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Writing Etc. – November 1, 2006

ISSN: 1545-5580

Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average

Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.

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Notes from Minnesota

Dead Sea Writers by Beth Ann Erickson

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Notes from Minnesota

I'm writing three books at the same time. No idea how that happened, but as strange as it sounds, the muse struck thrice in the same spot.

Go figure.

The first is the new book I told you about on November 1. That one's progressing swimmingly.

The second is a nonfiction I started a few years ago. Has nothing to do with writing. But for some inexplicable reason, ideas started flowing fast and furious so I'm polishing, updating, and revising. More on this as it develops.

The last is my third piece of fiction. I've been plunking on this one since I finished HeartSongs back in 2004. As much as I'd like to allow that one to sit, the characters simply won't let me. So I'm working on that one as well.

All this on top of my regular writing tasks.

This is an odd experience for me considering I'm basically a linear person. I used to joke saying that I'm a DOS person while my sisters were more the Windows, multi-tasking type.

Remember DOS? You could run one program, and one program at a time on that marvelous operating system. Life was simple. Games consisted on amber dots flicking on a black screen. System requirements for anything in particular were small and the machines blazed through their tasks with lightening speed.

I kinda miss those days of 30 meg hard drives topped with 512k of RAM.

But DOS has gone the way of the dinosaur, as has my personal “DOS” days.

Today my days fill with more writing assignments than I can count. However I love it.

I sit on my couch, a puppy on each side, a laptop warming my lap.

Living in a Windows environment may be a confusing mess at times, but it sure isn't boring.

And so I leave you with these fine words on this cold December day:

May you have an incredible December. May words flow easily from your fingertips. May you prepare for the new year with wonderful health, unleashed imagination, and ample time to pour all your thoughts onto the computer screen.

Talk later,

Beth

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2007 is just around the corner.

Jumpstart Your Writing Career today.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dead Sea Writers

Beth Ann Erickson

I hear rumor that the Dead Sea is the one of the only major bodies of water that has tributaries flowing into it, but none flowing out. It also happens to contain totally undrinkable water. Can’t use it for irrigation either. Sure, tons of people find those salty depths quite therapeutic, but otherwise the Dead Sea is… well… pretty much dead. Hence, the name.

Now, I don’t know how much of this is true. After all, I’ve seen more than one swamp in Minnesota (after all, we are the land of 10,000 lakes and even more swamps) that seems to resemble the Dead Sea. Tons of drainage, usually from nearby fields, and suffice it to say the water isn’t particularly appetizing.

Sure, it’s generally teaming with life but it’s, to be blunt, pretty gross. Bottom feeders. Single celled creatures. Green slimy stuff.

All important stuff to be sure, but not exactly what you’d call higher, creative life.

Which brings me to the point of this session: Are you an artistic type who fills yourself with information… reading books, discussing your craft, surfing the ‘net… all fine endeavors?

An artistic person who only fills themselves with information and doesn’t, in turn, pour their craft from their fingertips is very similar to the Dead Sea… or worse yet, a Minnesota swamp.

Yes, your imagination may teem with life. But what good does that incredible gift (I’m talking about your talent here) do if you don’t somehow document all the messages swimming in your mind?

How many lives are you leaving untouched?

How many creatures on this planet would benefit from the message you carry in your heart?

I used to tell my writing apprentices that they need to “fill their cup” to avoid “writers block.” This meant that when they were in the throes of creativity, they needed to slow down, take a quick breather, and read, watch a movie, go a museum… do anything that would “fill” their imagination to the point that they were able to start writing again.

Good advice, to a point.

What I found, unfortunately, was that the vast majority of my apprentices took such great joy in “filling their cup” that they never got around to writing.

Very sad, indeed.

Yes. It’s important to fill your cup. It’s important to keep your flame of imagination glowing bright.

But it’s equally important to engage in your creative act on a regular basis.

If you sculpt, sculpt. If you write, do so every single day no matter what. If you paint… ditto.

I don’t care what your creative endeavor is, my point is this: Do it.

Fill your cup, then allow your imagination to flow into your work.

Don’t become a living, walking Dead Sea. Banish the Minnesota swamp from your system.

The only way to do this is to live a balanced life if filling and emptying.

It’s when you do this, that your creativity takes physical form. And your life becomes truly complete.

~~~

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If this describes you, click the link. Otherwise I wish you the very best.

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P.S. You can use this article free of charge on your own website or

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byline. Enjoy!

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Indiana Review

http://www.indiana.edu/~inreview/general/guidelines.html

Sacramento Review

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/ViewPage?oid=oid:39075

Marco Polo

http://www.marcopolomagazine.com/writers/guidelines.asp

Weekend Adventures

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