creativity

May 2023: Being Steadfast (Turn #1 When You Want To Turn Back)

My first turn was soon after the first time I published my first book of poetry: LOVE SONGS OF THE UNREQUITED.

I wasn’t taught alot about marketing, making a social media presence, or developing an audience. Yet, all the great things that are happening to me at this point was trial and error.

Sometimes that is great–sometimes that is a detriment.

Yet when my first book wasn’t an instant smash, I could have stopped. But I didn’t.

I could have stopped when my first book signing that was self-funded, wasn’t as great as I wanted–I could have stopped. But I didn’t.

Not because I’m not talent, but because it was hard. It is hard.

It is that hardness, that difficulty, that is enough to make anyone stop. Yet, I did not. I could not! I wanted to see how this would shake out! I wanted to see what could happen. The curiosity of the continue make me think that I might be able to do this if I could just keep going. If I could figure this out, if I could make this my own–if I could just figure out HOW to keep going–then I would.

With my Turn–I had to push past doubt to keep going.

The Turn will demand that you believe the fear–or the fact (that you might be able to do this if you keep going).

May 2023: Being Steadfast (Turn #1: When You Want To Turn Back)

If writers are honest, we will tell you that there are instances which provoke us to stop.

If we are honest, we will tell you of the instance where people didn’t believe in us, deterred us, and wanted us to “do something safer.”

Yet, we do not.

Yet, every writer–whether they are traditionally published, or selling books out of the back of their trunks–have stories (multiple stories!) about how they almost quite, should have quit, and secretly wished they had at points.

Which, brings us to this idea–or warning.

THE TURN.

“The Turn” is the pivot point by which writer must confront in order to realize what they have in the tank to finish, not just a work–but this journey.

“The Turn” will teach you more than success ever will.

Encouragement Pages 4/28/2023

The writing you have to do is because you want to do it!

Writing is one of those things which are both solid and fluid. It can be done at any time, any where, and even with anyone! And for that cause, for that reason, it is the thing by which grants unnamed people immortality or grants hope to other places.

Write because you want to.

Write because you need to.

Write because…you can’t help it.

You can do it. You must.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

April 2023: REVAMPING

As of This year, I am in my 8th year of indie writing, blogging, and authorship.

Has it been easy? Of course not!

Yet, what has allowed me to keep going, to trust in my talent, and make in-roads for myself (and others) is my ability to revamp my approaches or content, and pivot when need be and necessary.

Why, this blog happened because I saw a need, and sought to fulfill it. While there are other writers who do what I do, only I can do it like me–to the tune of over 1000 posts at this point (I’m pretty proud of that!).

Yet, the most crucial tool that I can use, and use often is revamping. I often look at what I am doing that is working, what isn’t working, and what I need to do better.

In order to do what I love to do, which is write, I need to be able to look at what I am doing not just as an artist–but an adult! I still have a life outside of words! Since I have other responsibilities, I have to build like around those also.

Revamping is a tool–and a necessity.

April 2023: REVAMPING

The scary thing about writing is what it will require you to do: CHANGE.

It will require that you look at what you want versus what you have, and consider if it can be better, if it is working, and can it be better.

Writers an be stubborn.

Writers lie.

Writers will say what is working when it is not actually working.

Writers require a unique support, like all artists do because of the demands on our creative energies.

Writers also are–adaptive!

The plasticity of writing allows us to look at what isn’t working, what is working and change. But this ‘change’ is what we run from, and need to confront. By confronting it, we allow room for us to look at what we are proud of and want to keep, and examine what we can (and should) do better.

Embrace the process.

Embrace where you are going.

You can do it.

April 2023: REVAMPING

Here are the 10 things you can ask yourself before you decide to revamp your writing:

1.) Do I have a writing schedule? If I do, what could I do to improve it?

2.) Do I like what I am writing?

3.) Do I want to try to write something else?

4.) Do I like writing on paper, screen or transcribe my thoughts?

5.) What am I scared of writing a specific thing?

6.) If I am scared, what am I exactly scared of?

7.) Do I have a writing community to plug into in order to get support?

8.) Do I need writing support?

9.) What am I comfortable writing about? Have I gotten too comfortable with it?

10.) Overall, do I think what I am doing is working?