Monthly Archives: December 2017

Writers Horoscope December 21: You welcome conflict…

into your writing.

argument-conflict boxing glove

Things had been getting a bit drab, stilted.

Not so much after digging up my July-August 2013 Poets & Writers article, The Art of Conflict, by Dan Barden. [Sorry, link only provides a summary of the issue.]

A few noteworthy points:

“Your characters should more or less always be having a bad day.”

“Conflict is what creates growth. Conflict is what creates character.”

“The other thing I can tell you about conflict: No matter how extreme it gets, people will identify with it.”

***

So in this season of love and peace and goodwill, go out there and wreak a little literary havoc!

Writers Horoscope December 20: Today, your non-conformist gene kicks in.

SW trooper dolls with Elmo cropped

You break away from the evil empire of ‘the conventional’.
You write Chapter 1 of a cozy romance. You outline an overthrow of an evil intergalactic dictator. You pen a love poem…to pizza.

Even if the Elmo in you stays for a day, savor your departure.

Even better, document and share it. Share it here, even!

 

Writers Horoscope December 18: You’re on the alert for new material.

peephole

Even with other active projects [and possibly because they’re growing a little stale], you keep your eyes and ears open.

I was killing time in a department store yesterday and decided there must be something I could conjure up. And I did…

kohls notes attempt three

The face-tucking seems a little desperate, I admit, but it was first draft material and, come on, don’t tell me there aren’t some people that evoke that kind of reaction. ;->

I should be writing. Instead…Cafe Beaujolais Coffee Cake.

cafe beaujolais coffee cake reduced

Actually, I was writing.

But this was more fun.

Nestled in the northern half of the cake is a cup of chocolate chips for my wife, who would probably drop a few into tuna salad if it didn’t send me summoning a divorce lawyer.

[Ssssshhh, don’t tell her I poured in a little molasses with the buttermilk mixture.]

This has been one of our go-to recipes for close to two decades.

There is nothing more comforting on a December Sunday afternoon than hot coffee with this decadent departure from ‘store-bought’.

 

Writers Horoscope December 17: You have a newfound appreciation…

for literacy.

***

Got this message in my inbox. I guess it was written well enough to escape the ‘Junk’ folder.

online scam

I have believe that these people didn’t bother to hire a proofreader. [Strikes me as a side hustle opportunity for those with a shaky moral compass.]

I better check with my bank to see if they have temporarily suspend my account.

 

Writers Horoscope December 16: You revive your notebook habit.

 

From 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity,
one of Joel at Lifehack’s ‘rejuvenating tips’:
Carry a notebook everywhere.

 

notes1notes2

Hey, they’re just notes. But my observation of the uncooperative nature of computers nudged me toward drawing a parallel with some people. Possible subject for a short essay or blog post.

I also like the story possibilities of YouTube alerting a teacher to a student straying a bit from the assigned work.

Writers Horoscope December 15: You revisit an oft-forgotten strategy.

It’s certainly easy to jot down these ideas in a notebook, but sometimes the alternative tool forces one to rethink key points and make different connections. I also think the digital nature can afford writers/creatives a few options to branch their work toward other projects/products.

In revisiting Seth Godin’s Rules for Working in a Studio, I would say I adhered to the following:

  1. Don’t hide your work.
  2. Upgrade your tools.
  3. Change something.
  4. Obsess about appropriate quality; ignore perfection.

Writers Horoscope December 14: Despite solid support, you’re still stuck.

mud stuck

You’ve been given well-conceived rules and guidelines, but still, whether it’s resistance or overwhelm or brain-freeze, you’re getting nowhere.

Fear not…if you can’t get unstuck from 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity, well, back in the mud with you!

 

 

Writers Horoscope December 13: You sift through a sea of advice.

From yesterday’s Rules for Working in a Studio, you decide to narrow the list, with some variations tailored for your growth.

For example…

‘Make big promises.’ becomes ‘Make big promises…to yourself.’ ‘Keep them.’ logically follows.

And you merge ‘Don’t hide your work.’ with ‘Don’t hide your mistakes’ and ‘You are not your work. Embrace criticism.’ [Challenging, for sure.]