Stir up your gifts one word as a time.
Write the things which need to be seen, and see them two-fold: As they are and as you hope them to be. This is the labor and justice of writing.
Do justice to your writing by doing just that.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
In the book, On Writing, Stephen King talks about the power of muses. He talks about the need to have a space set up to write. The beautiful thing about having a dedicated space to write–the muses will always show up! You have a dedicated space to dream, to create and to do so unencumbered. This type of dedicated space is essential to creating The Flow!
1.) Make the space inviting for you! Whether this be a room with a view, a hotel room, or even desk in your room or your bed! This spot should be yours–totally obedient to what its you want and would like to do.
2.) Remind yourself that this space is just to write. Not sleeping. Not texting. Not eating. It is for writing. You will be amazed at what will happen once you have repurposed/purposed such a space.
3.) Write as if no one will watch you. This talent is yours to wield and to share. You must remember that your first fan, your first audience, your first member of your soon-to-be anxious public is you.
One of the essential things you must remember about creating such a space, is you as a writer are in charge of this space! You control it! You must control it! The Flow is not this cloud, full of rain, come to water your talent. Sometimes, you have to summon such rain. You must be ready to summon such rain when you need it!
So, summon the rain. Make that rain feed the streams of the visions you desire. Make the streams find the rivers of talent, and from there, make them flow to ocean of the world you desire to create. You can do it. You must do it.
Create–make the muses work.
Ah, discouragement.
This is something I am so sensitive about speaking of! I pride myself on being an encourager, and something of a writing midwife–a writer’s writer if you will. So, when the topic of discouragement comes up? I get really defensive and angry. I want to chase it out of the lives of writers because it is a cancer on and towards all creativity. It’s a block of the worst sort!
But, I have to talk about it. Even if it is begrugingly.
Discouragement is the opposite of encouragement. This you know. With that antonym in mind, discouragement is the thing that strangles your heart, determined to kill everything in it! This type of hindrance is heart-breaking. It often doesn’t come from any internal voice most times! It may be in the form of the people whom love you, but tell you to forsake writing. Whom may tell you they can’t or won’t support you ‘because what you’re doing isn’t special.’ Let’s not even talk about your own doubts, fears and inhibitions! A working writer has enough going on internally as we work –we don’t needed the added stress of other people telling us, discouraging us, from what we are already scared to do!
Discouragement can be project-specific or cyclic. You must be aware of this. You have to be able to notice what causes this, and what uproots or defuses it! In recognizing this, in finding out the direction and reason behind the discouragement you can begin to combat it! Whether this means to start writing in a specific area, or on a specific day, or you just keep all your writing to yourself to share with a select group of people–do what makes you comfortable and happy.
Eff the naysayers!
This is your talent, your time and your life–be bold!
Keep writing
I want you not to be overwhelmed this month.
I want you to remember that every thought won’t blossom into a WIP or a novel. But–it is the ideas you don’t chase, that you think aren’t worth the chase–which could!
I want you to be okay with the stop and start this month. September is Back to Writing Month, and I want you to get at it. I don’t care if it’s a paragraph, a story start on your voice recorder, or an idea you just kick around on social media.
But write. Write it down. Chase what chases you.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Write about the things you love.
Write about the things you hate.
Write about the things that turn you on.
Write about the things that scare you.
The beautiful thing about starting a new work is that you don’t or may not directly know how it all will end. But, be cognizant of the things which draw you to write! Remember what you are creating. Remember that you are in control of it. Don’t be afraid of your imagination—dark or light.
Push yourself.
You’ll be amazed at what you find.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
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