Silver James

There I was yesterday afternoon, sitting at my desk, tip-top-typing away. I got to a spot where I needed a metaphor. Or is it a simile? I always get those confused–which is why I am NOT an English or Creative Writing teacher. Anyway, I was looking to compare two things as in this thing is like that thing, which is a simile. Yes, I just looked it up. So, I hit this part of the narrative and came to a complete halt because I couldn’t figure out a good way to say what I wanted to say. It happens. It’s a mild form of writer’s block. Real writer’s block? Yeah, that’s when you sit and stare at the screne and/or paper and absolutely no words come, nor ideas either. You’re just stuck there in the mud like a drunekn off-roader. All writers are subject to this malady. But, I think maybe the Universe has an idea…

Silver, if only you would look inside…

The truth you seek could no longer hide.

You know it,
The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. WHATEVER it is you’d like to know, Silver, is with you right now.

Gosh, the Universe is a poet and I suspect It knows it. I saw a quote the other day: A person without imagination is like a teabag without hot water. That is a simile! And also true. Thank you, Alan Fletcher, for your wisdom. Writers need to be full of imagination. That’s how we dream up our plots, settings, and characters. It’s how we string words together to describe those settings and characters and tell the tale. Imagination is something that lives inside us and as the Universe says, that’s where we need to look to find the truth of our story. This is also good advice for just life in general. All we have to do is take a good, long look inside ourselves.

P.S. The simile I came up with? “Avoiding Ronan O’Connor was like trying to hide from ants at a picnic.” Not the best one but it served the scene. What are you avoiding today?

Someone asked me once how I decided on my next project. Back when I had contracts to fulfill, it was pretty simple. I went to work on the book with the next closest deadline. Now, it’s a different story. Oh, I make plans. I have several series and in an ideal world, I’d put out at least one book a year in each series. That hasn’t been the case lately (last year or so) due to a variety of reasons. But let’s say that is the plan I’m working under. Which book is next? Here’s the Universe’s thoughts on the subject:

First, choose from the options that thrill you.

Then, choose the ones that will also teach you.

And from these, Silver, choose the scariest.

Butterflies in your tummy are good,
The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. That’s how I got Earth rolling, Silver.

Yup. That pretty much sums it up. I’m thrilled to tell stories and some are more thrilling than others. I also learn something with each book I write so I hope that means I’m actually getting better with age, as it were. And last, it’s the scary books that seem to ignite the fires of inspiration–if they don’t freeze you in your tracks first. Sometimes, ya gotta just throw caution to the wind, step out of your comfort zone and tackle the scary stuff. I would also add, I work on the one with the noisiest characters. Writers live with voices in our heads. We can ignore the quiet ones but the ones who shout and jump up and down? They’re just irritating and the only way to get them to calm down is to give them coffee and a chance to tell their story. At least in my world. Writers, how to you pick? Readers, would you consider this advice when picking your next read?