As writers sit and contemplate the empty page, we rely on our imaginations to help us fill it. I know this is obvious, but it is so obvious that I rarely think about it anymore. When I was a child, my imagination was as strong as anything else in my life. Sometimes the friends who …
It occurs to me that as I have mused over the pitfalls and joys of first drafts this week that I have not taken into account the thing that actually brings a first draft to completion: discipline. Discipline is not a sexy word. It is not an exciting concept. It isn’t romantic or swashbuckling or …
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath I love this quote. I think it applies to every aspect of the work: the first time I get an idea, while I’m writing, while I’m trying to sell what I write. Self-doubt is one of the roads that can lead me away from the work …
As I sit alone in the Cave, banging away at my first draft, I find myself tempted to edit as I go. This temptation, I know from past novels, is a siren song. The urge to edit what I have already written calls to me, but that urge only leads to wreckage on a rocky …
My week looking back on the beauty and serenity of West Virginia ends today with this one minute video of Blackwater Falls. This doesn’t quite capture it but gives a jumping off point to help you imagine the peace and tranquility of this lovely place. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f7FKfoVfqc[/youtube]
When I look at this video, I wish I had been able to do a better job of capturing the beauty of Blackwater Falls in West Virginia. The sound of the water in the background is almost overpowering, but I hope the view of the greenery makes up for the noise. The Falls come in …