stretch yourself as much as you can with your writing.  Keep pushing past what you find comfortable and see what you get. 

For those of you who may find today a conflict of beliefs I'll leave this with you.

"Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult." Michael Jackson.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Happy Halloween everyone.  Whether you celebrate or not it's always a day full of surprises!

So what's in that house? Let your imagination go to new places today and challenge yourself to look at things in a creepier way than usual.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Ebullient - (ee-bull-yent) adjective 1. full of excitement or enthusiasm. 2. boiling

Song Of The Day

Dear Mr. President - P!nk

I love that Pink isn't afraid to address issues.  The way she delivers them is also unique. 

Being strong enough to take a stand as an artist is something we should all be willing to do.  As I keep saying, it doesn't matter if others disagree with you, you will never please everyone, but be willing to open up your heart and really share what's in it. 

Being true to yourself is ultimately what puts the passion into your deliver and turns something good into something great because people feel that emotion.  They can't help but be moved.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

What's this about?  Just an odd construction in the name of art? or could it be you've just stepped into another world?

Let your imagination run wild with this and see what wild things you can come up with.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Persiflage - (per-si-flahzh) noun any light-hearted style of speech, as in treating serious matters as trivial and trivial matters as serious.

Song Of The Day

Rebels In The Roses - Everest

Thought I'd share some more creative process with you today.  Often I will piece my story together with other medium and that then transpires onto the page.

In this instance after seeing the photo below, my mind went off on a tangent and I began really thinking about that man's journey.  Then went to chose a song and thought about this because it sounds like a perfect soundtrack for his life. 

That then gets the story taking on a life of its own and grows within me at an incredible rate.  It's a great way to get to know your characters.  You have a go, see what you come up with.

As a side note, someone in my writing class recommended this band to me and I really like them.  Apparently Neil Young discovered them.  They have a new album out called On Approach.  Thanks Sean.

Happy writing ;)

Picture Of The Day

Sometimes an everyday situation will be a great spark for a story idea!  Is he for real?  Did he end up getting that bear?  Why's he dressed like this?  Where's he from?  What's his life story?  That could be what you write about, his journey up until this point.

Look around you, observe people and let your imagination run wild.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Solecism - (soll-a-sizm) noun 1.the ungrammatical use of language. 2.a social gaffe.

Song Of The Day

Anything But Ordinary - Avril Lavigne

For moments of self-doubt, this is my anthem.

Use your uniqueness to your advantage.  Embrace who you are and how you write.  Don't compare yourself to others and how they do things.

When you realise that most of the creative people we celebrate are actually celebrated for being different and delivering a story in a unique way, the more free you'll feel to share yours.

Yes, often they are in the love/hate category, but they're there, people know who they are.  Wouldn't you rather be known for being anything but ordinary, as opposed to not being known at all?

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

As Halloween comes around so do some bizarre tales.  They don't all have to be full of gore, the level you take them to will depend on your own personal boundaries.  It is, however, the season for great stories to be born. 

Try to take it down a road less travelled, like Tim Burton did with The Nightmare Before Christmas or maybe come up with a whole new meaning for the celebration of the night.  Remember the beauty of story-telling is that it doesn't have to be true to be believable or it doesn't have to be physically possible to be entertaining.

A good story, with a great delivery will be remembered.  So, what will this season stir in you?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Lachrymose - (lak-ri-mose) adjective tearful.

stepping out of your comfort zone

Usually when we write, we write about things we enjoy.  It entertains us as much as the audience (or at least it should).  So what when you have to take a serious turn and write about deeper issues?

Over the last few days I've had to step out of my comfort zone and write some things with deeper meaning and connotations.  It has stirred a lot of emotion within me and challenged me to push past where I'm usually game enough to go.  I've learned a lot.

Firstly, if it stirs deep emotion within me, chances are it will with others.  That's a good thing.  We shouldn't always be looking to entertain in a 'happy' way.  Some of the best books I've read, movies I've seen or songs I've heard have made me cry.  It all started with The Little Match Girl when I was about 4-years-old.  Then came Lassie and E.T.  As I got older and understood more there were Michael Jackson and Bob Geldof.

Secondly, I realised that when I step out of my comfort zone and write about challenging issues, of course it will come from my beliefs and it is hard to get those out of the way.  I got so frustrated with what I had to write because I was trying to be generic, I was trying to be Switzerland.  There was no emotion in it and it felt wrong to me.  That's when I had the epiphany that I don't have to do that.  All the stories that stirred emotion in me, were written from someone elses opinions.  Not everyone agrees with them, but they were true to their own beliefs and wrote from the heart.

That's what we need to do.  Write from the heart.  Put emotion into it, feel brave enough to share your opinions and beliefs with others, otherwise it's journalism.  Writing for entertainment, whether it be to incite a positive or negative responses, is ultimately for entertainment.  If people want cold hard facts and an unbiased delivery they will watch documentaries and the news or read the newspaper and National Geographic.

Understanding that it is OK to impart your views has been a huge step for me this week.  I need to believe in what I write and be OK to put my name to it.  I've always known I won't please everyone, but I haven't been brave enough to challenge their values or beliefs with my own.  Now I am.

I hope you can step out of your comfort zone and learn more about yourself in the process too.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson

This is a man who constantly pushed the boundaries of social comfort to get us thinking about real issues.

As I said a few days ago, when you write you have the ability to stir deeper issues for people.  Writing about these things isn't necessarily easy, but thankfully some artists are willing to step out of their comfort zone.  Love him or hate him, Michael Jackson pushed taboo topics to the fore and got things done.

Be brave enough to do the same.  Use your work, not only to entertain and inspire but also to raise issues and bring awareness to something you are passionate about.  Any change starts with you. 

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Wouldn't want to be the guy at the front!  What, no removal van available? LOL.  This opens the gamut for all kinds of ideas and funny stories to take place.

What happens next?  Where are they taking all that stuff?  Where are they from?  Have they done this before?

If you're feeling a block in your writing, sometimes finding a picture and running ideas for something completely unrelated is enough to blast the block out of the way.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Pastiche - (pas-teesh) noun a work of art which imitates or borrows from the work or style of other artists.

Song Of The Day

Fifteen - Taylor Swift

Another story told in a great way.  I'm going to move on to other things tomorrow so thought I'd end with this one.  Taylor is a great story-teller and I love the way she writes.

Again, writing your experiences can make for good stories.  It's OK to embellish, it doesn't have to be completely autobiographical but using your own situations as a spring board it a good place to start.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

We've all stood at one at some point in our lives, but imagine this person has a lot at stake.  What if they choose the wrong direction?  What will the fall-out be?  How are they feeling about making the decision?  Is this a point of no return in their journey? 

Giving your characters hard decisions to make adds another direction for your story.  See where you can lead your character and give them some tough choices to make.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

writing for entertainment

Ultimately when you write, it is to entertain others.  Even if the content is serious, you need to captivate your reader enough to make them want to keep turning the page.  They need to become a part of the story.

Think about all the great books you've read.  What did you enjoy the most?  What about the movies you like?  The songs you listen too?  What is it that draws your attention and keeps it?  That is what you need to capture.

Humanising your story as I've said previously is one, but entertaining is just as important and adding some light-hearted moments, even in a good drama, will hook them.  Humour is a part of life, funny things happen to us.  I'm not talking about staged humour, I'm talking about those slip ups and gaffes that no-one could plan.  Add those kind of things to your writing to make it real. 

I love parody because it takes those things and elevates them.  We all need a really good laugh, and often, it also inspires your creativity too believe it or not.  After I've watched a good comedy or listened to Weird Al or something similar it gets me thinking and seeing things differently.

So why not switch gears today and see the funny side of life.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

The Saga Begins - Weird Al Yankovic

Time for some comedy!  My kids love this song, in fact we are all Weird Al fans.  The thing that I like about him is that he can actually sing really well and his writing is incredible.  He's the king of parody as far as I'm concerned.

When you write, let your guard down.  Don't worry about what people will think, or offending anyone and you just may come up with something original and hilarious.  I'm sure Al offends some, particularly die-hard fans, but the rest of us get thoroughly entertained.  You'll never make everyone happy, so stop trying.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Everything starts with a seed.  Tend to it and watch it grow.  Stories start that way.  What will this turn into?  Depends how you see it and how good your imagination is I guess.  Just think, this is exactly how Jack and the Beanstalk came to be, who'd have thought?

So what is your seed going to turn into?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Tautology - (taw-tol-o-jee) noun the needless use or repetition of a word or idea in a sentence.

switching modes

So, I got asked a really good question yesterday and it's one that I have covered generally over the course of this blog but I thought I'd dedicate a post to it.

How do I get into writer's mode?  How do I get the creativity flowing when my day is still going on in my head?

First, as you all know, I write everyday.  Always.  Keeping the momentum going is huge.  I don't know that it stops blocks completely, but it definitely helps the story stay alive within me.

Second, I get into the 'zone'.  I find if the stage is set all I need to do is turn up.  So how do I set the stage?  By turning on the well of inspiration.  It probably sounds cliche, but it is easier than you might realise.  You just have to find what works for you. 

You may remember I talked about driving, driving is one of the ways I know will turn on that tap.  The other is running.  Quite simple really.  You just need to pay attention to what it is you are doing when ideas spring to mind.  It is usually when your mind is most relaxed.  I find that the less I am actually trying to think, the more inspiring thoughts I have.  I call this my 'Let go and let God' time.

This second stage of preparing is opening the lines of creativity.  Meditation is another really useful tool, it reduces all that chatter of your work day and opens you to new ideas.  Listening to music is a big one for me, I listen to my iPod while I run, songs have great power to grow ideas.  That is one of the reasons I have the song of the day on here.  A word or picture can also be a seed.  

Sometimes you need to have a specific idea, as in you are in the middle of writing and you need to keep it going, I find that if I re-read what I wrote the day before (I don't allow myself to edit, I just read) then go for a run, all sorts will come out of that.

I think the key is to just let your mind rest.  Stop trying so hard to 'think' of ideas and let them come.  The more you learn to trust this process the easier it becomes.

The third thing I find helpful is allowing.  I don't second guess my creativity.  When an idea comes I just let it take shape.  I come to the table without an agenda.  I allow the organic process to happen.  I don't try to get it 'right', I just get it down.  I don't worry about whether it is any good or if it sounds plausible, I just allow that seed to grow, I water it and see what blooms. 

This is the stage to ask all those questions, why? how? where? what happens next? they keep the seed growing.  Brainstorming is a continual process.  You brainstorm to get the idea, then you brainstorm to get as many outcomes as you can, then you chose one and brainstorm that, then you might chose another and so on. 

Brainstorming is a word that can literally stop a writer dead.  They panic they won't come up with an idea.  The problem is you are still too up in your head.  Brainstorming doesn't have to be difficult.  It isn't a test of how intelligent you are.  I think that is what stops people's creativity a lot.  They are too hung up on an idea being a good one.  Don't.  Just let them come.

The fourth step is probably when the actual work really begins for me.  Up until this point I have just been along for the ride.  I have allowed the process to guide me.  Now I have the idea on paper in a very rough draft, I have to actually start applying skills.  I read it through, twice.  Then I go away from it for as long as I can bear (five minute minimum).  That way it has time to settle and new ideas start to flow.  Then I come back and I begin to edit, elaborate and the hardest for most - cull.  I must be sadistic because I have no problem killing crap.  I read once that writer's have a hard time cutting chunks out of their work.  Me, I figure why get hung up on it?  If it doesn't work, you know it, just get rid of it. 

That is my basic process for completing a first draft.  I am big on routine, it works for me.  Treating it with respect and removing your ego are huge steps in becoming good at what you do.  I am never naive enough to believe I do this alone and I am always grateful for any help I can get.  My philosophy is that when I learn to get out of the way, great things are possible.

Read into that what you will ;) 

Believe in yourself and your ability, believe that this is exactly what you are here for and above all don't fight the process, enjoy it.  If writing doesn't come naturally for you, then I will bet once you develop a routine, that will start to change.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits

I think this would have to be my all time favourite song.  This is what first taught me, at a very young age, to take something and make it your own.  By that I mean, we all interpret things differently and that is great.  Seeing the same story in as many different ways as possible also gets your creativity flowing.

I like this particular clip because it takes two versions of the same thing, both expressed in a totally unique way and merges them.

Baz Luhrmann, love him or hate him, turned this love story into a poetic combination of era's.  Dire Straits took the original story and also put a modern twist on it.  I love how the lyrics translate an almost ancient language into a current one.

Try it yourself and see what you come up with.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

OK, so today we are shipwrecked, or maybe we've found a romantic hide-away whilst strolling with a lover?

Let your mind take you there and start asking all the usual questions.  Why?  How'd I get here?  What happened just before?  How do I feel?  What will happen next?

Questions are what keep the process flowing.  Don't think too deeply about your answers, the idea of brainstorming is to generate ideas, you can sort through them later.  In the early stages you just need ideas and plenty of them.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Modus operandi - (mo-dus op-a-rand-ee) A method of plan of operating or working.

Song Of The Day

Caught In The Crowd - Kate Miller Heidke

Another story captured well through a song.  Story-telling is a way of connecting to each other.  When you tell a story you have the ability to stir alot.  Whether it just be emotion or deeper issues such as social justice, you can cause people to see the world in a different light.

This is a beautiful song, that made me look back and think about how I've treated people in my life and vice versa.

Use your experiences to create stories.  They don't have to be completely autobiographical, just use them as a spring board.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

What emotions does this bring up?  Do you feel peace or impending doom?  Why?

Once you identify how something makes you feel, explore why that is.  That is when the story starts to take hold.  Finding the deeper feelings of your own can help you to develop your characters.  Not to be like you, but when you ask why you feel a certain way you begin to see things differently.  Once you've had that mental shift, you can ask the same of your characters.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Exposition - (eks-pa-zish-on) noun  1. A detailed explanation. 2. A public exhibition. 

handling critique

Something I've learnt recently is that I wouldn't have handled critique when I was younger, which is probably why it took me so long to gather the courage to make writing a career.

If I had put myself out there earlier, I think I would have been too vulnerable.  You see, self belief and self esteem are both strong factors in how well you receive critique.

I have learnt to take it with a grain of salt.  Good and bad.  It is useful, of course, but when all is said and done it is an opinion.  If I take too many positives on board, then I risk getting comfortable, or interpreting it as I'm there.  In actual fact, we are never there.  You can always learn more.  So, as great as a good critique or review is, and as much as it makes me feel good (yes, I am human), I try not to let it go to my head.

Conversely, when I get some negative critique, I try not to take it as a hit to my self esteem and look at what they are saying and try and find an area to learn.  What are they telling me?  Can I use their suggestions?  If not, then I take it at face value and don't get bogged down by it.

Professional critiquing usually involves some great notes.  It doesn't come across as a personal hit anyway, and is probably the most valuable. 

As yet, I've not had to deal with reviews (one day, hopefully), so as far as they go, I've got no experience.  However, I do believe that it doesn't matter where comments come from, if you have a belief in yourself and your work, you'll keep moving forward and get on with the job.  Ultimately we all write crap sometimes, chalk it up as experience and move on.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Lightning Crashes - Live

Some of the best stories I've heard have been songs.  This is one of them.  Hope this inspires your creativity to deliver your story in a new way.  We can tell a story any way we chose, but the more interesting your delivery, the more entertaining and captivating it is.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

I wonder what brought these two to this place?  If they stumbled up on it or are there intentionally?  What are they discussing?  Are they talking at all?  What would be something spontaneous they could do in the next moment?  Look for the unexpected and add drama.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Vacuous - (vak-yew-us) adjective empty or blank.

Song Of The Day

A River Flows In You - Yiruma

Continuing with using feelings to bring creativity, I thought I'd post an instrumental today. 

Sometimes words in songs lead your thought process in a particular direction, which can be great, but other times I find instrumental music allows a wider scope for inspiration to take place.  This, basically gives your mind freedom to go wherever it wants to and adds an unguarded, more truthful outcome. 

Why?  Because it comes from a deeper place within you, that only an honest connection to creativity brings. 

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

You could be entering another world.  Maybe you are on a quest.  This has an other-worldliness too it that conjures mythical creatures and battles.

On the other hand, it is also has a tranquility that evokes a peaceful paddle in the stream on a warm autumn day.

See what you come up with.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Senescent - (se-ness-ent) adjective growing old.

Song Of The Day

Shattered - Trading Yesterday

Another song to arouse emotion and to give you inspiration through feeling rather than a visual. 

Using every sense for inspiration will broaden your ideas and ultimately give you even more material to write about and a more honest place to write from.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This is quite eerie, lots of dark stories come to my mind.  Can you see someone at the window?  I wonder what is beyond the grill and where it leads?  Is the person trapped or hiding?  Perhaps they just live there?

As a writer, sometimes things will come to your mind that are actually out of character for you, maybe you don't usually think of dark things.  I'd challenge you to go with it anyway, see where those thoughts lead.  They just might be what you've been looking for in your story. 

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Parvenu - (par-va-new) noun a person who has risen above his original status through the sudden attainment of wealth or position.

Song Of The Day

This Woman's Work - Kate Bush

A bit of a change of pace today.  Writing is often a labor of love more than anything, but after the hard work is over it's completely worth it to see the end result - much like child birth.

I love what this song inspires and so I thought that I may shake it up a bit over the next week and put songs on that evoke a 'feeling' and therefore will inspire your creativity as opposed to motivate.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

A moment of peace, a pleasant stroll?  Giving bad news?  A father meeting his son for the first time after 50 years?

Let your imagination run wild as you think of what the relationship is between these two and how they are impacting each others day, or life?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Unfettered - adjective not restrained or restricted.

Song Of The Day

Faith - Jordin Sparks

The words of this song say it all so have a read and let them fill you with hope.

Happy writing;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

A contemplative float on the river or something more dark and sinister?

It could be any time period too, which adds much more scope for imagination. 

The easiest way I find to begin a brainstorming session is to list random words that come to mind.  By just jotting them down it lays a foundation of initial feelings, moods, actions and such that are first conjured.  Then I will go to each word and brainstorm from that word, taking it further and deeper and so on.

There are many ways to brainstorm, that's just one of the ways I do it.  Use what works for you of course but sometimes it helps to get a fresh perspective on things when you shake it up a bit and do something you've never done before.

Happy writing;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Ossify - (oss-i-fye) verb to change into, or harden like, bone.

Song Of The Day

Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks

Some days I feel like I'm just starting my journey; like everything is just beginning, and it's a great feeling.  Having endless possibilities before you brings with it a fresh outlook, like when you first leave school and you're ready to take on the world.

I've found that getting passionate about what you are doing usually brings with it that 'I can conquer anything' feeling.  Days like those are the greatest for getting down on the page the passion in your heart, so harness them and get to work.

If you haven't had that feeling in a long time, maybe it's time to look at things from a new angle and hopefully this song will set you in the right direction.

I just want to add too, that it is never too late to change direction. 

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This is a beautiful photo.  I think I was drawn to it because of the possibilities it holds.  There are so many places to take this.  The message in the bottle thing might seem cliche but it only is if you take it down that path.  Think of a completely off beat, unexpected direction and run with it.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Tetchy - adjective irritable.

the wonder of brainstorming

As a writer I know the importance of brainstorming - hello?!  But it never ceases to amaze me the capacity of ideas we hold within us when start to scratch the surface.

I've just had to complete an assignment for a course I'm doing that involved brainstorming different ways to deliver the same thing - interesting I thought, definitely something I'm into. However, once I got going, even I was surprised to find so many new ideas.  When I thought I'd exhausted my imagination (and brain)I went to put a load of washing on and - hey presto - another wave began. 

Being open to new ideas is so important!  Try not to get completely besotted by your work that you are afraid to change it.  I ended up coming up with a far better scene than I'd previously written, and I have to say I was very happy with the old one.  Had this not come up I wonder if I'd have even given it a second glance.  Which just showed me to brainstorm every idea, so you know you've got the best one you can possibly find.  Even then though, down the track, you or someone else may decide that writing it another way would work even better.  Be open to that.  Yes, it's your baby but ultimately the object is to send it out into the world in the best shape possible and that involves - Letting Go!!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Beautiful Life - Ace Of Base

A great boppy beat to get you going, and a reminder of the obvious - It's a beautiful life!

Happy writing;)
Emma

Picture Of The Day

Even the most brilliant minds have a sense of humour, so don't lose yours!

Sometimes as writers we can get so bogged down in the 'craft', and so up in our heads thinking, that we forget to have fun and stop taking ourselves too seriously.

Today I want you to look at the picture above and really think about lightening up.  All great things get done eventually, so enjoy the ride as much as the accomplishment!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Miasma - (mee-az-ma) noun 1. the smell of corruption. 2. (formerly) swamp mists, once thought to cause malara.

Song Of The Day

The Only Way Is Up - Yazz

OK, so some of you may be cringing right now but what can I say - I'm a child of the '80's!

This is one way to get you up and motivated, you can't help but stop feeling sorry for yourself after listening to this.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Imagine you've been canoeing all day, your arms are like lead rods hanging beside you as you ride with the current.  Emerging out the other side of a gorge you see this!  How would you feel?

That was the first thought I had when I saw this, but maybe you saw something completely different.  That's the great thing with interpretation - there is no wrong way of seeing anything!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Eclat - (ay-klah) noun 1. a brilliant success, effect, distinction, etc. 2. any acclaim or applause.

Song Of The Day

Fearless - Taylor Swift

What would you do if you were Fearless?  Really think about that today. 

Fear can paralyse you if you let it, what if you had no fear?  I recently decided to confront my own and make a 'bucket list' of things that I would do if I wasn't scared out of my brain.  I am slowly (but surely) working my way through it.  It's good to confront those fears, it gives you a strength you never knew you had and it helps in all other areas of your life too.

Just think about it, anyone who has ever achieved anything will have been scared at some point along the way.  The difference between them and the rest of us is they chose to face fear head-on.

I don't remember who said it but a quote that I am choosing to live by is - "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Relaxing night reading.  Glass of wine, romantic open fire crackling behind?  Or is it a frantic search for information in the wee hours of the morning?  What time period is this?  Whose reading and why?

Use your initial impression of something and run with it until you've exhausted it, then look again - what else do you see?  Ask yourself more what ifs?  Brainstorming can be fun when you just let go and enjoy the process.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Pernicious - (per-nish-us) adjective extremely harmful.

staying motivated

I find keeping momentum going when I'm not feeling great is difficult.  Myself and my family have been fighting flu's etc for the last week or so and feeling under the weather; tending to sick children means I can't be bothered to write - I'm knackered.

BUT - if I stop writing completely I lose momentum and it is harder to get going again.  So, what do I do?  Well I just do as much as I can - but I still write.

For instance, my usual 'work' day includes anywhere from 8-14 hours of writing, most days.  I emphasise most because I have 4 children and if you're a parent you'll know how that tends to affect your 'time'.  Stuff comes up, and of course they are my priority.  So I do what I can.  You might have to get creative.

I don't just sit and write in one huge block of time generally anyway.  I'll do a few hours during the day and then slog away into the wee hours of the morning and I've grown to survive on about 4-6 hours of sleep.

This works OK when I'm well, but not at all when I'm sick.  So when I'm under the weather, or my family commitments dictate otherwise, I just do some - even if it's half an hour. 

My theory is that even if I write a sentence, it's moving me forward and that, ultimately, is the direction to head.

So don't beat yourself up if you can't write lots, just do what you can, but my advice would be to do something daily so that you stay motivated. 

To keep it fresh, work on different projects depending on your mood.  If you are getting bogged down by a particular area, get some distance and come back later.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Born To Try - Delta Goodrem

Another great song to get you motivated.  It sums things up quite well I think.  As long as you are putting in the effort and trying, you will keep moving forward.  Don't worry about mistakes, they happen, just keep looking at the bigger picture and keep on going.

Achieving your dreams and goals means sometimes you have to make sacrifices, but if the goal is worth reaching then it's worth the sacrifice.

So, get to work.  If you want to be a great writer - WRITE.  Just do it.  Don't sit there wishing, or wondering if you'd be any good - get on with it and live by your decision.

Great advice for all of life in general really.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

I love the contemplative nature of this photo, I find it quite peaceful.  The warmth of colour perhaps gives it this feel because when you start the brainstorming it could go either way.

The quote is spot on too, a great one and absolutely true.  Life always seems more difficult when you are trying to be someone you're not.

So, back to the picture.  Is she happy or sad?  What was she doing moments ago?  Is she waiting for someone or something?  What will she do next?

There's plenty of food for thought.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Visceral - (viss-e-ral) adjective 1. of, relating to or affecting the viscera, 2. arising from deep emotion, intuition, etc.

Song Of The Day

The Adventure - Angels and Airwaves

I love the rhythm of this song, it gets you going.  I also love the line in the chorus - "and here we go, life's waiting to begin".

That's a great way to start your day, every day.  A new day is always a fresh slate.  You can do today, anything.  You don't have to keep travelling the same, worn out road if you don't want to.  You can change direction any time, it just takes a decision.  Sure, it might be the scariest thing you'll ever do, but you've only got one life - live it.

Start the adventure today!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Picture Of The Day

Staircase to heaven?

About to take a leap of faith?  Upon seeing this, would you be curious enough to climb it - just for a look?

Adventure and discovery are things that we sometimes forget.  Life is pretty routine for most of us, and finding the time, or the motivation, for an 'adventure' probably isn't a priority, but I put this to you - why not make time?

A good adventure once in a while is great for your spirit, not to mention your creativity.  If you're not the spontaneous type, there's a whole week to plan one.  So, go on, you know you want to.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Progeny - (proj-a-nee) noun offspring.

Picture Of The Day

Does this inspire your darker side, or do you see something else?  Why is she there?  Is she really there?  What is causing her hair to look that way?  Do you come up blank?

Sometimes, something just might not make any sense to us.  That is when you must stop looking for sense and start making it up.  Not everything has to be explainable, that's the beauty of art.  Being creative gives you license to create something from nothing - so get to it.

Happy writing;)

Word Of The Day

Lascivious - (la-siv-i-us) adjective 1. the feeling or expressing of lust 2. tending to cause lustful feelings.

exciting news!

Some exciting news, Jim Cirile, founder of Coverage, Ink. is going to stop by for a chat and share some of his wisdom with us.

So stay tuned for that up-coming interview, it's sure to be great.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

All The Same - Sick Puppies

I chose this song for two reasons today.  The first is the visual - I really want to emphasise that anything is possible.  It just takes action.  The second is less tangible but equally as gratifying - Love.  Ultimately it all boils down to love and whether you feel it, give it, receive it or make it.

As a writer I like to use my work to spread love.  To impart it, but also to draw it out of my audience.

We all have different motivations for creating, and that is absolutely fine, but generally we want to stir emotions in the reader and what's the best way to do that?  By bringing out the humanity.

Get down to basic human needs and you've captured your audience.

This became a world-wide phenomenon - why?  Because it stirred the basic human need within us all.  To be accepted and loved.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Is this for real?  What would you do if you came upon this?  Although it is more likely a very good example of Photoshop, it begs the question - why not?

The first thing that came to mind once I'd recovered from amazement was how much it reminded me of the movie Inception.  Yet another example of anything being possible when you are creating.  If you can make it believable to the reader, it will be so.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Inviolable - (in-vie-a-la-bl) adjective not to be violated or harmed, as a sacred object.

coverage - what is it?

OK, so I've been talking about coverage quite a bit the last few days and how valuable it is etc.  I'm assuming a lot of you already know what it is, but if you are new to screenwriting perhaps you are yet to hear about it.

Coverage is what you get when you have a professional reader (someone who understands the business) read and assess your script.

There are different types of coverage ranging anywhere from the most basic - pass, consider, recommend, to an absolute, you beaut, heaps of notes and ideas analysis.

If you are a novice then I highly recommend you get as much as you can possibly afford, the more notes, the more you learn and the better your writing will become.

I just used the coverage services of Coverage, Ink. and I have found them to be very professional, thorough and friendly, as well as prompt.

Check them out for yourself.  They have a coverage to suit everyone and they are very comparable in price.  Many of the companies I looked at were just too far out of my price range.  Jim Cirile provides a top notch service that us, often starving writers, can afford!

Let me just say that I am not being paid anything for this review, I am just really happy with the service they provided and wanted to share it with you.

It is absolutely worth checking out their website.

So, no matter where you are in the writing process at the moment, keep in mind that at some point you will need to get a professional opinion.  Whether you are writing novels, non-fiction or screenplays it will be the best money you've ever spent.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

looking with fresh eyes

The best part about getting coverage notes for your screenplay is that you see it with fresh eyes.

Getting a readers notes is an invaluable tool that you will never regret.  It's amazing all the things that I hadn't seen before.  Things that, after months of working on it, became so dependable. I had missed some actual errors.  Things that I had put in for convenience instead of need felt forced when read by someone else. 

Remembering that your audience isn't privy to all the back story in your mind means making sure the important things get put in.  Whether it be through dialogue or subtext, if it's part of what makes your character who they are, the audience needs that information.  Likewise, if you give too much, it bogs the story down with too much unnecessary baggage.

That is what makes coverage and editing so valuable to a writer, because sometimes it takes someone else to say - I don't get it, what is the purpose of this?  Or, great job getting that across.

You need to discover what is working and what's not and if what you are trying to say is being said, otherwise you will just get rejection after rejection when it comes to the crunch.

So, keep at it, don't give up.  Remember, no-one on this earth can say what you have to say the way you can.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Welcome To Wherever You Are - Bon Jovi

This is one of my favourite songs.  I think it's very important to embrace life everyday, no matter what your circumstances.  We all want things and strive to succeed but don't be so focused on the what you want that you forget to be who you are and enjoy your life now - today.

Have faith in yourself, and your dreams and do what you need to do to achieve them but it's your life, not someone elses.  Don't live your life for others or try to emulate them.  Your journey is as unique as you are, enjoy the ride.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Picture Of The Day

Something about this grabbed my attention, possibly the fact we are coming into summer here and it has that certain romantic holiday feel?

Deeper than that though, I'm intrigued to find out who she is and where she's going.  What's in the basket and who is beside her?  Is this in the present day or the past?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Altruism - (al-troo-ism) noun an unselfish generosity to, or concern for, other people.

it's back!!

Yeah, got coverage back for After Jim today.  It wasn't as bad as I'd prepared myself for, so that's a bonus.

I had a good laugh at a cultural error on my part.  As an English-born Australian, writing an American screenplay, of all the mistakes to make it was "Mum" or should I say "Mom"!! 

I was very aware, the whole time I was writing, to make it 'American' and the one word that was completely obvious, I instinctively wrote in my native tongue - LOL.

So, the rewriting begins.  I'm actually OK with this and have accepted the process as a given.  I also know that it is a very slow process, so I've begun to chill out and try not to hurry things along.  This is quite liberating actually, and gives me a calmness that I didn't have in the past.

As a homage to being Australian I couldn't resist choosing the song below - a bit tacky maybe, but what the heck - it's a great song!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Chose this today because of the reminder of my Australian-ness in my coverage report.  I had a chuckle and this song came to mind.  Just some fun, and we all need to chill out from time to time and remember to laugh a more.

Down Under - Men At Work

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Picture Of The Day

How about we delve into the world of fantasy today.  What would this particular world look like?  Would there be others like her?  Who and what is she?  What size is she?  Where has she been or where is she going?  Is she alive or dead?

Show this to a child and they will come up with a tale instantly.  Children's imaginations are not yet marred by reality - any thing is possible.  Try to have the same open mind as a child.  When creating - anything is possible.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Rambunctious - (ram-bunk-shus) adjective boisterous and unruly.

Song Of The Day

I've decided to put the song of the day on the main page to begin with and then move to Music To Inspire the following day.

Inspiration comes from so many avenues and music is a huge part of my own creative inspiration.  The primary purpose of this blog is to inspire so by having the word, picture and song, as well as the quotes in the side bar hopefully I've got most bases covered.

If there is anything in particular you'd like to see, just ask and I'll see what I can do.

Here's today's top song, with thanks to my great sister for the suggestion - Ronan Keating's version of I Hope You Dance.


Happy writing ;)
Emma

art imitating life

Knowing how much of your own life experiences to incorporate into your writing is tricky (unless writing your memoirs of course).  Often before you know it, you have projected yourself onto a character and this isn't necessarily a good thing. 

Making your characters believable means you need to know who they are and why they do what they do.  Make sure that their actions follow a natural progression and reasoning based on their beliefs and background - not yours.  Some of the best advice on character development that I've received is - interview them.  Finding out their back story brings a fuller, more believable edge to them and you can begin to write through their eyes. 

The more you know about your character, the more you see them as real people, and the more you see them as real people the more believable they become.

So for as much as it is important to understand what they are dealing with (eg. divorce) it doesn't mean you have to have experienced it yourself necessarily.  That is what research is for.  It is more important that you understand how they will react to whatever you throw their way based on their personality.

BTW - check out new song today -
Young and Stupid by Hedley. 

Happy writing ;)
Emma

ps. still no word on After Jim (my nails are getting shorter!)

Picture Of The Day

A peaceful night by the lake?  Something lurking in the shadows?  Dawn - The calm after the storm maybe?  What is he thinking? 

This actually made me think of the movie - Into The Wild.  A moving story of a man who leaves civilisation behind him to live in the remote wilds of Alaska.  Great movie, highly recommend it.

The story ideas are only limited to your own imagination - so, get thinking and maybe it will help with your current project.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Saccharine - (sak-a-rin) adjective cloyingly sweet (eg. a saccharine smile).

waiting is painful

I used to get quite impatient waiting for feedback.  The longer I had to wait, the more convinced I became that the verdict wasn't good.  And that was just 8th grade English class!!

These days, not so much.  I've had to learn to let go.  It's hard, for sure, but what's the point in stressing out for weeks on end?  It won't achieve anything, or telepathically change what the reader thinks - will it?  So now I send my work out and get straight into something else and try to just forget about it.  This works for the most part - as long as the verdict is in within a week or two.

Who am I kidding?  I stress just as much as the rest of you, once it's been a few weeks I become neurotic.

I'm due to receive some coverage back on my feature script - After Jim - and as the agreed date approaches (now hours, not days) the nerves have set in and the anticipation at an epic, heart stopping pinnacle.  Will they like it?  Will they get it?  Have I developed my characters enough?  Is the dialogue excessive? etc, etc, etc.

Well, I'll find out in the morning I guess.  No matter what they come back with though, it is all helpful and that's what I try to remember.  It may not all be great news at first, but isn't it better to get it now, before taking it to the big boys?  I do after all, want to write the absolute best story I possibly can and the only way to do that is - rewrite. rewrite. rewrite!!

I'll let you know how I go.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Picture Of The Day

What lies beyond the horizon?  Is it a road to hell or redemption?  What are you leaving behind?  Are you alone?

My mind raced with ideas when I first saw this image, hopefully yours will too.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Sedulous - (sed-yew-lus) adjective diligent or persevering.

using routine to your advantage

When I was writing The Journey...Home I discovered that routine was as important a part of the process, as inspiration.

Somedays the work flows better than others, for sure, but you have to turn up in the first place to discover that.  If you give yourself a specific time of day to write, much like any other job, then you will actually find the connection to your creativity begins to 'switch on'.

We all have days when we don't want to go to work, why would it be any different with writing.  My point is that some of those days end up being your best!  So don't let a little melancholy stop you. 

Our moods are reflective of our work, but our work can also be reflective of our mood and this might actually improve your story.  This is what adds the life to it.  Remember you don't always have to write in order either.  Perhaps if you're having a glum day just write and see what comes up, work on something different.

I don't know about you, but my mood is also affected by the weather.  It's been pretty wet and wild here for the last few days and that has reflected in my writing.  Will it be for the better or worse?  We'll find out when I get to rewriting I guess.  No matter.  The point is that I've written and I've kept the momentum going.  Once the story is out and that first draft is finished that's when all the 'crap' gets filtered out.

"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." Ernest Hemingway

Regardless of how you are feeling, write, and write everyday (at the same time of day if you possibly can)that is how great things are made.  One step at a time until eventually you look back at the long winding road behind you and wonder what all the fuss was about - you made it!

Check out the new song today to give you that nudge perhaps you need, or just more inpiration.  Either way I bet you want to get to work once you've listened! Click here

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

So, what would be an important enough mission to warrant a rooftop rescue from the defense force?  How would you feel as you heard the helicopter?  Is this a rescue or a drop off?  What first looks to be a hurried evacuation, could in fact be a routine supplies delivery, could it not?

It all depends what way you look at things.  Try to look in as many different ways as possible, that's how great ideas are born.  If you are stuck in a particularly tricky spot with your work, google images relating to your problem and see what inspiration you can come up with.



Happy writing ;)

Emma

Word Of The Day

Odious - (o-dee-us) adjective hateful or repulsive.  (word family - Odium noun an intense hatred or disgust)

finding inspiration in beauty

I like to look at beautifully taken photographs to get inspiration.  They help get you thinking.  What happened just before it was taken?  What is going on behind the camera?  Who is this person?  What caused them to do this?  Would I be capable of such a thing?  How would it feel?

By asking what if you can get all kinds of thoughts going, that is what brainstorming is.  Write every thought down, don't judge them, just write.  You can sift through them later.  You'll be amazed at what ideas you can get from a picture.

Try this one and see what you get.  Can't wait to hear your ideas.  Most will be determined by whether you find it to be an uplifting or depleting image.  For me there is a certain melancholy, contemplative feel about it.



To continue to get those juices flowing I'll post a photo of the day along with the word of the day, that should give your brain the kickstart it needs.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

writing a synopsis

One thing I dread having to write the most is a synopsis!  I'm not a woman of few words - in fact the more words I use the more understood I feel.  Not exactly conducive to synopsis writing!

So how do you root out the important elements of your work, the ones that will grab the readers attention and leave them wanting more?  Rewrite.  Rewrite.  Rewrite.

Sometimes I have as many drafts of my synopsis as I do my manuscripts, perhaps even more.  The point is don't rush them, they are what will - hopefully - sell your work.  Maybe that is why we find them so hard to write, the pressure's on to make them good!

There are plenty of resources out there that will help you with the process, but ultimately, like everything, they will get better with practice.  I'm still learning so I don't have any brilliant advice, I'm just sharing my frustration having just been through this exact process - again.

I'm hoping the more I write the easier it becomes, but I'm not holding my breath.  Some areas come more naturally than others, I guess one day I'll learn to make the synopsis my friend! 

So now that it's done, is it any good?  Guess I'll find out when the letters (rejection or otherwise) start coming back.

If you'd like to share how you tackle them, I'd be most greatful.  Or if you have links to resources etc.  I'll post mine in the resources tab at top.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Word Of The Day

Juxtapose - (juk-sta-poze) verb to place next to or side by side.

when you lose faith in your ability

Self belief is key to being a great writer.  You must believe you are capable, that you and only you can tell this story, in this way. 
I find some days easier than others to remember this, so on the days I struggle, I pump up the music and get inspired!  Click here to hear one of my favourites -
We Weren't Born To Follow.

Happy writing ;)
Emma