I keep my cell phones forever—until they die. This week my flip phone literally fell apart. So I went shopping for a new one. I was pleased to discover I could get one free that for now uses my current plan with my wireless company but will let me upgrade to all sorts of nifty features later—IF I choose. But I don't have to.
It made me think about how different people approach life. Some want the latest stuff—whether they can afford it or not. Some always choose the cheapest option—even if they could afford better and from an objective point of view they would be better off doing so. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, trying to find a balance in between most and least expensive based on what matters to us.
As a writer, of course, and because I'm teaching an online course on creating characters starting this Monday, I immediately started picturing different characters going into a cell phone store and the different phones they would choose.
It's a useful exercise for any writer about any kind of purchase. If your character went into a store to buy anything—food, clothes, cell phone, toy, etc.--what kind would they choose and why? To take it a step further, one could ask: What would the people around them (friends, family and/or co-workers) think and say about that purchase?
One of the great things about being a writer is getting to play games like this!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wise Sophy
I've mentioned my dog Sophy before. She's pretty smart. I knew that but this week she's taken things to a new level. 
She tried helping me with Wii Fit and seemed very surprised that I didn't appreciate her help so now she sort of grumbles but just watches. Mostly. She did, however, come up with a very effective method of stopping me from playing other Wii games. She climbs on my lap and starts kissing me! I start laughing so much that I put down the controller and pet her because who can be mad at someone who is being so affectionate?
Sophy has tried a number of things to get my attention when I'm working. When she realized that sitting there looking cute wasn't enough, she tried pawing my foot. When I shrieked but went back to ignoring her she tried barking. When that didn't work, she tried climbing in my lap and since she's a fairly large dog that's quite a trick!
But this week Sophy discovered something new. Sometimes when I need to unwind I use my Wii. Naturally, Sophy disapproves since she thinks if I'm not working I should be paying attention to her!
She tried helping me with Wii Fit and seemed very surprised that I didn't appreciate her help so now she sort of grumbles but just watches. Mostly. She did, however, come up with a very effective method of stopping me from playing other Wii games. She climbs on my lap and starts kissing me! I start laughing so much that I put down the controller and pet her because who can be mad at someone who is being so affectionate?
Then I was thinking about how rarely we humans are as smart as Sophy. When one thing doesn't work with a fellow human we care about, how often do we keep trying new things and how often do we keep trying the same thing--maybe more forcefully? Above all, if we want someone to pay more attention to us, how often do we get angry and vehemently say so versus how often do we become more loving--as Sophy has?
Here's to smart dogs and the wisdom they can teach us!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Coping With Challenges
I've been think a lot about challenges this week. In part it's because of challenges facing friends and because of what we see on the news. It's also in part because I'm working out my class lessons for my Perfect Pitch workshop (and pitching to editors and agents can certainly be stressful), and because I'm looking at story structure in my Book in a Week class.
What I keep coming back to is the realization that the stronger we feel, the more sure of our self-worth (or the quality of our writing), the easier it is to face challenges head on.
This is true for our characters, too, if we're writers. If we're going to have our characters step out of their comfort zone and do something that has in the past scared them, our readers are far more likely to believe the scenario IF we show how in some way our characters have come to believe more in themselves and their capabilities.
So if we are facing a challenge of any kind, one of the best things we can do is make a list of our strengths and past successes. This list is a reminder that we have succeeded in the past and can succeed again. When we focus on the best we can be, we are far more likely to find the incentive and courage and resilience to become even better.
We can make a list of resources available to us—which for so many includes faith in something greater than ourselves.
We can make a list of things that make us smile and make a point of using that list to create reasons to smile every day no matter what is happening to or around us. Most of us weren't raised to think this way but truly it helps to build resilience and better health and encourages our ability to find creative solutions to our challenges.
How do you face challenges and/or what might your characters do to face theirs?
What I keep coming back to is the realization that the stronger we feel, the more sure of our self-worth (or the quality of our writing), the easier it is to face challenges head on.
This is true for our characters, too, if we're writers. If we're going to have our characters step out of their comfort zone and do something that has in the past scared them, our readers are far more likely to believe the scenario IF we show how in some way our characters have come to believe more in themselves and their capabilities.
So if we are facing a challenge of any kind, one of the best things we can do is make a list of our strengths and past successes. This list is a reminder that we have succeeded in the past and can succeed again. When we focus on the best we can be, we are far more likely to find the incentive and courage and resilience to become even better.
We can make a list of resources available to us—which for so many includes faith in something greater than ourselves.
We can make a list of things that make us smile and make a point of using that list to create reasons to smile every day no matter what is happening to or around us. Most of us weren't raised to think this way but truly it helps to build resilience and better health and encourages our ability to find creative solutions to our challenges.
How do you face challenges and/or what might your characters do to face theirs?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Next Online Classes
UPDATE: I'm definitely offering Book in a Week starting March 2 and ending April 3. Please let me know ASAP if you want to sign up.
Also a quick note on why Perfect Pitch: I often coach writers (in an impromptu as well as formal way) on how to pitch their projects to editors and agents. These pitches tend to be quite successful. I know that pitching can be stressful and this class is designed to take away some of that stress and up the odds that a writer will get a request for their manuscript from their dream editor or agent.
Why the character workshop: If a writer is having problems with dialogue, plot, a sagging middle, etc., the answer is almost always that the characters are not driving the story. Compelling characters who behave true to who they are supposed to be can make a story so successful that readers are willing to overlook other flaws the story might have.
Format for all classes: All lessons and discussion are handled via email loop set up for that purpose.
Class 1: Perfect Pitch (for writers) $25
Dates: March 9, 2009 to March 13, 2009
Deadline to sign up: March 6, 2009
Class Description: Do you have an editor and/or agent appointment lined up?What are the key elements that will catch the attention of an agent or publisher? How can you best present yourself in the 10 or 15 minutes you may have to pitch your proposal? This class will cover those issues and more as well as a brief critique (if you choose) of YOUR pitch.
Class size limited.
Class 2: Creating Characters Who Write Their Own Story $40
Dates: March 23, 2009 to April 3, 2009
Deadline to sign up: March 20, 2009
Class Description: When your characters come alive, they can all but write the novel themselves. You know the moment—it's when they start to argue with you about what should happen next! But how do you create such characters? This class will take you through the steps of creating characters whose personalities and quirks will bring them alive and make them real both to your readers and to you.
Class size limited.
Class 3: Book in a Week Dates:
March 2, 2009 to April 3, 2009 (because of the short notice) $65 ($35 if you have taken it before)
April 13, 2009 to May 15, 2009 $75 ($40 if you have taken it before)
Deadlines to sign up: March 2, 2009 for the March 2 workshop and April 10, 2009 for the April 13 workshop
Class size limited.
Class Description: This class will take you through every step of the writing process—from beginning to brainstorm all the way through sending material out to be published. It's also designed to help you discover who YOU are as a writer. (More detailed description on my website.)
To sign up email me at aprilkihlstrom@yahoo.com with the title of the class you wish to take in the header and in the body of the email please put: your name and whether you prefer to pay by check or Paypal (and whether you want March or April if it's the Book in a Week class). Also, please let me know if you have taken the class before.
Also a quick note on why Perfect Pitch: I often coach writers (in an impromptu as well as formal way) on how to pitch their projects to editors and agents. These pitches tend to be quite successful. I know that pitching can be stressful and this class is designed to take away some of that stress and up the odds that a writer will get a request for their manuscript from their dream editor or agent.
Why the character workshop: If a writer is having problems with dialogue, plot, a sagging middle, etc., the answer is almost always that the characters are not driving the story. Compelling characters who behave true to who they are supposed to be can make a story so successful that readers are willing to overlook other flaws the story might have.
Format for all classes: All lessons and discussion are handled via email loop set up for that purpose.
Class 1: Perfect Pitch (for writers) $25
Dates: March 9, 2009 to March 13, 2009
Deadline to sign up: March 6, 2009
Class Description: Do you have an editor and/or agent appointment lined up?What are the key elements that will catch the attention of an agent or publisher? How can you best present yourself in the 10 or 15 minutes you may have to pitch your proposal? This class will cover those issues and more as well as a brief critique (if you choose) of YOUR pitch.
Class size limited.
Class 2: Creating Characters Who Write Their Own Story $40
Dates: March 23, 2009 to April 3, 2009
Deadline to sign up: March 20, 2009
Class Description: When your characters come alive, they can all but write the novel themselves. You know the moment—it's when they start to argue with you about what should happen next! But how do you create such characters? This class will take you through the steps of creating characters whose personalities and quirks will bring them alive and make them real both to your readers and to you.
Class size limited.
Class 3: Book in a Week Dates:
March 2, 2009 to April 3, 2009 (because of the short notice) $65 ($35 if you have taken it before)
April 13, 2009 to May 15, 2009 $75 ($40 if you have taken it before)
Deadlines to sign up: March 2, 2009 for the March 2 workshop and April 10, 2009 for the April 13 workshop
Class size limited.
Class Description: This class will take you through every step of the writing process—from beginning to brainstorm all the way through sending material out to be published. It's also designed to help you discover who YOU are as a writer. (More detailed description on my website.)
To sign up email me at aprilkihlstrom@yahoo.com with the title of the class you wish to take in the header and in the body of the email please put: your name and whether you prefer to pay by check or Paypal (and whether you want March or April if it's the Book in a Week class). Also, please let me know if you have taken the class before.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Pet Stains
Thanks to everyone who privately emailed me suggestions about how to get out pet stains. The most unusual was to try shaving cream and hey, I was desperate enough to try pretty much everything. The shaving cream worked as well or better than any of the other products on one stain but didn't do much on another that I thought was the same kind of stain. I have no idea why.
I think at this point I'm going to be looking at steamcleaners to really get the stains out!
Meanwhile.....I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. I got to spend part of it at the Pflugerville library's Romance Reader event. It was nice for me to meet them and to be able to tell them about the Austin RWA chapter and the great writers we have right in the area!
I think at this point I'm going to be looking at steamcleaners to really get the stains out!
Meanwhile.....I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. I got to spend part of it at the Pflugerville library's Romance Reader event. It was nice for me to meet them and to be able to tell them about the Austin RWA chapter and the great writers we have right in the area!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Help!
It's my turn to request help. I adore my dog Sophy. And she's settling in nicely—now. But we've gone through a few challenges and she still loves MUD. So...this time I'm asking for your help. What are your best tips for dealing with pet stains?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Impact of Weather
It's beautiful out today. Mild and sunny and the sort of day that drew me to Texas in the first place. I love that it's so beautiful out and I find myself noticing how much happier I feel than when the weather is overcast or cold and gloomy for extended periods of time. Which, of course, makes me think
It makes me think about how, in bad weather, if we can step back and cut other people—and ourselves—some slack, our lives are likely to be smoother and happier.
If we're writers, it reminds me that climate and geography help to shape cultures and individuals. It's one more tool we can use in our writing if we are consciously aware of the impact that weather has—on our characters and on our readers. Just by choosing the right weather, we can evoke the emotions we want to add impact to the ones we put on the page.
It makes me think about how, in bad weather, if we can step back and cut other people—and ourselves—some slack, our lives are likely to be smoother and happier.
If we're writers, it reminds me that climate and geography help to shape cultures and individuals. It's one more tool we can use in our writing if we are consciously aware of the impact that weather has—on our characters and on our readers. Just by choosing the right weather, we can evoke the emotions we want to add impact to the ones we put on the page.
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