SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS CELEBRATE WRITERS!
Apple Day
We all know the cliché statement “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Indeed, it is a very sweet treat that gives our physical health a boost. The same is true for writing. Setting aside time to write every day whether we’re working on a specific project, or not, sets us up for success.
Not long ago someone told me about a fairly new book titled, Change Your Life Through Writing by Roger Lown. When I read the bio about the author and the synopsis of the book, I was impressed. Every time I walk the aisles at a writers’ conference, or enjoy time with other writers at local writing workshops, or speak at libraries, bookstores and cafés, I’m saying these same things. Writing produces change in our lives and the lives of our readers.
We have been designed with “a mind that thinks, creates, and invents.” “Writing can take that which is invisible in our minds into visible form on paper.” And voilà! What we’ve dreamed—the characters, plot, environment, actions/suspense and resolution—all come together in a beautiful book.
As stated in his bio, Mr. Lown is taking his own advice and working on his next book, “The Life and Tones of the Lake City V.F.D.” (Volunteer Fire Department). With his first book in print and the second one “in labor and delivery,” Mr. Lown definitely wins my APPLE DAY award.
How might you win the APPLE DAY award? Here are some sweet ideas to keep your creative flow moving.
- Select one of your favorite types of apples and prepare it for eating.
- Slice it open (into sections) and take a moment to compare that tasty gift to your gift of writing and the process you experience as you write your book.
- At the core are multiple seeds being held in place until the right time for planting—just as the core of our story ideas carry multiple plot seeds/threads that will lead Readers through and to the resolution.
- The meat or flesh of the apple carries the flavor we all enjoy—just as the development of our characters and the events of their lives (thoughts, emotions, choices, consequences) flesh out the layers of the story.
- The skin of an apple wraps around the whole apple giving it completeness—much like the climax or end of the story—which delivers a satisfying crunch.
- And the stem of the apple holds it to the tree (its support system) until ready for release—like our supporters hold us, and encourage us, as well as edit, help with book cover design and prepare us for marketing—before the apple/book drops into our hands.
It is, indeed, a daily treat we can each enjoy—to play with the words in our imaginations and build a story. Like Martin Luther is quoted saying, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.”
As I see and hear what is happening around the world these days, my heart aches. When I ask myself, ‘What can you do about it?’ I quickly answer myself and say, “Write! Write your stories. Write your blogs. Write letters to your children and grandchildren.”
So it is that I encourage you to do the same. WRITE and allow others the opportunity to savor your words—your ideas—as developed in essay, short story, poetry and/or epic tales. Then, PUBLISH! ⚓︎
Self Publishing Advisor 