Isn’t it funny how much better we feel when we write? Sometimes writing takes away the pain because it GETS IT OUT OF US. And that is a holy and good work. Your body is not a coffin for pain to be buried in. Put it on the page!

I took this picture for myself when I lived in Tampa, Florida. I had an office in my closet. 🙂 I really needed to remind myself to just have fun while I wrote. I needed to tune out the voices and the people pleasing . . . and especially the fear.

The fear of making a mistake.

The fear of being wrong.

The fear of getting a bad review.

The fear of exposing too much of myself.

The fear of my second book not selling well.

The fear of never being accepted in certain publishing circles.

Etc., etc., etc.

I learned later that fear is a good thing. In fact, we should use it as a litmus test. If we are afraid, it means we showed up on the page.

P.S. Some of Brene Brown’s work helped me through this process. 🙂

Turns out, Within the Veil is a really good book (I cried for 3 days when I finished it). It transformed me as I wrote it. I got stronger. And that was a really good thing.

I love these encouraging videos for writers by James Scott Bell. Have fun checking them out. Also check out his writing craft books here: https://jamesscottbell.com/styled-8/ 

Conversation points:

What frustrates you most about the writing journey?

How do you overcome frustration when it hits?

Here’s an interesting interview with Ray Bradbury. Plenty of great soundbites in this, but specifically, start at minute 11. I love what he says about not thinking when you’re at the typewriter.

“I’ve had a sign over my typewriter for 25 years now which reads “Don’t think.” You must never think at the typewriter, you must feel.” 

Conversation points:

Do you struggle “thinking too much” when you’re writing your early drafts?

Stephen King says that writing is a form of self-hypnosis. What are your thoughts on that?

Page sculpting can be the difference between someone turning the page of your novel or closing the book. Sometimes poor page sculpting is the reason why a reader (or literary agent) might put your book down on page one. 

Robert T. Spiller is the author of the Bonnie Pinkwater Mysteries and other works of fiction. He lives is Colorado Springs, Colorado where he teaches writing. His unique perspective and sense of humor have encouraged countless writers and many have utilized his strategies to create award-winning fiction.

The story you carry is powerful. YOU are powerful and your light is mighty! Yes, writing a book can be like being in the boxing ring . . . and worse! But, we are transformed through the process of writing. It forces us to dig deep. And by doing that, we WILL come out different on the other side.

Bob and I had such a great time talking about ways to introduce characters. By using examples from Emma, Lord Jim, The Maltese Falcon (and others) we unpack various techniques that you can use to make your character introductions more powerful.

We also talk about our personal process when setting up characters . . . and more!

You’ll also see the photograph that became Bianca in The Covered Deep. 🙂

Resources mentioned:

Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques – Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4iB8VDP

Announcing my 3 winners of the Writing Day Workshop First Pages Contest! I’m looking forward to talking with these authors and critiquing the first 5 pages of their novels.

Sheena Holbrooks, The Soul Canvas

Linda Woods Taylor, Slipstream
Instagram: linda_woods_taylor_writes

Olivia Snow, The Heart of War
Instagram: oliviasnow.author

Special note: If you didn’t win, don’t give up! There were MANY close calls.

Learn more about pitching an agent online or in person with Writing Day Workshops: writingdayworkshops.com