Phoenix Rising

oenix Rising

Conauering the Stresses

of tfie Writer's Life

Cate Russel 1-Cole

Phoenix Rising: Conquering the Stresses of the Writer’s Life

Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012

Donated to the Internet Archive under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
International (CC BY-SA 4.0).

First Published by Cate Russell-Cole 2012

Brisbane, Australia
ISBN 978-0-9873175-4-4

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Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Measuring the Value of Your Work in a Digital Age 5

Healing Creative Injuries 7

Creative Dark Matter: Clear Out What's Holding You Down 8

Bomb Proofing Your Writers Ego 9

Handling Criticism 11

Take it in Small Steps: Don’t Start a Revolution! 12

Fat Free, Guilt Free Blogging Goals 13

Escaping Mental Quicksand: Your "Time of Readiness" 14

Is Your Writing Life Stuck Under Your Mouse? 15

Balancing the Blogging Load 16

Writers and Depression: Debunking the Stereotypes 17

Writers Should Be Bathed In Blue: Boosting Productivity 19

Which Wins? Creative Pleasure Or Word Count? 21

Petwrification: A Health Warning for All Writers 22

About the Author 24

Publications by Cate Russell-Cole

24

Introduction

I've worked with writers both as an autobiography teacher and as a mentor. In 20 1 1 I began a blog
project to equip, encourage and share resources with writers of all genres. This book contains the
best of those articles.

Both online and offline, I often come across writers who are exhausted or discouraged. It saddens
me when I hear stories of how they have left writing groups due to cliques and snobbery; had their
work stolen; were unreasonably criticised; or have simply run out of ideas or energy. Being a writer
can be a tough road of failures, rejection letters and time constraints. Independent Authors are
pummelled with even more demands and pitfalls; as they grapple with technical issues, hackers and
the whims of e-book distribution companies. It can be easy to question whether the time and effort
is worth it. However, the pleasure, growth and discovery the writing life provides, makes the
toughest challenges worth facing.

I chose the image and title of the phoenix rising from the ashes in response to the battles writers
face. I personally relate to the need to choose to rise upwards: away from the fire and into a clear
sky to start again. If your creative energy is low, your word count flagging or the downsides of
being a writer are taking away your joy, I hope this book will give you new strength and hope with
which to spread your wings and find new freedom.

Best wishes on your creative journey.

Cate Russell-Cole

Measuring the Value of Your Work in a Digital Age

Sometimes I look at the number of blogs, e-books and other authors out there and feel
overwhelmed. I don’t see it as competition, I see it more from the point of view that there are a
finite number of readers and the market is flooded. That’s on a bad day. On a good day, I think back
over the number of books I can read in a week and how much I love curling up in bed with my iPad
to read e-books and blog posts. Then the numbers simply mean there is more for me to choose from
and enjoy!

Every creative person I know goes through these fluctuations in confidence. It stems from our own
insecurities about whether we have the goods to ‘make it’ and become known, and/or from our
tendency to compare ourselves unfavourably to others. That’s a trait we need to get over!

Throughout history there have been debates over what makes creative works valuable or worthless.
The criteria by which value is judged are often based on dated stereotypical ideas which state:

* It has to be one of a kind: not derivative, preferably a ground breaking new approach.

* It must be a crafted piece with an outstanding quality of pure excellence. (Really good reads
count as nothing!)

* It can inspire future achievements and emulation by others.

That is a seriously stiff set of rules! The classical authors such as Charles Dickens may be able to
live up to them, but they are not practical in the digital age. Plus it doesn’t take into account that
readers may like a particular style of story and will read more along those lines. Not everything has
to shake the earth and be eligible for a prize in literature. It is the enjoyment of what you read that
counts! We know this in our hearts, but still, we have those thoughts in our head and judge our work
by them.

Whether you are a blogger, e-book writer, print published author or someone who just loves playing
with words, the greatest determinant of the value you have as a writer, is the benefit writing gives
you! There are two forms of creativity: private creativity for your own benefit, and public creativity.
Public creativity is designed to be your showcase, whose value is determined by the outside world.
If you choose private creativity, which is to create for your own enjoyment and growth, then by
doing so, you have achieved your goal. Your work is a success, no matter what anyone else may
think. If you choose public creativity, it’s far more complicated.

If you interpret success as achieving payment or recognition of some sort, be aware that there are
both benefits and risks in judging your success by outside acknowledgement. Research into
creativity suggests that in many cases, working for money, accolades and another’s vision, can
dampen your creative spirit. Deadlines, clipped wings and fitting your ideas into formal constraints
often impede the flow of ideas.

It is to your advantage to work out, at the beginning, who you are writing for. What are reasonable
and unreasonable expectations? What is your own personal definition of success? Do critical
responses really matter, positive or negative? If you know what you want, and how much feedback
you are willing to absorb from others, you can save yourself discouragement and heartache later.

The process of becoming a successful author is a progressive one. Everyone starts with ideas and
work that are just average. The challenge is to work towards improvement and better ideas. You
also need to realise that the marketplace is always full of fads that come and go. Sometimes you
may fit, at other times, you may not. Whatever is happening, never let go of the value your
creativity has for you. The first person you have to please is your toughest critic: you. Don’t allow
numbers, fads and criticisers erode your self worth and enjoyment of what you do.

Healing Creative Injuries

Julia Cameron put a brilliant quote on Facebook which reads: “When creative injuries are buried
rather than acknowledged, they create potent creative blocks. ” I had never thought of writer’s block
that way before.

Obviously injuries are caused by rejection letters, bad reviews, criticism by someone you care
about, the joys of sharing the Internet with trolls... there are many ways. The question is how do you
heal these injuries? Wounds don’t necessarily get better with time. Sometimes they just get worse.

In medicine, put simply, there are two general types of wounds: superficial and deep. Superficial is
skin surface or a little deeper. There is a small injury which time will heal. The deep wounds are the
ones that can go down, literally, to the bone. In an environment where there is no light, fresh air or
positive outside influence, infections set in and serious complications occur. You get a temperature,
feel pain and it doesn’t get better unless action is taken. Does that sound like you feel after being
the victim of something nasty? Hot under the collar, hurt and left limping? So how do we heal these
injuries so we can move forward?

* Recognise the offence has taken place.

* Talk it out with someone you can trust (not the one holding the sword), or journal it out. Say
how you feel, why it was unfair etc. and get it out of your system.

* Let go of the infectious emotions you are holding onto: anger, bitterness, resentment,
jealousy etc. See them as the destructive forces they are and move on. At this point, if you
have journaled out your feelings, you may want to burn that as a ceremonial letting go.

* Move away from negative people or social media that are reinforcing your pain or adding
additional hurts.

* Do something for yourself that will build your self-esteem back up. Join an initiative which
is positive. Remember to laugh, play with your creative media and find the joy again.

I wish the answer came as simply as taking a painkiller and the problem is solved! As with any hurt,
it is not an easy process. However, the more you practice shunning the negative and embracing the
positive, the easier it gets. At times we all need some constructive criticism in our lives so we can
grow, but never let it become poisonous. You’re worth more than that!

Creative Dark Matter: Clear Out What’s Holding You Down

I’ve been an astronomy nut since I was a kid. I loosely follow what is going on and one theory has
me scratching my head. Why are scientists so keen to identify what the dark patches in space
consist of? You know, the bits where they can’t see stars or comets or anything. I watch their
impressive television programs about dark matter then I think, "why does anything have to be
there? It’s called space, right?" Perhaps it is similar to there is 'space in my closet?’ Or ’Yes, I have
some space in my schedule.’ Why does it have to be full of something, anything? I realise even the
empty space in my closet is scientifically full if oxygen and dust particles, but I am bemused that as
human beings we have to fill every inch of available area with something. Is it so we feel safe? Do
we have to be surrounded by what we’re used to?

When our goals and resolutions to write have waned, we start to look at what we’re not achieving
and discouragement easily sets in. Did we bite off more than we can chew? Maybe part of the
problem is, we still have the remnants of too many old meals around us? Maybe we are cluttering
up our minds and workspaces with our own dark matter: things that aren’t in the light (our
conscious mind), but are lurking in the darker recesses, pulling us back by their energy. (Einstein
believed that dark matter could be energy involving the properties of the expanding universe and...
do you really want to kn ow? It's very complicated!)

I have had issues with my own dark matter. I always had this compulsion to keep my old files on
my computer: just in case... yes, to feel safe. Even with regular backups, it’s so easy to lose things...
I may need something from those minutes of that meeting five years ago, or that email or that old
Internet bookmark... Right? Really? Do I also need that ten year out of date research file?

A close friend of mine puts it this way: "That’s old energy." Old energy doesn’t just rob us of
gigabytes or space on desks, it also clutters up clear thinking. Looking back at old files that
reminded me of old goals I grew past, wasn’t helping me achieve what I want now. I needed a
clean, simple new start. So I archived!

I went through my browser bookmarks, my address book, my computer files and the books on my
desk. I cleared out everything that I am not using now. (Yes, being me it is all archived carefully, but
it is out of my sight.) In effect, I got rid of the old energy and made space for the new. Then I
looked at how much free space I have around me and I got excited about what it would be filled
with!

I am so glad I took that step! I don’t want to fill that space with ’dark matter’ to feel safe, I want to
wait to fill it when I grow. By giving myself the physical room to take new things into my life and
letting go of the past, I mentally allowed myself to explore what new things I wanted to do. Plus
past bad memories of rotten times are packaged away where they belong: as lessons from the past,
not something to stumble over again and again!

For those of you who believe that a neat desk can be a sign of a sick mind, there is a faster option
than a major clear out. Get some big packing boxes, throw your old stuff in them; then garage them
or arrange them as a table or printer stand covered them with a tablecloth. Whatever works!
Whichever way you do it, try reducing the anti-matter in your life and let more oxygen and dust
particles dance freely. See what happens for you. It really does feel good!

Bomb Proofing Your Writers Ego

Way, way back in the olden days, when I was new to the Internet, I enrolled in a pilot writing
course. I remember very little about it, but the basic idea was to take an animal you related to; find a
god or goddess who represented that animal and then there were a few months of writing exercises.
It was a great idea.

I love cats, so I went to the University library and read up on the Egyptian goddess Bast, or Bastet.
Bast is the goddess who is half woman, half cat. She is the reason why cats were revered in Egypt.
Now Bast had a war-like attitude when necessary, but overall, she was a lovely goddess. She was
associated with protection, family and many a good party was held in her honour, with a lot of
wine.

Now please remember, I was using the resources of a University library, not Wikipedia. Thus I
presumed I got the correct facts. Some of these things aren’t easy to track without much more
extensive research than I was doing. In ancient history, gods came and went and meanings changed.
Bast later became known as Ailuros in Greek mythology, so god (excuse pun) only knows what
facts were right and wrong, but it all led to a rather nasty incident.

One of the texts referred to another lion-like goddess named Sekhmet. Sekhmet was introduced in
that book as the negative alter ego of Bast. If you were on her right side, she was a doctor-blessing
healer. Get on her wrong side and there would be nothing left of you for any doctor to try and heal!
She had, shall we say, some anger management issues. (Don ’/ blame me, blame the archaeologists
who piece all this together.) Re-reading a little now, it appears they were two very closely related
goddesses with a lot of similarities, so I got it at least, partly right!

I wrote my second assignment, which was to report on the research of your god/goddess and whoa
did I cop some hate mail! I couldn’t believe it. I reported the facts without judgement or any
opinion, then I was fiercely attacked by multiple people and left stunned and amazed! I nearly
would up in the Nile wearing concrete boots!

The issue was, even in 1997, Bast was still being worshipped. The fact that she could still have
followers would never have occurred to me in a trillion years! It could still be the case today. There
were temples devoted to her in the United States, where people were lighting green candles in her
honour.

No, they weren’t crazy. Some of the temple members were made up of intelligent people, with high
powered careers that take above average IQ scores; hard work and a lot of common sense and
ambition to achieve... including lawyers and they were now mad at me. Calling someone’s goddess
“the lady of pestilence” was apparently, a very bad move. Apologies were not being gracefully
accepted.

The point of all this is, as a writer, you will never make everyone happy. It is a fact you just have to
accept. Like you, I dread and fear negative book reviews, but I know, they will come. We often
want others to accept us and love our work as much as we do. We don’t cope well with being
misunderstood, disliked and picked apart. When we have worked long and hard on a project, it
hurts. One way to counteract that hurt is to try and accept, you just cannot make every reader

happy. Don’t even try! Don’t believe it is ever going to be possible. Not everyone will see things
your way and some people, out of their own insecurities, cope by making themselves feel superior
to someone else. Thus, welcome to the horror of the bad review, but please, don ’t take it to heart.

Honestly, it’s 2012 and do you believe that a half cat, half woman can still make your life better?
(Good on you if you do, I have no problem with that.) If you, personally, think that belief is wrong,
it’s not a big stretch to believe that bad feedback and negative reviews can simply be a wildly
differing opinion too. They don’t mean you are a lousy writer and it’s time to give up! Reader’s
opinions are based on the way they choose to see the world and we’re not all the same.

So hang in there and keep writing! Oh and the next time you light a green candle, remember that
lovely cat lady and have a glass of wine in her honour.

Handling Criticism

One of the greatest problems creative people have is that really good ideas don’t always receive the
reception they deserve. You will always come up against the grouches who wouldn’t do it that way,
or think your ideas sti nk ! Never mind the critics. They are thoroughly capable of being completely
wrong! Do you think the authors of great novels were told any differently? Can you imagine what
some people would have said to Suzanne Collins when she told them her idea for The Hunger
Games?

Here are suggestions on handling criticism.

* Learn how to handle it, as some of it is useful.

* You can’t see your blind spots or where you need to grow, others can and an honest and
well-intentioned piece of criticism can be valuable.

* Stubbornness and being fiercely protective of your work can come from fear and low self
esteem (self doubts). Work on overcoming this.

* All creative work is a constant process of learning. That process will involve mistakes, and
sometimes others will pick up the mistakes you haven’t noticed. It’s up to you whether to
see that as being good or bad.

I have had people publicly attack me online when encouraging other writers when they were
dealing with criticism. My detractors were firmly stating that you shouldn’t be a writer if you
couldn’t handle criticism. I ignored them. I can understand that if you came up through a
competitive world, such as journalism, you have to be tougher than granite to survive. However, I
thought they lacked compassion for their fellow wordsmiths. Just because someone isn’t an
emotional Rambo, doesn’t mean they should abandon their gift of writing. That’s just a waste!

Everyone starts at a place of insecurity: whether they later choose to remember that or not. What
matters most is persistence, dedication and using what courage you can muster up, to continue to
grow creatively. Too many people give up when discouragement and fear hit. Being able to move
ahead despite threats or setbacks is the bravest move.

Take it in Small Steps: Don’t Start a Revolution!

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, blit I think I have ended up where I intended to be. ”
Douglas Adams

When I studied psychology and counselling I leamt how to find out who you were and wanted to
be, then to make changes in your life to get there. I discovered the common sense principles of
being able to state what you wanted to change; assessing whether or not the physical and emotional
resources were available; then enlisting support. It was all excellent food for thought, however, the
actual achievement of success always seemed to be elusive. Something practical or emotional
always got in the way, or I just didn’t know how to move forward when I got stuck.

Reaching your goals and dreams by making small changes, or taking small progressive steps seems
to work the best for most people. Trying to revolutionise our entire lives in one mammoth effort,
risks leaving us tired and discouraged. Small changes are the ones that stick and are less likely to
fizzle into failures and regrets.

The more practical authors of self-help books also advise us to change just one small facet of our
lives at a time. If you change one small area successfully, they say, the rest will eventually follow.
We all tend to overload ourselves with activity and then fall down in an exhausted, disgruntled
heap. Instead, slow down, build your confidence and get the hang of what you need to do to
progress. For example, if you’re frantically busy, to reduce stress just take a fifteen minute break for
yourself once or twice a week if that’s all you can fit in. Use that time how you like. Trying to do
everything helpful at once, such as exercise, give up smoking, change diet, change sleep pattern and
breathe deeply on the hour every hour... will probably not happen long term. It’s too much to get a
handle on at once. Pick one; work on it until it becomes a good habit, then add another.

*“Wellness and Writing Connections,” on Facebook, made a great point about looking making
goals. To quote the page author, “Writing a list of the things we would like to see more of in our life
is a common theme in resolutions. What if we also make a list of things we want to leave out?’’
What if your major goal was to resist things that pull you down emotionally? That can make a
massive change to your quality of life. What if it is to gently pull back from a bad friendship and set
yourself free from its poor influences? Sometimes knowing what you don ’t want is as important as
knowing what you want.

This year, I have taken a new approach to new years resolutions. Instead of writing a list of goals,
which I ultimately never get to fully achieve, I wrote a list of words which represented what I
wanted out of my life. Life has a habit of taking us places we never thought we’d be and I would
like to be more consciously open to that. I still know what I want to achieve, but I am going to take
my own advice and take it in small steps and make small changes that are manageable chu nk s. Plus
I will try not to fret if it goes pear shaped in places! Sometimes the unexpected path turns out to be
the most exciting...

*http://www. facebook. coniWel Incss Writing

Fat Free, Guilt Free Blogging Goals

In 2012 I discovered A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80). One thing we all have in common
with our writing is life sure does get in the way! It’s unavoidable and you just have to go with it.
Even taking a day off to have fun can be necessary in our creative lives. The trick is, to do it
without the guilt... and in people's update posts, I frequently read an awful lot of guilt!

ROW80 shares the same blogging philosophy I have. “We are all different and we all have different
demands on our time. Why should we all have the same goal? The simple answer is that we
shouldn If you want to be a writer, then you have to be able to roll with the punches and adapt to
your changing circumstances. If that means changing your goals when your life blows up, so be it.
ROW80 is the challenge that champions the marriage of writing and real life. ”

I like the emphasis on the goals being achievable. That is the secret ingredient to any goal. There
must be flexibility and a sense of reality. However, despite how Kait Nolan has emphasised the
easy-going nature of the challenge, I keep seeing writers listing masses of goals: far more than 80
days worth! NaNoWriMo is another example that concerns me in as far as mental and creative
health are concerned. The word count allows for no days off for an entire month and a very high
output. It's too short and writers stress, particularly when they hit plot problems and again, real life
gets in the way. Why we are so insistent on deliberately placing ourselves under high-achievement
related stress?

The happiest bloggers seem to be the ones who have three goals at the most. These goals aren’t
back-breaking and they have a balanced attitude which accepts that some days they may fail; some
days they may come close; some days they will achieve above and beyond and that is all good. The
strategy which brings a cheer from me, is seeing writers list the rewards they will give themselves
on achieving their goals. A small treat, some ‘me’ time, a fun activity which refreshes and pulls
them away from their desk. It’s a great idea. I love it!

Earlier in this book I said that reaching your goals and dreams by making small changes, seems to
work the best for most people. Trying to revolutionise our entire lives in one effort leaves us tired
and discouraged. Small changes are the ones that stick. They are less likely to fizzle into failures
and regrets. I feel like I need to say that again, with a great deal of feeling and much more
emphasis.

Go easy and be kind to yourself!

Work, family, finances, holidays, sic kn ess and the occasional crisis will always be there to keep you
away from putting words on paper. Your success as a writer depends as much on how you deal with
that, as it does on how much output you have. As a writer there is a massive laundry list of demands
you are supposed to meet to succeed, plus I know how easy it is to get enthusiastically carried away
with everything you want to achieve. However, please do take the time to step back, reassess your
direction and see if you need to cut back on your goals to maximise your creative energy. It is not a
sign of failure to do that, it’s a sign of wisdom.

Escaping Mental Quicksand: Your ’’Time of Readiness”

Have you ever had a writing idea that just won’t come together, or a goal you want to achieve but
can’t bring yourself to act on just yet? It could be a book you only manage to half write, an
experimental change of genre in your writing or some opportunity which is outside your current
experience. You may find yourself stalling. Or you may be frustrated when you start to work on that
project, but it just seems to keep falling apart or halting, and you’re not sure why.

Is it because it’s just not your area? Do you have writer’s block? Are you being lazy? Are you a
failure? Is it fear holding you back? It could be some of those things, or it could be that all the
resources you need are just not in place yet. Perhaps it is a waiting game that will get you there if
you’re patient.

There is a theory in psychology called the “time of readiness,” which states that unless a child has
reached a point in their physical development where they can try a new skill, such as crawling or
walking, no amount of pushing or imposed practice will get them there. They just won’t get it!
There are some things in life you just can’t rush. Any kind of growth takes it’s own time.

I believe that the same principle works in a similar way in many areas of our lives as we continue to
challenge ourselves to achieve in new areas. Personal growth is the key, whether that growth is of a
mental, emotional, physical or spiritual nature.

We are often not able to make certain forward jumps until something clicks in our hearts and heads.
Of course, the underlying problem may actually be writer’s block generated by feeling unsure or
fearful that is holding you back. Even so, perhaps there will soon be an optimum time where you
can overcome that hurdle. Just as long as you aren’t using fear as an excuse and you are actively
working on trying to advance. Action is the key. If you’re not working towards your goal in some
way, then time of readiness is probably not the answer.

There are decisive actions you can take when you feel stuck at any stage so that you can move
towards. Don’t despair or get frustrated with yourself! Keep discovering new ideas, trying new
skills and practicing what you need to master. Have a plan! Set clear goals and mix with people who
can mentor you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get imperfect results at first. You need to build
up to what you want in stages which will, annoying as it is, take time: the time you need to become
ready.

It will come, you may just need to be patient. One day it can click into place.

Is Your Writing Life Stuck Under Your Mouse?

So what do you do when the Internet exposes you to too many new ideas, becomes too much hard
work to keep up with and steals time from your creativity rather than adding to it? The answers to
those questions have been keeping me pondering over the last six months. At the end of last year, I
put down my blogging and social networking activities and worked out whether or not I personally
felt they were worthwhile. My answer: it’s a mixed one.

In the midst of my rest time, I was watching a documentary about the new digital era in which they
gave an interesting balance to a few old cliched questions. Is quick communication ruining
concentration levels in our youth? Do we no longer learn things properly as we can just Google an
answer? Is it all just shallow? As a creative person in both a traditional bookish and new ’geekish’
way, I am very interested in the answers: but the answers that are right for me. They won’t be the
same for everyone.

Yes, our attention span is dwindling, so studies say. However, we now can access ideas and people
and connect and change the world for good in ways we never could before. How we live is
evolving. It is a new form of industrial revolution that will come with good and bad aspects. Using
more cliches, it appears to me to be all things in moderation and it’s how you use it.

For example, I have an ambivalent relationship with the almighty Twitter. I hate communicating in
140 characters. I hate so many people complaining that they have many subscribers but no one even
comments on their posts. It smacks of us using each other and having lost our humanity! It can be
seen as attention seeking, fame grabbing, faceless and badly aimed marketing. However, Twitter
can also be seen as a quick way for busy people to look into what they would otherwise, never have
the time to even consider. I find it alerts me to local news when I am in work mode and I have made
a few real, valuable friendships through it. Maybe it is just not the perfect medium for me, but I can
use it to reach and encourage people, so I will continue to do so... but on a limited basis.

I have found that making discerning choices about what to do and who to follow and not being
afraid to cut things out of my feeds is probably the best choice for conserving and feeding my
creative energy. I run a creatively based business. In the same way getting buried under piles of
accounting, red tape and paper work zaps my work and idea generating time, so does keeping up
with the digital fads.

So be brave. Have a good look at a variety of interesting web sites, social networkers and other
Internet goodies and see what you like. Try them for awhile, then cull what is too much, doesn’t
feed you or just drags you into a negative mindset. People take me off their Twitter feeds all the
time. I see my stats run all over the place. I have learnt to let it not bully me into staying connected
where I don’t need to be.

Someone suggested that one day a week you should have a ’Digital Sabbath’ and stay away from
anything computerised and mobile phone orientated. I think it is a great idea. It is the same old
argument we had with television. There comes a time when you have to switch off it’s mesmerising
force and go out and actually DO something active. Go pick up your pen, instrument, paintbrush or
craft project. Switching off and balancing, may save your creative soul.

Balancing the Blogging Load

Perhaps it’s part of being an autobiography teacher, but I love reading blogs. I enjoy them as they
are real: you can sense it when someone is genuinely sharing with you. The only thing that bothers
me is how often I hear how burnt out bloggers feel. It worries me when I keep coming across post
after post where bloggers are expressing how wrung dry of inspiration and physically exhausted
they are. I read in profiles how bloggers work all day, come home and deal with family needs, then
write until insane o’clock, as that is the only writing time they have. From an outsider's point of
view, it leaves little mystery as to why writer’s block so often sets in. It’s fuelled by overwhelm and
fatigue.

It would be very easy for me to step into strict writing teacher mode and command “blog less
often!” The issue is, if you’ve done your homework on how to blog, to satisfy the search engine
rankings and build an audience, it is recommended you blog daily. If you don’t, there are dire
predictions of failure and doom. It comes down to the settings of the search engine ranking robots:
which care as much about the needs of flesh and blood humans beings as say, your toaster does.
Recently one blogging Twitter feed, which I normally enjoy, started preaching down this path. Such
was their fervour, that you had to work yourself into the ground to succeed, I un-followed them.
The last thing anyone needs is the whip being cracked in an already ‘too-busy’ society.

So that leaves bloggers with a choice: Buy into “toaster mentality” and let your life be ruled by
search engine logic and cyber peer pressure; or take care of yourself by posting less and taking the
pressure off. I opt for the latter, but not just for myself, also because as a reader, I know I simply
cannot keep up with every post that comes out that I really want to absorb and comment on. We are
potentially overwhelming the supporters we want and need. Could that be why so many blogs have
such low subscription and comment numbers?

What you do as a blogger is entirely up to you. Just as long as it’s right for you! From everything I
have studied about writing, to write daily is a necessity for writers who are truly serious. May I
suggest, that perhaps, as an alternative to blogging every day, keep a journal, or use some of your
would-be posts as writing practice? There is a great sense of satisfaction to be had from just writing
for YOU, experimenting and having fun for your eyes only. It is all about breaking away from the
“toaster mentality” and doing what your creative heart is telling you to do.

If you write less often, it also means you are under less pressure to put forward a polished piece of
work which ultimately becomes part of your writing portfolio. Write when you have something you
really want to say and share. Plus be careful about how personal your posts are... When you are
online, it is dangerously easy to forget just how open your most personal information and feelings
are to anyone who finds you.

The bottom line is, take good care of yourself. If you look after yourself and allow yourself time
and space to be open to new input, ideas will generate much more easily and you can recapture your
enthusiasm. There are more ways of becoming a recognised blogger than merely relying on search
engine rankings and appearing in Twitter feeds en masse. If you would like support, use the
#mywana tag on Twitter started by @KristenLambTX who supports bloggers. There are also
blogging community web sites out there that may be helpful. Just beware of the toasters...

Writers and Depression: Debunking the Stereotypes

It’s widely recognised that writing out your feelings and experiences is good for both your mental
and physical health, yet I am only just beginning to see a number of resources online that encourage
the use of writing and creativity as a tool in combatting depression. I know from my own
experience that writing assists me in fonning a new perspective on what actually happened. I can
sort emotions from facts and decide how to move forward. I’m encouraged to hear that any fonn of
writing and creativity is an activity which can help to put the black dog on a leash. Please note I
said help. Writing is not a substitute for essential counselling or medical treatment, or in itself a
cure. It’s a tool that can help.

Historically, it’s been repeatedly claimed that writers and artists are statistically more prone to bouts
of depression, mental illness and anxiety. Is that because we are the masters of dark arts that explore
the uncontrollable miseries of life? Or is that simply because writers and artists get their negativity
out on paper or canvas for the world to see? Technically, it is unlikely that the rates of depression in
creative people are higher. It’s just that the output makes their suffering obvious.

Not everyone who goes through depression will develop long-term debilitating problems. After
surviving serious psychological stresses and traumas, a majority of people experience post
traumatic growth. It doesn’t happen quickly, but the process of working through grief and trauma
can have benefits that will positively colour the rest of your life.

Researchers Tedeschi and Calhoun (1995) were among the first to research post traumatic growth.
While at first people may show high stress signs and be depressed or overwhelmed by what they
have been through, in time they can grow to come through with:

* “Increased perception of competence and self-reliance.

* Enhanced acceptance of one’s vulnerability and negative emotional experiences.

* Improved relationships with significant others.

* Increased compassion and empathy for others.

* Greater efforts directed at improving relationships.

* Increased appreciation of own existence.

* Greater appreciation for life.

* Positive changes in one’s priorities.

* Stronger religious/spiritual beliefs.

* Greater personal intimacy with God.

* Greater sense of control and security through belief in God.

* Greater meaning about life and suffering through religion.”

In that alone, there is hope! Tapping into your creative work can be a vehicle that pulls you towards
that growth. Depression is our reaction to feeling helpless. It is a type of forced surrender. Investing
time in your writing is an action that pulls you out of the position of helplessness. You are doing
something: creating, thinking, growing and empowering yourself!

If you are feeling depressed, don’t try a quick fix or avoid dealing with your misery! To bust
another myth, getting treatment for depression will not, as some believe, rob you of your creative
drive. The more clearly you can think, the better your work will be. You will be able to tap into your
true self, rather than be robbed by only seeing life through negative eyes. If you’ve been down for

some time, find a friend or professional who will understand and knows how to deal with
depression in an effective way. Don’t stop looking until you find the support you need!

Writers Should Be Bathed In Blue: Boosting Productivity

I love design and the impact it has on people’s psyche. A few years ago, I took a basic interior
design course just for the fun of it. I learnt that without pleasing colours and visual balance, rooms
run the risk of becoming abandoned dust bunny habitats. So what’s that got to do with writing?
Essentially, every writer needs a writing space that isn’t a deterrent to working, or your writing life
can become a dust bunny habitat too! If you put the time into organising an energising writing area,
your writing output will most likely increase. My own experience stands as a sad testimony to this.

For a long time I used my environment as an excuse not to write. I wasn’t comfortable. My desk
lives in a comer of a room that is dark, noisy and cramped. I was always putting off writing as I just
couldn’t think there. I’d do anything to avoid the area and not write. But I needed that space. My
books, records and equipment were all there. I had to find an answer that would prompt me to
create.

When I teach creativity, one of the exercises we do is: picture yourself in an empty white room.
Now, if you were to create your ideal writing space, what would you fill it with? What colour would
you paint it? What do you need in there you can’t work happily without? Answers generally vary
between a simple, uncluttered desk; to paradises with garden vistas, fireplaces and antique writing
desks. Oh, if only! I then go home from my inspirational class, to my five feet square desk and
cupboard. So realistically, for me at least, what was the point of that exercise?

Even if I can’t create paradise, identifying what I want makes me think. If I want a garden view, I
can add a few plants and a floral picture or calendar. I know I need my books around me, as my
ideal room had floor to ceiling bookcases. A log fire is a no go, but I can make sure I have
appropriate lighting, a fan for summer and a heater for winter. I don’t need to renovate, I just need
to tune into what I need.

The other essential element is colour. For anyone creative, you know the power this has to make
you feel great, or feel blah. We once stayed in an ultra modern hotel that was all black, brown and
grey surfaces. I have never felt so cold anywhere. The stone and concrete depressed me. I feel the
same way about writing on a piece of white paper with a blue or black pen. It is cold. It doesn’t
inspire me.

Colours have been scientifically found to affect your blood pressure and neurological functions. If
they affect your body so profoundly, no wonder they greatly impact your mood! Blue is supposed to
be the best colour for creative people to be surrounded by. Red encourages risk-taking behaviour;
green soothes and so on. Statistically, people have more fights in yellow rooms. However, if you are
writing a crime novel, maybe yellow would be a productive colour to surround yourself with? It
could put you in the right frame of mind! It’s up to you to discover what works for you as an
individual. If you see yellow as positive, sunny and cheerful, which is the atmosphere you want, it
may be your perfect choice rather than blue. If you can’t paint the room your desired colour, buy a
yellow print, have yellow flowers in a vase, get yellow stationary items. Any way you can introduce
it, bring it in to heighten your mood and your enjoyment of your work area.

If you really want to write, you will find a way. If you’re blocked or not so confident as a writer,
you can find any excuse not to be productive. It comes down to your dedication to your goals. But,

as with every area of life, if you take the time to care for your needs and improve what you have, it
will pay off for you.

Which Wins? Creative Pleasure Or Word Count?

“ What percentage of your time should you spend thinking about writing, as opposed to the
percentage of time you should spend building your word count? ” What’s your opinion on this
question as a writer? Which should be greater: writing or planning? Or is this a chicken and the egg
question?

Thinking, day dreaming, reading others’ work and mentally planning are critical parts of the
creative process, yet we don’t necessarily count them as productive time. Too often we let activity,
goals, self-imposed deadlines and social media “shoulds” hijack our creative lives. Then our joy in
writing drains away and we wonder why.

Solitude has always been a necessary part of many writers' routines. My first introduction to the
writing life came from reading “Little Women” as a child. “Her 'scribbling suit ’ consisted of a
black woollen pinafore on which she could wipe her pen at will, and a cap of the same material,
adorned with a cheerful red bow, into which she bundled her hair when the decks were cleared for
action. This cap was a beacon to the inquiring eyes of her family, who during these periods kept
their distance, merely popping in their heads semi- occasionally to ask, with interest, “Does genius
burn, Jo? ”

To be honest, I don’t welcome those sort of interruptions. When I am writing, studying or reading, I
need to be left alone. Having to stop and start a train of thought irritates me. The image of a writer
slaving away alone in the attic is much more me. At times, I just need to sit still and think. I am not
writing, planning blog posts, Twitter promos, worrying about e-book sagas or any of that. I just
need to be. That is when I get back in touch with my true creative self and from that I can produce
good work. Staring at the to-do list merely robs me.

If you read the work of creativity researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, you will discover that being
alone and being able to get away from the outside world and inside yourself, produces a state of
focus and concentration that induces creative flow. We need that flow. It takes the drudge work out
of the process and breathes enthusiasm into us. Mihaly talks about a state of ecstasy which we can
gain from creativity. To gain that, we must spend some time alone.

Getting away from it all is not a new concept. Many world religions encourage pilgrimages and
have legendary tales about going into the wilderness to grapple with their issues; then coming out
refreshed, inspired and with far more to offer those around them than when they went in.

While setting word goals can be important, never underestimate the power of being inside your own
mind, building your characters and experiencing your story as if you were a part of it. Fantasy,
asking “what if’ questions and playing with ideas are integral to the writing process.

While we need writers communities and initiatives for encouragement; plus the time to promote
ourselves through social media; every so often it’s good to be reminded that we don’t have to be
constantly in each other’s faces or typing, typing, typing to be achieving! So occasionally, unplug
the Internet, get away from all temptations and sit, walk or run away to be by yourself for awhile.
Your writing will be far better for it.

Petwrification: A Health Warning for All Writers

“This is an urgent public health warning for all writers. Over the last decade, we have witnessed the
alarming spread of a highly contagious disease which corrodes motivation, word count, editing,
effective marketing and creative quality of life. This condition is known as petwrification.

Petwrification / Petwrified (verb) pet-wrifi-cation

A psychological condition affecting writers, characterised by sudden horror, cognitive paralysis or
emotional outbursts. It occurs when:

(1) finding a mistake in previously published work;

(2) discovering a phrase or point of grammar used wrongly for years;

(3) suddenly becoming immobilised on a punctuation issue;

(4) receiving negative feedback or poor reviews; and

(5) when writers have compared themselves to other writers, concluding that they are comparatively
deficient. (Derived from the common word petrify and the Latin petra, meaning rock.) ”

We’ve all been there, right? Point two in the definition knocked me out for a time. I was questioning
my ability to coach writers and author books when I wasn ’/ up to standard. It turned out that it was
a difference in understanding of a phrase in common use between the United States and the British
colonies. Some would say I was wrong, some say I am right. It still didn’t help my confidence. Had
I placed it in this book, you’d be raising an eyebrow at me! I don’t want to be corrected in the
reviews. I hate looking like a fool! You don’t miraculously know everything the instant you become
a writer. I don’t want to know about that though. I want to be perfect to feel safe. Safety isn’t part of
the business of writing.

The creative process is one of growth: you start by making many mistakes and being influenced by
all kinds of sources, then you mature. With maturity comes better quality of work; the realisation
that not every piece of advice is right; accepting that there will always be negative responses; and
that mistakes are essential. They are what help us to master the written word.

As we gain confidence in ourselves, we become less and less petwrified. That enables us to take on
challenges we once would have rejected as too daunting. To gain the upper hand against
petwrification, we need to develop a strong mental immune system. You can do this by practicing
your craft, staying away from the terminally judgemental, studying and being open to correction.
Plus, be open to the fact that the ‘experts’ aren’t always right.

The more e-books I read from the major publishing houses, the more obvious and unacceptable
mistakes I find. Are standards lowered, or are they changing? Fashions and fads come and go. I was
taught to never use a dash, always a semi-colon and you NEVER put a comma before the word
‘and.’ People would shout at you. Those were the standards when I was working for a University
and in my editing course. Now am I right and you’re wrong? Well, only if you would have written
that sentence as “your wrong.” We have to accept that not everything in writing is standardised
Internationally and we can’t let it get us down. Standards even differ between local Universities.
You can’t go nuts trying to stay on the good side of everyone.

We need to place value on our ideas and our achievements. We will always have days when we
wonder if we really know what we’re doing. Self-doubt is a part of the human condition. Those

doubts will not win with me though. I am determined! I love writing and I’m here to stay. If you
think I am wrong I will listen. I reserve the right to disagree and thanks for trying to help. Perfect or
not, I will work as hard as I have to, in order to keep maturing as a writer. I want to prove I have
what it takes to be an awesome writer!

About the Author

Cate Russell-Cole is a qualified Creativity Coach and Social Worker. She has a love of the science
fiction - fantasy genre and has been writing diaries, appalling poetry and short stories since she was
a child. Cate lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and two cats and habitually writes
everything in Australian English.

Over her career, she has researched, written and taught five creativity-orientated courses; worked as
a freelance writer, graphic designer, desktop publisher and has authored ten non-fiction books.
Privately, she is a Christian science fiction/ fantasy author who is working on The Chronicles of
Mirchar Series, plus a non-fiction study guide on the life of King David.

Publications by Cate Russell-Cole

• Write Your Life Story E-Course

• Unleashing Your Creative Spirit

• Prayer Journal Workshop

• Creating and Resolving Conflict in Fiction (Four Dimensional Characterisation Series)

• Building Emotionally Realistic Characters (Four Dimensional Characterisation Series)

• Phoenix Rising: Conquering the Stresses of the Writer's Life

• Phoenix Thriving: Conquering Stress and Burnout in the Blogging Life

• Savvy Blogging for Time Starved Writers

• Avoiding Back Pain: A Simple Guide

• Maintaining Your Independence, A Course For Seniors

• Person To Person: A Layman's Course in Communication Skills

• The Chronicles of Mirchar: The Dragon Tree

• The Chronicles of Mirchar: The Memory Library

• The King David Study Guide