Improving Craft

As a writer of children's plays and books, it's important to always be active and improve your craft. I'm always trying to do that by reading books on craft and listening to webinars online.

WRITING

​I don't have the time to go back to school, but I can always sneak in something between projects or, while doing errands, I'll throw on an audible book to listen to. And even if I don't 100% of the time understand or pay attention to what is being said thanks to my ADD, I know it's getting into my brain and will pop out when needed. It might be when I'm dead and in heaven that I recall it, but at least it's in there. lol 

Here are a few books I recommend on craft. 

You don't have to go to school to learn how to write.

It's important not to just write books, but to learn about the industries you want to writing within. SCBWI offers an guide to publishing that is helpful and always up-to-date on the latest trends, etc.

These book focus on story building. 

The Emotion Thesaurus is just one in a series of books I use for reference. I have them on kindle and pull them up when I need them. 

These books specialize in the types of crafts I'm interested in. 

I always keep a notebook handy for when I feel inspired with an idea or am trying to develop one. And when I'm stumped the 301 Writing idea book is good for prompts.

Audible also has many books and courses I recommend including: Their Great Courses - Effective Editing by Molly McCowen and How To Write A Best-Selling Fiction by James Scott Bell.

Also the Masterclass.com classes on writing are amazing. It's worth buying the yearly subscription to hear all the different types of writing styles. I loved hearing from R.L. Stine, Judy Blume, David Sedaris (Hilarious) Dan Brown, David Mamet, James Patterson, Margaret Atwood, David Baldacci, Salman Rushdie, Amy Tan, Malcolm Gladwell (so intriguing), Werner Herzog (scary guy),  Levar Burton, Walter Mosley,  Roxane Gay, Judd Apatow, Neil Gaiman and so many others. As you can see I learned from the Masters on writing from short stories, children's books, to screenplays and plays in all genres. I also enjoyed a lot of the acting classes and entrepreneurial classes.

ARTISTRY

In addition to writing, I've  had a few opportunities to work on my artistic skills too. I enrolled in 21-draw.com, an online platform that offers artist classes. I was inspired by the SCBWI SoCal's ART DAY event that I was involved with putting on.

​As a picture book author, I think in pictures and someday may have to just illustrate my own work to get it out into the world, though that it will be a long while for my books to come out if that's the case.

I'm not unable to draw. I'm just not consistent, nor do I know any theory, craft, etc.. So I've been doing some of the online classes and I've also been dabbling with painting. I'm sure you've all heard of the SIP AND PAINT events around town and online. Well my church has had a couple painting activities. The woman who put them on has invited me to a few of her in home classes where I've been producing some paintings.

​ I'd like to share with you. 

And here is me learning how to draw cartoons, faces, eyes, and playing with watercolors. I know it's bad, but it's fun. 

I just think this one is funny. 

INSPRIRATION

Staying inspired is also an important part of the writing process. Once you've written your book, learned what you can and are in the submission stage staying inspired is most important. Get rejected is not fun. And unfortunately it's part of the process. 

In acting, getting rejected is also part of the process. You go to tons of auditions just to get the one and even then during the process, things can change at the drop of the pen. It's an objective industry, just like writing. For the most part I've got a thick skin, but sometimes discouragement can creep in. 

My Add is my super power in some ways in dealing with this, because I've always got some project I'm working on. So when things don't go as planned, I refocus on other projects for a while. However, this is also a negative, in that I can easily give up on something and forget all about it. I did this a lot growing up not knowing I had ADD and since I've been diagnosed I've been able to better at not giving up, when I loose focus. 

As I am now in the process of submission with my BEYOND STYX, my mythology story, I've hit a lot of walls in the process. I have not given up, nor do I plan to. I continue to submit every time I get a rejection. It only takes on yes, they say.  However, I've continued forward and have started writing a second mythology based story.  The creating process is so enjoyable that It's helpful to get my mind off the other for a while.  That and I have my #3 Volume for my 10 Minute play book and my #3 of Rose Maidelaiden nearly finished, so I have tons of things to work on. 

Though somedays I feel indifferent to writing, which is where the discouragement has creeped in. I know this, which is the first step. Acknowledgment is always a good thing. Self reflecting and knowing what and why I'm going through the discouragement is part of the process of getting through it. Years of therapy has taught me that. Denial gets you nowhere quickly. And I am too impatient for that. 

So I am actively accept that I'm discourage and in do so I utilize the resources I help me stay positive. I continue to write something, even if it's not a story that I want done. I blog like this, stay up on the writing news, I enter the occasional writing contest to keep the writing juices flowing. I continue to attend my critique groups even if I don't have anything to contribute and I read, read, read. Reading is great for keeping you inspired, especially when I can tell you the ending before the book is over. It reminds me I know what I'm doing and I'm good at it. It also keeps the fire lite, reminding me of my publication goals. 

If you want to be writer, a successful writer, you have to put in the time. Nothing comes quickly in this industry. The only thing consistent in life is change and we'll change doesn't care about your goals. So if you want your goals to happen, only you can make them happen. Oh, and watch a lot of movies... that's always fun!! lol

Anyways, that's my two cents for the day.  I'd love to hear what books you use for craft on writing and art? Also what do you for staying inspired?

Hope to hear from you all. 
​
-Carlene