Author: selfpublishingadvisor

CRITICAL THINKING-WRITING II

Someone once told me that my true vocation was as a CSI (crime scene investigator) in the writing field because I question everything and look for better answers.  That particular person’s tone was a bit thick with sarcasm.  However I accepted it as a moment of “constructive criticism.”  Since then, I’ve developed several “rebellious” elements to my writing career that have greatly enhanced my editing techniques and (in my opinion) bring out the best in the manuscripts I’m editing or ghostwriting.  The following four points are part of those strategies.  I hope they will also help you fine-tune and enhance your projects.

1. IF A CONCEPT is presented as “the accepted wisdom” or the “the way things are always done,” don’t hesitate to challenge it! Our society—humanity in general—and the thousands of cultural groups within it have, indeed, developed what is referred to as “conventional wisdoms.” They are established rules based on general assumptions that have proven to be accurate “the majority of the time.” These suppositions beg to be questioned and, in many instances, can be used in a storyline or the development of a character to demonstrate the harm of blindly believing the accepted wisdom or statement of fact—facts that the next generation discover to be untrue.
2. Automatically accepting all authority is the other side of the following-conventional-wisdom coin. It is up to us (writers) to weed through the authority-maze, research viable options, and write about them. It is worthwhile to demonstrate the many levels of “authority” in our lives that protect us and our property, keep our cities and country functioning and guide us spiritually. However, it is even more valuable to expose the traps set by the PR firms of the world—ploys that are too often exploited in other areas of life to manipulate and deceive us.
3. Don’t JUMP on the Bandwagon! If a certain genre has become popular and you see other writers turning their efforts in that direction, STOP! Should you be joining them? Ask yourself whether or not that genre peaks your interest. Check your passion quotient. If you’re not attracted to that field of writing—and research—stick to your own area. While other authors are drawn in by the intensity of the moment, you will be at the cutting edge of the genre you enjoy most. THIS will get the attention of readers, while the others will be lost among all the other instruments on that bandwagon.
4. Lastly, resist the pull of emotionalism. Each of the three strategies mentioned above involve elements of emotional connection to our human automatic response systems. Emotions often blur clear vision. If there is anger toward an authority figure or establishment, a writer’s thought process can become jumbled. The “accepted wisdom of current thought” can supersede what really needs to be written and bandwagon-emotionalism will lead a writer down many wrong “rabbit trails.”

BEING an author and living the life of a Career Writer is so much more than a job.  If you’re like me, your friends think that “all you do is sit around and play on the computer.”  Yet the playing we do becomes STORIES peopled by unique characters who accomplish GREAT THINGS and INSPIRE others around the world.  So, WRITE your stories, my friend.  GET PUBLISHED!  And, enjoy the accolades of your friends and neighbors.  Your TIME is NOW!

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.

CRITICAL THINKING-WRITING

Writing with critical thinking methods is often a challenge for me, especially when experiencing multiple emotional events.  However, clients call and projects must be completed.  Thankfully, I’ve developed a few steps that quickly get me back on track (usually).  My top three are:

DO whatever it takes to get to the office! Sitting myself down in front of the computer and resting my hands on the keyboard brings my focus to the table (as some folks say), and sets my thoughts in motion.  I like my office environment.  It has a big window overlooking a greenbelt with cottonwood and cloud vistas that always inspire me.  My desk surrounds me in a horseshoe shape—2/3^rds working area, 1/3^rd bookshelf/computer/printer stations.  A window-seat is covered with an eclectic collection of blankets to accommodate our two old-lady-cats.  It’s MY PLACE to write; my place to connect with the writing flow.  If you’re a multitasker, you probably have several projects going at once, so my next “get-organized” step will be an absolute for you.

Surround yourself with your immediate, must-get-done-now projects. I start at the corner of my desk to my left, laying out each file as they come into my hand, and continuing until they are all visible—OR—I’ve reached the telephone (which is the last available desktop space).  Now, catch your breath.  Didn’t know you had so many, did you?  Personally, I combine my client projects AND my personal projects in this grouping.  Each one is important to me and my clients, and the simple act of laying them out has already given me an inkling of the order in which they must be completed.  Yep—rearrange them in that order.  Some will be more immediate than others because of the DUE BY dates.  Others will filter to the top because of the client need or expectations.  And occasionally, a book project pulls itself up the timeline because of my personal interests—which leads me to the next step.

Allow your writer’s curiosity to move a project closer to the front of the line. Our world and the people in it offer infinite opportunities for discovery and infinite subjects to write about.  So whether you’re assisting someone in developing their book, or writing your own, open your heart and mind with the curiosity key that will open new doors.  Exploring “where others have not gone before” is exciting; an adventure that will not only enhance the writing of the current project, but will also cultivate seedlings for many new ones.

And, the last step (for today) is to KEEP your sense of perspective.  If one of your book projects looms TOO BIG before you, it probably needs to be cut down to size—literally.  It may actually be a two or three book series.  And, from a personal perspective, projects like that can cause us to become “unbalanced” in time-management.  If one client (one topic, one editor, one co-author, etc.) becomes TOO needy, the time needed to actually complete that project can evaporate.  SO…do the “scale from one to ten” measurement, with one being your opportunity to watch a sunrise and ten being the outbreak of thermonuclear war because you didn’t get the resolution response written.  WHERE do your projects fit along that scale?  I’m guessing that none will reach the ten-level.

Now, take another deep breath and relax. All your writings WILL be completed in due time!  The old saying that “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,” is true.  The season for your book to be written and published is right now and into tomorrow!

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.