Spring Can Be A Motivational Writing Tool!

Image by Xavier via Flickr

Finally! The song birds have arrived and spring has begun! Although spring is not my most favorite time of year, it is definitely when I'm feeling the most optimistic. When I think of spring I think of new - new grass, new leaves, new flowers, and new baby rabbits, ducks and birds... The list goes on.

God definitely knew what He was doing when He created spring. Nothing is more motivating than seeing dull, bony tree-limbs come back to life with a burst of green, or the remnants of dead leaves protruding with fresh green stems of new spring flowers, and especially that... Can you hear it? The sweet sounds of the song birds breaking the silence of winter.

It doesn't matter what you do for a living, spring has the power to put a little pep in your step.

With that said, spring also brings new jobs to do around the house. This winter, like most, has taken a toll on my home and lawn. I will likely be spending a few long Saturdays repairing the damage and cleaning things up for the warm season.

I don't mind though. Just as I love new spring flowers, I love the results of a freshly cleaned home, groomed rose bushes, garden boxes planted with my favorite vegetables, and a brightly decorated screen porch ready for use. Winter can be bleak, especially towards the end, so it's nice to get a chance of pace. Even if it requires a little work.

For a writer, spring brings the opportunity to take your creativity outdoors - literally and figuratively. Unless you live in the south where the winters are mild, you've likely been trapped inside for the last few months using chocolate and strong coffee for motivation. I've said it before, winter can be very dispiriting. Even an occasional glimpse of sunshine during the gloomy season seemed to do wonders for my mood. Being able to go out onto my front porch and see the big blue sky allowing the sun to coat everything with it's warm rays is so refreshing. I can only speak for myself, but I find it to be a very inspirational writing tool.

In another sense, you can introduce more sunshine into your writing. I don't know about you, but it's harder for me to visualize the beauty of spring when the ground is covered in a cold sheet of snow. Your creative spirit has more range when you can literally experience what you want to write about. I'm not saying it's impossible to write about spring during the fall or winter, but there are details that are easy to forget when you're not in the moment. For example, the distinct smell of burgers on the grill, blooming lilacs, and fresh-cut grass. The sound of a gray squirrel scaling a tree to her nest, a woodpecker piercing the bark of an oak, or children playing outside. There's also the taste of fresh lemonade, garden vegetables, or honeysuckle nectar.

Use your senses to fuel your creativity!

Don't forget, however, to stop and smell the roses. As much as you should use spring to your writing advantage, you should also enjoy it. Put away the laptop and cleaning tools a couple of hours each day and just relax. Sip some sweet tea, and spend quality time with family and friends. After all, spring is only here for a season.

What about you? Does spring boost your mood? Do you find spring to be a motivational tool for writing?

2015 Goal #1 Completed!

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My writing goal, number one, for 2015 has been accomplished! I have revised and submitted my inspirational romance manuscript to the agent, again. I think that warrants a firework, or two.

Now, I wait. Which, I have to tell you, is the worst part. So, in order to keep myself from being email obsessed, I will move on to goal number two, which is to complete my YA Fantasy.

To keep me on track for this goal, I've been researching some writing contests that I can enter it in. Since many writing contests for 2015 have already begun accepting submissions, and my story is only about fifty percent completed, I will likely enter next year. However, I'm still researching, so you never know - I might get aggressive with this goal and find a contest accepting submissions later in the year. Either way, I'll keep you posted on the progress, which will also keep me accountable.

Have you ever entered your novel, or other piece of writing, into a contest? What was the outcome? Would you do it again?

Update - Readying my Manuscript for Re-submission

Image by Neil Moralee via Flickr

Have you ever completed something, something significant, only to find out that you had to start all over again. That's pretty much what happened to me with my current manuscript. After completing an edit for an agent in order to fit within the guidelines of a particular book series, I was told the book series was ending.

If you are a fan of inspirational romance, then you've probably heard of Heartsong Presents.

For the edit, I only had to add about 3,000 words to my manuscript, and I was more than happy to do it. The idea that my story, which I put my heart into, could have the opportunity to be picked for this series was very exciting. I'll admit, I was a little more than crushed to find out the news. Nonetheless, I wasn't about to give up on my dream to be published. I responded to the agent the only way that I felt I should.

"I understand. Thank you for the opportunity."

At first, it felt like the end of all opportunities for this story. Even though I knew this wasn't true, after having really high hopes for something, news like that was hard to take.

Thankfully, the agent wasn't ready to let me go. I was asked to edit my manuscript once again, but this time, for another series. As I mentioned in a previous post, this required a 20,000-word addition to my story. Although I was extremely thankful for the opportunity, I knew this was going to be challenging for me. Nonetheless, I began the edit - determined to make my story even better than before.

It's been nearly four months, and I'm happy to report, I have finally completed the large addition. As the cliche` goes, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, working to polish it for re-submission, I am so happy with the end result. The story is much more developed, and, since I had originally planned to continue this story with subsequent books, I feel a sense of closure.

My goal is to resubmit the manuscript on Monday. Literary agents are very busy folks, and must take their current clients with the highest priority, so I don't expect a quick response. However, I will be sure to keep you posted on the outcome of this exciting opportunity - good or bad.