Ideas need to steep

Ideas, like a good cup of tea, need time to steep.

Most of my books start as a concept that amuse me in some way… but before I start outlining the plot, I always let the concept sit in the back of my mind until it seems ready. I can’t explain how or why, but it grows roots into other ideas and before I know it, the whole story is waiting in my brain for me to write.

If I’m struggling on a particular scene, it’s usually best for me to take a nap, meditate or relax instead of trying to force the writing… the break from actively working on an idea allows it blossom.

How do you take your ideas? (with cream and sugar?) Are you more creative after a break?

Find your path by leaving the path

I spent a lot of my life afraid to leave the concrete sidewalk that had been paved for me. I loved to walk on the sidewalk along the Mississippi, but I never strayed onto the gravel paths that occasionally ducked into the trees… until 2006.

I vividly remember leaving the sidewalk for the time. I looked to both sides of me to make sure there were no cops around. (I’m still not sure what crime I would have been committing — particularly now that I know the parks department managed those paths.) I also had my hand on my cell phone, in case I ran into crooks along the way. My heart was pounding. I was alive. I had a fabulous evening by the river and stayed there until the sunset.

Now I can’t imagine staying on the path. Leaving the path brought me my wife, family, career, freedom, many friends and a lot of joy. What paths are you stuck on?

Developing an Idea in The Whens

When Louisa Rempala and I started working on The Whens together, it was the first time I had ever worked with an illustrator. Because I had complete freedom creating the story, it was important to us both that she had as much creative freedom as well — but man it’s tough to give up control!

It was peculiar to watch my words come to live. I had vividly clear images about the book in my mind and her pictures were completely different (yet they matched the story just as well). For example, I grew up with dry, golden fields of wheat blowing in the dusty wind — but she came from a lush country of greens and blues… so it was quite a shock to see a cool color palette in the book instead of reds and yellows. But that was what I also liked about working with someone: she had so many ideas I would have never come up with on my own… and that made the book better than I could have ever done alone.

Here are some pictures of the first page as it transitioned from a raw idea to the finished product. Hope you enjoy!

My rough sketch to explain hills with signs pointing to happiness when i pitched the story to Louisa.

Louisa’s rough sketch for the first page… trying to figure out what the main character will look like and how prevalent to make the monsters.

We experimented with the story at night, but ultimately wanted the whole thing at day (because that worked better with the cloud watching).

The final result. Thanks Louisa for all your hard work!

When to call it quits (The Office or Farside?)

Courtesy of The Far Side

I was extremely distraught when I was fifteen. Gary Larson announced that he would no longer be making the Farside. How could the greatest cartoonist ever just decide he’s done? Shouldn’t we be able to vote on a decision this important?

After that, I never read the comics as religiously. I felt like I had been betrayed — tricked into loving something was destined to break my heart.

But ever since I started writing, I understand where he is coming from. There is a real humility in admitting you’ve taken something as far as you can without jeopardizing its quality. I admire him for bowing out at the peak of his popularity instead of trying to cling desperately to any sort of cultural relevance. I try to remember that modesty while I’m writing.

This memory came back to me recently after watching an episode from the Farewell Season of The Office. I realized I no longer care about the plots. Everything I wanted to see has happened. I have gotten to know the characters as much as I wanted to. The new plot lines feel like they’re stretching reality so everyone can have one more paycheck.

Thank you, Mr. Larson, for never putting me through that.

The Art Of Being A Kid

Courtesy kimberlynelsonphotography.com

I was always a fan of the Corinthians “love” verse at weddings. In fact, I even read it as a teen at my cousin’s wedding (and got asked afterwards if I was considering the ministry).

But since becoming a father, it doesn’t sit as well with me:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I think being a child or a man is a false choice. You don’t have to be one or the other. The best path is the middle ground (a man child? :)

Kids are jubilant and energetic. They don’t worry about making their bed when they get up because they’re too excited about pirates or rocket ships. As an adult, I don’t want to put those dreams of stars behind me. I think ideally we should day dream about the cosmos while we throw the comforter over the bed.

I started putting away my adult ways of thinking when I took improv classes at Comedy Sportz. It was such a relief to leave my day job of meetings and long term plans to think of rhymes for noggin’ or soap. Through improv, I have realized that bringing comedy, a childish heart and passion to my job not only makes work more productive, but it helps comradery and creative problem solving. (After figuring out how to capture a jello monster with a fishing net on stage, planning for a difficult software release is a piece of cake!)

Writing kids books has also been a connection to the carefree world of children. Kids don’t want to read about brushing teeth or putting dishes away… not when there are princesses, trolls and dragons in the world.

So I ask you to reconsider the idea of choosing a childish or adult life. Remember back to your dreams as kid? Back when there would never be anything cooler than dinosaurs. Then figure out how to bring that glee into your daily life.

Why I couldn’t be a writer at fourteen

In English class when I was thirteen, we had to write a short (very short) novel. Here is the blurb I wrote about myself for the cover:

Steve wrote this novel when he was in the eigth grade. This is his first novel (or long story). He enjoys writing, but doesn’t think he will be an author when he “grows up.”

If you liked this novel and want to read more novels by this author then you are stuck. He hasn’t written any other others.

I feel very sad when I read that self description. I hadn’t learned anything about creative writing, but I had already told myself it wasn’t for me… even though I loved it.

As easy as it is to simply sit down and write, emotionally it took ten years to master. I needed to believe in myself enough to follow my passion.

Writing my first book was very cathartic. It helped me over come a lot of self-doubt…. my forcing myself to sit down and write I realized I was able to. The only person who had been stopping me was me.

So be grateful for passion. Whatever your passion is, enjoy it and never it for granted….

I rediscovered Baby Steps while dancing

This week while dancing, I started at one end of the room with tiny (like an inch or two!) consistent steps. At first I didn’t think much about them… I had finished a whirlwind of chaotically quick songs and was ready to catch my breath.

I was surprised when the song ended because I was almost at the other side of the room. How did that happen? I had been staring at the floor and barely moving my feet! That’s when the power of “baby steps” really sunk in. Unclimbable mountains are conquerable as long as you focus on the tiny step at hand… instead of the great distance to the other side of the room.

For me, this will change how I approach writing. I sometimes get overwhelmed by the thought of creating a whole new book from scratch, so I drag my feet (and get a lot of household chores done!). However, now I am energized to keep giving it my best every day. I don’t need to write a whole book today… just an inch of it… and before I know it the other side of the room will be within reach.

What to do when loosing hope about writing

Sometimes I look at my writing career compared to JK Rowling or Tolkien and wonder, “What’s the point?”. When we started indie-publishing, I figured books just flew off the shelf — you just had to finish them. I’ve been surprised by how much work it takes to get the word out about new books (but I’m glad I didn’t know how much effort it took or I may have never started).

In the pit of marketing despair I always realize that I’m am upset because I was excited about writing for the wrong reasons. I love writing because I love to write…. I think of all the happy memories writing in the Wellington Library, my black lazy-boy chair and now with my son sleeping on my lap. That’s why I write… and that’s also why you should do anything.

If you tie your happiness to goals you don’t have much control over (like getting everyone to like you), then you’re bound to be miserable. But if you tie your happiness to things you can work towards (like deciding to write every night), life becomes a lot more enjoyable…. and it’s much easier to get through the harder times!

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