Finding Words

Today I'm guest-blogging at Seriously Write, about why it took me seven years to write my new book. Stop by for a visit!

Blesssings,
Sharon Hinck
author of The Deliverer

Baking New Stories

Flecked pottery with a blue band, my cookie jar settles in place with a substantial clatter. When I lift the lid I catch the salty-sweet scent of peanut-butter cookies that once filled the container.

Today only crumbs remain.

Some days my writing life feels like an empty cookie jar, full of rich, calorie-laden memories but nothing I can sink my teeth into. It's time to bake a new batch of cookies. Time to fill the jar again.

Gingersnaps? Chocolate chip? Snicker-doodles? The decisions hover above the vacant page.

It would be easier to grab store-bought cookies. Safe, generic, mass-produced.

As I get out my mixing bowl I think of all the people who make better cookies than I do. Sweeter, prettier, more creative, more carefully decorated.

Should I add more sugar, or less? How much baking soda do I need for the story to lift off the page? Will anyone notice if I slip a little wheatgerm into the plot? Which spices should I add to my dialogue?

The cookie jar is waiting. Do I have another story in me? Can I fill it again?

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Are you a writer? Composer? Painter? Which cookie type would you use to typify your artistic work? Please tell us about the kind of art you do and what sort of cookie it brings to mind.

A Fun Interview At Suspense Sisters

What would I change? What was the most difficult criticism received? Why do I write the genres I write?

Those are a few of the questions I discussed over at the Suspense Sisters website.

Stop by to discover the answers!

Blessings,

Sharon

Infusion of Joy

(pictured: Minnesota novelists Elizabeth Goddard, Michelle Griep, Chawna Schroeder, and Erica Vetsch)

Infusion of Joy

Do you ever long for some fresh energy for your work? Perhaps you work in the creative arts--writing, music, theatre. Or maybe you are in another field. We all have times when the struggle to work and create begins to feel heavy and sluggish.

As I writer, I do much of my work in isolation, where it's easy to lose perspective or become discouraged. One of the best ideas I've found to infuse joy back into the process is to gather with others.

I occasionally invite a few friends for a day of work at my place. These talented authors recently spent the day writing new scenes. The sound of other hands clicking away at laptops always inspires me to dig a little deeper and get another page written.

Give it a try! No special planning required. Simply invite a couple friends to gather for a day of shared creative work. See if it gives you a boost.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck