~Thanks~
~Thanks~
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Benjamin Thomas
K.M. Weiland’s Reading Challenge: Read 100 Books in 2016
It’s official. The 100 book reading challenge for 2016 folks. You gamed? What do you say? You in? I’m in like flynn baby.
These days there are so many things competing for our eyeballs. Your superfreak android phone. The ever seductive iPhone 6. The Ipad sucking the life juice out of your retinas. Laptops galore. Tablets. Sports. Netflix, hulu, Sling, Amazon video, Youtube, video games, and television. When does it ever end?
We are now living in the digital age like it or not. The age of information is right at your fingertips. Literally. Mobile devices have become the new “crack” of the century. We’re so addicted to it and we don’t even realize it. Sad thing about it is, we only have one set of eyes. They can only be in one place at a time. Sometimes I wish I had an extra set, but I guess two will have to do.
What about reading? What ever happened to books? Do kids read anymore? Never underestimate the power of a good book, is what I always say. Kids need to read. Constantly. It’ll build their literary brains and develop their capacity as a human being. I did not grow up reading books. Unless you include the Incredible Hulk. Even that was sparingly.
Best selling author K.M. Weiland has initiated an awesome challenge. Read 100 books in a year. Can you do it? But a better a question is will you do it. Even incite others to join the challenge. To challenge themselves. If you’d like to participate or would like more information follow the link below:
K.M. Weiland’s Reading Challenge: READ 100 books in 2016
Or follow @KMWeiland on twitter for further instruction.
Are you gamed? I’ve already got my list compiled and ready to do some serious #eyeguzzling in 2016! You can take a peek at what I’m reading here: My Readers Hit List for 2016.
-Benjamin
SWEET LURE
Her countenance was sweet
and her lure was pure magic.
Unflickering eyes of pearl held steady,
streaming love in steady gaze,
spread wild like rolling spring blossom.
Its leaves giddily unfurled, elegantly creased
thoroughly unbound and happily released.
Then fear viciously flooded
chambers in the heart,
draining down to the veins.
The lines were drawn, but the facts still remained.
All vicious schemes were irrelevant
for the attraction was extreme.
All barriers disintegrated
in the reality of their dream.
Written for the Sunday Whirl
Benjamin Thomas
The Physiology of the Writer: Interpreters of Inspiration
If this is your first time on the writing train, WELCOME. Join the locomotion. Well, let’s get started with a brand new section of the blog entitled:
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE WRITER:
Interpreters of Inspiration
Have you ever wondered what drives a person to commit to writing a full length novel ? What would inspire them to do such a thing? The better question would be what exactly is inspiration? To me, this is quite mysterious. It comes and goes as it pleases, much like the wind in it’s behavior pattern. It appears, disappears, changes direction on a dime. Could be a very subtle breeze tickling the skin, or a category five hurricane knocking the walls of your house down.
For me it seems simple. When I least expect it, usually something I heard, thought, or saw will stick with me. In other words, it’s something that we substantiate with our five senses. We then translate that into an idea, a story, character, or a full length novel. How does each one interpret the varied inspiration that they receive? That would be an intriguing research project for some brave soul. Anyone willing to take up the challenge?
Inspiration usually incites us to action, causing a chain reaction of events. Normally it drives someone to magnify some form of artistic expression. Whether it be drawing, painting, decoration, writing, poetry, music or photography. Inspiration causes movement. And when that wheel begins to move, things happen. What that movement looks like are as varied as the grains of sand on the beach.
Whoever invented the car is an absolute genius. There’s definitely a lot of working parts in your car to make it move. At least they should be working. It’s obvious that without fuel nothing works. But definitely without a working engine you’re going nowhere fast. And for some strange reason I’ve been considering the piston as representative of this muse, that so easily behooves us, and moves us to write. One of the most intrinsic, essential parts of an engine are it’s pistons. When you put your foot on the gas pedal those pistons are pumping fast. Then off goes your Ferrari. Cool huh?
Like I’ve said before, writers are the most intriguing people on the face of the earth. What drives them? Muse. Inspiration. Interpretation. Hence a story is born.
That grisly beast in the writer is quite mysterious. She’s not so bad once you get to know her. She keeps me company when everyone is sleeping. My night time mistress keeps me busy.
There it is folks. The audacious pistons of inspiration. Interpreted by the most intriguing individuals to populate the planet. You.
~Keep your foot on the gas pedal~
Benjamin
Inspiration and Creativity by Kylie Day
Not feeling Creative? by K.M. Weiland
5 Shorcuts to Getting Ideas for a novel by Better Novel Project
3 Smart Tips for Structuring Powerful Scenes
Need some help crafting those awesome writing scenes? Look no more.
Writing powerful scenes by K.M. Weiland.
What do the scenes in your story need to accomplish? What constitutes a scene, anyway? Learn three tips for structuring powerful scenes. Check the link for the full taste. Stay awhile and check out the scenery.
Source: 3 Smart Tips for Structuring Powerful Scenes
Benjamin
The World in your Hands
WELCOME TO THE WRITING TRAIN FOLKS!
Get in. It’s time for a ride. I’m glad you could join us.
This is a very historical moment ladies and gents, for it’s the first post of many to come. I’m hoping to keep the ink wet with words flowing smoothly from the heart to the page. But this blog isn’t just about me. It’s you and I intertwined as part of the writing community. Awesome right? Writers are the most intriguing people on Earth. Hands down and second to none. That means your awesome.
Question. What if the whole world was in your hands? What would you do with it? If you could feel the breadth, width of the entire earth in the grip of your palm?
As writers we may have many fears that ultimately slaughter our dreams of being successful. Maybe it’s the grim reaper, the killer of dreams. But okay, so let’s not blame the grim reaper for now. How about us? We’re our own worst critic. Doubt. Fear. Dismay. There’s seems to be an invisible tape recorder playing nonstop in the background. And boy, do we know that tune. We fall for it every time. Hook, line, and sinker. “You’ll never make it, you’re simply not good enough. You’ll never be a writer”. Or I suppose it could be a fierce zombie crazed energizer bunny, running around demonizing all the would be authors. Is that what we really fear? Is success that scary?
Well, I’m no different than the next. Fears abound. But hey, let’s turn the tables on ol’ grim. Embrace the fear, gaze sternly back in it’s fickle eye and welcome him with open arms. In other words, it’s an opportunity to learn something. It’s called writing. I’m discovering that writing is largely a learning process. A marvelous lifelong learning marathon versus an all out weekend sprint. A craft that can be learned with training, practice, hiccups, coffee and mistakes. Yup. Mistakes. Lots of them. How else can one learn anything? I’m certain that no bestselling author hasn’t taken this road. It’s a long rugged road. How far will you go? Don’t travel alone and definitely don’t quit. It’s a long way back. Join the train instead.
I’m all in. How about you?
The world is in your hands, open your eyes and make it yours. Why not give it a story?
Join the writing train by following this blog directly or by email. Find me on twitter @thewritingtrain or on tumblr at The Writing Train.
Well, until the next time…
Benjamin
The Writing Train: Join the locomotion 