Writing on the Left Side of Your Brain

Admit it.  Sometimes you don't feel like writing.  No worries.  We all feel this way from time to time. 

Perhaps you're distracted by something that is weighing on your mind.  Maybe you've had a nasty interaction with a relative, or a neighbor, or even a stranger.  Maybe there is an overwhelming problem at work or a social situation that you want no part of.  No matter the reason, being consumed with a negative circumstance drowns your creativity.  You may find it difficult to find focus.  You want to write, know you should write, but you are not interested in writing. You can’t engage the right side of your brain, the part of your brain responsible for being creative and artistic.  

Don’t despair.  You can get some writing in by using the left side of your brain.  The left side of the brain is used for analytical and logical tasks.  Here's some things that you can do:

Write query letters
Write in a journal
Compose a blog entry
Respond to emails
Edit some of your work
Make a list of your writing goals
Make a list of books you want to read

Study the writer's markets
Update your social media profile

After you’ve used the left side of your brain for a while, you may realize how productive you’ve been.  You haven’t had time to think about any negative situation.  In fact, your problems may have diminished (or you at least know how to tackle them.)  You may even discover you are less distracted.  Using the left side may renew your focus so that you are able to concentrate better.  You may feel more energized and quite possibly in the mood to create with the right side of your brain.    

Inspiration along the Writing Path

Writing is like riding a roller coaster.  As you know it’s a journey of highs (acceptances) and lows (rejections).   During the low times, it’s hard to stay on the writing path.  Dealing with rejection is incredibly difficult. We wonder if writing is worth all of this despair.  We often ask ourselves: should we give up? Keeping busy with other writing projects can help weather those low times.  But sometimes that’s not enough.  That’s when inspirational quotes may help.  

I hope the following sayings will help lift your spirits, inspire you, and keep you on the writing path.

Calvin Coolidge --“When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you couldn’t hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that’s just the place and time that the tide’ll turn.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe--“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

Louis Pasteur--“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."

Maya Angelou--“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

Billie Jean King--“Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.--“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."

Orison Swett Marden--“Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow.'”

Lou Holtz--“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”

Jim Watkins--“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

Confucius--“There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.”



A special thank you to Michael Pollock. More quotes can be found here: http://www.michaeldpollock.com/inspiring-quotes-persistence-perseverance/ 

Coming May 1st:  Writing on the Left Side of Your Brain

Tips for Fiction

Do you like to write for kids?  Would you like to see your stories published in a children's magazine?  Here are some tips to help you create great fiction. 

Introduce the main character in first paragraph.

Make the main character likable even though she may have faults.  
Establish the place or setting in the first or second paragraph.

Create conflict in the first third of the story.

Have the main character solve the dilemma without any help from others.

Use ‘said’ for dialogue tags.  Avoid using she frowned, he promised, she cried, etc.  

Try to incorporate the senses into the story.

Drive the story with action.  

Give the ending an unexpected twist.

Have main character grow or change by the end of the story.

After you have finished your story, put it on the back burner for a few days.  When you come back to it, read again to check for punctuation and spelling errors.  Trim words. Make sure the piece flows smoothly.  Then, give the story to a trusted reader for his opinions and suggestions. Edit again.  And again.  

Before you send out your story, read over the helpful tips.  Have you followed those suggestions?  Fantastic!   And congratulations!  You have created fiction that will be ready to submit to a children's magazine. 

To Be, or Not To Be Snappy

Many publishers and literary agents agree that queries should be professional.  That means the letter needs to be straightforward without any outward attention-grabbing devises. 

There are however, some writers who believe that a witty query will help them stand out from the slush pile. Some writers like to send a query written in the voice of the main character.  I wouldn't recommend this tactic.  It is usually frowned upon by agents.  

Other writers have met agents at conferences, and they feel confident enough to approach them with a snappy synopsis or bio.  Again, there is no guarantee that a writer will snag an agent this way.  

Literary agent Mary Kole says, “The point is, some agents will always prefer a straightforward, businesslike query.  Others will tolerate some cuteness or gimmick. You don't know who's who until you try it, though, even even then, most people won't tell you if that was part of the decision to pass."

I personally wouldn’t try a gimmicky query, but that’s just me talking.  I’d be afraid my clever query might backfire.  Even if my story is titled “The Bright and Brainy Pony ," I’d be scared to label myself as a bright and brainy writer in my bio.  Though it’s clever and plays on the title, it’s risky.  And…I’m not a risk-taker. 

So, how will you write your query?  Will it be snappy or strickly professional?  In the end it comes down to your gut feeling.  To paraphrase a quote from the movie Dirty Harry:  “You’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?  Well, do ya?”

The Five Senses on a February Day

I like to walk for about an hour around my neighborhood even when it's freezing.  Only snow and rain keep me inside. So bundled with layers of clothing, plus gloves, ear muffs and a scarf up to my chin, I brave the cold.  

Here are the five senses on a brisk February day before I sit down to write.

I Hear:  

blue jays screeching 

fire engine siren screaming 

train whistle wailing 

dogs barking, snarling, and growling 

wind chimes tinkling

I Smell:  

smoke from a fireplace

the flowery scent of laundry being dried
dry cold air
damp oak leaves 

I Feel: 

a breeze sailing through my hair

wind striking my face

cold cutting through my jeans
fur-lined gloves warming my hands

I See:  

10 American flags, 8 Christmas decorations, and 6 University of Kentucky Wildcat flags

the sun peeking through thick grey clouds

a discarded beige leather sofa by the street curb

wine-colored buds trying to push out on oak trees
a cluster of emerald-green hyacinth leaves waiting for spring 

I Taste: 

nothing yet until dinner (pan-fried pancetta tossed with brocolini served over pasta)

Coming March 15th:  To be or not to be snappy. How witty should a query letter be? 

Tips in Choosing Titles

How do you choose a title for your story or article?  Do you have one in mind before you write the piece?  How do you know if it's a good title?

The purpose of a title is to give a reader some idea about the content of a piece.  It is the first thing that I look at when reviewing a submission for Kid's Imagination Train.  But sometimes a title may fail to promise what it plans to deliver.  For instance, several months ago I received a nonfiction submission with a title that led me to believe that the piece would be about scientists helping people in unique ways.  Instead, the article centered on inventions. The title was misleading.

Titles can be straightforward and to the point, or they can be creative and lively.  Ideally, titles should pique a reader’s interest.  In a recent submission to KIT, I received a wonderful poem titled "What do Bears do in the Rain?" The title immediately captured my attention.  An article written by Erin K. Schonauer and Jamie C. Schonauer and published in Stories for Children Magazine was titled "The Cresent's Ghostly Guests".  Makes you curious, huh? 

Here are some tips in choosing titles:

Choose a title after you have written the article. 

Keep the title short.

Use playful titles and alliteration for a very young audience. 

Use snappy titles for older children.

Create intrigue.

Read your article again and see if the title is a good fit.

Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, a title must relate to the content of the piece.  In the bear poem, we learn exactly what bears do in a downpour.  And in the ghost article, we discover where haunts occur and and why.

A good title whets a reader's appetite.  It gets them in the mood to read your work. When you choose a title that relates to the essence of a story, article or poem, you won’t disappoint your audience.  You will deliver what you have promised.

The Power of No

How do we feel when we hear the word no?  When a publisher or an agent says no (as in a rejection), it stings us temporarily.  We move on and submit again because rejections are part of the writer's life.  But how do we feel when an acquaintance or a relative tell us no?  Often, we feel miserable for quite a long while.    

People use the word no to assert themselves or to feel superior.  As a result, this little word invalidates our remarks and leaves us speechless, powerless, and crushed.  This is a form of bullying—intimidating someone verbally, through e-mails, or with text-messaging.   

Most writers have experienced rejection from a publisher or agent, but this is not a form of bullying.  It is a method that is used to convey that a submission is not up to standards. However when we deliver the perfect manuscript, that rejection can turn into an acceptance. 

On the other hand, people who habitually say no have developed a trait that can rarely be changed.  Anything we utter (or e-mail or text) will and shall be met with nope.  So, to shield ourselves from being hurt, we can focus on what we can change.  We can steer clear of toxic people.  We can politely limit contact and conversation.  Then when we do so, we can surround ourselves with people who communicate with more respect.     

Coming Feb. 15:  A post on tips for choosing titles