Michelangelo the Whiner?
November 19th, 2008
On a fall day in 1509 the public first saw Michelangelo’s frescoes painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. According to Writer’s Almanac, Michelangelo– a sculptor, not a painter– didn’t want to paint the Sistine ceiling. But Pope Julius II, insisted that the ceiling be painted. In fact, the Pope actually threatened to fling the artist from the scaffolding if he refused.
In the course of creating what would be one of his finest masterpieces, Michelangelo supposedly complained constantly. It was extremely uncomfortable to paint the ceiling. He was up on scaffolding and bent backward, in order to paint over his head. More than once, he threatened to leave Rome without finishing the ceiling, but Julius threatened right back.
Michelangelo even wrote a sonnet complaining about his work. It contains the lines: “A goiter it seems I got from this backward craning like the cats get there in Lombardy.” And, “From all this straining my guts and my hambones tangle.” And, “Feet are out of sight; they just scuffle around, erratic. Up front my hide’s tight elastic; in the rear it’s slack and droopy, except where crimps have callused. I’m bent like a bow.”
Modern viewers are often brought to tears when witnessing the Sistine ceiling. They seldom think of (or even know about!) the physical agonies Michelangelo endured to complete it. Instead, they remain focused on his genius, which is awesomely evident.
Many times, being an artist/writer/sculptor is really hard work. We may not have popes threatening to throw us from a scaffold, but we have bills that have to be paid and precious little time to complete our creations. We all become whiners at one time or another. It’s only human. But somehow, some way, we must persevere and let our own internal Michelangelo create its masterpiece.
How A Book Finds Its Sacred Ground
November 12th, 2008
Like the fabled tree falling in the forest, does a book that’s been written but not read, make a sound? Does it fulfill its mission?
I attended a literal (as opposed to virtual) book group recently that was reading my book, Seeking Sara Summers, as their November selection. It is truly an honor to a have a book club choose to read your book and since it was in my town, I agreed to attend the meeting to answer questions and talk about my writing process. The book was well-received and I had a great time.
It struck me afterwards that I had come full circle with this particular book, which started out as a spark of creativity eight years ago. It is my belief that it is not always enough to simply write a novel or non-fiction book or article or poem. The creative act is not complete until it is put out into the world and received.
A dialogue between writer and reader occurs whenever we decide to read a book. At the outset we step into a world created by the writer. If it is written well, we experience what the characters experience. Scientists have proven that as we imagine something, the body reacts as though the events are actually happening. If this is true, then it is possible that we can benefit and grow every time we step into a really good book.
Yes, books have the power to transform our body chemistry, as well as our lives. So in a world where the power of books and the imagination is undervalued, a good book group plays a vital role in helping the culture and individual evolve. It is indeed a vital counter-revolution and a place where story is valued; a place where the dialogue between a writer and a reader is celebrated. To me, when a deep connection is made between the writer, the story, and the reader, the place we all stand is sacred ground.
Top 7 Favorite Quotes About Creativity
November 5th, 2008
Here are my top 7 favorite quotes about creativity. Do you have any to add?
Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it. – Danny Kaye
And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see — or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read. –Alice Walker
The secret to being a writer is that you have to write. It’s not enough to think about writing or to study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock yourself away, alone, and get to work. –Augusten Burroughs
We don’t need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do’s and don’ts: we need books, time, and silence. ‘Thou shalt not’ is soon forgotten, but ‘Once upon a time’ lasts forever. –Philip Pullman
All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography. – Federico Fellini
Make visible what, without you, might never have been seen. – Robert Bresson
Talent is not talent until it is shared. – fortune cookie wisdom
A League of Our Own
October 30th, 2008
Sometimes life is just hard. For me, writing a book and putting it out into the world is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Mainly because I’ve spent a great deal of my life trying not to draw attention to myself. Why? Because being out in the open, at least while growing up, meant danger. Safety was found in introversion and quietness. Childhood history is not always easy to overcome. Yet despite the obstacles, I have been determined to keep challenging myself to put my work out into the world. I think of it as stepping into my greatness.
In the movie, A League of Their Own, the star of a women’s professional baseball team, played by Geena Davis, wants to leave the team before its season ends to return home with her husband.
When the team’s coach, played by Tom Hanks, challenges her decision and wonders why, she says, “It just got too hard.”
Hanks replies, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it—the hard is what makes it great.”
We’ve all had things that we’ve wanted to give up on. And, like me, you’ve probably given up on a few.
But what is it that you need to not give up on?
What is it that you need to do that is hard, and its hardness makes it great?
Are you ready to step into your greatness?
Dare to Compete
October 27th, 2008
I recently finished reading Hillary Clinton’s book, Living History. There was a section near the end where she talked about the agonizing decision about whether or not she should make a campaign run to be a senator for New York. Her friends were advising against it, the press was going wild with speculation and exploring every negative aspect of the possibility. Yet still she debated whether this would be the right move for her. Her decision still unmade, she attended an event in New York City that was to honor an HBO film called “Dare to Compete” about the challenges for women in sports.
Sofia Totti, the captain of the girl’s basketball team featured in the HBO film, had the honor of introducing Hillary Clinton to the crowd. When Hillary walked to the podium she and the young woman shook hands and Sofia leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, “Dare to compete, Mrs. Clinton, dare to compete.”
Hillary Clinton wrote about this as a defining moment. In her own words: “Her comment caught me off guard, so much so that I left the event and began to think: Could I be afraid to do something I had urged countless other women to do? Why am I vacillating about taking on this race? Why aren’t I thinking more seriously about it? Maybe I should ‘dare to compete.’”
We all know where this attitude took Hillary Clinton in the years that followed. She not only became a formidable senator but recently dared to compete for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. As she has said, as well as many others, Hillary Clinton’s bold move put millions of cracks in a glass ceiling that limits the daring of women.
Is there something that you can apply this challenge to? Is there something you need to dare to compete about? If so, maybe it’s time to try it. Who knows where it might lead!
Keep Going!
October 23rd, 2008
Harriet Tubman, a former slave, escaped to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She returned many times to lead other slaves to that same freedom. She endured tremendous hardship, fears and doubts. But she had a flame blazing inside her that kept her going and she helped hundreds find that same fire to keep going in the face of daunting opposition. She wrote:
“If you’re tired, keep going. If you are scared, keep going. If you are hungry, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”
You and I are blessed not to be literally enslaved. Yet, most of us are enslaved in psychological ways. So what is it that you need to be free of? Is it a poverty mentality? (This is hard not to have in our current economy!)
Or is it an oppressive attitude that limits you? In the psychotherapy world where I used to practice, we called this the inner critic.
Is it a physically limitation you are working hard to correct? Or have you been pursuing your dreams but with little success?
Whatever it is that is keeping you enslaved, can be overcome. Call on your own inner Harriet Tubman. Call on that brave part of you that will do whatever you need to do to get free. Join the psychic Underground Railroad. We can all get free together.
Keep going!
Posted in Writers and writing | 2 Comments »
Inbox Gifts
October 20th, 2008
My inbox the last couple of weeks has been full of gifts from readers of Seeking Sara Summers. You have no idea (or maybe you do) how much this kind of support means to a writer. It truly makes the struggle worthwhile.
“What a great story, a love story that spans time and distance! The characters are fully imagined but also real, and have stayed with me long after I finished the book. As they make their way from confinement to freedom, resignation to aliveness, they push the edge of the possibilities we all have within us for a fuller life. I think many readers will see themselves and will be inspired to climb whatever walls they need to scale to be who they really are. The writing is vivid and lyrical. The scenes set in Italy made me want to run out and buy a plane ticket. I’ve also been reading your blog. Your writing is fresh, insightful and skillful. I’m looking forward to your next book.”
J. Reid, Asheville, NC
“I LOVED THE BOOK!!! That is the fastest I have read anything in a long time, couldn’t put it down and I just bawled through parts! You are fantastic! ”
Jennifer, Ft. Collins, CO
“I just finished reading “Seeking Sara Summers”, and wanted to drop you a note to thank you for an excellent story. I loved every moment, it was so very intimate to be inside Sara’s head all through her journey.”
E. Madrid, Spain
This next one comes from a little closer to home, at least in terms of bloodlines. My daughter, Krista, send me an email recently with the subject line: some encouragement. Okay, so we know she’s biased. But I think you can see why I would love her even if she weren’t my kid.
“So I belong to a couple of e-book clubs through the library that send a few chapters from books in selected genres each week (started up to get busy adults reading at least a couple of chapters of something each week.) One thing I’ve noticed is that a LOT of published authors can’t write worth a damn. There are so many bad writers with dumb ideas, or mediocre writers with so-so ideas that it astounds me.
So what’s the encouragement part of this? I want you to know that you are really, really good. Your writing itself is good, your ideas and story arcs are good. I start the first chapters of your books and I actually want to read the rest. Not because you’re my mom, but because you are a good storyteller. I can’t tell you how many of those weekly library emails I’ve opened and deleted after the first chapter (in fact, I haven’t been able to finish any of them- and these are selections chosen by people who’s entire lives revolve around books!) I know it’s frustrating that you’ve worked so hard for all of these years. Your books will still be around in 50 years, unlike 90% of the crap being published now. Remember, quality is what will count in the long run, and that’s what you always bring.”
Krista, Knoxville, TN
Here’s my request: the next time you read something or experience a work of art or a performance that moves you, please consider letting the artists/writers/musicians/dancers know what their work has meant to you. Encouragement really does go a very long way.
Author Interview - Part 2
October 16th, 2008
This is part 2 of an interview I did recently with Alexandra Wolfe, Publishing Editor of Kissed by Venus based in Canada.
13. What’s your favorite story and why?
My favorite story is usually the one I am working on. It takes 100% commitment. However, every story I’ve written is precious to me and has its own special treasures.
14. What are some of the things you do to improve on your craft? Do you attend conferences? Take workshops? What works best for you to improve how and what you write?
You name it, I’ve probably done it. I’m a little burnt out on going to conferences. I’ve also been in and out of writer’s groups over the years and have a bookcase full of books on writing. Yet I feel that I’ve made the greatest improvement by simply writing—day in and day out. I used to be a professional musician, so I know the discipline involved in becoming good at something. It truly does take daily practice. It also helps to have a literary agent who believes in me and gives me good feedback.
15. As a writer what do you look for in a prospective publisher?
I look for a publishing house that is legitimate and has a track record for successfully promoting their books and their authors. Although, not many writers have a huge choice with their first book. You’re usually happy to get anyone interested in your work.
16. What, from your perspective, are some of the most common mistakes first time authors make when starting out in the business?
We all start out as naïve, I think. If we didn’t we probably wouldn’t want to be writers. I shared a lot of my stories in the beginning with anyone who would read them. I regret that now because I wasn’t very good. I’m much better now because I’ve put in the time to get better. When we start out I think we’re just so proud to get anything on the page. So I think one of the most common mistakes is to not take the time, years if necessary, to develop the craft.
Also, I’ve met many people who want to be writers who don’t even like to read. This doesn’t make sense to me. Reading books—lots of books—is one of the ways you develop the craft.
17. What are some of the things you do to build up interest for your work? What do you think are some of the most effective things an author can do to advertise him or herself?
Have a website and a blog. Post on other blogs that are related to what you write. Participate in interviews. I created a video trailer for Seeking Sara Summers. I am building my community on Amazon.com. There are a lot of different ways to market and the best ways will vary depending on the author, the type of book he or she has written and the subject matter.
Building interest in our work is very hard for many writers. Writing is, after all, a very introverted endeavor and marketing is an extroverted one. I haven’t met many authors who enjoy marketing but it is a requirement in the world we live in. In fact, I’m afraid many very fine authors fail to do this part and don’t get read as a result. I work every day to not be one of those people. I’ve read that 80% of book sales is word of mouth. Marketing is getting enough people to become aware of your book and then selling them the book. Assuming it’s a good book that captures the reader, they will tell others about it. It all starts with writing the very best story or book that you can and then being strategic about how you will market the book and then very consistent with executing your strategies and tactics.
18. How do you feel about e-publishing and e-books? And would you go that route?
I think if you’re absolutely certain that you have a good story and it has been professionally edited and you’ve come close many times but haven’t been able to find a traditional publisher then it is something to consider. Unfortunately a lot of writers put out their first writings into this format because they’re impatient. They’re not really writing things of high quality yet. This gives e-publishing and e-books a bad reputation.
19. What were your best and worst experiences with an editor?
I’ve had the usual nightmares. Executive editors who are very interested in a story, who offer suggestions and request a rewrite and then when I send the manuscript back to them they never respond again, despite follow-up letters. I’ve also had an executive editor get fired and another editor simply disappear. I hope these people are not behind the perfume counter at Saks now. It’s a rough business.
20. And finally, what’s your favorite thing about being a writer? And what, for you, totally sucks about it?
What sucks is struggling to make a living while in the service of stories. It seems we live in an upside-down world, and if it were suddenly right side up, then the storytellers and poets would be the millionaires.
My favorite thing about being a writer is the process. I love having a cast of characters show up, getting to learn their story and then relaying that story. I love that period of time when I’m totally in my imagination with the story, seeing it play out in front of me and then, writing it down.
Also, I love hearing from readers who really liked Seeking Sara Summers, who couldn’t put it down and got swept up into the world of the story and were moved by it. This is very, very special. I think stories have the power to heal and inspire. And if I accomplish even a tiny bit of that then I have done my job.
Author Interview - Part 1
October 13th, 2008
I was interviewed recently by Alexandra Wolfe who is the Publishing Editor at Kissed by Venus, based in Canada. This is my first interview. See how I did. I am open to suggestions on ways to improve.
Alexandra: First of all let me welcome the author, Susan Gabriel, to Kissed By Venus, and thank her for taking part in our 20-question in the hot-seat “interview” sessions.
1. The first question we would like to ask you is why do you write, is there something that compels you?
In my more dramatic moments, writing feels like life and death to me. I guess I spent so many years without a “voice” that it is crucial for me to have one. I have written novels for 14 years and at this point I can’t imagine not writing. I feel like I have certain stories that are mine to tell. I worry sometimes that I will die or become incapacitated in some way before I get to write them all down.
2. What, for you, is the hardest thing about writing?
The money part. If my books don’t make enough money then I have to supplement my income, either editing other people’s manuscripts or taking an odd job here or there. It’s the writer’s age-old dilemma. The arts are not valued in our society so it is hard for artists not to fall into a “starving artist” mentality.
3. What genre do you feel most at ease writing in, if any?
I love fiction. I love stories. Although I have a blog that I enjoy writing, too, that is definitely not fiction. But there is something magical and archetypal about telling a story.
4. How do you like to approach your writing when starting a new project? Do you do outlines, and breakdown scenes, or do you just leap straight into writing the narrative?
Most of my stories begin with a voice. I will hear a character’s voice and it’s as if they begin to talk to me. They begin to tell me their story. So it usually begins with a dialogue or a first-person voice. I don’t do outlines or breakdown scenes. It is a total leap of faith.
5. How do you create your characters? Do you start with a basic outline of personality type, or work them up as you go along?
They simply show up and are usually pretty fully formed when they do. I know their family history, their personal habits, and their motivation. However, I rarely know where a story is going after I start it, nor how it will end up. So the process is very entertaining to me. It’s like the story and characters have possession of me instead of me possessing them.
6. Do you talk to your characters at all?
Sometimes if I’m stuck I dialogue with them on paper and ask them where they want to go next. Sometimes I even dream about them. In my current book, Seeking Sara Summers, Grady showed up in a dream and waved to me. I thought this was very generous of him since he is not the most sympathetic of characters.
7. Do you have certain writing rituals that you like to perform?
I always have a small pot of tea by my side before I begin, either at home or at my favorite coffee shop. My favorite tea at the moment is organic Assam and the baristas at the coffee shop start making it for me as soon as I come in the door.
I usually write in the morning from 9 until 12 or 1:00. Then after lunch I market my current book and answer emails. I keep track of my hours, so I can prove to myself that I am not goofing off. I also jot a note about what I worked on and the progress I made.
8. Writers quite often work through personal issues in their narratives. Do you, and how do you handle that?
Seeking Sara Summers is about a woman who finds herself in a marriage that isn’t fulfilling and then who falls in love with her best female friend. This happened to me, yet the story is not my story. In a way it’s what I wished would have happened. Because this story was the closest to me, it was the hardest to write. I wanted to direct it, instead of letting the characters tell the story. I revised it many times, working to get myself out of the way.
9. Do you have people read your work as you write, or do you wait till a project is complete? What would you say were the benefits to either approach?
I’ve done both. With Seeking Sara Summers, I was in a writer’s group and I presented a new chapter every other week when we met. Any comments the group had I wrote on my copy and saved for the end. I didn’t go back and rework. It’s important for me to get it all down before I start revising, otherwise I can get stuck in the revision process. I allow myself a really bad first draft before I start looking at it again. And now, since I’m not in a writer’s group any longer, I wait until the 2nd or 3rd draft before I let anyone read it. My first reader is always my partner. My second reader is my agent.
10. Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?
I truly love my characters and do my best to tell their stories. They inspire me.
11. Do you like to write to music and, if so, what kind?
At the coffee shop, there’s always music and talking in the background, which I am good at tuning out. At home, I usually write in silence.
12. If you didn’t write, what would you do?
I would probably still be a marriage & family therapist. I closed my practice because I ended up putting all my creativity into the therapeutic process and had nothing left for me.
(This interview will conclude in the next blog post.)
A Different Kind of Empty Nest
October 9th, 2008
I want my children to leave home. My book children, at least. I have been working on getting some of them out of my house for years. They are the manuscripts that I have nurtured and revised from upstarts to full-fledged stories.
It’s not easy getting your “children” to leave home. I know a writer who has written an entire novel and has kept it under her bed for years. I have no doubt that it is an excellent novel because she is a thoughtful, excellent writer. But something stops her from taking the risk of putting it out into the world.
My theory, and I could be wrong, is that she is afraid to get her work out there because she then runs the risk of it being criticized. At least while it is under her bed it is safe.
I understand this fear, but I don’t believe it is useful. As artists, and parents, we must put our creations out into the world or we run the risk of crippling them. It is our responsibility, after we have done our job to the best of our ability, to release these creations so that they have an opportunity to live out their destiny. We must release them because we never know who we might help or who might be encouraged and inspired by our words.
So I say to my own book children still at home: It is time to take flight. If you fail, you fail. If you succeed, you succeed. Either way, I have fulfilled my part of the promise.
Is there anything that you haven’t sent out into the world that you really need to? A book? An article? A painting? A poem you want to submit? If so, I encourage you to let your talents take flight. Give them the chance to spread their wings and fly, bearing their gifts to those who need them.
Posted in Writers and writing | 4 Comments »
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