Song of the Day

Always Where I Need To Be - The Kooks

Just like the fun, easy sound of the Kooks.  Enjoy.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture of the Day

Something that peaks my interest is what we can't see, and this picture made me think of that.

There's lots I feel blessed I can't see, like germs and others peoples breath (although on cold days that's a hard one to avoid), but there are things that I'd love to have a super-vision for, like energy and auras. 

I find it fascinating and kind of mind-boggling to think of all that is buzzing around us, constantly, that we just don't see.  It's probably lucky we don't, I think there may be a sudden increase in claustrophobia, but it still interests me knowing that there is another world out there, now, as I write, that is hidden.  That's what writing for me encourages.  The revelation of new worlds, worlds that have been there, hidden, that I am suddenly awake to.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word of the Day

Imprimatur - (im-pri-mah-ta) noun official permission or approval to do something, such as publish a book.

journaling

I've kept a journal since I was nine-years-old.  Over the years the reasons for doing so have changed and the consistency has grown but it is something that, as a writer, I find I need.

Writing is how I process things.  It is how I assemble the random thoughts that continually bombard my brain and how, if I'm lucky, I come up with new ideas. 

When I first started all those years ago, it was a verbatim log of my day, hour by hour.  As I got older it became my deepest, and more often than not, darkest, thoughts that I was too afraid to share.  All my teenage angst flooded out onto the page, along with bucket loads of tears but it freed my heart and eased my mind, and that was worth the pain of seeing those thoughts on the page.  Often, once I had it down, the drama would subside and reality would step in, usually causing me to see the truth.  Life wasn't so bad after all.

As I became an adult the emotional content grew.  As I discovered true love and all that that entailed my writing became a deeper discovery of who I am and my reason for being.  A soul-searcher's log book.

Then when I entered motherhood something happened.  My journaling took a turn I hadn't expected.  It became a verbatim log, hour by hour again.  This I hadn't been prepared for.  I didn't have the time to pour out my heart, I just knew it was important to write the moments so I didn't forget them.  As my children grew, and the worries of motherhood did too, my journaling took on another familiar phase - angst.  Was there a cycle to this I wondered, as the tears splashed out onto the page once more?

A few more years and yes, I was back to the emotionally charged, love of life entries, where my passion for everything was evident, as was the deep desire to know myself again.

It turns out life is a constant cycle of change, but when you pay attention, you realise that you've been there before.  Different circumstances of course but same emotions, same reactions and usually the same outcome.  Unless of course you pay attention and make a conscious choice to deal with things differently.

Journaling has afforded me a way of learning from life.  Using my past to make my present a happier, healthier one.  We all go through tough times, that's life, but the drama that used to seem to follow me around has gone.  I am now able to channel that into my creativity as opposed to my reality and by all accounts, am better for it.

Looking back over my journals is a strange experience.  Some of them unfortunately didn't make it.  The thought of anyone coming across them and knowing my deepest thoughts used to scare the hell out of me and so a lot of my teen years went up in smoke one night when I was feeling vulnerable.  But for the most part, they've survived, as I have, and serve as a key to another world, long forgotten.

The one thing I've enjoyed seeing, even more than what life used to be like, is how my writing style has evolved and how, as I've become more comfortable with who I am, a raw honesty has emerged, a fearlessness that surprises me.  I'm not afraid of life anymore.  I look forward to the challenges as much as the peaceful, happy times.  I know now, that through those challenges will come a growth that only they can deliver.

If you have never kept a journal, give it a try.  Opening your heart completely, allowing your vulnerability out onto the page, will enhance your creative writing ten-fold.  When you allow that wall to crumble, and you feel safe to fully express yourself, then great stories will emerge with perhaps that missing element you haven't been able to find.

Happy writing ;)
Emma  

Song of the Day

She is the Sunlight - Trading Yesterday

This is a group that I'm really getting into at the moment that I find inspires me so thought I'd share this with you.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture of the Day

Who are these people?  Where are they?  What are they doing?

At first glance it looks like two people (possibly in love) paddling in a rock pool.  But maybe they are waiting on the shore of an island for a boat to arrive, and are getting anxious because it's over an hour late.  Maybe they are parents watching their child paddle and in a moment from now they will be frantically trying to revive them after a sudden fall.  Perhaps they decide to go for a swim and one of them won't return?

Get your thinking caps on and have some fun with it.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word of the Day

Superlative - (soo-per-la-tiv) adjective 1. of the highest degree or quality. 2. noun a word in the superlative degree. eg. The critics greeted the film with a fanfare of superlatives.

Song of the Day

Opportunity - Pete Murray (with John Mayer)

An inspiring song to encourage you to just get on with things.  Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Love the lyrics, especially the line "Don't pause too long" - good advice.  I think John's little solo gives this already great song some real soul, too.

Happy writing ;)

Emma  

Picture of the Day

Such an inspiring picture.  How do you feel when you look at this?  I feel peace and warmth and love, hard to imagine there being a single problem on the earth while standing here, don't you think?

But, that is when my mind does the exact opposite.  I have the habit of assessing something through my own eyes, and then instantly jumping 180 degrees to see it the exact opposite.  That is where most of my ideas come from. Seeing the less predictable in situations is a great way of keeping things interesting for your reader.

So, back to the picture.  Maybe it's an alluring setting but what lies in the surrounding forest?  Who's about to appear?  What will happen next?

Happy writing ;)
Emma 

Word of the Day

Phantasmagoria - (fan-taz-ma-gaw-ria) noun a changing series of images or appearances, as in a dream.

when life steps in

For the first time since I can remember, I didn't write yesterday.  Well, that's not 100% true, I blogged and wrote my journal, but that was all I got time for.

Between cooking, shopping, tending, making, cleaning, dealing, refereeing and then smiling through it all, I sat down at 10 pm with a cuppa and my book and read.  Thoroughly engrossed I might add, thanks to Grisham and Tolstoy. 

I turned the light out at midnight, gave a final offer of thanks and don't remember anything else, too tired to even dream.

It dawned on me this morning that I'd been completely swept up in my day and hadn't written a word.  I felt suddenly guilty, then, after putting it into perspective and looking at all I did get done yesterday, guess what happened?  I got an idea for a sub-plot!  That wouldn't have happened if I'd done what I always do.

Breaking up your routine, it seems, can be beneficial.  I'm a stickler for routine, because that's how I manage to juggle everything.  However, this has taught me that on occasion I may actually deserve a day off!  And, if I'm lucky, come back more inspired!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, we certainly did.  The discussion around our dining table was priceless.  I love hearing our older kids ideas and beliefs, and seeing their awareness, creativity and hearts growing.  We had a great debate last night as one of them is becoming more aware of social justice and pecking order.  She wanted to know, why in the movies the President always gets taken to a bunker and 'saved', while everyone else is left to face aliens or die?  She was even more mortified to discover that this would actually happen.  That heads of state are, in fact, higher on the list than she would be - lol.  It took me back to debates I had (and still have) with my Dad.  Nice to see some things run in the family!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

All Summer Long - Kid Rock

This is a great summer song!  Probably a bit of wishful thinking on my part today.  Our summer is less than a week away and we've barely had spring.  The weather is all over the place this year.

When you write, do you think about the weather?  How it affects your characters emotionally, or their actions?  Could a change of weather improve your story?  What about unseasonal changes?  Use every element to your advantage.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

I love aerial shots.  They, for me, are an invitation to find a story.  My mind boggles when I think of all the thousands of people down there going about their lives and facing their own challenges and dramas. 

Zoom in to find someone, follow them for a while, then zoom out and look again.  Just think of the millions of stories waiting to be discovered!  A writer's heaven on earth.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Desultory - (dez-ul-tree) adjective disconnected or random.

Song Of The Day

Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter

This is the reason my family celebrate Thanksgiving.  It's about home and family and love and being together.  Things we all often take for granted.

Years ago I started a gratitude journal.  I write everyday the things that I am grateful for.  It has really opened my eyes to what a rich and full life I'm blessed with.  On days when I feel sorry for myself, I soon snap out of it when I write my journal entry.

Connecting with who you are and where you are from are ways of bringing a deeper meaning and emotion to your work.  Sometimes, to write a character who is lacking, it helps to look at the opposite in yourself first, to really understand what they are missing and how that would feel.

Happy writing ;)

Emma  

Picture Of The Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

Although Thanksgiving is an American celebration (obviously).  The tradition is one that I have always loved and felt a connection to.  So, for different reasons, I celebrate it with my own family.

I believe that we should all have a day that we give thanks for all the good and abundance in our lives and celebrate being together.  I decided to celebrate Thanksgiving because of what the name implies and it happens to fall on my son's birthday from time to time too, so we are partying anyway.

I was brought up in England where we had harvest festival, Australia don't really have a tradition of thanksgiving, which is sad, because we live in such a rich country with LOTS to be grateful for.

So, although perhaps for different reasons, we'll be carving the turkey tonight and each offering our thanks for all we've been blessed with this year, we'll be teaching our children to look for the good in their lives and to remember others less fortunate than themselves.  We will also be discussing what we can do in the coming year that will contribute to bettering the lives of others.

This picture brings love and warmth and a sense of roots.  Bringing traditions into your stories in unique ways is another way of connecting to the universal feelings of your audience.  Think Planes, Trains and Automobiles or Home Alone.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Gratitude - (grat-i-tude) noun the state of being grateful.

Song Of The Day

Gravity - Coldplay

Just love this song, Chris Martin's voice is so raw with emotion you can't help but be drawn in.

Enjoy.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

I love street art, but imagine if this were real. 

See that guy, he was walking along minding his own business and suddenly - what happens next?  What's down there?  How did this happen?  

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Solipsism - (soll-ip-sizm) noun (philosophy) the belief that only the self or ego exists or can be known.

Song Of The Day

Old School - Hedley

It's that time of year in this part of the world - the Seniors have graduated.  It takes me back to how simple life used to be.  The closer I get to one of my own children reaching this milestone, the further away that time for me feels.  Then I see pictures like the one below and I'm back in a flash.

There was a quote posted by someone under this song on YouTube that I thought said it all - "Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional".  Keep the child within you alive, don't get boring as you age, get creative!

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

When I saw this I was instantly catapulted back to my childhood, to where my love of story-telling began. 

My Grandparents lived in a small caretaker's cottage on a farm and I would go and stay with them from time to time.  Like any child does, I loved the individual attention that afforded me and was captivated as Grandma sat and told me stories.  Always ones she made up of course. 

One of my favourites was her tale of how the kitchen came to life while we slept, and she always included me in the story making process.  We'd brainstorm ideas of what they got up to, and how, if we crept down quietly enough, we'd witness another world, right there in that very cottage (is it any wonder brainstorming has become such a part of who I am!). 

I was 3.  Highly impressionable, with a mind so fertile and ready, that I revelled in those moments.  Grandma tended to my creativity like it was the Queen's garden, she and I were one and the same, we still are.  It is only with hind-sight that I see who and what has shaped me to become who I am today.  I was very blessed to be surrounded by creative souls all my life, to feel the freedom to imagine, without limits, and to see others do the same.  In that regard it has always come as second nature to me, like breathing.

The biggest thing I learnt from my own experience is how important it is to give children a safe, free and loving environment for their own creativity to grow.  How asking questions and encouraging their imagination will expand their world.  It upsets me to see adults squashing a child's ideas, however nonsensical they may be.  Or telling them 'the truth' instead of allowing them to believe, even for a short time, that their imaginary world is as real as they want it to be.

I often wonder how different I would be if those around me had berated me for 'daydreaming' or told me the harsh reality when I said I could see little 'fairy laterns' on the carpet at night.

Childhood, in my opinion, doesn't last long enough.  Allow the children in your life to be just that.  Give them freedom of mind.  Allow them to play, and watch as they create.  If you have the opportunity to nurture their minds, do, but please, remember how impressionable they are and that any negative comments will perhaps stop their imagination dead in it's tracks. 

Above all, keep that child within you alive.  My Grandma is a great writer.  I hope I grow up to be just like her!  God bless you Grandma, and thank you xx

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Contemporaneous - (kon-tempa-ray-ni-us) adjective occuring at the same time.

announcing the book

Here it is, the first book.  I've decided to make this a monthly thing as a few have pointed out that not everyone reads as quickly as I do, or has much spare time.  So, to be fair, I'll announce the new book the last Monday of every month and review the previous one the first Monday.  That way, you will actually get close on 5 weeks to read.

Since I'm also reading scripts and I'm being asked which etc.  I'll post a link to any that blow me away.  The most recent one I recommend is Buried - Written by Chris Sparling although the entire screenplay takes place in a coffin it is such a visceral read that it doesn't matter. I haven't seen the movie yet, but it's on my list.  I'm interested to see how it transpires onto the screen.

OK, so there you have it. 

Happy reading ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Animal - Neon Trees

A fun, motivational song for today.  Hope this gets you going.  Great upbeat band, if you like them check out their album - Habits.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Wonder how long he sat there to catch that?  How would you feel?  He seems to be taking it in his stride, what do you think happens next?  Is he alone?  He won't be soon, look how many are still heading in!

Happy writing ;)

Word Of The Day

Cutaneous - (kew-tay-ni-us) adjective of or relating to the skin.

Song Of The Day

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

Where does this take you?  Songs have a habit of attaching themselves to memories.  We all have a soundtrack to our lives. 

This, for me, follows on from the picture.  The guy buying the flowers and coming onto the florist.  This is what I imagine going through her head.  She's been burnt and she's guarded, rightly so, he's buying flowers for someone else.

Anyhow, hope it brings some inspiration for you today.  Fleetwood Mac are another all time favourite of mine and often give me ideas.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

How does this make you feel?  Romantic? Indifferent? Allergic?

I love flowers, so immediately I picture someone strolling home from work on a hot night grabbing a huge bunch for his girlfriend.  But that's where the brainstorming begins.

What happens next?  Who runs the florists?  What if as he goes to pay he discovers his wallet is missing?  What if the florist and he lock eyes, instantly knowing they are soul mates?  What if, as the sale is taking place, a gangster mob drive past spraying the place with bullets?

Always so many directions to go.  Where will you take it?

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Word Of The Day

Cadaverous - (ka-dav-er-us) adjective pale and haggard.

don't be afraid of change

Over the last few weeks I've been struggling to get over a wall I hit with my latest screenplay.  It didn't seem to matter where I took my characters it just didn't feel right.  So, I'd delete and start over.  I went through this process too many times to count and ended my day feeling defeated and unfulfilled, only to go back and do it all again the next day.

I tried moving onto other scenes, but this didn't work either!  I became so frustrated I stopped.  I closed the screen and watched a movie, then another and another.  Then I read a few scripts, some amazing ones actually.  I thought that might help.  It didn't.  Instead I felt even more inadequate.  Finally I realised I was letting it get the better of me - I was caught up in my head again.

What did I do?  I got back to basics.  I went for a long drive, listened to lots of Van Morrison and worked on something completely different. 

I have an open communication with my 'creative side' that I call dialoguing.  I got this idea from author Sarah Ban Breathnach.  So once I'd let the frustration go, I sat down and started dialoguing about what the problem was.  That is when I realised I was focused on the wrong story.  The places I was trying to lead these characters wasn't where their journey was headed.  Once this revelation came, I realised I'd known all along. 

Whenever I'd been trying to go in one direction this other aspect had been coming into my mind and trying to take me in another.  I'd dismissed it because I had a 'plan', but by opening up to a fresh idea and letting my plan go, I can't seem to get the story out fast enough. 

Don't make the mistake of 'locking' yourself into an outcome.  Writing is an organic process, change is inevitable, but more importantly, listen when change is calling.  When you hit that wall, don't panic, just relax and be open to the new.  Learning to deal with this as a natural part of the process will release you from the self-doubt and berating you put yourself through.

The more you write and the longer you do it, the more you will learn the process and see the patterns.  Finding a way of dealing with it will be a personal venture, one that will involve a lot of self-discovery along the way, but writing as a way of life and not as a job is a journey of self-discovery.  Learning to revel in it is the challenge.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison

Van Morrison is one of my all time favourite artists.  The deep connection he has with his creativity seeps through every word he writes.  His soul is on the line every time he sings.

To surrender so completely puts you in a vulnerable place, but it is essential to fulfilling the purpose of your writing.  If you don't expose every detail, and allow those intimate parts of yourself to manifest onto the page, you won't captivate your audience fully.  They will feel that something is missing.

It's the difference between listening to a song and feeling happy, sad or whatever, to having a full-on emotional experience, replete with goose-bumps and tears.  We've all had one of those moments.  The artist has bared themselves so completely that it causes our own soul to open up and actually live that experience with them for a time.

Isn't that what you want your writing to do?  I know I do.  Be vulnerable, be brave and be open to a creativity you can't explain.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Word Of The Day

Patricide - (pat-ri-side) noun a) a crime of killing one's father. b) the person who does this

Song Of The Day

Road Rage - Catatonia

An interesting prospect.  Since we were little and watching the Jetson's we've been waiting for those flying 'cars'.  Will they ever get here?  If they ever do, will there still be roads and cars for those who are afraid to fly?

Imagine what that life would be like.  I kind of like looking out over rooftops from my back deck.  The thought of vehicles hovering everywhere would kill my view!  It would also take away that calm I feel when I stand out there.  I can see the traffic now, but they are small, almost silent and I can block them out and focus on the trees.  If things were flying past every other second, I think I'd feel smothered.

How about you?  Your feelings and ideas on things can mould your characters.  I mean, in a world where personal air travel is the norm, how would a claustrophobic/acrophobic/aerophobe feel?  How would they get around? 

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Will we ever be living in places like this?  Possibly, but this could be part of any world you create now.  What would it be like?  Would it have a community feel?  What would the world look like? 

Creating futuristic places means anything goes.  Get creative and you never know, your idea might be the catalyst for a new invention!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Internecine - (inter-nee-sine) adjective 1. mutually destructive 2. characterised by great slaughter.

Song Of The Day

Another World - Brian May

Again, just a song that came to mind when I saw the picture below.

What story does it inspire in you?  Allow your ideas to flow out and write them down, maybe this can help your current story, or maybe you'll come up with another.  Sometimes it just takes one line of lyrics to bring a whole story flooding into my mind.  Inspiration is everywhere, be open to it.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

What does this evoke?  What do you see?

There is an other-worldliness to this that makes me feel child-like.  Look at the brightest part of the picture.  What do you see?  It reminds me of a scene in Tinkerbell.  It could be a Fairy Queen transforming, or all the wires coming alive.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Meretricious - (merri-trish-us) adjective showily or falsely attractive.

Song Of The Day

If I Die Young - The Band Perry

Such a beautiful, poignant song.  This touched me more just now as the anniversary of a young friends passing approaches. 

It's always important to keep your mortality in mind, not to be morbid but as a reminder that you are only here for a finite time and if there is anything you want to do, just do it.  Don't put things off, expecting to get to it one day.  Take a leap, have some faith and just try! 

Thanks to my wonderful daughter, Tayla, for this suggestion today.  Hope you know I'm listening everyday, beautiful, and thanks, it's just what I needed to get over that brick wall I hit!  As a fellow artist, you inspire me everyday to do my best.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This caught my attention this morning.  It holds so much emotion and is incredibly artistic.  I feel like I am on the journey with them, following into the unknown. 

How does it make you feel?  Who do you think they are?  Where might they be headed?  How do they feel?

Get those ideas flowing.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Panoply - (pan-o-plee) noun a brilliant covering or array.

what am I reading?

A common question I am asked is - What are you reading now?

Anyone who knows me, knows I constantly have a book on-the-go, sometimes two.  I have always loved to read and learnt at a very young age.  I was reading Enid Blyton chapter books by the time I was 5 and the passion has only grown with age.

My best friend is a fellow bookworm and so we often rotate, and always try to read the book version of an adaptation before we go see it.  We tend to have similar tastes so it works well, and it's always great to have a chat about our interpretation, likes and dislikes.

I have decided to share this with all of you, too.  Kind of like a book club.  As a writer it is so important to read.  As a screenwriter it is just as important to watch movies.  These are a vital part of how you learn.  The more you read or watch the more the structure and craft seeps into your subconscious and the better your own writing will become.

So, back to the question.  What am I reading at the moment?

J.K.Rowling of course!  With the new Harry Potter movie about to explode onto the screen any day (two to be precise) I decided to re-read The Deathly Hallows before I take the kids to see it, just so it's fresh in my mind.  I haven't been disappointed with an adaptation yet, but they are definitely not the books.  There are lots of little side stories they have left out completely, which I actually really like. 

Next week I have decided to start the book club, I will announce the new book and it's up to you if you read it or not, but I'll write a review once I'm done and open it for discussion. 

Happy reading ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Free Falling - Tom Petty

This is what the below picture reminded me of.  Combining the two, what do you come up with?

I've now got a young kid, whose had a recent break-up, floating through the air imagining cutting the ropes and ending it all, only to land and get tangled in all the ropes.  After what seems like the wrestle of his life, he emerges to find he's landed in the middle of a televised football game.  Seizing the moment, he makes a plea to his ex, live on T.V.!

Crappy maybe, but that's how brainstorming starts.  So, what've you got?

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Looks peaceful, doesn't it?  Floating along in the breeze.  Maybe it isn't, perhaps they are escaping something, or something is about to go horribly wrong, or it could turn into a comedic sequence upon landing.

You can take this anywhere.  How are they feeling?  Where are they going to land?  Is it a man, woman or child?  What is going on in their life?

Happy writing ;) 

Word Of The Day

Primogeniture - (prime-o-jen-icher) noun 1. the fact of being first born. 2. the feudal law that real estate passed to the eldest son unless otherwise bequeathed by will.

Song Of The Day

Run To Paradise - Choir Boys

Not really sure what made me think of this song today, but it's a good one, so enjoy.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This is a good reminder to do something every day that will take you closer to where you want to be. 

I have been guilty of sitting there, knowing I'm on the right track but not moving.  I'm sure you have too.  We get comfortable.  We feel good that we know where we're headed, but then we seem to stop.  Why?

Well, I can't be sure why you do, but I know why I do - fear of success!  

Success for a writer means you have a completed work and there is nothing more you can do with it, it is finished, and possibly (hopefully) published, or produced.  It means you have to let it go and move on.  Those characters, although immortalised forever, are no longer just yours and are open to interpretation from others. 

Why does this bother me?  Because I get attached and I worry others won't love them as much as I do, and therefore I will have failed.  It means I have to move onto something else and that the ever spinning cycle of fear begins all over again.  Fear of failure, fear of success.  A writers neurosis.

I have to remind myself often that life is a continual journey, and that letting go and moving on are part of that journey.  As long as you are engaged in it, you are experiencing it and whether you succeed or fail you are learning something, you are always on the right track.  Just jump on that train and see where it's headed and remember, at some point you're going to find out what's at the end of the line, so enjoy the journey and don't forget to look out at the view once in a while.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Thanks to Tom for the word of the day today -  so that's what I am!

Autodidact - noun A self-taught person.

be back soon

I'll be away for a few days on a mini-break, but catch you back here on Monday!  Have a great weekend everyone.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Summer Song - Leddra Chapman

Thought I'd get into the spirit of the season today.  It finally looks like we're going to get a summer, it's been a long time coming this year.  To all my northern hemisphere readers, hope this will cheer you up if the weather is miserable.

A fun, happy song to lift your spirits is a great way to get the flow happening.  Jump up, dance around and get generally silly.  Loosening up is a great way to 'unblock' that creativity and get the ideas flowing.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Beautiful, isn't it?  Who wouldn't want to be here?   Not you?  Well, I guess it takes all kinds. 

That's the thing, when we love something, as humans we have a tendency to assume everyone loves it too.  What could be so bad about the above?

What if you hate hot weather?  Or you have OCD and can't stand sand.  Perhaps you have a fear of water, or agoraphobia.

When creating your character, think about what could make them different.  Go with the general view of something and then do a 180 and find a uniqueness to them.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Raison d'etre - (ray-zon det-ra) the chief purpose or justification for the existence of something.

Song Of The Day

I Was Only 19 - Redgum

This always gives me goose-bumps and gets me emotional.  The words really bring home what these 'boys' went/go through to keep us safe.

This is an example of drawing out the emotion as I mentioned before and telling a story in a unique way.

Remember to be grateful for your freedom, safety and rights.  Keep in mind what it has taken to get them, and don't forget to say a quick prayer for those who still don't have them. 

Happy writing ;)

Emma 

Picture Of The Day

In light of the day today, I thought we could talk about war.  Many novels and movies that have been hugely successful have had a war theme.  Why?  Surely the loss, suffering and horror of it isn't that entertaining?

Look deeper, the reason they have been so successful is that they have explored the topic emotionally, they have brought out a deep emotion in the reader/audience, thus taking them on a journey, not just bombarding them with violence.

People tend to become more invested in a true story, or at least one based on fact, because it tugs at the heart knowing someone, somewhere has had to live through it.

Look to history for your own stories and find the human emotion in them.  Not just wars, history is filled with seeds of story ideas. Time to put on your research cap and do some time travelling.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Puerile - (pew-rile) adjective foolishly childish or trivial.

when things don't work out

What do you do when a goal you set doesn't work out?  Maybe the deadline has come and gone, perhaps the story has come to a stand still and you just can't get it any further.  What about when you get some less than pleasant feedback?  What do you do?

What you do when things don't work out is a good indicator of how dedicated you are to your craft.

The best thing you can do is - KEEP GOING. 

Move through whatever it is that isn't going so well, and soldier on.

Easy to say, but harder to do.  Stay motivated when you're feeling deflated, don't let it get the better of you.  I'm sure you've learnt something.  Even if it's how not to do something.

If the problem is story stagnation, leave it for a while and move onto something else, but don't stop writing altogether.  If you're dream is to write, then write.

One day, you will sit back and read what you wrote and realise it is your magnum opus! 

If you continue to move forward, you'll get there eventually.  Patience is something every writer needs, and the one thing that will be continually challenged.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

If You're Gone - Matchbox Twenty

Having an artist explain their work to you sometimes takes the magic out of it, don't you think?  This song always meant something different to me until I heard what it is actually about.

I wanted to bring this up today as a reminder that your work will be interpreted differently by others and you need to be OK with that.  That is the beauty of art.  No-one sees (or reads) anything the same way.  There it is again - perspective!

What do you think of when you hear this?  Now that you know what it's about, does it hold a different meaning for you?

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Does this look like a lonely stray to you?  The way we see something will send us down a particular road, one of the ways I try to see different sides to things, that will inevitably bring out more ideas, is to change the 'pace' at which I see them.

Rather than slowly absorbing this, and therefore being taken down the sombre path, look at it as if you were racing up to it at a hundred miles and hour.  Like you're in a car and it is all happening too fast to process.  How does that change what you see?

Look at it through the dogs eyes, that changes things again, doesn't it.

Perspective.  That is a word you need to get familiar with as a writer.  Always look for another perspective, and keep looking. 

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Vitiate - (vish-ee-ate) verb to weaken or spoil the quality or force of.

Song Of The Day

Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

This may seem like an odd choice but this is where I see the story going from below. 

I tend to write drama mainly and I see a person with their suitcase and nowhere else to go but back to an old love they haven't gotten over. 

Situations often force us to face our fears or unresolved issues, when writing stories you need to magnify these tenfold.  Even with other genres you have to increase the enormity of the situation, if you just have it play out at normal life speed, it would bore the pants off your audience.  Don't be afraid of being dramatic.

Happy writing ;)

Emma



Picture Of The Day

Is this a scheduled demolition or a disaster?  Maybe it's a rouge machine taking over?

It all depends what genre you wanted to write, there are no limits, take it where you like and have fun with it.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Plutocracy - (ploo-tok-ra-see) noun 1. the exercise of power by the rich. 2. the rich viewed as a ruling class.

Song Of The Day

Broken-Hearted - Eric Clapton & John Mayer

Some easy listening today.  A great song, great artists.  I grew up listening to a lot of great guitar solos by Eric, Santana and Gary Moore, just to name a few, and I find them relaxing.  There is also something about a great guitar player that inspires my own creativity.

Again, this may not do it for you, but it is important to find out what does, and then use it to your full advantage.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This is at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai but the first thing I thought of when I saw it was Jaws! 

What is lurking out there?  Would you feel comfortable standing there?  What if you couldn't get out?  Conversely, this could be an intimate moment for mother and daughter, a wonderful memory in the making.  It could be the trip of a lifetime.

What do you see?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Bilk - verb to cheat or defraud.

Song Of The Day

Apologize - One Republic

How might this connect to today's photo?  What inspiration does it bring?  Does it bring anything additional out of what you are currently writing?

This is just a great song that came to mind when I saw the below picture.  Why?  Don't know.  Often random pairings happen, what can I say.  I chose to go with them and see where they lead.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Couldn't resist posting this creative shot today.  Again, reminding us that creativity can take us anywhere!  There are no rules only limited by imagination. 

This could be a great story.  Who is she?  What is she?  Where is she from?  Is she part of another world?  Or an experiment gone wrong?  Are there more?

Get your thinking caps on and run wild.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

I - Yiruma

This guy is such a great composer.  If you like this it is from his album First Love.  I haven't come across any I don't like yet.

It's time for another instrumental to get that creativity going.  Since there are no words you can create your own.  Let it take you on a journey, where does it lead? Maybe it makes you think of someone, who's that character?  Maybe it takes you to a place, can you use it as your setting?  How does it make you feel?

Using music to inspire your work is only one element but it can be a huge one.  The music I put on here may not be what you need for inspiration, it is a personal preference, but find what you like and play it.  It will help get that part of your brain flowing and ideas coming.

Happy writing ;)

Emma 

Picture Of The Day

This looks peaceful, but what has brought you here?  Are you alone?  Are you heading to the building or the windmill?  Or have you just left and are looking back over your shoulder?  Why did you leave?  How do you feel?

Lots of questions, so many more answers and ideas.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Termagant - (ter-ma-gant) noun a brawling, shrewish woman.

Song Of The Day

First Time - Lifehouse

Another version of a new world beginning.  The start of another story.  This is the part of being human that intrigues me.  We are like millions of little planets on one huge one.  Everyones experience of this world is different and to write about different versions of that is freeing. 

You can, whenever you want to, create another world, another story.  Sometimes it's a great one, other times you can't wait to get the hell out of there. 

Relationships are the physical manifestation of worlds colliding and the foundation of all stories. 

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Imagine what it would be like to see earth from space.  Floating around out there and seeing this vision.  How would you feel?  Insignificant?  In awe that you are a part of that world?  Homesick?  Free?

We tend to get lost in our own little world, we don't often put it into perspective.  That is what we are a part of.  We are but a speck of dust on a huge planet.

As writers we have the ability to create new fictional worlds, or work within the one we have.  When you put that into perspective, there are endless possibilities, limited only by your imagination.

Time for another journey perhaps - to a land, as yet undiscovered.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Aesthete - (ess-theet) noun 1. a person who cultivates sensitivity and a love of beauty. 2. a person whose sensitivity is considered to be affected or excessive.

why we write

It's funny, I'm often asked why I write?  It gets back to people not seeing it as a regular 'job' and therefore not understanding why I'd spend so much time doing it.

This question used to frustrate me.  One, it made me feel like they thought I was wasting time and two, because I didn't know myself, I couldn't give them an answer.

Writing is an art form, and all artists create out of passion, not gain.  So for people who aren't artists, this can be difficult to understand. 

Writers write because they have to.  If I kept all of it up in my head I'd go insane.  My mind never shuts off, I have a steady stream of thoughts, ideas, monologue going all day.  I write to process all that and give it an outlet.  Sometimes it's good, often it's just a relief to get it out.  I write like I breathe, it's a reflex and a must.  That could sound like I don't enjoy it.  I love it! I wouldn't want to do anything else, but it is a necessity for me.

I guess the only way to describe it to someone who hasn't experienced that need is to say - imagine your own hobby and then picture being obsessed with it, it takes over you mind constantly and then imagine being told you couldn't do it anymore. 

I've been writing 'obsessively' since I was ten-years-old.  I also read 'obsessively' too.  They go hand in hand, and whether you realise it or not, you are actually learning the craft.  The more you read, the more the natural setup, dialogue, structure etc. gets into your subconscious and the more fluent your own writing becomes.

I read, on average, a book and script a week, depending on my time and whether it's a series or not.  I will devour a series more quickly because I want to know the ending.  Likewise, when I write, the primary motivation for me is to get to the end.  I want to see how it plays out, so my first draft I tend to write in marathon sittings until I get it all out.  Then I'll take my time rewriting.

So, back to the question.  Why do we write?  I've told you why I write, now, why do you write?  When you understand your own reasons and motivations and accept them, you'll be less bothered about what people think, because at the end of the day as long as you understand yourself, what's it matter?

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Song Of The Day

Watching The Wheels - John Lennon

A great story writer, issue raiser and overall great human being.  This is about his retirement but I think that it also gives us a reminder to sit back and watch sometimes and not get caught up in all the craziness of life.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

A bizarre storm cloud or an alien vacuum?  What lies beneath it?  What happens next?  If you were standing under it what would you see?  How would you feel?

Nature holds many story ideas, become an observer.  Good writers study what's around them whether it be people, objects or nature.  Always ingesting ideas, sometimes deliberately, mostly subconsciously. 

One of my favourite things to do is sit and watch the world go by.  I don't get to do it nearly as often as I'd like, but when I get a chance, I'll sit and just absorb.  My Grandma (a fellow writer) loves to do this too.  I was fortunate enough to join her a few times in this writers indulgence and it's always nice to have someone that understands your warped mind lol!

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Agglomerate - (a-glom-e-rate) verb to collect into a mass or cluster.

Song Of The Day

Perfect Day - Various Artist

This is a good reminder of what potential a new day holds and how you perspective makes all the difference.  Try to get into a good head-space in the morning, you'll get the most out of every day that way.

This came out in 1997 and is a BBC charity version.  I just love it, hope you do to.

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

Sunrise, the promise of another chance to get things right.  A fresh slate, more possibilities.

I love the early mornings, I write best then.  Fresh ideas spring in and I am calm and centred.  This is what this photo brings to me, but what about the person in the water?  What are they feeling?  Maybe the weight of the previous day is still heavily on their shoulders, or they have insurmountable issues to wade through?  What if they are about to meet a hurdle and they don't even know it?  The calm before the storm.

Hopefully you can use each morning to reflect on what is really important to you and then let all other things drop away.  If you are able to centre yourself first, the words will fall more freely onto the page and come from an uninhibited place.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Equanimity - (ek-wa-nim-i-tee) noun a calmness of mood or temper.

Song Of The Day

I Am Who I Am - Lee Ryan

As writers, we sometimes face scrutiny from others as to whether or not we take life seriously.  Often, although we are striving daily to reach our goals, it isn't apparent to others.  They don't see the struggle we face daily to get the words onto the page.  Perhaps we still have nothing published or produced that reflects that hard work, so they see us as dreamers wasting time, bums who should be 'working'.  Often, writers and other artists feel misunderstood.

I like this video, it is a great reminder that no matter what anyone thinks of you, stay true to your dream, to who you are and keep following that line to your ultimate goal, no matter what.

It helps to be in contact with others who do what you do, they understand!

Happy writing ;)

Emma

Picture Of The Day

This is a bookstore in Calcutta.  Does this man spend everyday the same?  Does he love books or loathe them?  If he loathes them, how would he feel being surrounded by them, literally?  Does he sell many?  Maybe he is so well sought after, people travel miles to find him, word of mouth, as he has no online store.  Maybe this is a cover for what he really does, what is that I wonder?

Always an endless stream of possibilities, just waiting to be tapped into.

Happy writing ;)
Emma

Word Of The Day

Punctilious - (punk-til-ius) adjective very careful about small details.