4th Quarter Thinking

During the 4th Quarter of the year marketers think about last minute budget expenditures.  Other professionals are thinking about the coming seasonal change and what needs to be packed, unpacked, sorted, set-up and sold off.  This could include a budget, clothing, or tactics. 

I know of several writing professionals that take a month off or stop receiving new clients at this time to concentrate on current projects, trade shows and clients.  Teachers might be thinking about their lesson plan ahead.  But no matter what profession we are thinking, "fall" is coming is here.  Sure it's been crazy hot but the 3rd quarter smolders before it lets the heat simmer down to give way of cooler weather the rain.  

But really what’s happening is people are either panicking like headless chickens or lying on their sorry ass riding the tide like the Dallas Cowboys thinking all their work is done because they have a 14 point lead.  –You effing J-holes.

Sitting on your as during the 4^th quarter and expecting results to carry you through is going to leave you with a decimating loss after Tony Romo throws an interception.  Oh wait, I’m sorry, not one—two.  There is time for rest but choose wisely as to when you go on vacation.  May I suggest right before or after the holiday rush, after you’ve spent your budget, or when the game is over. 

Thank you Dallas Cowboys for giving us the perfect example of why you should “stay in the game”, even when you think you’ve made it.  I couldn’t have written a better scenario. 

Linear Writing

At the crest of completion

Other people's writing experiences have fascinated me since I began my learning curve of constructing a novel.  I especially wanted to know about their creative process.  How did you start out?  Did you have an ending before a beginning?  How did you get past the middle hump?
 
In between all these questions was my own experiences.  I've come across a span of time in which I didn't want to write.  Now I know for three months out of the year I'm the least creative but most playful. 

I have found that I am realatively flexible on the beginnings and middle of my story but not my endings.  Endings are suppose to have a point and I don't necessarily care how it gets there only that it does. 

I've tried getting down the entire book in draft form and then re-aranging the scenes to fit into a cohesive story but that doesn't work for me.  I write a scene and then edit it.  Write/edit process gives me time to think of the next scene.  Sure I know what the next scene should be but it doesn't always work out that way.  My story ability and space trajectory have a lot in common.  One minute detail will cause the rest of the story to veer into different dimensions, kinda like nasa is one-half a degree off in trajectory and sends its astronauts to Pluto instead of the moon.  BIG difference between having your character carry a gun or not.  Tiny detail, colossal difference. 

Brings to mind the detail of Holmes leaving his gun at home so Watson would see it and go after him to the ship yard.  That's why I don't get the draft down in it's entirety.  Having a story line helps.  I'm finding it helpful yet there are scribbles under scratches and scratches of previous story lines. 

I have also discovered that if I'm having a hard time writing a scene I back up re-read and begin to see how the path does need to be changed.  It's also the way my characters tell me they would never do that.  I've had a recent revelation that pairs-off with the outcome. With my temporary "why aren't you working?" tantrum I've seen a new twist to put in the book.  Still getting over that hump of what next but walking with the Emma will help with new ideas!  (She's my secret weapon)

How To Inspire A Muse

Muse not talking to you?  Wake up at 3am with ideas in your head when you went to bed after midnight?  Have to break away from a well-worth conversation because that pest of a muse just won't let you go?  Yet when you do have a moment your muse stares back at you with that deer in the headlight look?  Well here's what you can do!

Bribery.  Good 'ol fashioned bribery.  I like to use chocolate myself.  Or a massage. Ice cream works.  Though money has never worked for my muse sometimes buying a Writer's Digest workshop has done wonderful things for my muse.  I've tried sex but that just puts him into contented sleep (Yes, I'm a girl and my muse is a boy who likes chocolate and ice cream--it's why my POV belongs to a guy).  While bribery is a slippery method to get Muse to come out it's worth mentioning because it does work occasionally.  

Consistency.  Do you have a set writing schedule?  For those who do try taking a break.  People have to get away from each other.  Twenty-four seven of even those you love will make you want to scratch their eyes out.  Think of your muse as a person and take a break from each other.  For those who don't have a set schedule ask yourself this--when you call a friend at the last minute and say hey, I'd like to get together, do you really expect them to drop everything and come running?  Your friends have lives.  Make a plan.  Don't expect them to be on time to your last minute request. 

Use your senses.  Squashing your muse like a pestering child because they want your attention at the wrong time will get you pouting and non-compliance.  Part of the reason your muse doesn't come out is because your still thinking of other things when you write.  Clear your mind with yoga before writing, listen to Beethoven or Rammstein.  I will go through a round of jungle jewels before I write to let my muse know--it's time to play!  Sometimes going on Facebook or reading the news will get me so mad I have to spew words on the page and that too will get my muse to flow. 

Your muse gives you that rush, that feeling like there is nothing in world like creating a scene and transforming a clean screen into art.  Your ideas come from the core of your being so be patient while your muse swims to the surface bypassing the layers of self-preservation and the mask that seperates civility and restraint from those things you'd like to say and do to those who push your buttons.  Your muse is a person too.  Your muse is the beauty you bring forth into the world.  Amuse your muse and you'll always have a friend with ideas.  (But notice I didn't say good ideas).

How A Dog Improved My Health

My German Shepard, Emma, is a pain in the ass and I love her for it.  There is no arguing...wait let me back-up...there is no question that Emma is my "it's time to walk" alarm clock.  This in itself has gotten me to get out and walk her in the mornings before work.  That right there is a wonderful health benefit.  When Emma "argues" with me about a contingency it's "bark, bark, whine, howl, moan, bark, bark."  This improves my problem solving skills trying to interpret what she wants.  A walk?  Food? Is it time to chase squirrels? Maybe she wants me to get out the Nerf gun so she can chase the Nerf bullets.  You never know but I can't always blow her off when she thinks I'm working too hard on the computer.  And in that, she relieves stress and stimulates mental powers I might not otherwise use.  Pets are natural healers in that they can mend a heart, lick off tears, and make us feel worthy from being their sole-provider. 

I've always loved dogs to the point of confiscating Neo, my mom and dads Laber-doodle for an hour every week, but never found the right predicament to have one.  I'd always had horses but they were boarded and not at home.  I have fish that make me laugh, a dog that keeps me honest about my exercise regimen and I feel responsible for two horses that have found a way to my heart that give me a surprisingly different connection from dogs and people.  But no matter what animal you have they are a purpose in your life.  Purpose might be the most healthy thing out there for mind, body and soul.  I give no less than those three qualities to Emma and it's returned two-fold.  

The Little Boot That Couldn't

This post could also be called wardrobe failure.  Since I'm on the subject of old horse stories this week I'll tell you another. 

Now some of you know how annoying it can be when you have a bra strap flopping down while riding in a lesson or have a helmet try to pop off right in the middle of your second level dressage test so let me explain by saying I understand.

The helmet in my second level dressage test did not actually come off due to my amazing flexible balance and the ever patient Arianne but also because I've had practice with a failing wardrobe. 

While Pam was giving me a lesson on Cordova we practiced on circle, circle, circle.  My ten meter circle was more like twelve and my boot during the lesson had broken and lost its lace.  While doing the circles every so often I would pull up my boot because it was sliding.

Now for those who might be lost in the significance of all this let me explain.  I was using my outside leg, the one with the boot with no laces, to turn Cordova in a smaller circle.  This requires you to kick the living m****r-f***ing-s**t out of your leg.  Every kick was making my boot slide further and further.

I wasn't complaining, I wasn't stopping, I was simply using my hand to pull up the sliding boot.  After half my lesson it was obvious Pam was done with my wardrobe failure and blared over the intercom her displeasure.  "I don't care if your bra and top are coming off keep riding!" 

If you know me, I follow directions as best I can to the letter.  So I kicked and kicked to make my circles smaller without pulling up my boot.  At first I thought I could keep my boot on by pushing down on my stir-up but it just wasn't enough pressure because my kicks were also helping the boot slide further down.  Within one circle that boot said-I'm outta here!

Cordova being the gentleman, and not caring a damn about my failing wardrobe, and I went on.  The boot slid off, hung in the stir-up for a circle and plopped to the ground while my little dirt stain sock pitifully asked for my steed to make a ten meter circle. 

Pam, laughing hysterically, could not find words or the desire to go on with my lesson.  Me, Cordova and my sock were able to get down to eleven meters that day but after that incident, and the generosity of friends, I never had a want for boots. 

So keep a extra pair of field laces, wear a sports bra and never stop riding when you think it's going to fall off.  Oh, and don't try to stuff paper napkins in place of a well-fitting helmet.