StoryStorm 2024

 

Excited to kick off the new year with a month full of inspiration and motivation. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for helping me start off the new year in good fashion. 30 ideas in 31days!

Calling All Book Lovers

 

Today, August 9th, is National Book Lovers Day. Put down your phones, laptops, ipads, or any other technological device and pick up a book. You don't have to tell me twice!

Hit your favorite book store or local library and enjoy some time just simply reading. Whether a novel, an autobiography, a chapter book or a picture book, find something to read and lose yourself in the story for a little while. What a terrific way, and day, to celebrate the written word!

Should you be so inclined, I would love to hear what you are reading.

Pruning the Weeds

 

I started reading this book today after it was recommended in a recent webinar I watched. I've no idea why I've not done so before as I have heard of it and William Zinsser. That said, while I am only a few chapters in thus far, I will certainly be finishing it and in quick fashion.

I've been working on the concept of de-cluttering this summer though more in terms of my closet, cupboards, basement piles, etc. I hadn't thought of the idea of clutter as it relates to writing until picking up this book. 

Zinsser discusses the idea that, "the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components," and, in doing so, we must, "clear our heads of clutter. Clear thinking becomes clear writing."

While I know some writers edit as they go, I love the idea of free writing and knocking out a rough draft without too much editing along the way; however, I wholeheartedly agree with Zinsser that fluency does not necessarily mean good writing and, "the essence of writing is re-writing."

Writing is hard work, plain and simple. We must sit butt-in-chair and put in the work. For me, that typically means writing the first draft and then going back to edit, modify, and prune words in an effort to tighten and strengthen the story as, in Zinsser's words, "writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it that shouldn't be there." 

So de-clutter those stories. Prune the weeds. Every word counts.

Per Zinsser, "clutter is the enemy." He gives some concrete examples of using shorter rather than longer words in an effort to simplify (e.g., assistance/help). I have found this book quite helpful thus far and recommend you check it out if you haven't already.

He further says, "Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose."

As a picture book author, this is advice I will, and must, heed as every word counts and must drive the story forward.

Looking forward to pruning and weeding my words in the process. I'd love to hear your process for doing so should you want to share.

Am I, or Am I Not, a Creative Being?

I've never considered myself a creative being, quite the opposite in fact. I can't draw to save my life. Not even a decent stick person. I can't sing. I can't paint. I can't decorate or choose furnishings very well. But, I do love to write. Writing is my main creative outlet; however, even in that, I never felt particularly creative. I hear lines in my head and love the language, but I often struggle to build a story around the line/lines I hear and craft. Snippets of lines and starts of stories clutter my folders and desk until such time as something starts to stick and builds into a full and complete story.

I long ago gave up analyzing how creative, or not creative, I am and just work to do my best work each day. Yesterday, I picked up BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert and reviewed areas I had highlighted in times past. One such area that really hit home was as follows:

"A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner--continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you--is a fine art, in and of itself...Because creative living is where Big Magic will always abide."

Wow! I love the idea of living an amplified life, a happy life. And an interesting life. Who doesn't? I had just never considered how "creativity" factored into this life of mine. I do know that writing brings me much happiness and certainly broadens my horizons and, therefore, expands my life. So, in essence, then, I am living a creative life even if I'm not the most creative person, so to speak. I will keep working and trying to create good stories and striving to not let fear dictate my thoughts or prevent my progress. 

For, in Gilbert's words, "when courage dies, creativity dies with it."

Let's keep creating, shall we?

 

I recently found this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote saved on my computer and felt it deserved a re-visit. Such an important piece of advice, regardless of one's lot in life, but definitely so as a writer.

"No one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety." 

So very true yet so hard to do. Writing is often a constant state of anxiety. Is this WIP any good? Is my mc believable? Will anyone want to publish this? Will anyone want to buy and read it? And so it goes. A constant state of chaotic, anxiety-ridden brain space. However, I love what Emerson says about finishing your day and letting it go, having "done what you could." As, most importantly, "tomorrow is a new day...this day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays."

So do what you can, in the time that you have. Do it well, to the best of your ability. As the sun sets on your day, be happy with what you have accomplished and prepare to move on to the promise of tomorrow. 

What, dear friends, did your day entail today?

New Website

 

I am so excited to announce my new and (much) improved website is now live, safe and secure! It has been a long haul, but I am pleased with the final result. Thank you to the team at web.com/register.com for all of the help throughout the process.

Check it out at https://www.karinlarson.com/ and let me know what you think. I would appreciate the feedback.

Happy Weekend!