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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