Conflict

Happy Easter!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Happy Easter!
Happy Resurrection Day!
For the last few years I've experienced this bit of conflict whenever I wanted to or actually greeted someone this particular holiday season. I grew up knowing this day as Easter Sunday, and so I'd go around greeting folks with a hearty "Happy Easter!"  But lately my greetings have been met with corrections of "Happy Resurrection Day!" According to these folks Easter is a pagan holiday and the proper greeting should reflect the actual reason for the season. Hence the Happy Resurrection Day greeting. Do YOU agree or disagree? Does it even matter at this point? And therein lies the CONFLICT.
  Every story or novel should contain some sort of conflict. In fact, I daresay that it is conflict that ultimately drives the narrative forward. In fact, a story without conflict will be hard put to move at all! Let me offer this semi-scientific point as an analogy... You can own the best car in the world, and it might still get stuck on a patch of ice. The tires might spin and turn but the car goes nowhere, nor is it going anywhere soon unless you add some traction. You see, in order for the tires to move the car, no matter how great that car is, they must have something to grab onto, bite into... essentially rub against. It's also kinda what makes the "moonwalk" work, but that's a story for another time...
  Anyway, without traction or friction, in other words CONFLICT between the tires and the road, that car won't move. The ice is so smooth, so slick, that the tires just cannot grip the road. Conflict in a story or novel serves as the traction that's needed to move the story forward. It can take the form of some huge battle, or it can be something as intimate as someone's fight against a disease or a disagreement between lovers. Whatever it is, it must exist. Romance novels, westerns, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, whatever your poison, there has to be an obstacle to overcome, a problem to solve, or a conflict to resolve.
  So remember to add some traction to your story so it won't just sit there spinning its literary wheels. Oh, and Happy Resurrection and Easter Sunday!

Not Just Books bookclub

Sometimes writing can be a lonely business. Now, don't get me wrong, most writers are solitary creatures that treasure their alone time if for nothing more than to think. I'm the same way.  On those rare occasions when I find myself alone, I revel in the peace and quiet that allows me to write, plan, map, draw, paint, or even doze. Yet. Yet... as with most other artists, I like feedback. Is anyone reading my material? And if so, what do they think of it? Has my work had the desired effect on my readers? Has my writing resonated with anyone?
  Well, I was priviledged recently to be the literary guest of the NOT JUST BOOKS bookclub. It was a wonderful and refreshing affair in which the members rated my novel, Chickenhawk, on a 1 - 10 scale, asked questions, and shared their opinions. It was great hearing ardent readers acknowledge my work and intelligently discuss various aspects of my novel. It was downright exciting! There was even good food, drinks, games and goodie bags! I honestly had a great time and can't thank the members of rhe NOT JUST BOOKS bookclub enough for choosing my novel to review, and for inviting me to join in its discussion at their meeting. A special shout-out goes to Ms. Brenda Sidberry for suggesting my novel to the bookclub, and for being such a lovely and gracious hostess.
  And selfishly speaking, it felt good hearing that folks liked my book. Very good. Thank you so much NOT JUST BOOKS!

Where Creativity?

I just happened to chance upon a "Michaels" bag wedged in between the flotsam & jetsom that takes up an annoying amount of space in my room. Michaels is an arts and crafts supply store where one can purchase everything from canvasses and paintbrushes to plastic dinosaurs for use in dioramas. I usually avoid going there because of the sheer amount of stuff I have already purchased from there, but on occassion I'll still find myself roaming its scented aisles and perusing through its inventory of frames, sketchpads, and candle warmers. It wasn't until I saw this bright red Michaels bag however that I noticed its intriguing tag line, "Where Creativity Happens." So I asked myself, where DOES creativity happen?
  I propose that ideally creativity happens within oneself. Oh sure, many of us wait for inspiration, while a good many more folks won't type a letter or scrape a pen across a blank sheet of paper until they've been bitten on the ass by their muse. There are poets who will write only after suffering some sort of tragedy in their lives. This is all well and good as far as motivation and sheer talent are concerned, but where does the creativity happen?
  Dieter F. Uhctdorf, a German aviator and religious leader, once stated, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."  And there you have it... or not. I happen to agree with good ol' Dieter however. Speak at length with almost any writer and their passion for the written word becomes clear. So is creativity a product of passion? I believe that the two could be inextricably intertwined. Some of the world's finest songs, poems, stories and books were written either while the author was in love, heartbroken, or otherwise in some sort of distress. Joy, happiness, and feelings of well-being can also bring on bouts of creative energy.
  So creativity, in essence, exists in all of us and can be expressed in countless ways. It must be a product of the soul, a miraculous well which we can dip into in order to produce that which allows us to express our most intimate selves to the world. It can't be taught in a classroom, or bought in a retail shop (sorry Michaels). It is a part of the human psyche, a part of ourselves: deep and abiding.
  You. It's you. You are where creativity happens.

Haters gonna Hate!

Writers write. Painters paint. Knitters knit. Haters hate. Yes, unfortunately the phenomenon of various people disliking you for no real or obvious reason exists. I hope you're not shocked... or even dismayed. That's just the way it is and always has been. Remember the story of Cain and Abel? Joseph and his brothers? Haters gonna hate.
  Why am I bringing this up? Because I talk to a lot of writers and artists, and one common topic of discussion is how often a person's creative work is met with negative comments, open derision, or even outright hostility. Unfortunately, especially among aspiring and new writers and artists, this can be devastating. At the very least the actions of a "hater" can cause someone to second guess their work or even their career choice.
  Don't let this happen to you. The vast majority of people in the world are not only not creative, but don't understand the creative process. Some of these folks, not all but some, feel that it is their duty to "offer" their version of constructive criticism. It is much easier for these folks to pick out real or imagined flaws with your work than it is to say something encouraging. Do they do this out of bias? Jealousy? Anger? Actual hate? Who knows? But what I do know is that the subtle or not so subtle poison they so willingly offer to a creative person can have the effect of discouraging a creative soul and in extreme circumstances even sabotaging a budding or existing art or writing career. And that's a doggone shame.
  So what can be done? Well, there's not much you can do about the hater other than staying away from them or just not including them in your creative process. But there is something you can do about YOU. Creative people are notoriously thin-skinned. You have to toughen up and realize that some people will just never support you or see what you do as being a worthy enterprise. In that case, suck it up, dust yourself off, and get back to work. Not everyone is going to be a fan. Just like not everyone can write or paint or play the cello or crochet a capelet. You have something special to say via your art so get to it, that takes precedence over the negative mewlings of any naysayer.
  And haters? Well, they're just gonna hate.