Category: Uncategorized

INSPIRED…

One of my favorite genres to work with (as editor or consultant or ghostwriter) is Religion/Faith.  The authors inspire me, personally, every time I help them prepare their manuscripts for publication.  Reading this genre is also high on my list—whether fiction or non-fiction.  So it is that, when reading one of my favorite faith magazines, I came across one sentence (yes, one sentence) that so inspired me I cannot stop thinking about it:  “Faith turns the tables on logic while turning life’s waves into a foundation.”

The author of that one-liner is Marcus Yoars, editor of Charisma magazine—oops, former editor.  (He has stepped away from this position to pursue a missions calling.) As only the third editor of Charisma in its 40 years, this young man has proved himself to be quite a leader in the writing field.  Comments from his last heartfelt editorial can—from my always-needing-inspiration perspective—give every writer helpful hints to follow.  Although his emphasis is spirit-faith-focused, his points (as I read between the lines) came to me like this:

1. Writing always involves risk. Authors often speak of that feeling of leaping-off-a-cliff when releasing their work to be published. This is a time when our faith in what we’ve written (and what we hope readers will discover in those pages) comes into play. We don’t have to write in the Religion genre to understand this—to carry the same all-or-nothing element within us that allows us to produce and send our projects into the world.
2. Faith in what we’ve written often defies logic. Many of the authors I’ve worked with open our introductory discussion saying, “Nobody else will probably be interested in this book, but I just had to write it.” For me, that is the best sign that whatever their book is about, it must get published. Ever hear the cliché statement: If I don’t do it, who will? First and foremost, authors must believe in their project—write it—produce it—then wait for everybody else to catch up.
3. Doubt destroys. However, faith in what you’re writing will pull you out of the darkest blank-page-hole and allow you to emerge with fresh insights and more clarity about your subject matter. Battles with doubt must be fought and overcome. Faith brings strength.
4. The choice is ours. All writers must face the cycle of faith vs doubt each time they begin a new piece writing. However, if we keep pumping our faith-muscles, that cycle will become easier and easier to complete—with satisfaction.

For the faith, spirit-led writers, there is one more element that strengthens their writing abilities—their obedience to use the God-given writing gifts they’ve been given.  This includes being obedient to write that which they are “assigned” to write, whether it is that letter to a grandparent or the completion of that textbook for chemical engineering…and everything in between.

There it is, my friend.  Whatever writing storm you face…let faith show you the way to success!

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.

WRITING WITH FRAGRANCE…

Last week I used an analogy of a writer compared to a rose, both enjoying thousands upon thousands of unique species and hybrids.  I’m smiling—remembering a particular writing conference workshop titled: What Species of Writer Are You?  Wish I still had the notes from that discussion, but I can still give you the basic points scented with my perspective, of course.

#1…Just as every flower, leaf, branch and tree is uniquely different, so are you; as an intelligent being, as a person and as a writer.  It is extremely important to accept just how unique we are and that what we are inspired to write about is enormously valuable.

#2…Because we are intelligent beings, we can get lost in the adventure of learning.  Yes, we must develop the skills and abilities associated with our gift of writing; however, if we allow ourselves to get lost in the research, the story (article, poem, etc.) may never be finished and published.

#3…We are blessed with five (some folks say six) marvelous senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell (and insight).  All of these natural abilities must come into play when we’re writing.

#4…A writer’s species becomes identified in the genre of writing they are drawn to, starting with what genre they read the most.  This also includes what genre of film one appreciates and/or enjoys the most.

#5…Marriages occur between species creating—exceptional—hybrids.  When a writer develops personal relationships (with family, friends, marriage partners, co-workers), other genre fragrances come into the mix.  The history professor (of a writer) questions an established “fact” of history and multiple “what-if” scenarios blossom.

#7…Or…the beautifully landscaped botanic gardens are destroyed by flood; Nature’s fury uproots everything and the gardener (writer) must begin again!  Not to worry.  The re-write will be better than the first.

#8…The hardy species survive and grow stronger.  Thus it must be with writers—developing the “thick skin” necessary to ward off barbs while still being able to accept/absorb the constructive nutrients from useful critique.

When that workshop speaker laid out gardening tools all around the podium, I almost got up and left,  but I’m glad I didn’t.  She visually portrayed the elements needed to keep writers “growing.”  She confirmed that a stagnant writer—who cannot “think outside the box”—is dying and if they’re not careful, they’ll be uprooted. She also confirmed the value of “planting” our work—publishing it—the minute we know that it is ready for release.

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.

A WRITER IS…

…a Writer, is a Writer—as a rose is a rose is a rose.  Within the genus Rosa (in the family rosacea), there are over 100 species and thousands upon thousands of exquisite hybrid cultivations, many of which are being created even as I write this blog.  That is how I see a writer—a person who has the vision to create a specific piece of writing, whether it is a blog, a novel, textbook, mechanics manual, tweet, or the most inspired and uplifting play and/or film script ever written.  Where do you fit?

When there is a concept flapping around in my thoughts and I can’t seem to get it OUT on the page, I take a walk.  Sometimes it’s a short walk down the hallway of our apartment building and across the scenic connection bridge to the café for their brand of coffee and back again.  Often I grab my sun hat and walking poles to enjoy the canal path just a block away.  Once in a great while I’ll drive up into the foothills and step into the illusion of being alone in the wilderness where seasonal wildflowers greet me and evidence of coyote, deer, or bear might be found on the trail.  And, all the while, those ideas for that writing project are sorting themselves out and settling into place.  That’s the working theory anyway, and I can happily report that most of the time it is successful—for me.

Last month I took one of those walk-in-the-wilderness excursions; four days of placing myself in a lodge away from my normal routine and setting myself up to focus on one particular project.  Sometimes we just must shake ourselves from normal patterns—like turning the soil around rosebushes and adding fertilizer—to allow the best writing that is within us to COME OUT!  That time away was (as the cliché states) a little slice of Heaven.  I’m attaching one (of over 160) photos I took during that time, just to give you an idea about that environment of inspiration.  Notice the rough marks on the standing aspen trees?  Deer or moose marked his passage there.

However, the unexpected happenings of such a get-away are often the most inspiring; the people met along the way.  The first motivator for me was the woman at the counter of the mountain gas/convenience store.  She politely asked me if I was on vacation (immediately aware that I wasn’t a local).  When I said I was taking a few “writing-get-away” days to get my book re-started, she said, “I should do that!  With all the different people who come through here, I could write volumes!”  (I hope she does!)

Then an hour later I was talking with the manager of the lodge and discovered that she’d “always wanted to write.”  Friends have been telling her for years that she is a “born writer.”  So, why is she managing a mountain lodge?  We talked about seasons-of-life and what they teach us in preparation for being the writer we’re meant to be.  Just think of the people (sharing their life-events with her) who have stayed in her lodge.  Imagine the mountain stories she’s collected from the town folks, delivery drivers, and back-country hikers.  Oh, she’s in a great season-of-life to delve into writing—and publishing.  I’ll be watching for her books!

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.