Have you ever wondered why writers write?
What drives relatively sane people to glue themselves to a computer, tuning out the rest of the world? Why do we spend hours searching for the right word, trying to get into the heads of the characters we've created? Is there something abnormal about people like us? Well...maybe we are a bit strange, sometimes wierd...but in a very good way, I think.
I'll tell you why I write. I write because I cannot "not write!" Writing is one of my greatest passions in life. I love creating fictional worlds, plots, and characters. Writing is a way to explore and work through the complexities of life.
Most importantly, however, writing can be a way to help other people. A way to expand their horizons, to help them see the world in a different light, to find a sense of hope.
It's great to sell books, rewarding to make a few bucks in royalties. The biggest reward for me, however, is to hear from my readers.
I write because there are people like "Stephanie" out there...she recently sent me an email telling me what my novel, "Waters of the Dancing Sky," meant to her: "Your writing inspired me and touched me in many ways. I cried, laughed, and smiled throughout. The story drew me in and led me on an amazing journey which I will ponder for days to come. Your words touched my soul, and revitalized me in many ways."
Thank you, Stephanie, for making my day!
Stay tuned, and please stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
What's Beautiful in Your Life?
It's easy sometimes to wallow in the little irritations, the messiness of life. All you have to do is turn on the radio or TV to hear about the bad things in this world...how about that horrific oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico? Or the tornadoes which recently devastated Wadena, Minnesota and other areas of the country? My thoughts and prayers are with all the people impacted by these tragedies.
Still, we need to take time to remember our blessings. Did any of you see the glorious sunrise this morning as a fresh, new day unfolded on this planet? Today truly is the first day of the rest of our lives!
How about the smile on the face of your child or grandchild? The fragrance of roses blooming in your garden? Sitting by the lake as waves crash in towards shore?
I have a friend, Mark, who created a blog on Facebook. The name is "What's Beautiful in Your Life?" It's a place to share the things that are beautiful in your life, including photos. A place to find inspiration for your life - and for your writing. Check it out.
What's beautiful in YOUR life? Think about it. Write about it. Share it with others.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Still, we need to take time to remember our blessings. Did any of you see the glorious sunrise this morning as a fresh, new day unfolded on this planet? Today truly is the first day of the rest of our lives!
How about the smile on the face of your child or grandchild? The fragrance of roses blooming in your garden? Sitting by the lake as waves crash in towards shore?
I have a friend, Mark, who created a blog on Facebook. The name is "What's Beautiful in Your Life?" It's a place to share the things that are beautiful in your life, including photos. A place to find inspiration for your life - and for your writing. Check it out.
What's beautiful in YOUR life? Think about it. Write about it. Share it with others.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Monday, June 14, 2010
Out of Left Field...
Agnes, one of my writer friends from Wascott, Wisconsin recently proposed a topic for our writers group to expand upon - "out of left field." The what??
I struggled to make any sense of this topic as I sat at my computer doing what all writers are supposed to be doing - writing. I wasn't in the mood. Defying all traditional wisdom, I decided it was time to shut my computer down and head off into the real world. It was time to embark upon a research trip to Walnut, Iowa where my next novel would begin. Sure, I could research it on the Internet...but sometimes you simply need to be there to absorb a place, to talk to the people, to find out what it's really like to live there.
I wasn't, however, expecting an "out of left field" experience when I arrived in the antique city of Walnut,Iowa. The skies looked dark and very strange as I checked into my hotel. The desk clerk advised that there were tornado warnings in effect, that I should be prepared to come down immediately, with my pillow, if and when the fire alarm system was activated.
Five minutes later, the sirens began to wail. I forgot my pillow but remembered my cell phone as I headed down to the shelter. Hotel guests sat side-by-side in the long hallway, out of touch with the five tornadoes that we later learned were swirling around us. Several "storm trackers" soon joined us with their laptops, tracking the twisters as they passed over and around us. Finally, it was safe to leave the hallway - a place where fearful strangers had become friends.
Yes, Agnes, this was an "out of left field" experience. If I had decided to sit at home glued to my computer, I never would have thought about including a tordado, or storm watchers, in this novel.
The moral of this story - get out there into the real world! It is the unexpected experiences, the tornadoes in life, that will help you to write a novel surpassing anything you may write spending day after day in the safety of your own home,staring at the computer screen.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
I struggled to make any sense of this topic as I sat at my computer doing what all writers are supposed to be doing - writing. I wasn't in the mood. Defying all traditional wisdom, I decided it was time to shut my computer down and head off into the real world. It was time to embark upon a research trip to Walnut, Iowa where my next novel would begin. Sure, I could research it on the Internet...but sometimes you simply need to be there to absorb a place, to talk to the people, to find out what it's really like to live there.
I wasn't, however, expecting an "out of left field" experience when I arrived in the antique city of Walnut,Iowa. The skies looked dark and very strange as I checked into my hotel. The desk clerk advised that there were tornado warnings in effect, that I should be prepared to come down immediately, with my pillow, if and when the fire alarm system was activated.
Five minutes later, the sirens began to wail. I forgot my pillow but remembered my cell phone as I headed down to the shelter. Hotel guests sat side-by-side in the long hallway, out of touch with the five tornadoes that we later learned were swirling around us. Several "storm trackers" soon joined us with their laptops, tracking the twisters as they passed over and around us. Finally, it was safe to leave the hallway - a place where fearful strangers had become friends.
Yes, Agnes, this was an "out of left field" experience. If I had decided to sit at home glued to my computer, I never would have thought about including a tordado, or storm watchers, in this novel.
The moral of this story - get out there into the real world! It is the unexpected experiences, the tornadoes in life, that will help you to write a novel surpassing anything you may write spending day after day in the safety of your own home,staring at the computer screen.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Through the Eyes of a Child...
I've found the perfect remedy for writer's block! Take your child or grandchild out for the day or for a week-end get-away. (If you don't have one of your own, borrow one from a friend or relative!) Spend your time together focusing on this little person,trying to capture life anew through his or her wonder-filled eyes.
I have been blessed with ten exceptional grandchildren and have started a family tradition of taking each one on an individual "Grandma and Me" week-end trip during their eighth year. It was Audrey's turn last week. We went to Living History Farms in Des Moines, Iowa where we explored a pioneer homestead, a 1900-era farm, and the 1870-era Village of Walnut Hill. Audrey was fascinated with her trip into the past, capturing memories with her camera. She made a hat in the Millinery Shop, watched a blacksmith create tools over the fire, petted the farm animals,and admired the dolls and toys in the Victorian homes.
I watched her closely, absorbing her excitement as she saw and learned new things. My "inner child" was ready to come out and play with her - to see the world in a fresh new way.
It was time for Audrey to pick out a few souvenirs of her trip and little gifts for her mother and brother. Of course, this was a time-consuming process - but worth every moment. She wandered through the gift shops which were full of beautiful things - some relatively expensive. What would she choose?
After much thought and deliberation,she selected a little pig on a keychain. He oinked and his eyes flashed. Then, her big eyes lit up and began to sparkle when she discovered a giant lollipop, a Whirly Pop swirling with brilliant shades of red, yellow, blue and green.
Audrey held and admired her lollipop all the way home. Oh, to be a child again, to find such joy in simple things like a $2 lollipop! Maybe life is like a giant Whirly Pop with concentric circles of colorful experiences swirling through the years. Maybe these are the things that we, as writers, as human beings, need to remember. Maybe we need to take the time to really see life through the eyes of a child...
Stay tuned - and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
I have been blessed with ten exceptional grandchildren and have started a family tradition of taking each one on an individual "Grandma and Me" week-end trip during their eighth year. It was Audrey's turn last week. We went to Living History Farms in Des Moines, Iowa where we explored a pioneer homestead, a 1900-era farm, and the 1870-era Village of Walnut Hill. Audrey was fascinated with her trip into the past, capturing memories with her camera. She made a hat in the Millinery Shop, watched a blacksmith create tools over the fire, petted the farm animals,and admired the dolls and toys in the Victorian homes.
I watched her closely, absorbing her excitement as she saw and learned new things. My "inner child" was ready to come out and play with her - to see the world in a fresh new way.
It was time for Audrey to pick out a few souvenirs of her trip and little gifts for her mother and brother. Of course, this was a time-consuming process - but worth every moment. She wandered through the gift shops which were full of beautiful things - some relatively expensive. What would she choose?
After much thought and deliberation,she selected a little pig on a keychain. He oinked and his eyes flashed. Then, her big eyes lit up and began to sparkle when she discovered a giant lollipop, a Whirly Pop swirling with brilliant shades of red, yellow, blue and green.
Audrey held and admired her lollipop all the way home. Oh, to be a child again, to find such joy in simple things like a $2 lollipop! Maybe life is like a giant Whirly Pop with concentric circles of colorful experiences swirling through the years. Maybe these are the things that we, as writers, as human beings, need to remember. Maybe we need to take the time to really see life through the eyes of a child...
Stay tuned - and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Thursday, May 20, 2010
WRITING YOUR LIFE...
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead - and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning." Thornton Wilder
After my mother passed away in 2008, we began the long process of sorting through the many things she had saved in her 84 years on this earth. We were anxious to find "the story of her life." For years, she'd talked about the family history she was working on. It would include stories about her life and those of our ancestors.
We searched every nook and cranny. Finally we located the large leather-bound journal that we'd given her years ago to record the stories of her life. Holding my breath, I carefully opened the book... It was blank - not a word! What had happened to all the stories she told us over the years? There was nothing left, nobody to ask anymore...
While we found detailed geneological records (Thanks, Mother!)- names, birth,and death dates going back several hundered years - the stories were gone.
This was a wake-up call for me, hopefully for all of us. How many of you plan to write your life - someday? Sometimes it's too late by the time we get around to it. Important pieces of our lives disappear into misty memories that change over time.
I decided to complete my mother's final goal in life - writing our family history. Of course, there will be missing pieces. The stories will be told from my point of view. It will be MY story, my legacy for my children, grandchildren, and on down the family tree.
I encourage you to write the story of your life. I am fortunate to have thousands of pages of my old journals to jog my memory as I write.You may have old letters, old photos, and other mementos to jog your memory. If not, there are some great resources out there to help you recall childhood memories and family stories:
"Writing Your Life, Putting your Past on Paper" by Lou Willett Stanek
"My Life, A Collection of Memories" by Alison Bing (includes thousands of memory-jogging questions - and space for you to write your answers, to write your life)
Stay tuned - and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
After my mother passed away in 2008, we began the long process of sorting through the many things she had saved in her 84 years on this earth. We were anxious to find "the story of her life." For years, she'd talked about the family history she was working on. It would include stories about her life and those of our ancestors.
We searched every nook and cranny. Finally we located the large leather-bound journal that we'd given her years ago to record the stories of her life. Holding my breath, I carefully opened the book... It was blank - not a word! What had happened to all the stories she told us over the years? There was nothing left, nobody to ask anymore...
While we found detailed geneological records (Thanks, Mother!)- names, birth,and death dates going back several hundered years - the stories were gone.
This was a wake-up call for me, hopefully for all of us. How many of you plan to write your life - someday? Sometimes it's too late by the time we get around to it. Important pieces of our lives disappear into misty memories that change over time.
I decided to complete my mother's final goal in life - writing our family history. Of course, there will be missing pieces. The stories will be told from my point of view. It will be MY story, my legacy for my children, grandchildren, and on down the family tree.
I encourage you to write the story of your life. I am fortunate to have thousands of pages of my old journals to jog my memory as I write.You may have old letters, old photos, and other mementos to jog your memory. If not, there are some great resources out there to help you recall childhood memories and family stories:
"Writing Your Life, Putting your Past on Paper" by Lou Willett Stanek
"My Life, A Collection of Memories" by Alison Bing (includes thousands of memory-jogging questions - and space for you to write your answers, to write your life)
Stay tuned - and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Writer's Journey...
It can be a lonely life at times...sitting here staring at my computer, waiting for the words to magically flow onto the blank screen. Maybe it's time to check my email again...or even harvest my farm on Farmville! Nobody else will ever know, right?
I do cherish the solitude here on my lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin. I thrive on having time to think, write, and read - and the ability to set my own schedule. However, it takes discipline to write. It's easy to get distracted... as a black bear casually saunters across my deck. Seriously, that's exactly what happened today. In fact, two cubs tumbled playfully behind Mama Bear. So much for my walk today. I don't like to encounter bears on my treks through the woods. They tend to be a tad ornery and defensive when their offspring are scampering about.
So, I'm back at my computer, finally at work. Tomorrow I will attend my St. Croix Writers group meeting in Solon Springs. I've found that writers need connections with other writers. We share our works in progress, our accomplishments, and our rejection letters! We support each other and offer feedback. Writing groups can be a wonderful way to connect with other writers who have similar interests.
Writing is a journey of lifelong learning, and there are so many resources out there for us. I highly recommend writers conferences. I just returned from the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association(http://www.wrwa.net)spring conference in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I came home inspired and refreshed after networking with other writers and listening to excellent speakers.
Writers read! We read books in our own genres or areas of interest, but we also read books and magazines to help us improve our craft. Some of my favorite magazines include The Writer, Writer's Digest, and Poets & Writers.
There are also many excellent books on the art of writing. One of my all-time favorites is "The Writer's Journey, Mythic Structure for Writers" by Christopher Vogler. Based upon the depth psychology of Carl G. Jung and the mythic studies of Joseph Campbell, this book provides guidelines for structuring plots and creating realistic characters. Whether you are writing movie scripts or novels, it is important to understand that "all stories consist of a few common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams and movies. These ancient tools of the storyteller's craft still have tremendous power to heal our people and make the world a better place." (Christopher Vogler)
Stay tuned, and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
I do cherish the solitude here on my lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin. I thrive on having time to think, write, and read - and the ability to set my own schedule. However, it takes discipline to write. It's easy to get distracted... as a black bear casually saunters across my deck. Seriously, that's exactly what happened today. In fact, two cubs tumbled playfully behind Mama Bear. So much for my walk today. I don't like to encounter bears on my treks through the woods. They tend to be a tad ornery and defensive when their offspring are scampering about.
So, I'm back at my computer, finally at work. Tomorrow I will attend my St. Croix Writers group meeting in Solon Springs. I've found that writers need connections with other writers. We share our works in progress, our accomplishments, and our rejection letters! We support each other and offer feedback. Writing groups can be a wonderful way to connect with other writers who have similar interests.
Writing is a journey of lifelong learning, and there are so many resources out there for us. I highly recommend writers conferences. I just returned from the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association(http://www.wrwa.net)spring conference in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I came home inspired and refreshed after networking with other writers and listening to excellent speakers.
Writers read! We read books in our own genres or areas of interest, but we also read books and magazines to help us improve our craft. Some of my favorite magazines include The Writer, Writer's Digest, and Poets & Writers.
There are also many excellent books on the art of writing. One of my all-time favorites is "The Writer's Journey, Mythic Structure for Writers" by Christopher Vogler. Based upon the depth psychology of Carl G. Jung and the mythic studies of Joseph Campbell, this book provides guidelines for structuring plots and creating realistic characters. Whether you are writing movie scripts or novels, it is important to understand that "all stories consist of a few common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams and movies. These ancient tools of the storyteller's craft still have tremendous power to heal our people and make the world a better place." (Christopher Vogler)
Stay tuned, and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
And the winners are...
I'm pleased to announce the winners of my book promotion contest! They are:
Joanne Weister of Washburn, Wisconsin - $100 gift certificate to The Thunderbird Lodge, Rainy Lake, MN (www.thunderbirdrainylake.com)
Penny Thompson of Albert Lea, Minnesota - $100 gift certificate to Kettle Falls Hotel, Rainy Lake, MN (www.kettlefallshotel.com)
David Lawrence of Greenville, Alabama - $50 gift certificate for a cruise on Rainy Lake with Voyageur's National Park Service (www.nps.gov/voya)
Michelle Dry of Cordova, Tennessee - autographed copy of my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky
Theresa Hawn of Seeley Lake, Montana - $25 gift certificate to The Grizzly Claw Trading Post in Seeley Lake
Most of my prizes relate to Rainy Lake. This is where my novel is set, a place that I fell in love with while doing my research there.
Congratulations to you all, and thanks to all who submitted entries. I found that this contest was also a great way to drive traffic to my website (www.watersofthedancingsky.com) I highly recommend this to other writers. Another tip for anyone sponsoring a contest - enter your contest at www.online-sweepstakes.com. You will find that the hits on your website will increase greatly.
I had so much fun with this contest that I've decided to start another one. Prizes in my new contest include:
An autographed copy of my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky, to be awarded each month
$100 gift certificate to The Lakeview, A Summer Residence on Rainy Lake. Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
$25 gift certificate to Ronnings (www.ronnings.com) in International Falls, MN (the place for Northwoods books, moccasins, wild rice, Hudson Bay blankets, etc. Check out their wild rice recipes on line)Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
$25 gift certificate to Grandma's Pantry restaurant in Ranier, MN. Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
So...be sure to sign up for my NEW contest at www.watersofthedancingsky.com. Good luck!
Joanne Weister of Washburn, Wisconsin - $100 gift certificate to The Thunderbird Lodge, Rainy Lake, MN (www.thunderbirdrainylake.com)
Penny Thompson of Albert Lea, Minnesota - $100 gift certificate to Kettle Falls Hotel, Rainy Lake, MN (www.kettlefallshotel.com)
David Lawrence of Greenville, Alabama - $50 gift certificate for a cruise on Rainy Lake with Voyageur's National Park Service (www.nps.gov/voya)
Michelle Dry of Cordova, Tennessee - autographed copy of my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky
Theresa Hawn of Seeley Lake, Montana - $25 gift certificate to The Grizzly Claw Trading Post in Seeley Lake
Most of my prizes relate to Rainy Lake. This is where my novel is set, a place that I fell in love with while doing my research there.
Congratulations to you all, and thanks to all who submitted entries. I found that this contest was also a great way to drive traffic to my website (www.watersofthedancingsky.com) I highly recommend this to other writers. Another tip for anyone sponsoring a contest - enter your contest at www.online-sweepstakes.com. You will find that the hits on your website will increase greatly.
I had so much fun with this contest that I've decided to start another one. Prizes in my new contest include:
An autographed copy of my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky, to be awarded each month
$100 gift certificate to The Lakeview, A Summer Residence on Rainy Lake. Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
$25 gift certificate to Ronnings (www.ronnings.com) in International Falls, MN (the place for Northwoods books, moccasins, wild rice, Hudson Bay blankets, etc. Check out their wild rice recipes on line)Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
$25 gift certificate to Grandma's Pantry restaurant in Ranier, MN. Prize to be awarded May 1, 2011
So...be sure to sign up for my NEW contest at www.watersofthedancingsky.com. Good luck!
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