Book Synthesis: The Halfway Mark

And by halfway mark, I really mean for the year, not for your book.  In last month’s post, friend and fellow reviewer Cheryl Anne Gardner wrote about the first page of your book.  Prior to that, I’ve dissected each page of the front matter of your book.  We’ll push forward in June with other topics like page numbers, justification, headers, and all that fun stuff.  But for now, as we approach Memorial Day, let’s rest a moment.

This week I’ve been reading a book called Kick-Ass Creativity by Mary Beth Maziarez. If you need some help focusing your creativeness or just need to get your creative juices flowing in general, I highly recommend it.  Mary Beth acts as a cheerleader for you and writes in a very personal and humorous style that made the book a quick read for me.  She focuses on how to harness your energy and use it to the best of your ability.  A big problem for me has always been structure and focus.  Mary Beth provides simple steps and routines to keep you on track no matter if you are a painter, a crafter, or writer.  This book is for all creative minds!  I’ve never been much of a “self-help” reader, but I do recommend this one. So, check it out.

We’re approaching the summer months and if you are like me, you want to get out doors.  Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner.  Then, Independence Day.  Next thing you know, it’s vacation time and then Labor Day and then summer is gone again. If you find yourself spending more time away from the computer, that’s not such a bad thing.  We all need a break from time to time, even if it’s a whole season.  But there are ways to stay focused on the writing that you will eventually get back to.

• First, take notes.  Put a one subject notebook in your suitcase when you go on vacation or a small notepad in your pocket when you go to the family barbecue.  When thoughts hit you, and if you are like me they always do, grab that pen and paper and write it down.  Write down random words, names of places and people you like, or pieces of conversation you overheard. You never know but you may just end up with a nice outline for a whole new chapter, or even a new book, by the time summer is over.
• Second, take photos.  Chances are you’ve got that camera right there anyway.  When you aren’t shooting the kids at Disneyland or the cousins in the swimming pool, takes photos of whatever catches your eye.  It might be a flower in granny’s garden or a statue in a park, maybe someone walking down the street wearing funny clothes (be discreet!).  I once snapped a photo of some artwork on the side of a KFC.  I was waiting in the drive through line of a brand new KFC and there was some interesting artwork on the side intended for marketing.  It caught my eye and luckily I had my camera with me, so I snapped a shot of it.
• Third, collect postcards and brochures if you are traveling.  This is a good step to follow if you don’t have a camera with you or you are in a place where you can’t use it.  When you check into a hotel, check out the brochures in the lobby or buy postcards in the airport gift shop.  I”ve been known to rip pages from magazines that are lying around in car garage waiting rooms.  By the time you are done, you’ll have a collection of local flavor and useful information that might help you establish place and setting for a new book.
• Lastly, blog or journal about what you’ve done or what you saw. If you have time at the end of the day, whether it be on the laptop your wife doesn’t know you brought or in that notebook you packed, recount your day and write it down.  What did you eat today?  What did you see?  Who did you talk to?  What did they say?

So what if you aren’t pounding out chapters these next few months!  Like I said, we all need a break from time to time and summer is a perfect time to take it. So, take notes, take photos, collect things that inspire you, and when you get home lay it all out on the table and look at what you have.  Read your notes and thoughts.  Take a deep breath and then sit down and get back to writing.  You’re rested and rejuvenated and you’re armed with a whole array of inspiration. Harness that energy and use it!

Summer is here!  Enjoy it!