Masterpiece Moments: Walking & Writing Through Life with Eyes Open

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23

Sometimes everything comes together—the colors, the lighting & the composition. You don’t have to have fancy equipment to capture a masterpiece. This was snapped in a parking lot with my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Capturing beauty isn’t about the equipment, it’s about the attitude.

I see this in life as well. We (or at least I) work hard to orchestrate special times. I plan and prepare and sometimes those times turn out well. But most of the masterpiece moments in my memory aren’t built from the ground up, they’re discovered. 

As a photographer, I’ve learned to capture the moments. 

I always have a camera with me

I always know where the light is

I keep my eyes open

These tips translate to life as well and when I apply them, my writing flows from what God provides. 

I remind myself I never walk alone. My God is always with me.

I always know where He is. Just like the right lighting makes an image special. People & situations viewed in the light of God’s love become precious.

I keep my eyes open for the masterpieces that God orchestrates in my life.

Experiencing life’s beautiful moments isn’t about what we have, it’s an attitude and an awareness that every moment has possibility of becoming a masterpiece. And this way of walking through life will give our writing a depth and connection we wouldn't find, any other way.

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Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.

The Backstory Dilemma for Writers

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

This week I read a novel that had all the necessary ingredients to keep me reading past my bedtime. (The ultimate compliment to a writer.) Instead, I had to force myself to finish. (Oops.)

The intriguing characters were there. The setting invited you in. The plot was unique and engaging. It even had a dog.

But the writing, not so much. And the problem boiled down to one thing: too much backstory. Backstory is what had happened to the characters before this story began. And backstory is important. Let’s face it, the more interesting a character’s life, the better the story. The issue comes when so much backstory is dumped in the narrative that it takes the reader out of the action.

Genre Expectations: Writing Magical Realism and Contemporary Fantasy

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Genres are confusing, guys. Let’s just say it. It used to be so much easier when the categories of fiction were ones with magic and ones without magic. Or spacey stories versus scary stories. That being said, the explosion of genres really does help narrow down the types of stories that audiences want to read. Since there are so many books, it’s necessary to have more ways to categorize them.

So today we’re going to talk about two genres that often get confused: Magical Realism and Contemporary Fantasy. It’s easy to mix these two up because they have many similar tropes and traits, but they are very different, especially in how you market them. 

How ELSE Does a Writer Unwind After a Deadline?

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Ideally, we would all hit send on our manuscripts and immediately retire to the locale of our choice. Perhaps a country estate, a mountain cabin, a beach house, or maybe even a yacht. In each of these environments, we would be served food and beverages, celebrated for our mammoth achievements, and encouraged to soak in the bliss of a job well done. 

SCREEEECH. 

That was the needle being scraped along the record of real life. 

Four Ways to Make Brainstorming Work for You as a Writer

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

One of my favorite things to do, brainstorming is usually defined as a way to formulate new ideas from the creative side of our brain by allowing those ideas to flow. 

Our brains are amazing, allowing us to coordinate thoughts and ideas based on our experiences. We get triggered, usually by an outside stimulus, and millions of brain cells start to vibrate. That stimulus finds cells which are all connected to a specific memory—an association and conglomeration of concepts about a specific thing—and causes a visceral response. In other words, the sight of a snake is going to bring up layers upon layers of associative memories about what your parents, your siblings, your teachers, your preachers, and your own experiences have led you to believe about snakes and your body will immediately react, usually either with interest or fear. 

So, how does this help us with brainstorming our writing?

The beauty of brainstorming is two-fold: 

• a) We can plumb the depths of our own brain to create characters and situations that leap off the page, and/or 
• b), we can also get feedback from people who all have different experiences. 

Imagine this scenario: 

You're having problems with a character or a plot point. You've thought and thought and thought and you're still struggling. So, you call a friend. Or two. Around a table with a hot beverage you all start talking about the story line, utilizing the experiences and creativity of all of you. Soon, the ideas are flying, some great, some just silly. But, as you build on each other, perhaps something amazing will come out of it, something you can use to make your book work the way you want it to.

Now with all this information, how can we make brainstorming work better?

()

• 1. Pick people who help you to let go of at least some inhibitions. I find my long-standing critique group of dear friends help me the most. We find a table at a restaurant where we can giggle and get excited and make all the noise we want and go to it. Even strangers might have useful information—ask people what they think. Listen to folks around you as they tell their stories—sometimes, truth is indeed stranger than fiction. 

• 2. I can also brainstorm on my own. I use the mind mapping program www.brain.com (they have a free level), a notebook, or even the back of a napkin to write down ideas. Start with a notion and come up with as many ideas as you can, even if they sound crazy!

• 3. Just let the things flow. Don't censure anything. You may not use anything you come up with, but you may find a crazy idea that leads to the perfect one for your story.

• 4. Don’t feel that you have to take even a single idea that comes up in a brainstorming session. It's not about specific situations, it's about loosening up your creativity and finding great ideas inside of you.

Bottom Line 

The power of brainstorming is in the flow of creativity. In this crazy world of ours, all too often we get restricted by too many things going on and we can't let our minds wander. Remember, Burton Rascoe said: A writer is working when he’s (or she's) staring out the window. So I hope you can find a window to stare out of.

Do you brainstorm? How?

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4 Ways to Make Brainstorming Work for You as a Writer from @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories and has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.

A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at WWW.MARGIELAWSON.COM. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors. 

You can find her at info@mindpotential.org 

From Sally: I wish to express gratitude to the giants upon whose shoulders I stand and who taught me so much about the writing craft. I would list every one, if it were only possible.

Where Does a Writer Go for Reliable Tech & Publishing Industry Info?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I get asked this question a lot. There is so much information out there—and most of it incorrect or at least misleading—that we’re all afraid to just ask Google for help. So today I’m going to share some of the places I got to get information and verify the information I get. 

13 Attitudes to Change if You're Struggling as a Writer

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Choosing to be a writer can be a daunting prospect. It involves courage, creativity, and yes, commitment. When we’re unwilling to make that commitment, we can doom ourselves to failure before we’ve had a chance to succeed. 

This post isn’t meant to beat anyone up, but rather to make us aware of some of the things that could be holding us back on our writing journey.