How It Happens

So you want to write? 

Step to it. Make good things happen with these five steps:  

1. Take your inspiration from a Nike ad and Just Do It. Move from a writer- wannabe to actually being a writer. Stop wishing. Start working. 
2. Take classes and workshops. Know what it's like to be critiqued and have your feet held to the fire. If you can take the critique and learn from it--then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite--your craft will improve.
3. Take time. Steal time to write because the clock won’t stop for you. The husband or wife and kids (and probably the dog) will need your attention. The phone will ring. Emails will interrupt. Time will slip away unless you set it aside and honor it. Writing is work. So show up. At midnight when everyone’s asleep? Or Sunday when the children hang out with grandma and grandpa? Or on your lunch hour? Do the math: 4 lunch hours a week x 52 weeks a year = 208 hours of writing.
4. Take yourself out the door & Schmooze. A writer’s life is solitary and isolated when you’re actually writing. When not writing, network, interact, schmooze. (Swap social media for real-life socializing.) Ideas are everywhere and so are connections. You’ll bump into them accidentally.
5. Take a big, scary step. Take your writing to a place it's never been.WriteInSpain! Save your place in an international community of ten in Spain's stunning Andalucia region. Make things happen. (Scroll down, way down, for Stephen King's POV)

This happened yesterday: 

I went to an art fair (fabulous music, food and, oh, yeah. Art). When I admired the work of artist Doug Bennett, he told me he’s developing a new concept. He was looking for someone to write the stories and scenes he paints...someone to capture the soul of his work in words. That’s me! I said. I’m all about soul. Next week, we'll flesh out the concept and make it happen.

And then...

A very pleasant woman strolled by. She struck up a conversation and, it turns out, she was an out-of-towner taking in the art fair. We walked, talked, meandered and Voila! She had great stories to tell. We stood on a corner in a fresh September breeze and "shot the breeze" in an impromptu idea exchange--about women entrepreneurs, balanced lifestyles, careers that translate to happiness. And how to make it happen. (OK, since we're women, we also talked about men. You should've heard that conversation!) 

Want to meet her, Caroline? You can. Decorator's Resource.

Want to meet other writers and bright idea people? You can. Good things will happen. Write & Sketch in Spain  

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This week's POV thanks to Stephen King:

Writing is magic, 

as much the water of life as any other creative art. 

The water is free. So drink. 

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Why Write & Sketch In Spain?

Why Not? 

Click on over to WriteInSpain for

details and a little friendly persuasion.

(Logo by Carla Malone Steck atelier-cms)

Counting the months 'till Spain

This Week's POV:

He took everything that made him weird as a kid... and got people to pay money for it as an adult. 

That's been said about a guy named Tim Miles--and what he does (for love and money) is WRITE. We know that you (or the weird kid in you) wants to write, too. That's why you're invited to join our international community of 10 writers on the Southern Tip of Spain (May 9-10, 2014). It's only 8 months 'till then. 

We can't promise people will pay you for what you write--some writers make buckets of money... some make a little... some none at all. But we promise that writing is rewarding in more ways than one. (It's a lot like working out at the gym. Hard to do, but it feels great). 

On his website, The Daily Blur, Tim Miles blogs every morning before breakfast. He starts the day by sharing bright ideas, philosophy and insights. He says what he appreciates most are long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. Relationships that work. 

We do, too. So we'll save a seat for you at our Write & Sketch in Spain workshop. Let's begin our long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship. It'll be the stuff that stories are made of. 

Counting the months 'till Spain

Thanks, Pinterest
Arielle's Astrology

Wooo! It's hot and steamy in the Midwest. But let's be honest. Sometimes, hot and steamy are good things. With that in mind, click on over to our Write In Spain workshop (May 2014). Only 8 months until we meet.

We think the session we added on Day II is nothing short of inspired. We hadn't seen a session like ours-- Turn Up the Heat and Draw the Curtain-- offered in any other workshops. The question is...

When, if ever, should you write steamy love scenes? What lines should you cross (or not cross) when writing about human relationships? Would you... should you... could you... write sexy scenes or build tension by practicing restraint? 

Before then, you'll know your characters so well, you'll decide how far they will (or will not) go. Will they be sticking their feet out the window of an old Buick--or what? You might be surprised.

Check out Day II--well, check out all the sessions. And let us know what you think. ahplause@gmail.com

This Week's Tip or POV

You can't blame a writer for what the characters say.

--Truman Capote