Tag: Motivation

How Do You Write the Chapters of Your Life?

photo property of Jim DevittAre you happy with your life? Do you ever wish that your life were different? Are you where you want to be with your writing, business, love life, or just about anything else?

Most of the people who visit this blog are writers or readers. That pretty much sums up the entire population because if you are not doing one or the other or both, you are probably dead. As readers and writers, we are very familiar with novel structure. It’s a series of chapters. You start with the introduction of a main character who experiences a transformation through a growth process that may involve mystery, romance, action, heartbreak, death, illness or exploration. The concepts are limitless. Continue reading “How Do You Write the Chapters of Your Life?”

“Out There” Is In There

My posts here are generally informational, but I want to take up space with something of a more personal nature, though it might strike chord with some of you. Since we all know not to start with the weather, I’ll start with a dream.

This dream was decades ago, but I try to keep it in my thoughts. I was the MC or ringmaster for a show of some sort. And things weren’t going so good. Some underlings came to me saying that they needed special food and toys for one of the players. They hauled him in and it was this amazingly dorky little RainMan geek, not even verbal. He shambled out onto the stage and stood there, then let out this peculiar squawk. And the crowd went wild. This fat, pimply, four-eyed little gooner was what they came to see. I took it all in and told the handlers, “Look, we’re not exploiters here. Give him whatever he wants, keep him happy. Treat him good.” Continue reading ““Out There” Is In There”

Storyteller

2013 is going to be a great year for everyone at IU, I can feel it in my bones (you can feel a lot of things in your bones as you get older).

It seems that we (the IU staff and guest contributors) gravitate around subjects that are akin, usually at about the same time. ‘That’s probably because we all face similar obstacles in the pursuit of our literary goals,’ I’m paraphrasing, but that was Stephen’s response to that statement I made not too long ago.

I’m not totally convinced that the explanation is as practical as that. I believe that we operate on more than just a physical level and that the coming together of any collection of personalities is much more than just a chance occurrence. Continue reading “Storyteller”

Best of Devitt: What do we need to make it work?

Thomas Edison

[IU Contributing Author Jim Devitt is taking the week off to move some money to an offshore account or move to a different house or maybe move to the music. I’m a little foggy on the details. Anyway, here’s a selection from Jim’s greatest hits. Enjoy. – Hise]

Are you a serious writer? What does that mean, exactly?

I’m sure you are all familiar with the famous quote by Thomas Edison about invention being 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

If that were the case, a serious writer would not wait around to be inspired to produce their work. You would grab your lunch pail and show up at work every day to pound out 3,000 words or more. Continue reading “Best of Devitt: What do we need to make it work?”