Remember field trips? The joy of chugging away from school with our sack lunches in hand? I loved field trips, especially ones that involved nature or history.
Here's my little secret. I still take field trips. Every few months I'll drop everything and spend a few hours at the art museum, or I'll walk through one of our nature preserves. I might decide to tour a small town not far away. Sometimes I even pack a sack lunch.
These trips can make me feel guilty. I could have, should have, would have written more, caught up on blogs, laundry, and such. But whenever I slip away, I come back refreshed.
Do you ever sneak off on your own field trip? Where do you go? Where would you go?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Showing posts with label inner child. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inner child. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Is Your Main Character Acting Like a Little Kid?
We couldn't have a discussion of the inner child without applying it to our writing, now could we?
So here's the question.
Is your main character acting like a little kid? Be honest with yourself.
Our main characters need to grow, but they shouldn't start out so stunted they come across as unlikable. This is especially true in mainstream fiction. Readers need to connect to the characters. They need to like them and understand why they act the way they do. From page one, the main characters should show redeeming qualities to make the reader care.
Donald Maass describes it perfectly in his book The Fire in Fiction. "Whether they are public figures or just ordinary in profile, our heroes and heroines are people whose actions inspire us."
Later he continues, "Demonstrating a character quality that is inspiring does cause readers to open their hearts."
If your main character needs major growth, you'll need to come up with ways to counterbalance his negative aspects. Don't wait until chapter three to start showing your hero's good qualities.
Think about your friends and family. What makes you love them? Are they perfect? Of course, not! But if you can inject reasons for the reader to love your hero or heroine, you won't have to worry that your characters are acting like immature children.
What traits do you find attractive in a hero or heroine?
Join me on Wednesday for the final post on the inner child--field trips!
So here's the question.
Is your main character acting like a little kid? Be honest with yourself.
Our main characters need to grow, but they shouldn't start out so stunted they come across as unlikable. This is especially true in mainstream fiction. Readers need to connect to the characters. They need to like them and understand why they act the way they do. From page one, the main characters should show redeeming qualities to make the reader care.
Donald Maass describes it perfectly in his book The Fire in Fiction. "Whether they are public figures or just ordinary in profile, our heroes and heroines are people whose actions inspire us."
Later he continues, "Demonstrating a character quality that is inspiring does cause readers to open their hearts."
If your main character needs major growth, you'll need to come up with ways to counterbalance his negative aspects. Don't wait until chapter three to start showing your hero's good qualities.
Think about your friends and family. What makes you love them? Are they perfect? Of course, not! But if you can inject reasons for the reader to love your hero or heroine, you won't have to worry that your characters are acting like immature children.
What traits do you find attractive in a hero or heroine?
Join me on Wednesday for the final post on the inner child--field trips!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Waiting for Direction
Most kids do not take on tasks that haven't been specifically assigned to them. They wait for a parent or teacher to give them direction.
Open your spelling books. Unload the dishwasher. Did you do your homework? It's time to go to bed.
If doing dishes isn't a normal chore for Susie, she won't look at the counter and think, yes, I will do the dishes. Entire families will walk past an overflowing trash bag, but not one individual will take out the trash. A toilet paper roll will perch empty, sad on its little bar, but no one will replace it.
As a writer, I can't wait for someone to give me direction. No one will say, open your laptop and write a thousand words. No one is going to pop their head in and remind me to send out queries or revise another chapter. There is no boss breathing down my neck for me to get going on my next project.
But I'm okay with that. I'm self-motivated. I see the dishes on the counter, and I clean them. I walk by the overflowing trash bag, and I take it out. I shake my head at the empty toilet paper tube, and I replace it.
Writers can't wait for direction. We're the ones who empty the cat litter. We're on top of things. We don't need someone telling us to write. It's just who we are.
Are you waiting for someone to direct you?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Open your spelling books. Unload the dishwasher. Did you do your homework? It's time to go to bed.
If doing dishes isn't a normal chore for Susie, she won't look at the counter and think, yes, I will do the dishes. Entire families will walk past an overflowing trash bag, but not one individual will take out the trash. A toilet paper roll will perch empty, sad on its little bar, but no one will replace it.
As a writer, I can't wait for someone to give me direction. No one will say, open your laptop and write a thousand words. No one is going to pop their head in and remind me to send out queries or revise another chapter. There is no boss breathing down my neck for me to get going on my next project.
But I'm okay with that. I'm self-motivated. I see the dishes on the counter, and I clean them. I walk by the overflowing trash bag, and I take it out. I shake my head at the empty toilet paper tube, and I replace it.
Writers can't wait for direction. We're the ones who empty the cat litter. We're on top of things. We don't need someone telling us to write. It's just who we are.
Are you waiting for someone to direct you?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Childlike Tantrums
Tantrums? Me? Never!
Maybe I rarely throw physical tantrums like stamping my feet and wailing, but I have been known to throw an inner tantrum or two.
An unscheduled appointment interrupts my writing time? My inner whiner comes out.
My trusty mini-van becomes untrustworthy? Drat, drat, drat.
Yes, I will admit I sometimes throw emotional tantrums when things don't go my way.
It's hard, well, maybe impossible to always see the good in whatever happens to us, but life moves on and before we know it, the incident has passed.
I probably should say something like "don't waste your time throwing a tantrum on trivial things." But then I'd be a hypocrite. I have a feeling I'll always throw an inner hissy fit when my car acts up or I lose out on writing time. (No, I'm not having car problems. This is hypothetical. But if I wake up tomorrow and my van is having issues, I'm going to freak out.)
Do you ever throw emotional tantrums?
Join me on Wednesday when we discuss waiting for direction.
Maybe I rarely throw physical tantrums like stamping my feet and wailing, but I have been known to throw an inner tantrum or two.
An unscheduled appointment interrupts my writing time? My inner whiner comes out.
My trusty mini-van becomes untrustworthy? Drat, drat, drat.
Yes, I will admit I sometimes throw emotional tantrums when things don't go my way.
It's hard, well, maybe impossible to always see the good in whatever happens to us, but life moves on and before we know it, the incident has passed.
I probably should say something like "don't waste your time throwing a tantrum on trivial things." But then I'd be a hypocrite. I have a feeling I'll always throw an inner hissy fit when my car acts up or I lose out on writing time. (No, I'm not having car problems. This is hypothetical. But if I wake up tomorrow and my van is having issues, I'm going to freak out.)
Do you ever throw emotional tantrums?
Join me on Wednesday when we discuss waiting for direction.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Inner Child: When You Need a Hug
One of the greatest things about toddlers is their need for affection. They throw themselves in your arms when they're happy, tired, sad, or for no reason at all. They love hugs and aren't afraid to show it.
Somewhere along the way to adulthood, it becomes unacceptable to throw yourself in someone's arms for any old reason. If you tried it on a stranger, you wouldn't expect to be received with smiles or affection. You may even be shoved away.
Even with our own families, we might have dampened our affectionate side. How many times when you're disappointed about something do you shrug it off or tell yourself it's no big deal? Would a toddler do that? Of course not! But toddlers are egocentric, adorable hug magnets, so we can't really compare.
If you're feeling down, go hug someone close to you. I'll bet your mood improves.
If you can tell someone close to you is feeling down, go hug them. I'll bet you improve their mood.
If you're feeling happy, go ahead and hug someone close to you. Happiness is contagious!
Do you shrug off your hard days? Are there times a hug would make you feel better? Do you throw yourself in a loved one's arms when you're happy?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Somewhere along the way to adulthood, it becomes unacceptable to throw yourself in someone's arms for any old reason. If you tried it on a stranger, you wouldn't expect to be received with smiles or affection. You may even be shoved away.
Even with our own families, we might have dampened our affectionate side. How many times when you're disappointed about something do you shrug it off or tell yourself it's no big deal? Would a toddler do that? Of course not! But toddlers are egocentric, adorable hug magnets, so we can't really compare.
If you're feeling down, go hug someone close to you. I'll bet your mood improves.
If you can tell someone close to you is feeling down, go hug them. I'll bet you improve their mood.
If you're feeling happy, go ahead and hug someone close to you. Happiness is contagious!
Do you shrug off your hard days? Are there times a hug would make you feel better? Do you throw yourself in a loved one's arms when you're happy?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Inner Child: Oh, the Possibilities!
Every Thanksgiving, after the turkey had been eaten, the dishes washed, and the second piece of pie devoured, I would snag my grandmother's JCPenney's and Sears' catalogs. Then I would spend an hour or two scrutinizing each page in the toy sections to determine the top items on my Christmas wish list. Sure, I knew I wouldn't get most of the things I wanted, but I found the process mesmerizing and delightful. For one whole month, the possibilities were endless.
Many children have a built in reverence for the possibility of an extraordinary outcome. They see NFL football players and picture themselves running the ball. They watch a child play the role of Annie on film and think they could be a movie star someday. Even if they know their parents can't afford an American Girl doll for Christmas, they cling to the hope that somehow the doll will show up under the tree.
Many of you are on a writing path. You may have started with high hopes or low expectations, but along the way, you're bound to find unexpected gifts and to experience painful disappointments.
When something wonderful happens, it can be easy to brush off, or, on the flip side, expect the rest of your journey to be equally wonderful. Don't brush it off. Reflect on it, be grateful for it, and let it enhance your belief that your dream will come true. But also, don't put too much faith in it. Not every step on our path will lead to another equally upward one.
When you experience crushing disappointment, you might wonder if it's worth continuing or if anything nice will happen again. This is when it is vital to excavate that childlike quality.
No matter where we're at on our journey, we can cling to the inner child who believes in the impossible.
Do you find it hard to capture that childlike anticipation? Or is your world still full of possibility?
Many children have a built in reverence for the possibility of an extraordinary outcome. They see NFL football players and picture themselves running the ball. They watch a child play the role of Annie on film and think they could be a movie star someday. Even if they know their parents can't afford an American Girl doll for Christmas, they cling to the hope that somehow the doll will show up under the tree.
Many of you are on a writing path. You may have started with high hopes or low expectations, but along the way, you're bound to find unexpected gifts and to experience painful disappointments.
When something wonderful happens, it can be easy to brush off, or, on the flip side, expect the rest of your journey to be equally wonderful. Don't brush it off. Reflect on it, be grateful for it, and let it enhance your belief that your dream will come true. But also, don't put too much faith in it. Not every step on our path will lead to another equally upward one.
When you experience crushing disappointment, you might wonder if it's worth continuing or if anything nice will happen again. This is when it is vital to excavate that childlike quality.
No matter where we're at on our journey, we can cling to the inner child who believes in the impossible.
Do you find it hard to capture that childlike anticipation? Or is your world still full of possibility?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Learning Spirit in Childhood
As a child, I often felt my sole reason for living was to learn. Each year I learned new subjects in school, and my teachers didn't expect me to know beyond my grade level. When I joined a sport, my coach did not expect me to be an expert. Even at home, my parents taught me new skills, not expecting me to know how to do something I'd never done before.
As an adult, I often feel I'm expected to have it all figured out. After all, years of experience has taught me many skills. But what about the chances we take as adults? Do we expect our learning curve to be tiny, even non-existent?
Personally, I'm learning every day. I'm learning how to communicate with my growing children. I'm learning how to write not just a novel, but a good novel. I'm learning new recipes, new exercises, and new ways to deal with old issues. Sometimes I get frustrated when I try something new and it doesn't come easily. Those are the days I remind myself to foster that learning spirit I had throughout childhood. It's okay if we don't catch on to something in five seconds. Becoming proficient at anything takes time.
Do you get frustrated when it takes you a long time to learn something new?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
As an adult, I often feel I'm expected to have it all figured out. After all, years of experience has taught me many skills. But what about the chances we take as adults? Do we expect our learning curve to be tiny, even non-existent?
Personally, I'm learning every day. I'm learning how to communicate with my growing children. I'm learning how to write not just a novel, but a good novel. I'm learning new recipes, new exercises, and new ways to deal with old issues. Sometimes I get frustrated when I try something new and it doesn't come easily. Those are the days I remind myself to foster that learning spirit I had throughout childhood. It's okay if we don't catch on to something in five seconds. Becoming proficient at anything takes time.
Do you get frustrated when it takes you a long time to learn something new?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Inner Child
Instead of slowing down and relaxing this summer, I tried even harder to meet my writing goals while spending quality time with my kids. Did I succeed? Yes, but there was a cost.
Some of the joy of being me seeped out. With less time to putter and regroup, I found myself more and more stressed out about not keeping up with my normal activities, like reading blogs and visiting our families. Yeah, I fell into the Supermom Syndrome. You know, the murky area where you try to be perfect at everything you do and somehow come up short regardless.
That's why this month I'm determined to embrace the core of who I am, starting with my inner child. The things that thrilled me as a kid, still thrill me today. I still love singing hymns, dancing, doing goofy impressions of people I see on television, reading, giggling with my best friends, and relishing dessert.
What things did you love to do as a child? Do you still do them? Do you even want to? Do you recognize who you were as a kid in who you are today?
Join me on Wednesday when we'll discuss childhood's wide open spaces.
Some of the joy of being me seeped out. With less time to putter and regroup, I found myself more and more stressed out about not keeping up with my normal activities, like reading blogs and visiting our families. Yeah, I fell into the Supermom Syndrome. You know, the murky area where you try to be perfect at everything you do and somehow come up short regardless.
That's why this month I'm determined to embrace the core of who I am, starting with my inner child. The things that thrilled me as a kid, still thrill me today. I still love singing hymns, dancing, doing goofy impressions of people I see on television, reading, giggling with my best friends, and relishing dessert.
What things did you love to do as a child? Do you still do them? Do you even want to? Do you recognize who you were as a kid in who you are today?
Join me on Wednesday when we'll discuss childhood's wide open spaces.
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