I've written a few blogs about art, and I just realized not once have I said a word about my favorite contemporary artist, Eyvind Earle.
For more years than I'd care to mention or remember, I have loved and coveted his work. I went through a period where anytime I could get my hands on his Christmas cards, I would buy a box and never send them out, because I couldn't bear to part with them.
There is something magical about his style. It's nature and yet not. Colorful, stunning in the grandeur of the landscapes he often portrayed, but you can still see the illustrator at heart. His work is simple, elegant, almost Oriental and yet not. The colors are vibrant, alive, brilliant, the combination is simply magnificent.
I finally own a small numbered serigraph, my prize possession, and dare I say it, I want more.
When I was in San Francisco a couple of years ago, I visited Carmel and stopped at Gallery 21, the gallery now owned by his estate, since Mr. Earle died in 2000 at the age of 84.
His career started early, in fact I read that at the age of 10 he was already very prolific. His career included a stint with Walt Disney as an assistant background painter. His work for Disney included Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty, among others. But it is his later efforts that truly show a master at work.
Someone wrote that his style is lyrical, and I would never associate lyrical with art, but it fits, it flows, it moves you. It is indeed lyrical.
If you're interested in seeing some of his work, just Google Eyvind Earle, and I promise you will not be disappointed.
Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Pavlov's Dog Pants for Writer Care
PSYCH 101 for Writers & Their Characters - or Pavlov’s Dog for Writers
by robert w. walker
Professor of creative writing and psych buff, I will be providing 10 Psychological concerns for you & your creations for the next ten weeks each Friday, beginning with #10 & working down to #1 for ten teeth-gnashingm fingernail bitiing weeks. Let the mystery of the psychology of your characters work for you as it has for me.
Over time, I have considered these 10 questions that delve into the relationship between psychology and writing the novel, and being a novelist. In other words, what has psychology to do with imagination and creating whole worlds populated with people out of ink marks on a page? The following questions and answers delve into the psychology of the author himself, and eventually will also ask about the psychology of characters an author creates: This is Psych 101 for Authors and Readers interested in the craft and creative impulse.
Q #1:
As a writer, how does knowledge of writing help you? In short, how did you come across your knowledge of writing novels?
A: Anyone can learn to learn, or rather take steps to learn more about a topic--any topic. I learn best via doing, as in teaching. You teach it, you learn it. The more a writer comes to own knowledge, the higher his or her WQ--writing quotient.
IQ tests are indicators of potential, but it is motivation that drives us to learn the lessons of such things as research, analyzing data, accurately reporting or using information in a story. As for learning about the creative process, whether it's in writing or another art form, one gains experience only in doing, not unlike shooting baskets long enough will teach you how to shoot. When you practice to become a wordsmith, there're years of apprenticeship involved. Some of us began when just children. Being born as a silver-tongued genius is rare. Most writers must work to overcome failings, stuttering starts, self-conscious writings, and a slew of problems. In fact, writing is in a real sense all about self-analysis. Only after much study and painting oneself into corners and many missteps does a writer see the path to sentences that sizzle, snap, crackle, and pop or just plain sing. Lessons such as "if you can't make it sing, at least make it clear" come hard won only after gobs and gobs of hard work and fun and play with words and language.
Working with words on a daily basis is the only way I know of how to improve oneself as a writer. With each new novel or short story I write, I am reminded of lessons already learned and that I need to learn more; the more you know, the more you need to know. Only through hard work, determination, persistence, and sometimes pestilence over long years in the field do you easily pick the fruit. If you can't get thee to a 'nunnery' or a 'university' where they will sweat you in a writing program in boot camp fashion, then create your own rigorous program, and if you make it last as long as I did, four years, it might take. I would not ever trade in my PQ--persistence quotient for any amount of IQ. There is also the little matter of MO--motivation quotient. Let us not forget the EQ--experience quotient either.
This has all been directed at the author\writer\creator, but intelligence and knowledge play a huge role in character-building as well, not to mention reader intelligence and knowledge. Otherwise good characters who represent their careers and fields in many books seem lacking in knowledge of said field or career. A truly great character is partially great because she is so clearly knowledgeable (Ahab knew his whales!) in her field as with a medical examiner or detective. As for intelligent readers, they are the ones who both understand what we writers write and love us for it no matter who we have to kill off, no matter how tough things get, knowing we must 'sacrifice' for the good of the story.
Q#2 -- WE TAKE UP NEXT FRIDAY is : How does 'abnormal behavior' enter into the realm of creative writing and fiction? Or are we all nuts?
Catch my new ebook on Kindle - Killer Instinct, a Dr. Jessica Coran novel...in fact her first introduction, and by the way, do DO do leave a comment!
Rob Walker
http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
http://www.makeminemystery.com/
by robert w. walker
Professor of creative writing and psych buff, I will be providing 10 Psychological concerns for you & your creations for the next ten weeks each Friday, beginning with #10 & working down to #1 for ten teeth-gnashingm fingernail bitiing weeks. Let the mystery of the psychology of your characters work for you as it has for me.
Over time, I have considered these 10 questions that delve into the relationship between psychology and writing the novel, and being a novelist. In other words, what has psychology to do with imagination and creating whole worlds populated with people out of ink marks on a page? The following questions and answers delve into the psychology of the author himself, and eventually will also ask about the psychology of characters an author creates: This is Psych 101 for Authors and Readers interested in the craft and creative impulse.
Q #1:
As a writer, how does knowledge of writing help you? In short, how did you come across your knowledge of writing novels?
A: Anyone can learn to learn, or rather take steps to learn more about a topic--any topic. I learn best via doing, as in teaching. You teach it, you learn it. The more a writer comes to own knowledge, the higher his or her WQ--writing quotient.
IQ tests are indicators of potential, but it is motivation that drives us to learn the lessons of such things as research, analyzing data, accurately reporting or using information in a story. As for learning about the creative process, whether it's in writing or another art form, one gains experience only in doing, not unlike shooting baskets long enough will teach you how to shoot. When you practice to become a wordsmith, there're years of apprenticeship involved. Some of us began when just children. Being born as a silver-tongued genius is rare. Most writers must work to overcome failings, stuttering starts, self-conscious writings, and a slew of problems. In fact, writing is in a real sense all about self-analysis. Only after much study and painting oneself into corners and many missteps does a writer see the path to sentences that sizzle, snap, crackle, and pop or just plain sing. Lessons such as "if you can't make it sing, at least make it clear" come hard won only after gobs and gobs of hard work and fun and play with words and language.
Working with words on a daily basis is the only way I know of how to improve oneself as a writer. With each new novel or short story I write, I am reminded of lessons already learned and that I need to learn more; the more you know, the more you need to know. Only through hard work, determination, persistence, and sometimes pestilence over long years in the field do you easily pick the fruit. If you can't get thee to a 'nunnery' or a 'university' where they will sweat you in a writing program in boot camp fashion, then create your own rigorous program, and if you make it last as long as I did, four years, it might take. I would not ever trade in my PQ--persistence quotient for any amount of IQ. There is also the little matter of MO--motivation quotient. Let us not forget the EQ--experience quotient either.
This has all been directed at the author\writer\creator, but intelligence and knowledge play a huge role in character-building as well, not to mention reader intelligence and knowledge. Otherwise good characters who represent their careers and fields in many books seem lacking in knowledge of said field or career. A truly great character is partially great because she is so clearly knowledgeable (Ahab knew his whales!) in her field as with a medical examiner or detective. As for intelligent readers, they are the ones who both understand what we writers write and love us for it no matter who we have to kill off, no matter how tough things get, knowing we must 'sacrifice' for the good of the story.
Q#2 -- WE TAKE UP NEXT FRIDAY is : How does 'abnormal behavior' enter into the realm of creative writing and fiction? Or are we all nuts?
Catch my new ebook on Kindle - Killer Instinct, a Dr. Jessica Coran novel...in fact her first introduction, and by the way, do DO do leave a comment!
Rob Walker
http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
http://www.makeminemystery.com/
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Speaking Engagements About Social Networking
On March 28, I took my show on the road and spoke at the Niles Public Library about Social Networking for Fun and/or Promotion. Here's one of the photos taken before the program. I always like to snap some at each event as mementoes.I want to thank Maryellen Essig from the library for including me in their Inside Writing and Publishing lineup there. I had a great time. The audience was responsive and asked salient questions, which fortunately I was able to answer.
I'll be speaking on the same topic at the Schaumburg Township District Library on May 13 from 7:30 - 9 pm. I'll be thinking up some fresh material to add to the mix from the other program. Stop by if you can. You're welcome to ask questions and/or add to the information pool.
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel
Sunday, April 4, 2010
It's Here!
Much to my overwhelming (dancing around the living room) joy, Wild Wedding Weekend is here! The Wild Rose Press released it as an Early Bird Special, which makes it available now in print form. Electronic formats will be available on Friday, April 9 (its original release date).
To celebrate its release, I'm heading "out" on a mini blog tour throughout the month of April (and sneeking a little bit into May.) Here's where I'll be this week:
Tuesday, April 6: Nine Naughty Novelists
Friday, April 9: Emma Lai Writes
Friday, April 9: Dayana Knight Author Spotlight
For a complete tour list, check out the Blogs link on my website.
Now I'm off to get that Easter ham on the grill.
Happy Easter and Happy Reading!
Until next time,
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
a Lovely Weekend by Margot Justes
We've had some wonderful weather the last couple of days; a perfect start to the weekend, or so I thought. My daughter is home and we were going to go to the Art Institute and dinner downtown.
The bleary, rainy and cold morning changed our plans, so instead we went shopping at Northbrook Court, got a pair of colorful beaded sandals; just the thing I couldn't wear today, because it was cold and rainy. We went to Costco, my home away from home and came back long enough to drop off the packages and go pick up a Sushi dinner.
All in all a terrific day, and tomorrow I'm joining the rest of my family and friends for a brunch. Now much time for writing, but I'm spending time with family and friends, and you can't beat that.
Last weekend, I actually wrote eight perfect pages in A Hotel in Venice. I would have written more, but they wouldn't have been perfect. I keep telling myself that, made a couple of changes in A Hotel in Bath. I don't think I'll ever put it away until it is sold. And it will be sold.
Again, that is what I'm telling myself.
Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
The bleary, rainy and cold morning changed our plans, so instead we went shopping at Northbrook Court, got a pair of colorful beaded sandals; just the thing I couldn't wear today, because it was cold and rainy. We went to Costco, my home away from home and came back long enough to drop off the packages and go pick up a Sushi dinner.
All in all a terrific day, and tomorrow I'm joining the rest of my family and friends for a brunch. Now much time for writing, but I'm spending time with family and friends, and you can't beat that.
Last weekend, I actually wrote eight perfect pages in A Hotel in Venice. I would have written more, but they wouldn't have been perfect. I keep telling myself that, made a couple of changes in A Hotel in Bath. I don't think I'll ever put it away until it is sold. And it will be sold.
Again, that is what I'm telling myself.
Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
Friday, April 2, 2010
Brave New World of Publishing Oneself - Indie Go! Revisit All Those Rejected Tiles w/an Eye to Publishing Them! by Rob Walker
When I began writing at an early age, I wrote the kinds of books I liked, those boy’s adventure tales inspired by Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, stories set during historical moments with panoramic vistas as backdrop. But once turned down for the fiftieth or sixtieth time by editors, what happens to a good book shouldn’t happen to a good book. But as rejections pile up, you move from writing what does not appear to be profitable or marketable or currently in vogue or “does not fit our current publishing program” (designed to keep you out) –a program that would keep Mark Twain out if he were alive and writing today….
So I stopped doing YA books and moved into horror as everyone at the time had a program in search of the next Stephen King…and then I moved into mystery and suspense and police procedurals when I was not discovered to be the next Stephen King (aha, no one was ever destined to be the next King). Still on my shelves, always pleading with me to get back to them, were and are these many young adult historical novels as yet unpublished and UNread. And recently, I snatched an adult historical out of the mothballs, rewrote it again for the sixtieth time, and published Children of Salem myself after getting some tough love editing done on it from good readers. That book is my top grossing Kindle title today and has sold a total of 410 copies. That’s a LOT more readers of that not commercial enough manuscript than the number who were reading it when it slept in my desk.
So what to do with my YA historical novels calling out, yearning to be FREE…to find a readership? These titles listed in the order in which they were written are:
BattleStormer – a tale of a young Viking boy who must, when his father dies, become the navigator for the ship BattleStormer. It tells the tale of the first white men to set foot on the American continent and of a budding romance.
Animiki of the Fire Nation is a Pottowatomi Indian brave story. Young Animiki must use his head to outwit the ancient enemy of his people.
The Cannoneers is set at the time of the American Revolution and is in the tradition of Johnny Tremain, but it tells the tale of how America got its first artillery together and the man behind it.
Yukon Gold is set as the title suggest during the mad gold rush to Alaska. It is told through the eyes of a young boy.
Transcontinental is the tale of a young boy who helps build the first North American Transcontinental railroad and the obstacles he faces.
Will any of these titles do well as Kindle books? I dunno…but I do know that in the older world of publishing they were destined to be Oak Tree Publication hardcovers until shit happened. They would have been published by the San Diego publishers of YAs had the company not been run into the ground by a guy named “Lord” who bought it up for a write off? Well now with the Kindle books option, a new alternate book world/dimension has opened up, an alternate universe of publishing…and it gives me work to do that will fill my summer as I rewrite, polish, and Kindlize these titles. I also have plans to continue several series characters killed off in the other publishing universe, the one that killed off Dr. Jessica Coran, Detective Lucas Stonecoat, and Inspector Alastair Ransom. I am so sure that I can revive these characters cut off in their prime with hard work and determination in the Brave New World of the Indie Author, thanks to my blood, sweat, tears, and Amazon Kindle. No waiting for what a publisher suspects might be commercially viable. No publisher could ever keep up with me, but I can.
That’s all for now. Keep writing; do find me on Facebook where we have lively discussions and a lot of humor. And now all the titles are in for the Titanic book and you can vote for your choice by going to Google and searching out Dirty Deeds – Advice.
RoboWriter Rob
http://robertwalkerbooks.com/
Thursday, April 1, 2010
OH, HAPPY DAY! by DL Larson
THREE YEARS! We've been a group blog for 1,095 days! Happy Birthday Acme Authors! Plus, we would have fizzled out, slid into oblivion or simply faded away without our followers and blog readers. Thank you for keeping Acme Authors on your TO DO LIST!
The fact we are taking a week to celebrate our existence feels pretty normal to me. At the Larson house, we celebrate birthdays with birthday week! It's not about presents, it's about taking the time to reflect, honor and spoil a special someone just a little. Think - eating your favorite junk food, no chores for a week, and mom makes your bed every morning - just because she wants to spoil you!
It's a week to feel special and realize being unique is pretty cool!
I've really appreciated the opportunity to be an Acme Author. Thank you, Morgan for inviting me to the party! I search blog sites much more than I did before, I enjoy sharing my insights and hearing about others, and I know being a blogger on Acme Authors is the reason for my own growth in the blogger world.
I also encourage our readers to tell others we at Acme Authors are here every day, sharing writer insights, stories and starting discussions with other writers everywhere. Your comments are important to us. Please continue to share your thoughts.
So my question, what are you celebrating this week? Anything special happening?
Plus, is there a writing topic you'd like to see discussed at Acme Authors? We are always looking for ideas. We'd love to hear from you.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
PS: last week I shared about Sami, a local teen severely hurt in a car accident. Sami is still in critical condition, but she is holding her own. She's still in an induced coma but responds more and more to her surroundings. We are celebrating this small victory, but a victory just the same. Thank you for your prayers.
The fact we are taking a week to celebrate our existence feels pretty normal to me. At the Larson house, we celebrate birthdays with birthday week! It's not about presents, it's about taking the time to reflect, honor and spoil a special someone just a little. Think - eating your favorite junk food, no chores for a week, and mom makes your bed every morning - just because she wants to spoil you!
It's a week to feel special and realize being unique is pretty cool!
I've really appreciated the opportunity to be an Acme Author. Thank you, Morgan for inviting me to the party! I search blog sites much more than I did before, I enjoy sharing my insights and hearing about others, and I know being a blogger on Acme Authors is the reason for my own growth in the blogger world.
I also encourage our readers to tell others we at Acme Authors are here every day, sharing writer insights, stories and starting discussions with other writers everywhere. Your comments are important to us. Please continue to share your thoughts.
So my question, what are you celebrating this week? Anything special happening?
Plus, is there a writing topic you'd like to see discussed at Acme Authors? We are always looking for ideas. We'd love to hear from you.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
PS: last week I shared about Sami, a local teen severely hurt in a car accident. Sami is still in critical condition, but she is holding her own. She's still in an induced coma but responds more and more to her surroundings. We are celebrating this small victory, but a victory just the same. Thank you for your prayers.
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