I've lost my Mojo!!

Have you ever just sat and watched waves? They flow out and a few moments later they flow back in. Perfectly in rhythm and if you continue to watch it has an almost hypnotic effect on you.

I guess that's why they sell mp3/CDs of the sound. Because it's very relaxing to listen to the sound of waves.

It's this ebb and flow that I want to talk about today, because the ebb and flow can also be applied to life circumstances. That back and forth movement. Good news one moment, then bad news. Happy days, then sad days.

Currently, for me it's the ebb and flow of writing. The past few months, I've been really struggling to write. I have plenty to write about or at least in 'my mind' I have lots to write about. But sitting down and actually typing the words, there seemed to be a disconnect or a short.  

I could spend hours writing, the words just poured out and I couldn't type fast enough to keep up with the flowing words. Then *poof* it stopped. I'd sit down to write and my mind was flowing, but I couldn't type, write, doodle anything.  I'm talking about not one itty bitty sentence. The tide has ebbed.

My "Artistic Muse" decided to pack her little raggedy bags, and sneak out the house while I was asleep. Not sure where she went on this impromptu vacation, but I'm sure it was to some island, and no, she didn't invite me to go with her, AND had the nerve to turn her phone off. No word on when she would be returning, no post cards, nothing. Just gone!

I'VE LOST MY MOJO!!

I felt like Austin Powers when he'd lost his Mojo (okay, well, I know that the 'mojo' he was referring to was not writing LOL) but that's how I felt.  I'd sit down to write and nothing would happen.

I panicked, tried all the tricks to try to get it going again....nothing, notta, zilch! It was depressing and so frustrating...but yet I persevered. I'd sit down to write and wait, try to write something, which was actually, blah, blah, blah, blah, and BLAH!

Then, suddenly, one day I had a spark, a tiny spark, but it was a spark of inspiration. I wrote a couple of paragraphs, I was thrilled!! I danced around the room as my feet splashed around in a small trickle of water that began to flow in.

The next day, the water flowed in around my ankles and I splashed around some more and wrote a full page...Off in the distance I can see a wave coming in...the flow is returning and my "Artistic Muse" is riding it in on a surfboard. It's not a tsunami sized wave, but a wave nonetheless, and she is back and I couldn't be happier!

Yeah, Baby, Yeah!

 

Inspiration...

Where do you get your ideas for your stories? I get this question often. It's a great question, but I never seem to have a solid answer.

The truth is, it varies.  My current manuscript that I'm working on popped into my head, while flipping through a Christmas card magazine. I saw this picture of an old, snow covered house. For some reason, I just couldn't seem to shake this image. It was stuck in my head. I tried to flip the page and continue looking at the other cards, but I just kept flipping back to the page with this picture. Finally, I cut it out and placed it into a folder.
Most people would look at the picture and think, oh, that's a nice old country farm house. The house looks warm and inviting. It would maybe bring up images from spending Christmas at a relatives house, one who may have lived in the country.

But for me, as a writer. I didn't just see just a house. A movie reel started up in my brain and I saw the intro.... A boy walking down a dark road, in the snow, heading towards this house. However, this was no ordinary boy. He was from another dimension, on a mission and would soon turn this town upside down. Forever changing the lives of people that lived there.

I love writing. I love the whole creative process. I get ideas from driving down the street, people watching, news, magazines, & dreams. I always have the "What If?,,," on my mind.

Publication is a great thing. But even if NYC never grabs one of my manuscripts. I'd still write. Why? Because it's just in me to do. I enjoy it. Even the times I'd gotten so frustrated and quit, it didn't last. I was back at it again. I know several people who for whatever reason cannot understand why someone would sit at computer and type for hours at a time. Writing is not for everyone. Although, I do believe that everyone has at least 1 book in them to write. It's the actual sitting down and writing that stops so many people. And sometimes you just need a push to get started. I'm thankful, that my daughter pushed me to finally start, after putting it off for years.

I, on the other hand can't understand how someone can watch TV for hours at a time. Day in and day out, one talk show after another. One prime-time show, after another. Gah!! It'd drive me crazy!  (Well, unless it's HGTV's House Hunters...I could watch that all day long LOL!! )

So, where do you get your creative ideas? Where do you find your inspiration?

Dear Writer's Block

Dear Writer's Block:

      Well, here you are again! Don't you have anyone else to visit? I've been doing just fine without you and I would really like to finish writing this chapter.

      My writing has been flowing and creativity has been at an all time high. Then the doorbell rings. I was so caught up in my story that I wasn't thinking clearly, so instead of doing my usual--peeking out the window to see who it is. I opened the door. Worst mistake ever!  

      You came in and made yourself comfortable, plopping your behind right on my couch and putting your feet up on the coffee table. (which by the way was just polished) First, you wanted some water...I took it a step further, by adding a flavor packet to it, thinking, you'd drink it then leave. Next, you decided you were hungry, so I made you a sandwich--made it all pretty by cutting off the crusts just as you requested. After you finished eating, I thought for sure you were going to leave and I could continue writing. But NO--you started jabbering away. Telling me to check email, check facebook, oh, and reminding me how I've been meaning to re-organize my sock drawer.

      Could you just go away? Go on a retreat! Visit your family members, Procrastination & Time Wasters! Better yet, why don't you take them on a cruise!

       JUST GO AWAY!!! you are not welcome here!

Regards, Sincerely, Best Wishes, Yours Truly, Take Care & May The Force Be With You!

xoxoxo

Beth

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Writing

I've always had a love for books and enjoyed writing. I've always loved creating stories and have always wanted to write a book, but kept putting it off again and again. I believe it was the summer of my daughter's sophomore year in college and she was home for summer break. Sometimes in life you need someone to give you kick in the pants to get you off the procrastination wagon! And that's just what she did. That day, while sitting in Schlotzky's parking lot having lunch (they have the BEST sandwiches). I grabbed a napkin and scribbled the first two sentences of my first book.

From that point on I've not stopped. Well, I've encountered some pit stops, but I kept at it and finished not only that book but written others. I'm currently working on my fifth.

I'm a work-in-progress, still honing my craft. But I'm getting better and closer to my publishing dream with each word that I type.

Keep pressing towards your dream. Don't give up!! Silence the naysayers, finish what you've started. Even when the going gets tough and you think you've reached your breaking point. Try just one more time and if at that time you've not reached your goal.............

TRY AGAIN!!! 

Blessings!!

Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believes, according to the working of his mighty power.