Category: Uncategorized

February 17, 2020

Have you ever heard of imposter syndrome? It’s what a person experiences psychologically when she thinks her accomplishments aren’t that great and that someone will find out she’s not who she claims to be. In other words, she feels like a fraud. If you’re a writer, and you haven’t had similar thoughts, congratulations. I’d venture to say you’re one of the few and lucky ones. Most of us think this way at some point in our writing career.

So, if you’re experiencing some degree of the syndrome, right off the bat I’ll say, welcome to the club. You’re not alone. That probably won’t take the feelings away, but misery does love company. Seriously, though, take a deep breath, because I’m going to ask you to do something brave here.

OK, you can let that breath out. While you’re at it, let go of those feelings of inadequacy. Simply blow them out with your breath. Sing the let it go song from Frozen if it helps. Envision the negative notion flowing past your lips and dissipating before your eyes.

It’s that easy. And it’s that hard to not breathe it back in. Here’s one way to banish those nasty thoughts. Think of how many billions of people are living on this blue planet. Now consider how many of them would like to write a self-help or how-to book, a memoir, magazine article, short story, poem, the great American novel. Now think about how many of them actually do it.

You’re one of the few who followed your dream, put action to the wish. And if you’ve uploaded your work to a site like ChapterBuzz.com, or sent an article, book proposal to a publisher, you’re even rarer. You’ve put yourself out there for public scrutiny. That, my friend, is brave. No imposter stuff going on with you.

You have dared to let the world hear your voice, and hopefully, you realize there is no other voice out there quite like yours. No one compares. So, take another cleansing breath, pat yourself on the back, stand a little taller. You are an author! Own it.

Some books envelop me in their own distinctive atmosphere and they are the ones I love the most. I recently discovered a new (to me) author, Susanna Kearsley. Her book, The Firebird, wrapped me in its warmth from start to finish like a beloved quilt on a cool winter day. Nicola, the protagonist, is a modern woman working as a fine art dealer. She has a secret. She sees visions of the past when she touches an object. Afraid to reveal her psychometric ability, she works hard to hide her gift and appear normal. Until one object and its owner stirs her heart. She wants to help the woman but doubts her ability to trace the provenance on her own, so she enlists the help of Rob, a former boyfriend.

The book takes Nicola and Rob on a journey through time to places where the original owner of the art piece lived. Interweaving the modern-day couple’s love story with that of Anna, the woman in Nicola’s original vision, the book gives the reader two love stories to follow.

I must admit that I never enjoyed history classes but found myself riveted to the story of Jacobites in 1710 in Ireland, Scotland, Calais, and later in Peter the Great’s Russia, especially St. Petersburg. Kearsley has a knack of bringing the old cities to life and juxtaposing them against the modern metropolises they’ve become.

I did not want the story to end, and will be reading everything Kearsley has written. I highly recommend The Firebird to historical romance fans.

Have a favorite romance book? Shoot me a reply by email, and I’ll put it on my list of things to read and perhaps review.

Thanks, and as always,

Happy Reading Happy Writing

Shirley Holder Platt

Create the new year you want by developing a new writing habit.

A new year fast approaches. What will you accomplish in your writing? Whether you are considering a list of resolutions or only have a foggy idea of what you hope the coming days will bring, creating good writing habits is a worthy goal. Each writer is different, therefore, each of us will have our own set of new habits to develop. For myself, the first rule of thumb is to play to my strengths. For instance, I am not a morning person. My brain gets moving around ten a.m. Attempting to write first thing after waking will never be a good habit for me to try to develop. Instead, I might decide to jot down ideas as they come, but seriously sit to write after ten each day. Yours could be to get twenty minutes of writing in after the kids are in bed. Just be sure to stay realistic.

General wisdom tells us a few things about forming new habits. Here are a few for you to consider:
1. Don’t try to do it all starting January 1. Pick one new habit and hold off on the others until the first is in place.

2. Give it a month. Some say three weeks, but a month should cement it.

3. Hold yourself accountable. You might consider partnering with another author. Reporting progress can be a great motivator.

4. Reward yourself. I love cookies. One of my rewards for writing the number of words I’ve set as a goal for myself each day is to enjoy a cookie. My sweet tooth is a great cheerleader when ideas are coming slowly.

5. Practice not judging yourself. Forming a new habit is a lifestyle change and won’t necessarily come easy. Be kind to yourself when you forget and simply decide to start again the next day.

 
I sincerely hope you have a fantastic 2020, no matter what goals you set. Remember, perfectionism is not a goal but a hindrance. Happy New Year!