NA M ES “Names have power.” -Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief What's in a name? Plenty. The name you give your character gives the reader an instant impression, even if they don't know what the name really means. For example, w hat do you think of when you hear the following names: Destiny Colt Barack Ruby Hester Sierra Khan Jesus Barbara Magda Aloha Martha Kofi Prudence Lucifer Bilbo Miranda Filippo Jessie Duncan Anjali Peewee Ishmael Ludwig Ngai Dae won Amber Hercules Scarlett Ashley Midori Gabriel Xerxes Ralph Heathcliff Veruca Hannibal Roshanna Ramona Svengali Hans Isabella Lolita Jeeves Pip Ebenezer Rudolph Gump Scout Winnie Grendel Tarzan Scheherazade I bet each of them gave you an immediate impression, even if you can't fully articulate what that impression is. Well, your reader will have one, too. So when you choose a name for your c
FEAR “Fear is felt by writers at every level. Anxiety accompanies the first word they put on paper and the last.” ― Ralph Keyes , The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear Fear isn't something we talk about a lot in terms of creative process. But it can keep us from following our dreams for years, even lifetimes. And that's a real shame. Because, at the end of your life, you don't want to have big regrets. Such as: I never wrote that novel I dreamed of. I never published a short story. I never wrote down that children's story. I never followed my dream of writing . I've heard lots of people say some variation of this. You probably have, too. The good news is, it is virtually never too late to follow your dream. Don't believe me? Check out these late bloomers: Grandma Moses began to paint seriously at the age of 78. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't publish Little House on the Prairie until she was 64. Frank McCourt wa
“ Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom .” -Marcel Proust S pring is in the air, and so are buds and blossoms. You might be stuck at home, but it can be a time to bloom. Nurture your buds of creativity with solitude and reflection, and they will burst into blossom. But. If you've been at home with loved ones for weeks now, the closeness might be making your heart grow....less creative, and more impatient. Especially if you are suddenly home schooling, or taking classes of your own, perhaps at the same time that you are tele-working? Be compassionate with yourself. Be compassionate with them. Take a minute for another important "B" word, and breathe. Think about what makes you happy. Who makes you happy. Sometimes, it is the very same people who make you...unhappy. We are all dealing with uncharted territory and unprecedented stress in a restricted space. Take a mom
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