‘Inspiration’ Archives
Shifting Mud
I couldn’t have been more than ten, and we were reading short stories in my class at school. I don’t remember the name of the story, or who wrote it. All I know is that it affected me so deeply that I’m writing about it now, forty-five years later. It was about a boy that somehow got trapped in a sewer pipe. You know the ones you can [...]
If your man were a plant
Have you ever wondered about the similarities between plants and men? Probably not! Most sane people don’t. But me, when I’m not writing, I spend a lot of time in my garden – maybe too much -- and my thoughts? Well, they naturally veer in that direction. Spending hours upon hours working with plants -- my garden is over 2500 sq. ft [...]
Why on earth am I writing? asks Betty Bolte
I found myself contemplating what possesses me to write. I mean, there are so many other things I have to do that always seem to take precedence, whether I want them to or not. The recent issues in the publishing world, with ebooks, and the Google settlement, and the Harlequin vanity press launch, all combines to make me ponder why I am bothering [...]
Second Chances
Last night when I went to sleep, I had been pondering what I wanted to tell you. Something inspirational. I did not feel very inspiring. For the past two years, since I had finished my fortieth book, I had tried to write a new novel and not gotten very far. Burnout is the popular term. I had been writing consistently since the mid-1980s, when, [...]
The Don’t Tell the Truth Trap
Listening to the radio the other day Bonnie Tyler was singing about a romantic relationship but one line snaked out of the speakers and wrapped around my throat. “I’m just another writer still trapped within my truth.” Characters live in my head, as with all of us I’m sure, and often they nag at me to let them really [...]
Does a happy AND productive holiday season sound impossible?
I hope this blog helps you have a happy (and productive) holiday season. We all know that the holidays (any kind of holidays) can put us off our game, our writing game, that is. So I’ve developed a few hints to keep you in the swing of it. ONE: The number one thing – whether you’re published or soon-to-be-published – you have to [...]
Does life imitate art?
Does life imitate art or does art imitate life? How about a little of both? I’ve come to believe that just like any character in a novel in Act 1 of the 3 Act Structure, people are called to action to show what they’re made of. And for writers I sometimes think that’s the real purpose of writing – to show what we’re made of more than [...]
Do you believe in fate?
As I typed this, the song “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful popped into my head. And I suppose that could suffice for a title also. Or, for those of you more grounded (like my dear husband), how about, Do You Believe in Incredible Coincidences? This blog is for those of you out there who are writing and getting rejected [...]
Inspiration – Laura Drake – Maslowe and Hersey Kisses
Some of my best ideas come to me while I’m riding my bicycle. I had an epiphany during a gorgeous Southern California ride yesterday. One of those moments when several pieces fall into place for a major “Aha” moment – I love it when that happens! For anyone who is not familiar with Maslowe, here’s the Reader’s Digest [...]
