Category: Motivation and the Writing Life

Being a Library Power User

Motivation and the Writing Life

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I have always been a huge fan of libraries. Growing up, one of my favorite memories is of going to the library with my father (sometimes riding our bikes there) and hanging out for hours.

I still spend a lot of time there because sometimes when I get bogged down when writing at the house.  Maybe I’m not totally in the zone and anything will distract me: the dishwasher stopping,  the dryer buzzer, a table that needs dusting.  Leaving the house and going to the library is usually the perfect remedy for the problem.  I don’t need total silence to work, providing the background noise has nothing to do with me.

But I use the library for more than just a place to write when I need to escape the distractions at home.  I use it to fill my creative well, exercise my brain (which seems to help my writing), and inspiration.

Below are the ways that I use my library.  I’m in the Charlotte,  NC library system and it is a big system and fairly well-funded. Your mileage may vary with yours, but if you find a service here that sounds interesting, check to see if your library has it.  If not, see if they’ll consider offering it.Continue reading

Writing During Vacations

Motivation and the Writing Life

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

During my blog break, I went on a family vacation to France.   Both of my children have graduated in the last couple of months: one from college, one from high school.   The trip was a celebration of their accomplishments.  And, well, we all wanted to go to France.  :)

I was actually looking forward to doing some writing during this particular vacation.  My kids were able to go off by themselves some and I could sit at a cafe and do some work. In Paris, isn’t that some of the point, if you’re a writer?

I felt like I kept a good balance between family time and writing time. Continue reading

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Motivation and the Writing Life

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig 

This is another post in my series ‘making your life easier as a writer.’  This one covers how we can set ourselves up for a successful writing session with a little prep work.

We hear a lot about how to ensure easier mornings by preparing the night before (pulling an outfit out, making sure the kids have their school backpacks ready to go, picking up for 10 minutes in the evening), but the same thing goes for writing sessions, too.

I’m an early morning writer, but I think my tips can be adjusted for any writing schedule. Continue reading

It Takes a Community to Win an Award

Motivation and the Writing Life, Uncategorized

by Mike Martin, @mike54martin

Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Award as the best light mystery of the year. Wow!!

I was more than a little surprised to win. Mostly because of the competition. Alan Bradley who writes the fabulous Flavia DeLuce series with a precocious and adorable 12-year-old female sleuth and fun-loving trouble maker. Vicki Delany who is uber-famous as the author of 34 books and is currently writing three mystery series. Elizabeth Duncan who is a two-time winner of this award and who writes the coziest of mysteries set in Wales. Plus, a brand-new crackerjack author in Auralee Wallace who is destined to win many awards before too long.

So, I was shocked and delighted to win and mumbled a few words of thanks to the organizers and an even more bungling acknowledgement to my daughter who gave me the gift of being there with me to witness this miracle. And to my partner, Joan, without whom, I can say with certainty that there be no Sgt. Windflower, let alone awards and accolades.

Since I didn’t think I was going to win I had no acceptance speech prepared. Now that I’ve had a few days to think about it I have a few more things to add. I hope you’ll bear with me.Continue reading

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