Lorna Faith

Clean Fiction Author

053 Writing Tips For Dynamic Story Creation with Maxwell Alexander Drake

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Want to learn how to write stories that you love that will also please the readers who buy them? In this podcast interview, Maxwell Alexander Drake, shares how writers can give readers an emotional return that will stick with them after the story is finished. If you want to learn more insights into the importance of theme and the invisible and visible layer of a compelling story, listen in. You can connect with Drake on his author website or his website for writers or say hi on Facebook or Twitter.

In the intro, I talk about my new historical romance book release, Longing For Love (A Mulberry Island Romance Prequel) and talk about the next book in the series – a contemporary romance about Charlotte and Eli’s grandchildren who have grown up on Mulberry Island 😉

As usual I mention a few books I’ve been reading that are helpful for fiction writers: Dynamic Story Creation: Honing the Physical and Invisible Layers and Point of View: Better Writing Through Stronger Narrative both by Maxwell Alexander Drake. Also, I’ve been listening on Audible to Dialogue by Robert McKee, which goes deeper into the art and craft of writing dialogue.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by  Entry Point (Carrie Chronicles #3)     which is the newest Carrie O’Conner spy thriller from #1 Amazon bestselling author Ethan Jones. When you grab your eBook before Sunday, Oct. 8th you’ll enjoy the special low price of $3.99 and the exclusive bonuses which include: 1)An alternate ending, so you can decide which ending is better. 2)A deleted chapter – which explains a crucial point of the main plot and 3) The first four chapters of Ethan’s next spy thriller, The Cyprus Coverup.

Watch the Video Interview

Interview Summary:

Maxwell Alexander Drake, is an award-winning Science Fiction/Fantasy author, Graphic Novelist, and Playwright. He was also the Lead Fiction Writer and game story consultant for Sony’s massive online game EverQuest Next as well as writing for the Shadowrun game. Drake teaches creative writing at writers’ conferences and fan conventions all around the world, and is the author of the Drake’s Brutal Writing Advice series.

In this interview, Drake shares how writers can give readers an emotional return that will stick with them after the story is finished.

Interview Highlights…

*How to make the switch from amateur to professional writer and the mindset switch that writers need to make to make that happen.

*Tips on how to stop thinking like a fan and start digging deeper into the invisible layer of the story.

*On learning what readers expect from different genres and how writers can deliver on those promises.

*How writers can understand the theme of their story and tips on how to write a story that gives readers the emotional satisfaction they’re looking for.

*Drake shares an example of the movie, Finding Nemo. And he points out that this movie is loved not for the characters, nor the conflicts, not the resolution(The Physical layer)… but it is loved because of how the audience feels after the story is over (the Invisible Layer).

Stories are about how the events affect the characters, and by extension, the reader. @MaxwellADrake Share on X

*On learning how your POV character is a shell you create for the reader to wear, so it’s the reader who moves through your story, battling obstacles and at some point overcoming the conflict. Your POV character is an extension of the reader.


*How writers can begin to dig deeper into what makes a good story so they can learn why stories succeed or fail.

*Drake shares the example of a character driven story: Star Wars – A New Hope. How Luke Skywalker begins as a teenage boy uncertain of his place in the universe. Through events in the story he gains confidence and learns to trust himself and The Force. It was Luke’s internal growth that allowed him to overcome the conflict of the story and it’s through the events that show Luke’s internal growth that the audience sees his internal growth which adds to their emotional satisfaction.

*How writers can build their story in such a way as to fulfill readers built-in subconscious expectations(the Invisible Layer).

“Stories are created to affect those who journey through them. @MaxwellADrake Share on X

*Drake encourages writers to remember that writing requires tenacity. This is a long game and you need to it thinking you’re in it for the long haul. The good news is that we’re in a faster to market age with digital books.

To find out more about Drake and what he’s up to, check out his website for writers at DrakeU.com or see what fiction he’s writing next over at maxwellalexanderdrake.com.  To connect with Drake, you can find him on Facebook or Twitter.

 

What are your biggest questions on finding the theme of your story?  Please leave a comment below… it would be great to hear from you 🙂 

052 How Writers Can Beat Imposter Syndrome with Katie Cross

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Have you ever struggled with these thoughts? I can’t do this! People think I can do this, but I’ve got them all fooled! I’m a fraud! A poser! A fake! I’m not REALLY a writer!  If you can relate, you’ll hear tons of great tips from Katie Cross today as she shares how writers can be aware of and beat Imposter Syndrome.

Katie Cross is the bestselling Fantasy Author of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls – which you can grab for FREE here –  as well as a Indie Author Coach. She loves writing and helping indie authors get past obstacles and strategize to get to their next level in their author business. You can find more about Katie at www.kcrosswriting.com and connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

In the podcast intro, I talked about resources and books I’ve read through that I hope you find helpful. 1)For tips on how to write better keywords and metadata for your books on Amazon, check out Dave Chesson’s website at www.Kindlepreneur.com.  2)f you need more ideas and strategies on how to attract readers and make connections with people who are interested in what you have to offer, check out this helpful book Let’s Get Visible, by David Guaghran. 3)Need inspiration from an author’s biography? Curl up by the fireplace and read J.R.R. Tolkien’s biography by Wyatt North, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Life Inspired.  After reading this book, the inspiration and ideas behind the amazing stories like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, finally made sense 😉

Watch the Video Interview

Interview Highlights:

Katie Cross brings readers awesome fantasy, chick lit stories and multi-genre novels. Her Miss Mabel School for Girls was a her first bestselling fantasy book.

Right now she’s also writing epic fantasy book(think J.R.R. Tolkien; Brandon Sanderson fantasy).

*Katie shares how she has continued to write and self-publish and kept going despite ups and downs and slump weeks.

*Keys to success for writers: like stepping back from emotions, and analyze how you as a writer can write the next book better. Which makes every book you write, better than the last one.

*Questions to ask yourself when you look at your books: How can I make this next book better than the last one? Could the story structure be tighter? Could my characters be deeper?

*Learning from failures and mistakes and how indie authors can find success through what they learned from their failures and mistakes.

*Katie talks about being aware of Imposter Syndrome:

Definition of Imposter Syndrome: Feeling like you’re an imposter in whatever space you’re in. This voice in your head that questions your every action towards your goal. It brings questions in your head like: Who are you to self-publish? Why would anyone read your book?

Imposter Syndrome follows you even as you grow in your career. It’s a feeling that at any moment someone will pull back the curtain and say “you don’t belong here. You’re a fraud.”

Ask yourself how are you self-sabotaging yourself?

In newsletters or in blogposts, for example. Katie talks about how she didn’t add a subscription box at the bottom of her blogposts, because insecurities were affecting her decisions. Then she dissected that decision and realized she loved it when people added the subscription box at the bottom of blogposts because it made it easier to sign-up. So she made the decision to add a subscription box at the end of her blogposts. Since then, she’s seen an increase in subscribers.

The importance of having a level of confidence in your own writing on blogposts or books.

How to be Aware of Imposter Syndrome and how it is affecting your writing and your Author business…

Specific things to be aware of: If you are never in a place of stress over your career. Imposter syndrome comes up when you take risks the most. Example: this isn’t going to work; no one is going to buy your book, etc.

Katie shares a story of when she launched her mentor services and started asking clients for payment. She thought no one will sign up. But people told her they would feel better if they could pay her for her time.

When you’re afraid of  taking a chance… that’s usually where you’ll find the biggest rewards.

“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” Steven Pressfield  The War of Art

A book Katie recommends to understand how to handle Imposter Syndrome is: Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead by Tara Mohr.

You can find more about Katie at www.kcrosswriting.com and connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

You are a Writer(Choose Yourself)

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Sometimes it’s really difficult to name yourself as a creative person – a writer.

Most often this is a process of moving beyond self-doubt and embracing the fact that you are a writer.  This process involves resistance as well as trust.

Your art – writing your story – begins when we become willing to listen to the “still, small voice” that seems to grow louder. Lean in to that.

Choose Yourself. You are a Writer.

Easier said than done.

Yet, all of us can learn to notice ourselves. All of us can learn to be aware of what is pulling at us deep inside. All of us can begin to choose ourselves.

Read on to learn how you can choose yourself…

You are creative…

You are creative.

Some of us have been affirmed in our creativity – our writing – but many of us didn’t have people around us who believed in our creative abilities.

It helps to have people who walk with you and believe in  you – in your gifts and talents. But not everyone has that.

Like Rumpelstiltskin, we as writers many times have to name ourselves. “I am a writer.” To call ourselves that which the world around us has yet to accept.

Your identity is tied to an inner seed of knowing – what at times seems like an unrealistic certainty in the face of overwhelming odds.

As writers we doubt ourselves. Sometimes when we’re in the middle of an identity shift, we say with discouragement, I don’t know who I am. It’s true. We are sensing that there’s some parts of ourselves that haven’t yet been listened to. We are far larger and many times have more gifts inside of us than we realize.

Sometimes we’ve been studying and teach music(or something else) for over half our lives when we suddenly discover a passion for writing(that was me). Or the painter becomes a photographer, or the an actor becomes a writer.

It’s sneaks up on us, but in the end we realize this new gift we discover in ourselves – like writing – is another side of us.

Your dream of writing a book pulls you forward, and you are led inch by inch – step-by-step – into where your creativity is leading you.

As you write, many times you will listen to your intuition – writing the next paragraph and the next chapter, acting on faith. You might descend into doubt, but watch in amazement as your dreams carry you forward with a mind of their own.

The beautiful thing is that everyday, somewhere a writer is born.

The writer comes into the world with a calling: to share words and proclaim a message. To shake the earth and rattle the heavens if only she would share them.

Writing is a choice. It belongs to you and me. And we choose every single day to embrace our message – the story that’s inside of us.

Whether or not the world hears your story or whether or not you leave the impact you were born to make – is entirely up to you.

That’s a scary thought.

So, what’s our next step to really own it – to see ourselves as the writers we are?

Is it when you get an agent? Or sign a book contract? Or sell a bunch of copies? No it’s much simpler.

As Steven Pressfield says, “You are a writer, when you say you are.”

It’s that simple.

 

Do you struggle to call yourself a writer? Please do share your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear from you 😉

 

 

 

051 Empower Your Creativity by Engaging The Practicing Mind with Thomas Sterner

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Do you struggle to keep your focus and be fully engaged in the present moment as you write your story? If you can relate, today’s interview with Thomas M. Sterner, bestselling author of The Practicing Mind and Fully Engaged, will be incredibly helpful.

In the intro, I share lessons learned from Warren Buffett’s tips on the 25-5 rule, that he taught his pilot Steve. Still learning how to narrow down my ‘to-do’ list to only 5 most important things!

Some helpful books I’ve read these past couple of weeks that you might find useful:

1.The Practicing Mind and Fully Engaged by Thomas M. Sterner, which will help you be engaged in the present moment and find joy in your creative process.

2.The Anti-Procrastination Habit by Steve Scott has helpful tips on how to get rid of overwhelm to help you be motivated and focussed each day.

3.Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction By Breaking the Rules by Steven James has great tips on how to add more tension to your story.

So that’s what I’ve been learning and reading. Hopefully those books are resources that are useful to you as you write your books. And as usual you know I’d love to hear from you. Please share below what you’re reading, writing or learning 😉

Watch the Video Interview

Interview Summary:

Tom Sterner, shares what he has learned on how creatives can become really aware of their thoughts and mindset as they work on their projects, in the present moment.

In telling his own story, he talks about beginning to play guitar and then piano at a young age, but he wasn’t that great at practicing.
It was the observer in him, that noticed that he never finished anything and he felt like he didn’t have the power to reach his goals.
This is what was the inspiration behind his own search to fix the problem and to learn how people can change their behavior. Tom writes about this process in his book, The Practicing Mind.

It wasn’t until he studied Eastern philosophies in college, that he learned that how to be fully engaged in the present moment with whatever project he was doing.

It’s important to focus more on the process rather than end product.

Definition of The Practicing Mind: Everything we do in life comes from practice and repetition. Practice is an intention. You are intentionally repeating a specific activity to intentionally fulfil and accomplish something. It’s very unconscious. You are doing something for a purpose. It’s non-judgemental. It only uses the goal as a rudder – and not as an indicator of what hasn’t been accomplished yet. The Practicing Mind, is completely absorbed in the process of creating, and not in the achievement of the goal.

How do you get to the point where you are fully engaged and finding joy in the present moment?

Two ways to begin thought awareness training:

1.Breath based: Find a quiet and comfortable position without any distractions. Be quiet for 10 minutes a day and just watch your body breathe and watch what your mind is doing. It’s a temptation to control your breathing, but don’t… just let yourself be still and breathe naturally.

2.Mantra based(a phrase you repeat): Again, find a quiet and comfortable position without any distractions. Say your repeated phrase over and over to help your mind focus. Example: “I am successful” or “I am peaceful”, etc.

Most people find their mind is running off on it’s own. You might think that you’re not any good at this because you can’t stop your mind from thinking. But, if you’re noticing your mind that’s a really good meditation. If you’re bringing your mind back a lot as you observe it, those are good things. That is where you start.

Judging yourself has no place in a mindfulness practice, because judging has emotion in it and it affects your confidence and your ability to focus.

To focus on the process and in the present moment there are expectations you need to let go of.
Creatives are involved in an infinite art form. Most of us have too much going on in our lives so we naturally want to feel closure on things. As writers and creatives it’s important to embrace the infinite process of what we’re doing.

We need to have goals… they help us. Studies have shown that we get more done with less time. Our experience of it is when we are in creative flow.

When you are just starting out as a writer for example, you have a feeling inside of being up against your threshold. You sense a sortof struggle to understand how to write your story.

This feeling is only an indication of where you’re at in the learning curve.

Creatives are always up against your threshold. Soon we begin to feel like we’re never improving. Pay attention to those feelings. You might interpret those feelings as being unpleasant, when really it’s just an indicator that you’re up against a new threshold in your learning curve.

In his book Fully Engaged, Tom tells the story of of the life cycle of a flower. He asks, when is a flower perfect? The truth is a flower is perfect all the time: when it’s just a seed, or a sprout or when it finally blooms.

For most of us, we feel impatient to get somewhere else than where we’re at right now. Tom mentions, that’s why it’s important to train your mind to enjoy the present moment so you can be fully engaged and fully enjoying your present moment.

How are habits and practice interrelated?

What we practice becomes a habit. 

Tom shares how writers can become aware of what habits we are forming and to turn undesirable habits into good habits.

When the mind is learning something new it takes all of it’s computational power. That’s why when you’re learning something new it’s so easy to stay in the present moment. The better you get at it, the more it begins to be effortless for you. The problem with habits is that there’s not a lot of conscious choice. Habits just get executed. Whatever you’re repeating – whether it’s physical or mental – is going to become a habit.

How do you separate yourself from bad habits?

“Go back to awareness training. Watch your own behavior and what your thought process is at the time. If you can understand how you want to replace that old habit with the new habit… after that it’s as simple as just being aware of when you begin to execute the old habit to switch it to the new habit. So, whenever situation A comes up, there will be a natural pull to execute the old habit and that’s where we need to train our mind to become aware of our old habit and switch to habit B – the new habit. Keep repeating the new habit, even though it might take 30 repetitions, until you change the synapsis in the brain and develop a New Normal.” Tom Sterner

As you change your old habits and begin to be aware of your thoughts and practice present moment thinking, your goals will begin to just flow towards you instead of you feeling like you’re pawing your way to get them done.

You’ll feel content and empowered because the thoughts you have are directly related to what you’re doing. When you get rid of worry, fear and other resistance, your mind goes into a ‘laser focus’ and there is nothing else you’re thinking of, but the creativity of the present moment.

You can find more details on more books and online courses – including the New Audio Book for Fully Engaged and the upcoming The Practicing Mind online course – over at www.TomSterner.com. You can also connect with Tom on Twitter or Facebook.

 

 

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