Is Your Creative Process a "Ring of Fire"?

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Walking past the carousel in Central Park on Sunday I heard strains of "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash piping through the air. Besides being slightly thrilled that New Yorkers are raising their kids to appreciate good music, hearing that song reinforced an idea I've been playing around with related to the archetypes of writers. If we had theme songs, what would they be? Like Johnny, are writers falling down, down, down into the burning ring of fire? Hmmm.




I read somewhere that there are only seven basic plots beneath the stories of cultures from around the world. While I can’t absolutely verify that idea, it’s something to consider: whether the story is rags to riches, overcoming the monster, rebirth, voyage and return, or something else.

Acting teachers tell us that plots either have to do with love or power. Numerologists tell us there are only nine numbers in the world that influence our lives. Healers say it’s the consciousness of the energy of the seven chakras . . . Astrologers say it’s the twelve Zodiac signs.

Is this too simplistic or a great jumping off point for further exploration?

My view is that we get to decide what our lives are about—including our creative lives—and I believe it’s an essential decision. But it’s also not the end of the world. Take it lightly and you’ll be on the right track. Grind on it in order to find a quest to undertake or a monster to slay and you’re really not there.

Lightness of mind, high energy, peace/joy, fluidity = right track.

Cloudy mind, drained energy, pain/sorrow, rigidity = wrong track.

When you’re writing, just understand that the source of your desire may be the story that runs the infrastructure of your life. If you’re stuck (aka on the wrong track), change your story.

I am not a burning-pit, flames-of-hell kind of writer, though I do grind a bit too often. Fundamentally, I am engaged in a love story with myself and the world. My heart has been broken more than once, and so I sometimes forget that this is my essential story, and yet wherever I honor love my life gets better.

This week, I’m going to take more walks in the park and still get my writing done.

New Weekly Radio Show: Let's Talk About Books! With Co-Hosts Stephanie Gunning & Nancy Peske

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Publishing industry experts Stephanie Gunning & Nancy Peske welcome you to listen to the first episode of their new 30-minute talk show about books, publishing, writing, book marketing, and what's happening in their world on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

Listen to internet radio with LetsTalkAboutBooks on Blog Talk Radio

We stream LIVE on Twitter simultaneously at #BOOKBIZ

Follow our show tweets @4BookWriters

Thursday mornings at 8 Pacific/9 Mountain/ 10 Central/11 Eastern http://blogtalkradio.com/letstalkaboutbooks

Audacious Creativity Technique #4: Generating Your Book Content Using Feedback from Your Clients, Friends, and Colleagues

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As a book writer, it's easy to overlook obvious sources of content. Beyond your own life experience, beyond your imagination, beyond the books and Internet pages you've read, the people you know and interact with are a potential goldmine of ideas and anecdotes.

If you need stories for your book or feedback on your ideas, try the following:
Do a Phone Interview. For my money, picking up the telephone and asking direct questions is still the best way to generate fresh content. Yes, we've shifted to a world of texts and emails. But the human touch works wonders. Conversations are quick, fluid, and personal.

Record your phone interviews using a service such as Audio Acrobat.

Conduct a Survey. Want to understand your readers' problems, needs, or interests? Ask them. Email a short list of questions to members of your target audience. Or try out the free system on Survey Monkey. If you want to entice them, offer them a simple gift in return.

Track the Questions You Are Asked. Keep a running log of things your customers or clients want to understand—and of what you say in response. Make note of the exact words. The way they ask their questions is just as important as the way you answer them.

Observe Trends in Your Community. We're living in the age of transparency. Keep your eyes and ears open for topics that are hot, timely, and controversial. Monitor the most innovative and exciting responses and reports from those who care about the same things you do.

Put Your Ideas "Out There." Take a stand. Make noise. Go public. Risk being seen and heard. Start a comment thread on your own or someone else's Facebook page. Post an article on a blog. Give a teleseminar or webinar. Host a discussion group in your living room. Give a talk or a workshop. Just see what happens—and what you learn or discover—when you do.

Toss a Question up on LinkedIn. It's amazing how responsive the community on LinkedIn can be. The Q&A forum is one of my favorite features of the network. Need leads on articles? Looking for a resource or an approach? Ask a question to receive support and guidance.

Solicit Comments from Friendly Readers. Once you've got a chapter or more written, share it with someone you trust to be honest. Be open to every kind of remark that comes--also remain neutral about opinions and challenges until you've considered them thoroughly. You're looking to fill in gaps in your understanding, to correct mistakes, to improve clarity and structure, and to see if you accomplished what you set out to do. Spread this request around. Form a team.

Friendly readers can include people who disagree with you, rather than those who only stroke your ego. However, I would caution you to avoid seeking comments from malicious adversaries or envious friends, as those frenemies may have subversive agendas (even if they're unaware that they do).

Harvest Your Social Field. Relationships are like farms. If you plant strong seeds in their soil and tend them well, one of the rewards you'll reap from your social contacts is their willingness to share insights and engage with you. If it's appropriate, they may even be willing to introduce you to other people they know who can help you to generate the content you need.

We've all met opportunistic people. They're such a bore and a drain on our energy. Don't be like that! Use the magic words, "Now, what can I do for you?" whenever you ask for help.

Please always be mindful that no one is obligated to help you, so be respectful of their time. If they say no to you, they have a reason and it's really none of your business. Say thank you and move on.

Please leave me a comment on this article. I'd like hearing from you!