tool kits

Plant A Treasure Chest-Part 2

In Part 1, we talked about establishing a treasure chest, and what all goes into that. Now, we will discuss why those things are important–why that work was necessary! The work is necessary for organizing your thoughts, and keeping you on track for the project you desire. You have the space and time to do all you want–if you make space for it! The forethought and planning allows you to make space in your imagination for what you want–think of it as prepaying rent. In ‘prepaying’ it, you have decided to make the project you are working on not only a priority, but tangible! It is easier to write something that you have seen, than something that is still nebulous in your mind. All the research, images, and freewriting (even music!) helps to give shape to what was only an idea! But this is the purpose by which treasure chests are made–they are investments! They are a safe way to protect your jewels:  your ideas.  I am a believer that what you believe in, you will pay attention to and invest in. Open your treasure chests, dear ones. Fear not–you put time and effort into it. Since you did the work, reap the rewards of it–one word at a time.

Encouragement Pages-10/2/2020

I want you to understand that you are in charge of your imagination. You tell it what to do, where you want to go, and what you need the story to say!

You are the writer. You control this world, because you created it.

Create in confidence and write in power.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-01/27/2020

Writing is a strange alchemy.

This pulling something out of your head to a seeing world is still mystical. Still a wonder. Never be so cocky to think writing is “easy.”

There are some who wish the gift would come back—only to be greeted with barren imaginations…and tears.

Humility is some times the best coin of the realm.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-01/22/2020

Shameless plug to remind you to read.

Writers are readers, inquisitive about the world around them so they can create another. If you’re stuck in process of creating an WIP and become discouraged, take a break. Fill up that blank time with a book.

Sometimes the words of others, stir our own.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-01/17/2020

Discouragement. Doubt. Self-rejecting.

These are the dragons writers must continually slay. It is not sufficient to leash them, they must be slain. At their deaths, you fuel your pen.

Do not reason with discouragement.

Do not listen to doubt.

Do not think so little of your imagination that you will not entertain or humor it.

Slay the dragons.

And dispatch them without mercy.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Enouragement Pages-12/20/2019: The Grand What If (2)

Being a writer means you will/may always have questions. The toughest ones to answer always involve The Why.

Why do you write?

Why aren’t you writing?

Why are you afraid to write?

Regardless of genre, or length of project, you will have to answer these questions.

Sometimes once during the course of a work, sometimes repeatedly in the course of a day!

But they must be answered.

Moreover, they must be answered by you.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

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When You Push Your Wishes, They Become Words

“I wish I could write.”

I cannot tell you how often I have heard this from clients and other writing friends. But I tell them the same thing I will tell you:

“Write anyway. Wishing won’t make words.”

When you make the time to write–when you fight for it in some cases–you will be amazed as to what happens in that space. When you push your wish, you can make words.”

Push the wish, you push the words.

My wish for you, as this year ends, is to push the wishes. Rage against the excuses and time constraints. I want you to stop giving yourself the out of saying “I wish I had time to write.”

Push your wishes into reality!

Getting Over It

Writing is hard. Writing is real hard. I wish that I could express to you–truly!–how hard this. Being able to pull something out of the nebulous creative ether and share that to other people?

It’s hard.

But what I want you to know something, and I will try my best not to sound conceited.

The cool thing about being a writer, is that not everyone can do it.

The hard thing about being a writer, is that not everyone can do it.

The impossible thing about being a writer, is that no everyone can do it.

For every work that you create, there will be a doubt. No matter how quick, not matter how long, no matter how infrequent. The doubt will be there. Almost like a too tight safety belt.

But, there is something to this. What I want you to do when doubt crops up is embrace it, not hold it. This is something that you will learn with time, and as you get comfortable writing.

Embrace the doubt= you realize doubt is there.

Not hold it= doubt will always be a weight, and it is not to be entertained long.

That is the thing about writing. You have to be able to believe you can do it, before you can ever do it. It is the doubt that allows you to still look at a work with some degree of respect–and realize that every piece, every work in project is your responsibility. To care for. And complete.Being a creative has a certain weight and heft to it. Some part of that creative is, does require a radical belief in self.

With that ability, do one thing for me: be grateful.

There are those of us along with journey to writing or creativity that hold on to doubt. Who forget that writing is not as natural for others as it is to us. Or, they allow the doubts of others to be projected on their own talents and cease to create anything. Or anything else.

But gratitude, that is the counterweight to doubting while creating. Your gratitude will allow and plow room towards what it is you want to create. Honor your talent. Honor your commitment.

Putting off the writing never makes it easier.

Taking your creativity for granted only makes you ungrateful.

An ungrateful writer is one most unpleasant to be around. Besides, there is nothing like a good bout of Writer’s Block to make one humble. Trust me.