New Looks

From the Speakers: ALICE'S THEME by Danny Elfman
Just Read: THE INNER CIRCLE by Brad Meltzer--A compelling thriller; always like a book with a little extra. This one provided history as well as character-driven tension.
Reading Now: WIZARD'S FIRST RULE by Terry Goodkind

Every now and then--with writing, as with life (as is so often the case)--a new perspective is needed. Pardon my passive voice in that last sentence, but sometimes passive voice is needed (like here) to convey the meaning perfectly. Active voice is the rule among writers, but that doesn't mean passive can't make a welcomed appearance.

Similarly, routine is the rule with writers who are serious about their craft. I heard once that John Grisham wakes up at 6am every morning and writes until lunch. I think Stephen King has a similar regiment, where he writes for four hours and reads for four hours daily. Doubtless, there are writers out there who refuse to sit down without sixteen ounces of ice-cold Dr. Pepper nearby, or maybe they won't put down a word until they perform their daily yoga routine. Whatever it is they do, it helps them get into the mood to sit down and continue working on whatever project they have in mind.

I have a routine, too. It usually involves exercise. But I'm spending this weekend at my parents' house, and I didn't bring my computer. I have theirs, though, and it's a nice one. So today, though nothing was familiar and the view was foreign, I sat down to write a story. I had one that has been elbowing its way to the forefront of my mind lately, and though I'd been ignoring it at my home, its strangeness seemed to fit perfectly with my new locale.

Lo and behold, good things happened.

Sometimes, a switch in perspective is all you need to break free of a rut. Stephen Covey is all about shifts in paradigms. (Google him if you don't know who I mean. Then read his book.)

Thank goodness that this world is big enough that, no matter how well traveled you think you are, there are always new things to make you--and your breath--stop.