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My Seven Rules Of Writing

April 21, 2012 5 Comments

1 - We live on borrowed knowledge. All that would flow out of us would be an amalgamation of what we have heard, seen, read. Do as much justice to be as original to your work as you can be.

2 - Do not copy or rewrite other people’s work, but if you find traces of your favourite author in your work in terms of style or tone, feel good that you are at least getting closer to someone
whom you admire. It is the deepest form of gratitude you can demonstrate.

3 - Do not be afraid to find yourself via your writing. We write to access ourselves, sometimes our deepest fears. Pay attention. Be open to everything.

4 - Man by nature is a control freak – let your characters take their own course.

5 - Contrary to argument, traces of who you are will be found in your work, inevitably, inescapably.

6 - Be in love with what you are writing.

7 – Final word – WRITE!

This Guest Blog is bought to you by… Farahdeen Khan is a painter, poet and writer. To his credit are the books Heartbeat (Unisun Publications) and Inner Voices (Mirage Books) and Chicken Soup for the Friends Soul (Westland). Khan’s articles, critique and reviews have been published in various dailies, journals and magazines. He holds an MA in English Literature. Khan is a partner in 2927 Communications, a multi-faceted creative consultancy.

2012 Seven Sentences – Seven Rules Of Writing – Guest Blog

Seven Things To Visualize Before You Begin

April 8, 2012 2 Comments

1.Picture the finished project.

2.Plan the steps from first to last.

3.Think of the labor involved and the feeling of worth from doing it.

4.Consider the pain and pleasure of creation.

5.Brew a pot of coffee.

6.Imagine the satisfying rush of success.

7.Lift your tools and begin.

These simple creative gems are bought to us by suspense author Ellis Vidler. Check out her most recent suspense novel Cold Comfort here.

2012 Copyright Seven Sentences – Creative Visualizations.

You Are Never Too Old To Dream

April 7, 2012 3 Comments

Dreams and Aspirations have been ignored, forgotten or just plain crushed by the mindset that someone is “too old for that.”

I remember during a family dinner, I made a quick remark about how I still watch cartoons and the response was “your not a kid anymore!”

Granted, puberty was taxing, but I may have missed that day in health class where we learned that cartoons are for kids and not adults, so no more shows like “Dexter’s Lab” or “The Amazing World of Gumball,” or, be still my heart, “Dragonball Z.”

Little do some realize, my watching cartoons are more than just for entertainment and enjoyment, but for my research and writing as well.

Dreams and aspirations are not what separates the children from the adults, but prepares the child to take on adult innovations, and the adult, with all his or her dreams in front of them, begins building and developing this dream into something that becomes real.

This means going to school, writing, drawing, creating, networking and doing everything that you are supposed to do to make your dream come true.

You’re not too old for your dreams and aspirations, but, if you wait too long, your dream will be too old for you!

Today’s Seven Sentence Guest Blog is written by Kendall Lyons, the writer at the Cartoondailynews.com. You can also follow Kendall on Twitter here.

2012 Copyright Seven Sentences – Guest Blog

Stevie Wonder And Me

February 2, 2012 11 Comments

Today’s Seven Sentence Story is bought to us by Rick Clark read his blog here or follow him on Twitter.

1987…

Client, Akai Digital Audio, wanted endorsement ad from their number one spokesman, Stevie Wonder. They gave me a private phone number, a sizable budget and I nailed a lengthy interview with “the man.”

Headline “If our new digital console is just another mixer, then Stevie is just another musician.” Photo with Stevie was remarkable, copy was brief and motivating.

Adweek picked up the story, ran it nationally as front page news and my phone started ringing off the hook. 1987… was a very good year.

2012 Copyright Seven Sentences – Guest Blogs

Defining What Is Inspiration

February 1, 2012 13 Comments

Today’s Seven Sentences is bought to you by Eleni Poulakou. You can read her blog here.

Inspiration springs up when the necessity of expressing a reality joins the means that will render it in the most becoming manner. It is the truth overwhelming you, paining to impress its traits through the thick material of speech.

Inspiration is the way you perceive light dancing upon darkness, painting shades, tones and transient images. It is the vertigo of a descent and the redemptory rise with the trophies snatched from the depths.

Inspiration is the Spirit fluttering inside of you, when the mind and the heart move your fingers on the blank page. It is the messenger carrying on her wings the voices of humanity, transcending all dimensions and giving breath to what previously stood indifferent and motionless.

Inspiration is the collision with fear, awe at what is and longing for what you feel to see the light.

2011 Copyright Seven Sentences – What is Inspiration

Stick to the Truth

January 31, 2012 3 Comments

Today’s Seven Sentences is from regular contributor Eleanor Biddulph. Read Eleanor’s blog here and follow her on twitter

As an “older” college student nearing the end of my formal education, yet still trying to find my way, I signed up for a senior experience class called My Life, My Story.

Our very first assignment was to write about a specific place from our childhood with this instruction: ”Be specific, be detailed, dig deep, you’ll be amazed at what you find.”

I wrote five pages about my best friend’s living room; her Mom welcoming us each day with genuine interest and affection, her sisters simultaneously loving and bickering, her Dad quietly tolerant of so many females, other friends from the neighborhood popping in and out, life lessons shared with humor.

My paper was returned with this note, “You must write more.”

Over the course of the ten week class, the professor cried when I wrote about my dad’s death, he gave me a hug when he returned my paper about my Mom’s Alzheimer’s; he marveled at my description of an ocean sunrise, he criticized
my attempts at fiction.

“Stick to the truth,” he said, “your heart has a unique voice to give it.”

And so, I write.

2012 Copyright Seven Sentences – Eleanor’s Guest Blog

Dreams Give Birth To Creativity

January 30, 2012 42 Comments

Today’s Guest Post is bought to you by Carolyn Nicander Mohr you can read her blog Wonder of Tech here or follow her on Twitter.

Before the cacophony of sensory stimuli trespasses on my thoughts, I collect the ideas my mind processed throughout the night.

Dreams, nightmares and imaginations combine to stimulate my brain. Insights about the past, anticipation of the future and revelations about the presence form a peace that I am where I am meant to be. My mind is fertile soil for a story to germinate.

Dreams mold my characters, nightmares mold my plot, and reality leaves on hiatus as I craft my creation. I rouse only after I have settled upon the outline of my story in my mind. Once I turn on the light to scribble my thoughts, my creative zone will be shattered.