writing journeys

The New Things

Being a writer is one of thee most maddening things I have ever done! For every project that I want to do, there are 4 others that spring up. They seduce me from the current work, and then I leave them–jilted and guilty –to return to the first love. Determined to finish what I started.

This is what writers do though, dear ones! We create! And in the fury of creating, we have these side loves that call to us. These things we start when the first love (read: current work) has us in a funky place with no way out. I mean, Octavia Butler wrote Fledgling as a side project because the other work she was writing was ‘too much’! Wri

Encouragement Pages-04/06/2020

Think about your word play today.

Think about your word choice: what you say, how you say it.

Remember they story–good or ill–belongs to you. All words done or crafted by you.

Writing is equal parts bravery and calamity! There is portion of you which will have to be brave enough to verbally admit what you have only whispered. Then there is the personal shock (aka ‘the calamity’) which happens when you begin to write something–you become shocked at how this is coming together.

Fight through the calamity.

Write through the calamity.

You can do it!

Keep writing!

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-03/30/2020

Dig in, dear one.

Be ruthless with the talent, my fellow Oracles. There is a power in it. What power is that you ask? The power in knowing what you have on the inside of you is itching to come through your hands, because it has been boiling your head so long.

It is–it will be–scary and exhilarating and the journey is yours.

Be bold enough–brave enough–to continue.

Please, continue.

Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-03/27/2020

Come close.

Let me tell you something.

The words will never just appear out of the ether. You have to chase them. You may have to fight for them. You may even have to chase their shadows from dreams you have. But be relentless, dear Oracles.

The words are there–but you may have to reach a little longer or further to get them.

But–go get them!

Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-03/23/2020

In the age of cornavirus, I want to remind you that alphabets exists. That stories exist. That storytelling is still a thing. Think of this time you are self-quarantined as your writing retreat.

People watch. Research. Look at the news–as scary as that is.

But take all that and conjure it.

Write.

Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-03/18/2020

Completing any work is hard. It is difficult, and the process to perfect is not real. The best you can hope for as you complete any WIP is contained, controlled chaos.

Today, I want you to remember the process to write is fraught with pitfalls, discouragements, and all matter of distractions! Once you acknowledge this, you can be more gentle with yourself.

Completing a WIP is akin to sailing a ship on the ocean–in a storm! When you write, the more often you write, the quicker you can drop anchor to stop the work from being lost–or set adrift!

Be vigilant, dear ones.

Keep at it.

Love & Ink,

JBHarris