Personal Philosophy: Priorities

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      No series on personal philosophies would be complete without a look at priorities. Priorities help you get on track, stay on track, and even find the track in the first place. Your priorities reflect both your ideal and your actual creative life-style. Your choices affect both long-term and short-term creativity, productivity, and stamina (some would add sanity to this list).

Sleep may hurt short-term productivity but definitely helps with stamina and creativity in both the short-term and long-term.

Exercise helps with energy for creativity and productivity.

Length of writing session. I am guilty of long writing stints. Only recently have I been learning that breaks actually help long-term productivity and stamina. But I find I go further with my creativity when I set aside long blocks of time. On the other hand, many long sessions hasten burn-out which hurts you in the long-term.

Frequency of writing sessions. Writing more often definitely is a plus for creativity and productivity.

Rest of your life. I'm really bad at this but it is excellent for long-term stamina and creativity. And when you make a point of taking quality time for your family, they are more willing to accommodate your writing schedule.

      What would you add to this list of priorities?

Personal Philosophy: Critics and Critiques

Angry? No... tired! (Photo credit: Sébastien Barillot)

      This isn't a how-to for how to deal with criticism. It's about identifying your personal philosophy about them. Love them, hate them, fear them, avoid them. But why? And what are your ideal critic and ideal critique?

      Let's start at the end. What is your ideal critique? I would love for someone to some day call my book “a high fantasy for all ages … has major elements of adventure mystery and love”. Knowing this about myself, I try to write these elements into my story.

      You may not have thought about an ideal critic. But critics are not a single species. They are readers, so your ideal critic is probably going to be a lot like your ideal reader. Write for one and you may already be writing for the other. Personally, I see a critic as a reader who has a voice with other readers. So, to me, a critic is no more scary than any other reader. I see a particular critic as only being representative of a certain type of reader. Thinking about critics – who they represent, the power they wield (and why) – is intimately tied to how you see your readers.

      How do you play with critics? Do you avoid them or invite them in? Even more important is why. Many times this is a reflection of how you see your own worth and/or the worth of your book. Some people look to themselves for this while some people look to others. Most people are in between. Other people see a critic or critique as a challenge to be met by their work or by themselves. These people might go seeking feedback.

      Also important is whether or not you like the way you deal with positive and negative criticism. Once you know why you act the way you do, it is of course possible to change. But I digress. For the purposes of learning your personal writing philosophy, it is enough to know how you respond, why you respond, and possibly to set goals to change. A personal philosophy is, by its very nature, evaluative and contemplative so if you see room for improvement why not set goals to change?

Personal Philosophy: What It All Means

License on Flickr (2011-01-07):  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

      What makes any book great? Great plots, characters, settings, and world immediately come to mind. So does a narrative style that pulls the reader into these and leaves the “real” world behind. But all that is common advice, not necessarily personal philosophy. What's really important is what “great” means to you.

      Great can mean what makes a book wonderful and first-rate. The (possibly)
bad news is that greatness is subjective. The good news is that your criteria for greatness are probably shared by your your reader. 

      Technique is important, but I also care about scope.

      I care about the purpose of the book, the underlying meaning or
message. This sounds suspiciously like theme but can also be seen as
the book's perspective or assumptions. I really, really love books
where hard work leads to success, where good wins out, where people
find true love. Whether the book argues for the existence of these
things or simply assumes them, I find that almost “great book”
has these elements. Find your own criteria of greatness
and incorporate them into your personal writing philosophy.

      I also care about the room in a book for exploration of ideas and
perspectives, as well as exploration of the world (which almost
necessarily plays into the first two types of exploration). This may
or may not be important to you and your ideal reader. But it a
potential that books have and may be something that you find in a
“great book”. Exploration is very different than statements or
assumptions. While the first can satisfy a sense of 'rightness”,
the second can promote openness and flexibility of thought. I think
it promotes creative thinking and personal involvement in a book. So
it is part of my writing philosophy.

      In a less abstract sense, scope can also be the length or extent of the
work. I happen to most enjoy books that bring me back to (and expand
on) a world. I prefer series of series over stand-alones. You may be
just the opposite. You can see how knowing this informs how you
design the scope of your work. My belief that series allow for more
exploration of character, plot, theme, and world – and the value
that I place on these elements – predisposes me towards series.

      In fantasy and in romance, I look for length, “what we wish might be”,
“a truer version of reality”, a complex universe, and “the
world as it should be” (excerpts from my own lists). These are
things that I think I always unconsciously looked for in the books
that I read. When I became conscious of this, I was able to
incorporate them into my own stories. I quickly found that my stories
gave me more satisfaction – and when they seemed lacking I knew what
to check (aside the obvious).

      What does this all mean? To me, a book needs technique but it also needs
“greatness” or scope. And scope comes in many flavors. Because
of space limits I touched on only a few the elements that I think
make a book not merely good but great. What do you believe makes a
book great?

Personal Philosophy: Topics and Themes

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Part of the appeal of writing is the opportunity to write whatever you want. That's the theory, anyway. (The drawback is that you don't get to write however you want.) Many writers actively look for inspiration from the outside world in the form of news articles, overheard conversations, and research. But these strategies are grounded in and filtered through your personal interests, values, beliefs.

Interests → Story You write what you know and you probably know (or are working to know) a lot about what interests you. The facts and suppositions about what you learn fuel your characters, plots, and settings. By knowing your interests, you can more efficiently focus your intelligence-gathering efforts.

Values → Theme. Your values influence how you think about almost anything that catches your eye. Is it good or evil? Was the decision fair or unjust? Did she get what she deserved? All of these assessments are fodder for themes and plots.

Beliefs → Conflict. Your values are judgements made based on your beliefs. Conflict most often happens when beliefs clash.

Personal Philosophy: Why This Genre?

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Outsiders tend to group “writers” in one big pack. But there are many types of writers. But writers are selective in what they write – usually just a few forms. Knowing your reasons for writing these genres and styles can help you keep going or know when it is time to change.

 

Define your genre(s). You might have thought a lot about what genre(s) you would write in and whether you should branch out or cross genre lines. Or maybe the decision was obvious to you. Either way, you reached your decision in part because of how you defined that genre. Not the market definition – your definition. A definition provides important guidelines for your writing. For instance, I believe fantasy is the literature of ethics, is a truer version of reality and also what our minds “wish might be”.

 

Identify its potential. How you define your genre gives some insight into its appeal but also consider what you want to do with your genre. I love the familiar-yet-strange characters, settings, and world-building of fantasy (a standard). I enjoy innovative use of myth (an option). And I like use my genre as an expansion of reality. Within your genre, what possibilities excite you?

What you give. There's a lot of books out there so know the qualities you can bring to the table. This can be as simple as a love of writing but originality helps. What makes you special? There are hints to this in the last two sections. We'll explore it from another angle later by looking at what you want readers and critics say about your works.

These truths are at the core of why you write what you write. They give you direction, ideas, and affirmation. They also pinpoint your personal writing interests. Sometimes these interests change. For instance, perhaps your concept of the genre evolves. This changes your idea of its potential which in turn might affect your perception of what you can give.

Or you stretch your abilities and you feel another genre has more potential. Or maybe you see the potentials for your current genre as drying up as the genre evolves. If you stay aware of your beliefs, you will know why you are uneasy or unsatisfied. Know yourself and you'll know when it is time to consider a change (or expansion) in genres – and why.

Personal Philosophy: Ideas and Ideals

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Your writing philosophy is more than a statement. It is a collection of personal truths and beliefs. Some are about your writing – why you write in a particular genre or genres, what topics and themes you want to address, and what you want your story world to be like. Part of your philosophy should concern your readers – what you want them to say about your books and what sort of relationship you want to have with them. And part of your writing philosophy is about yourself as a writer – your priorities, your conduct, and your lifestyle. We'll look at these issues over the next several days.

Even if you already have a writing philosophy, it is worth your time to examine it again. Over time, you change, your writing changes, and your life changes. This means your writing philosophy may need to change too.

If you do not have a concrete writing philosophy, there are several benefits to having one. First, you will know where you are headed and why. Second, a record of your writing philosophy gives you something to go back to when you are feeling underwhelmed, overwhelmed, or simply not motivated. Finally, it gives you a way to explain to yourself and others why you write – what you give and what you get.

Over the next few days, I'll give you ideas to think about but no template. This is intentional. A writing philosophy is unique to each writer. Not only are your ideas about your writing unique, your way of expressing your philosophy may be unique as well. A poem, a collage, a certificate, a list? There are many ways to record your resolve.

To: Readers (From: Writers)

English: A Picture of a eBook Español: Foto de eBook Беларуская: Фотаздымак электроннай кнігі Русский: Фотография электронной книги (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A reader of this blog made the comment that just as writing tethers the writer to other people, writing also tethers other people to the author. It works both ways. I've been thinking about this and decided to form my thoughts into two blogs: what writers give readers and what readers give writers. Today: what writers give to readers.

• Entertain: A writer entertains the reader. This is probably the most common reason for reading fiction: to be entertained. Entertainment is not all laughs – tears and fears make the happy times all the more meaningful.
• Educate: A writer educates the reader. Yes, there may be facts about how the material world works but there are always facts (or opinions) about the workings of people and life. As an Aspergers person, I turned to books to learn what did not come intuitively to me.
• Validate: A writer validates the reader. Readers are often drawn to writers who share similar world-views – who have similar thoughts about the way the world does (or should) work. Through this world-view, the writer can affirm the reader's feelings about struggles, joys, and conflicts. The reader finds personal affirmation in the written page.
• Feel: Definitely the writer gives a reader feelings. Every poem, book, lyric, and script is saturated in emotion. Having characters feel is not enough. The reader has a need to feel, too. And the source of feeling – just like in the real world – is in caring.
• Challenge: A writer challenges the reader. Throughout a book, the writer poses a series of questions that the reader tries to answer. A writer may also pose dilemmas about society, love, and other aspects of life. Sometimes the writer provides an answer but other times the reader is challenged to reach the reader's own conclusions.
• Create: A writer gives the reader the power to create a world that belongs just to the reader. A world that exists only inside the page(s) of the work. Some readers go further and create fan fiction, using the characters and world that the writer introduces. And some readers go even further, inspired by other writers they create their own worlds and characters. Both types write for themselves and for a new generation of readers.

To: Writers (From Readers)

Gel pens (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A reader of this blog made the comment that just as writing tethers the writer to other people, writing also tethers other people to the author. It works both ways. I've been thinking about this and decided to form my thoughts into two blogs: what writers give readers and what readers give writers. Today: what readers give writers of any kind.

• Entertain: Yes, readers entertain writers. We love to design adventures for others to enjoy. Almost nothing is more fun than a reader in tears of sadness or laughter. Or a reader who is sleep-deprived because they couldn't put our book down.
• Educate: Having readers encourages writers to educate themselves. We learn more about the world so we can more accurately represent it in our books. We learn about nature, cities, the legal system, and people (just to name a few). We learn how to convey our ideas more clearly.
• Feel: Readers encourage writers to feel. Yes, the path to publication and growing readership is strewn with all kinds of emotions. But every writer is encouraged to feel and think about how feelings work so the reader can have a more intense and vicarious experience.
• Challenge: Readers definitely challenge the writer. Reach more people. Become more skilled in the craft. Invent new ways to surprise and delight. Produce new material. Keep the reader engaged. Lead the reader where you want the reader to go. So many challenges!
• Empower: The reader empowers the writer. Every time a book is read, a writer becomes someone who matters. Because of readers, a writer can become an agent of change, a therapist, a philosopher, a giver of escape, a maker of opportunities. And readers validate the writer's efforts and existence.
• Create: Readers give writers a reason to create. Yes, we would write anyway. But having readers means being subject to expectations and most people try a little harder when there are expectations to fulfill. Writers write a little better when there is someone to impress. Writers write a little faster or more often when someone is waiting to read the next installment.

Benefits of a Journal

Journal 2 Feb 2005 pg 2 (Photo credit: Terry Bain)

I started a stream-of-consciousness journal as a form of therapy and heightened self-awareness but soon saw improvement in my writing. I began keeping a typed journal. At first, I wrote maybe 20 pages a month. I didn't know what to write. A year later I write freely and my page count last month was 120+. This included random thoughts, what was happening during my day, how I felt and what I thought about that, blog posts, book and character ideas, and self-motivation, just to name a few topics. But back to how a stream-of-consciousness journal can help your  writing.

• Speed: The more often you write, the faster you will get. It may not pay off right away but think in terms of months and years.
• Fluidity: You will find that you write with fewer pauses, less thinking “what should come next”, because you are training your mind to write without hesitation
• Voice: I found my writing voice in my stream-of-consciousness journal. If you are struggling with this topic, look to where you write most naturally and with the fewest inhibitions. That is where you will find your voice.
• Twists and turns: You can use your journal to brainstorm alternative paths the action in a scene can take. Sometimes writing down the ideas instead of just thinking them can make all the difference.
• Characters: Once your thoughts begin to flow, you'll find yourself writing about whatever is on your mind – like the people around you and your characters. You find yourself writing background and attitudes for those people that you didn't realize you knew. And your knowledge deepens.
• Theme: Looking at my journal showed me what I often wrote about, what were my preoccupations. I realized that the same beliefs and attitudes were imbedded in my books. You can develop these into themes.
• Philosophy: This is somewhat tied to theme but goes a bit further. After a while, you find yourself asking yourself why you write. The answers you come up with are part of your personal writing philosophy.
• Encouragement: When you find it difficult to get around to your WIP, you can remind yourself why you write. What you get and give by writing. What you hope to accomplish. You can be your own cheerleader or bully (whatever works) and be your own motivator.

Writer Yoga

Yoga Class at a Gym Category:Gyms_and_Health_Clubs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I recently noticed that writing practice is a lot like meditation practice. Both benefit from the same mental state and lifestyle.  For instance...

1. make a space in your home
2. keep fit
3. relax into it
4. stretch before, during, and after
5. set a routine
6. practice good posture
7. go with the flow
8. eat healthy
9. sleep healthy
10. clear your mind

How to Develop a Personal Philosophy

Originally Posted: March 19, 2008 by lesliesrussell in Lifehack, Notes

What is it?

A personal philosophy is a written document detailing your ideas on how the world works–the big stuff and the small stuff and everything in between. A personal philosophy is a fluid thing your personal philosophy will change and grow as you change and grow.

Why do I need it?

• You already have one you just don’t know it.
• Having a written philosophy gives you a firm foundation upon which to base decisions and opinions.
• Writing it down exposes flaws or virtues allowing you to correct or embrace them as need be.

How do I do it?

1. Start with the phrase “I believe:”
2. Make a list of things you believe, hold true, or find self-evident.

FAQ

• Do I need to study philosophy?

No. But it really can’t hurt can it? You may find something with which you agree or find a better way to say something you already believe.

• Do I have to share it with others?

No. But being able to defend your philosophy will strengthen it.

• What if I believe something embarassing or wrong?

Then maybe you are wrong, but maybe the world is wrong. You won’t know which until you share it with others and are forced to defend it.

• How long will it take?

The rest of your life.

The Tao of Writing

According to legends, Laozi leaves China on his water buffalo. Renard, (2002), p. 16 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A personal confession. I love the Tao te Ching, by Lao Tzu. It isn't just about the abstract 'life', it is about life. As in learning, walking, martial arts, music, and writing. Yes, writing. Here are four examples of what I am talking about, pulled nearly at random.

1. “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”
   One interpretation: Do you have the patience to wait to write until the clutter of your thoughts settle and your mind is clear?
   Another interpretation: Do you have the patience to not write a project until the ideas settle and the story and characters are clear?
2. “The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know.”
   One interpretation: Your knowledge of personal and technical strengths and weaknesses comes partly from yourself but also partly from the feedback from others. Even then, it is incomplete.
   Another interpretation: apply this to research
3. “He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty"
   One interpretation: A good writer tries to write better than other writers, a great writer tries to write better than herself.
   Another interpretation:
4. “When people see some things as beautiful,
   other things become ugly.
   When people see some things as good,
   other things become bad.”
   One interpretation: Writers create protagonists and antagonists. The writer guides the reader in the perceptions of good and bad in people.
   Another interpretation: Writers write about values – what is beautiful, what is ugly. Some writers like to make the to make the boundary clear, others choose to blur the line. We have a responsibility to think about the messages we send because we send these messages to readers.