Month: September 2015

My Writing Update

On By Robert EvenhouseIn MY Writing Update4 Comments

Today, I’m excited about my update. I’ve begun a challenge of 7000 words in 7 days. Writer Maria Berg has also decided to join me. Day one was a day of victory. I wrote 1079 words on my novel.

The 7000 words in 7 days challenge is to help reignite our love of our stories. If you plan on doing it, please mention it on the post yesterday.

Also, please don’t edit, just write. The good stuff will come. I understand the compulsive desire to edit but you have to learn to finish things. Then you can mold and shape your story through editing.

Once this week is done it’s back to preparing for my talk at the Breathe Writers Conference October 9-10th.

Click on the hyperlinks below to see what I’ve been up to lately.

Photo Credit: tudedude via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: tudedude via Compfight cc

On Monday I wrote about why art needs community. My writers group put on the Jot Conference, a free one night writers conference in Three Rivers, Michigan. It was a night of encouragement and connections.

On Tuesday it was all about the roads we take. Many times we want things to happen overnight or just be plain old easy. In this post I write about why the hard road is sometimes the best road to take.

Wednesday I asked a question to fellow novelists – How committed are you to your work? Some authors stay up through half the night and some get up horrifically early. But there are some incredibly dedicated writers.

Thursday I wrote about the struggles I have with details. We all struggle with something. Do you use your struggle as a crutch or are you creative enough to figure out a way to move forward despite it?

Friday was about restarting. We all arrive at the messy middle or lose momentum on our stories I wrote about my plan to move forward with mine.

Saturday I wrote about the challenge mentioned in the first paragraph of this post, 7000 words in 7 days. If you gave that effort once a week for a year you’d have 84,000 words. Think about that.

Let me know how you are furthering your writing career below.

My Novel Recommit – 7000 Words In 7 Days

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writer15 Comments

Books are arduous things. They can start off with the thrill of a new idea or, if this is your first book, the thrill of seeing your words on the page. The beginning can be the best.

However sooner or later we arrive in that messy middle. Either a life event or work gets in the way or the book becomes difficult. This is the place where questions start.

Am I good enough?

This idea is stupid, right?

Then statements follow.

No one would read this. I am not a writer. The End.

The fact is, the middle is where novels and dreams die.

But we can stop this. We can continue. It starts with a recommit.

Today I am restarting in the middle. I am allotting time to my book that went to conference planning, blog writing for conference website, and developing my talk. I am going to write at least 7000 words in 7 days on my YA novel.

typewriterWhy 1000 words? Because that’s a bit of a stretch for me to do daily while prepping for my workshop in three weeks at Breathe Writers Conference and keeping up with my blog.

A novel is a struggle but its also like lifting weights. If you can do 80 lbs don’t try to do 150lbs the next day. Try 85 or 90 and work your way up from there so your body can handle the stress.

If you plan on joining me this week please comment below. Also, share your word count goal. I like a good challenge. Write well today. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

How about you? How can you recommit to your novel? What word count or goal is a little more than your current output?

Five Ways To Restart Your Book This Weekend

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips3 Comments

Todd Henry recently came out with a book titled Louder Than Words. It discusses the idea of creating an authentic voice that makes your work stand out. It’s a good read thus far.

In the book he discusses the U shaped journey of pursuing our passions.

Photo Credit: JohnSeb via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: JohnSeb via Compfight cc

We stand on one end of a gorge. On the other side, we see the business, the book, the career. It looks so easy. We just need to hike down into the canyon and then up out the other side.

We start this journey with gusto and optimism. In the middle we start the hear cry of wolves and lose our bearing. The trees are tall at the bottom and we have to forge a river. The path gets spotty and it’s harder to follow. This is the part most people give up.

But, Mr. Henry says, this is when we need to dig in. This is where we start to move above our comfort level. Soon enough we break through this uncertainty, find the path again and get out the other side just before we are attacked by the wolves.

Why do I bring this up? Because we’ve all lost steam on a book or project and started to question if the journey was worth it in the first place. Below I list five ways to get excited about the rugged book writing journey again.

  • Go back to the original idea or content. Why? Because this will get you in touch with the excitement you had at the beginning.
  • Recommit. Tomorrow I’m going to start a new challenge on my blog. 7000 words in 7 days. This does not include my daily blog.
  • Write with a friend. Having a companion, even if they don’t talk to you, can keep you accountable.
  • Be honest. Are you not working on it because the idea is no longer good or because you are in the thicket in the story above?
  • Don’t wait for the muse. Neil Gaiman said if you want to be a novelist you must learn to finish things. You can’t wait to be inspired.

If you are not committed to your book and know deep doing it’s a great idea and you want to continue but don’t know how, join me here tomorrow.

I’ve said this on my blog a hundred times, books are marathons not sprints. You cannot expect to get far and be great right away. It takes time and practice.

 

Creative, What Do You Struggle With Most?

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Creative, Entrepreneur, grow, Kryptonite, Organization, Spreedsheets, Struggle, Writer3 Comments

The creative life demands a lot. Whether you are a writer, artist, new business owner, or entrepreneur, we all have kryptonite of one kind or another.

Maybe it’s spreadsheets. Or organization. Maybe it’s being alone in your own world for far too long where you start to change the way that you think, and not for the better.

I think it’s important to know what we struggle with the most.

Struggle

I had a conversation with my boss a few months ago and I asked her to name one thing that I need to improve on. She brought up the fact that I excel in a lot of areas but I sometimes struggle with details. As much as it hurt, this is entirely true.

I got back to my desk and thought about it. I could see it in my work files and even the pictures hanging on my cubicle wall. I started to think about my home organization and my lawn. I noticed a lack of polish in places I didn’t expect.

After a brief stint where I licked my wounded pride, I realized I had an opportunity and decided to use it as fuel.

This struggle may never end. But at least I am aware of it and I can try a few different methods to help improve.

Some may think they are not a detail oriented person but I don’t buy categories. It seems too much like a safe place to live or an excuse to not grow.

I can be impatient and I need to work on that. I’m not detail oriented and I need to work on that too.

What do you struggle with the most? How do you feel about it?

How Committed Are You To Your Book?

On By Robert EvenhouseIn The Writing Process13 Comments

Have you ever been intimidated by another writer? Not their presence or their writing, but their commitment to the craft? It happened to me yesterday.

I picked up the last book in a series – The Books of Beginning – titled The Black Reckoning by John Stephens at the library. I like to read the author bio in the back of books to see what else they have written and get to know them a little. This ritual proved crushing.

I wish I never picked up his book nor turned to the back flap.

I was shocked by what I read.

The Black Reckoning

On the dust jacket, it mentioned, casually, that John Stephens woke up at 4AM to write the Emerald Atlas (the first book in this series) before leaving for work each day. Wait. What?

4AM?

Really?

Imagine with me for a second if you could do this. Take that, multiply by seven, add another five hours for a writing night or long afternoon and that’s twenty hours of writing each week. How much could you write? How fast could you finish?

My first thought is that 4AM is impossible. I have two children that wake up through the night. But what if I could make it work for a week? A month? That would give me eighty hours of writing time.

I know this is probably not sustainable, but it makes me think. How dedicated am I to my books, blog, or any other area of my life? I want the easy path but I know I must choose the most difficult one at times.

How much time do you dedicate to writing? Is it enough? If you need more time, what could you cut out of your life to recapture the lost time?

Why The Hard Road Is The Best Road To Take

On By Robert EvenhouseIn The Writing Life7 Comments

I recently spoke at a writer’s conference about blogging. After I was finished there were a lot of questions on how to get a blog started, where to look for inspiration, and how to get an audience around your idea.

The real question behind each of these questions?

How can I do that easily

Photo Credit: huskyte77 via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: huskyte77 via Compfight cc

Easy and now are two products of our current culture that I’ve come to realize are untrue. You can have easy mac and cheese and you can buy that car now. But that easy mac will clog your arteries and that car payment will follow you around like a bad smell for years.

The hard truth about anything worthwhile is that it takes time, sweat and blood, and patience.

Writing a novel takes years. Starting a business requires a lot of forethought, testing, and saving.

If you long for easy, maybe it is time to look for something else to do.

If you want to stick with your book, I can share this truth with you. That it can indeed get easier. But you must get out there and act now.

Don’t wait for the perfect writing space or that special writing time or that muse to wake from their drunken stupor to inspire us.

Believe it or not but blogging can be fun and not some drag on our writing time if you do it often and have a plan. It can take time to get there but just like the satisfaction that comes after purchasing a car with money saved and finishing a book after months or years, it is euphoric. The feeling also lasts.

This is why I keep coming back. If I can finish a blog in twenty minutes (like this one) I want to do it again. It is satisfying and easy now. But it required work to get here like a well thought out plan and some passion for the craft.

The next time you find yourself looking for the quick fix keep this thought with you.

Anything worthwhile is usually difficult but the tough road is worth all the effort in the end.

Why Art Needs Community

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Art in community can create extraordinary things. Consider Tolkien’s and Lewis’ Inklings or Hemingway’s’ and Steins’ Stratford-on-Odeon. These are just a couple of writer communities that shaped fiction today.

The conference my writers group puts on twice a year – the Jot Writers Conference – is not earth shattering or genre changing but I’d like to share with you three separate conversations I had. If you were there and have something to share, please do so in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: BMW Guggenheim Lab via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: BMW Guggenheim Lab via Compfight cc

As we finished the sign in portion of the conference and the first speaker was about to begin, I met someone from a local publisher. They were a new establishment and wanted to reached out to our writers group to share the news. They even traveled down from Grand Rapids, where we are from, to connect. This is what conferences are all about. Making friends and connections. If you are in Michigan, connect with them here.

After I finished my presentation about blogging I answered questions and made my way to the back of the room. There I met a woman who said she heard about the conference from a local author who volunteered at the Council on Aging. She asked me what she needed to do to get a blog started.

I was thrilled that someone who is well into retirement was considering something new. If I reach that age, I hope to have that sort of gusto to try new things.

A few writers who attended the Jot Conference in Grand Rapids came to the event in Three Rivers. One of them found me after my talk and said she wanted to shout Amen! as I was speaking. I’m not a preacher but this brief comment meant a lot. Every writer and speaker needs encouragement. This helped boost my confidence for the next time I speak in a few weeks.

I took away many thoughts from Jot that I am still working through. Three of them that I think of now connect with the bite sized stories above. Writing in community can create connections, that it’s never to late to try anything, and that a little encouragement can be just what any writer needs.

I hope you thank those in your community often.

Nothing is built overnight and nothing is built alone.

Have you experienced the joy, encouragement, and comradery in your writers group? Please share below.

My Writing Update

On By Robert EvenhouseIn MY Writing UpdateLeave a comment

My blogs are always posted before 8AM. Today I’m unusually late for the best of reasons. I was too busy recovering from the Jot Writers Conference that I helped put on and presented at that I had to hold off until tonight.

Here is the list of my blogs this week. I hope you found some encouragement, inspiration, and a little of yourself in them.

Writing Update

Monday’s post was all about organization. As we move ahead with our blogs and websites we can forget who may be watching. This post is a response to one written by Chad Allen over at Chadrallen.com. He’s an editorial director at Baker Publishing Group. If you ever want to be published some day, read THIS!

On Tuesday’s post, I wrote about how small, seemingly inconsequential details can create a huge impact both positive and negative. What details are you missing in your writing life?

We all get to the point where we feel cannot go on with a project. I’ve been there and back a hundred times. Check out Wednesday’s blog that asks the question, Are you a Chronic Starter or a Steady Finisher?

Thursday, I celebrated my blog’s belated birthday. Happy four years Part-Time Novel!

On Friday I wrote about suspending disbelief and writing regardless of what others may think or say. Please check it out. I’m a bit bashful to write this, but I consider it the best post I’ve written in some time.

Saturday, it was all about the Jot Writers Conference. Check out the post wrapping up the week.

Come back tomorrow.

I have some great content and stories to share about the Jot Writers Conference.

Jot Writers’ Conference Is Tonight At Six

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Jot Writers Conference1 Comment

The Jot Writers’ Conference is this evening. If you have not heard of it, this must be your first stop at my blog. HERE is more information. It’s a free, one night writers conference in Michigan. This installment will be at Lowry’s Books and More in Three Rivers, MI.

This is our sixth conference. Agents, editors, and publishing professionals have donated their time at Jot. I may be biased as one of the creators, but it’s always an encouraging time.

I believe encouragement and willpower are the only ingredients a writer needs to be successful. You can learn technique but getting yourself in the chair on a consistent basis and believing in your work are two things that are nearly impossible to achieve.

If you are coming, we’re thrilled to have you. I hope you introduce yourself and share your work in this safe environment. Writers tend to be introverted by nature, but tonight I ask you to be bold.

Registration starts at 5:15. See you there.

If not, write well today. Commit to your craft.

 

 

To Be A Writer You Must Suspend Disbelief

On By Robert EvenhouseIn The Writing Life5 Comments

As writers we are bombarded with questions and self doubt.

What was the reason I decided to do this in the first place? Why do I keep going? Am I good enough? Who would read this anyway? I could never afford to write full time, right? A writer’s day is filled with these questions and more as we continue to write. It can be difficult to drown out this noise as we forge ahead.

Have you ever stopped for a moment and thought about how silly that process is? One of believing without seeing? Of doing when the odds are stacked incredibly against us?

Photo Credit: faungg's photos via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: faungg’s photos via Compfight cc

This is the process of suspending disbelief. I heard a great podcast from Michael Hyatt about it the other day. It’s the process of marching forward even though we know in the back of our minds what we desire is near impossible.

He shares a conversation he had with his doctor. He just returned from a sabbatical and she replied that it would be wonderful to do that some day. He challenged to think not about how it is impossible, but what would have to be true in her life to make that very thing happen.

Does this also apply to you in your budding writing career? What would have to be true for you to be a full time writer? Pay off student loans? A house with more space? A job with more flexibility? My guess is that with a little hard work, you can get there.

Don’t believe me? How much could you make if you took a few more shifts at work and then cancel your cable to pay down that debt? What if you did some work on your house to sell it? It’s a great time to do that. Why not look for another job with more flexibility?

This process may not be one that happens overnight. But would one to five years of odd jobs, scrambling, and searching be worth getting to do what you want to do for the rest of your life? Sounds amazing to me.

Today, do not think about what is impossible. Think about how you can own your career, book, dream, etc., and take just one step in that direction. Make sure it is not selfish and self serving but measurable and freeing for you and your loved ones.

Step today.