Episode 164 - Guest Judith Katz

 

Judith Katz – author of Prisoners of Love.

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Episode 163 - Guest Abigail Keam

Abigail Keam – author of the Josiah Reynolds Mystery series and the Mona Moon Mystery series.

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WORD PLAY PODCAST - WEEKLY TOP TEN - 05/03 - 05/09

These are the most listened-to episodes of the week. Did your favorite make the list?

1)   Mari Anne Christie 
2)   Will North 
3)   Ilene Goff Kaufmann
4)   Christie Stratos
5)   Terry Maggert
6)   Kristina Rienzi
7)   CJ Baty
8)   Victoria Gilbert
9)   Sarah Fenlon Falk
10) Jan Moran

*stats compiled from Podcast.co - these do not include numbers from ArtistFirst Radio Network

Is Writer’s Block a Real Thing? ~ by Sarah Fenlon Falk

I’m sure you’ve heard the conversation before and have taken one side or another on the topic. It’s an interesting debate among writers: Is writer’s block a real thing? If it is real, what is it truly? And finally, What can you do to get through it?





In my humble opinion there is such a thing as “a block” to writing. I don’t believe it’s some existential crisis or another mysterious phenomena known only to writers. All humans block themselves from time to time.

As for me, I get so tangled up in all the ideas, in all the to-dos, in all the stuff, that I am unable to move forward. So I wonder what your experience is with this thing we call writer’s block. Do you try to think of something to write, thinking so hard that it seems your mind can’t formulate a single sentence? Do you become too overwhelmed with the project at hand that you shut down?

So, if you’re blocked for any reason right now I’d like to offer some suggestions. (Sometimes we just need to get out of our own head to see more clearly!)

1. Get away from the work. Step back from your project. You may need to literally walk out of your office, out of your house and take a jaunt down the street. (With mask on if that is what is recommended in your area at this time!) Sunshine and nature has a way of clearing the mind and easing that tension. It may help to clear away any blocks you may be experiencing.

2. Free write. Christopher Dowling recommends this and practices it before each writing session. I love free writing because it allows me to write for the fun of it, to get other ideas out that are distracting me from the task at hand, or it helps to clear my head of the multitude of other things I need to get done. (Yes, sometimes my freewriting is in the form of a list of chores!) After emptying my head of all the “clutter” I am better able to focus on my main project.

3. Write short. Guys, I LOVE to write short! It’s so satisfying to sit down and write a short story, start to finish, and see a completed work in front of me. It refuels me for the larger project at hand! If you want to write short for a contest Reedsy.com has plenty of contests they run each week. It would be a good opportunity to potentially win $50 and clear you mind at the same time! (BONUS: if you’re struggling on WHAT to write, Reedsy has prompts that they give you for said contest!)

4. Practice Qi Gong/Tai Chi/Yoga/Meditation. Starting your day in a meditative practice can set your mind and get you started on the right path. When you awaken in a frenzy of activity with not quiet time for yourself, that usually sets the tone for your day and when you finally sit down to your writing project you are more likely to be distracted.

5. Allow yourself some time off. Sometimes we are pushing too hard and we have to back off. It’s okay to take a breather. Especially during this strange and challenging time in our world where work, schooling and home life are occupying the same space. It is very challenging and maybe you just need some time off to read, watch movies, play board games and listen to podcasts (WordPlay and Storyteller Station are two great places to start!).

And finally…

6. Spend some time revisioning. What is it you want? What is your mission in writing? I explore this with all of my guests on my podcast Storyteller Station. Why are you writing? If you can determine why you write and what you hope to get from writing and/or publishing, it will help you stay focused. Kristine mentioned her blogpost from January, how redefining success helped her feel better about her work. If you are too caught up in comparing yourself and your work to that of others you will get blocked! Defining your vision, your mission and defining success will help release you to do the work you love!

So, is writer’s block a real thing? I guess it is. But writers aren’t the only people who block themselves! If you are a writer and are finding your work is halted I hope these words are useful to you in some way and that you find your way back to the page.

Take a break, breathe, revision and write!


Listen to Sarah Fenlon Falk's podcast episode here.

Episode 162 - Guest Mari Anne Christie

 

Mari Anne Christie – author of Blind Tribute: A Riveting Novel of the Civil War.

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Episode 161 - Guest Will North

Will North – author of the Davies & West Mystery series, The Long Walk Home, Water, Stone, Heart, & Seasons’ End.

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WORD PLAY PODCAST - WEEKLY TOP TEN - 04/26 - 05/02

These are the most listened-to episodes of the week. Did your favorite make the list?

1)   Terry Maggert 
2)   Christie Stratos 
3)   CJ Baty
4)   Abigail Keam
5)   Kristina Rienzi
6)   Renee George
7)   Victoria Gilbert
8)   Katie Ashley
9)   Teresa Keefer
10) Rich Amooi

*stats compiled from Podcast.co - these do not include numbers from ArtistFirst Radio Network

Nancy Drew – A Timeless Girl Forever Relevant ~ by Leah Pugh

As an author, you hope your books will be enjoyed by countless people, find its way onto the best-seller list, or even be made into a movie. The Nancy Drew books have had that pleasure, and more. While I’m not sure if they made it onto the best-seller list, Nancy has found her way onto the big and small screen throughout the decades. Even becoming a board game, computer games, and let’s not forget the audiobooks. Oh, and then there are the weekly episodes airing on TV. I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.



For a series originally created in 1930, what has been so appealing about Nancy that she’s stood the test of time?

I remember being a fourteen-year-old bored bookworm when I was handed my first Nancy Drew book. The gray tweed cover felt rough beneath my fingertips, and the pages smelled musty. However, that didn’t matter as for the next two hours, I found myself having an adventure quite unlike anything I’d ever had before. One filled with shifty-eyed characters, a mischievous dog, puzzling clues, a fiery plane crash, and an ancient house ready to topple into the ocean.

As I grew up, I sought to have the complete Nancy Drew Mystery Stories collection, and thanks to my husband, that wish has been granted. As I read through the series, I observed Nancy’s hair color go from golden to titian, she went from driving a sporty roadster to a mustang, and she went from sixteen years old to eighteen years old in only a few books. While certain things changed, one thing stayed the same: Nancy. Her pluck, independence, and determination to right a wrong helped keep her relevant and interesting to readers through the decades. No matter how many times things changed in the books.

My Nancy Drew fandom eventually leaked into my writing, becoming the inspiration in shaping the heroine of my own mystery series. I wanted someone feisty and independent, and I got that in my character Crystal O’Mally. (Who just so happens to be a Nancy Drew fan herself) When I advertise my books at author events, I describe them as “kind of like an updated Nancy Drew.” It’s always such a joy to watch parents’ faces light up as they exclaim, “I used to read her books when I was younger! You read her, too? You’re so young!”

Trivia fact: Nancy Drew mysteries are for any age!

I hope I answered the earlier question; what has been so appealing about Nancy that she’s stood the test of time? I think this summarized quote from Mildred Wirt Benson (Carolyn Keene) sums everything up perfectly:

"To be remembered for more than an hour, a tale must ride on its own sealed capsule. If this sentiment is true, Nancy will long live in memory untouched by the world about her. Over the years, she may change in appearance and living style, but for early readers, she should forever remain the same – every girl’s challenge and dream for a better future."

Happy 90th Anniversary, Nancy Drew! May you continue to solve many more mysteries in your shiny Mustang, with Bess and George (and Ned) by your side!

Quote was taken from a foreword written by Mildred Wirt Benson in The Secret of Shadow Ranch (Applewood Books) Copyright 1931 by Simon and Schuster Inc. Parts of the quote were also taken from More About Nancy copyright 1994 by Mildred Wirt Benson.


Listen to Leah Pugh's podcast episode here.