Ask the Author: Shane Eric Mathias
Answered Questions (6)
Shane Eric Mathias
My most recent book is an e-book called "Man Up", which can be viewed and purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Up-TRANSFOR...
It occurred to me that many men, maybe most, struggle in their relations with women because they perceive them to be mysterious and unpredictable. But I have approached dating, as well as long and short term relationships, the way I do almost everything, from a scientific point of view and learned that like men, women respond quite predictably, once a man understands their triggers. So I decided I would write a frank and explicit book on women's minds, anatomy and sexual pleasure that is unlike any other book I have ever seen. The problem is, many men don't take the time to read, preferring to get clues from their buddies, which rarely work. So maybe this will be a book that a woman will buy for her boyfriend or husband to bring him up to speed a little on how to treat her right.
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Up-TRANSFOR...
It occurred to me that many men, maybe most, struggle in their relations with women because they perceive them to be mysterious and unpredictable. But I have approached dating, as well as long and short term relationships, the way I do almost everything, from a scientific point of view and learned that like men, women respond quite predictably, once a man understands their triggers. So I decided I would write a frank and explicit book on women's minds, anatomy and sexual pleasure that is unlike any other book I have ever seen. The problem is, many men don't take the time to read, preferring to get clues from their buddies, which rarely work. So maybe this will be a book that a woman will buy for her boyfriend or husband to bring him up to speed a little on how to treat her right.
Shane Eric Mathias
I would say that a curious person rarely has to search for inspiration. Prior to being a writer, I spent much of my professional life traveling as a specialist in drinking water issues. During my travels, I listened to countless hours of talk radio. Then when podcasts came along, I didn't have to wait to be near a radio station, I could save audio files about subjects I was interested in and play them during my commute. As audio is only processed by one sense, hearing, it is left to the listener to generate images in the mind to help visualize and interpret what they are hearing. I think in a way, that has helped me to crack the code of ideas and events more rapidly and with greater insight. I can lay the various elements out in my mind's eye and see the connections. Then it is only a matter of figuring out how to articulate my conclusions.
Here is an example: I recently heard an article on NPR (National Public Radio) about the emergence of a new cabinet level position in various Middle Eastern countries, with the intention of counteracting the hopelessness so prevalent there now. The position is called "Minister of Happiness". Now that is a fascinating subject and one I will be researching in the near future for an article on my blog: www.happinesstree.org
Just listen to what people are saying or to some new development in the news and think about the ramifications of that. Do some research, take some notes, add in your own sentiments about the subject and voila!! You have an article.
As a non-fiction writer that is how I tend to approach my craft. For fiction writers, the initial idea generation can be the same, but the story can go anywhere you want it to. Imagine what might happen if ......... so and so.
Capiche? Now put on your curiosity cap and start listening to what's going on all around you. When an idea catches your attention, if you don't have time to write about it, make a note detailed enough to remind you what piqued your interest and come back to it later.
Here is an example: I recently heard an article on NPR (National Public Radio) about the emergence of a new cabinet level position in various Middle Eastern countries, with the intention of counteracting the hopelessness so prevalent there now. The position is called "Minister of Happiness". Now that is a fascinating subject and one I will be researching in the near future for an article on my blog: www.happinesstree.org
Just listen to what people are saying or to some new development in the news and think about the ramifications of that. Do some research, take some notes, add in your own sentiments about the subject and voila!! You have an article.
As a non-fiction writer that is how I tend to approach my craft. For fiction writers, the initial idea generation can be the same, but the story can go anywhere you want it to. Imagine what might happen if ......... so and so.
Capiche? Now put on your curiosity cap and start listening to what's going on all around you. When an idea catches your attention, if you don't have time to write about it, make a note detailed enough to remind you what piqued your interest and come back to it later.
Shane Eric Mathias
My second manuscript is on and about men. It is written in a language that men will understand and covers everything from health to sex.
But I know women also want to understand their partners and the men in their lives, so I address then throughout the content and give them clues to wrap their heads around what may have previously seemed like mysterious behavior.
I hope to be finished by February or March. It will first be published as an e-book. Material versions may follow.
But I know women also want to understand their partners and the men in their lives, so I address then throughout the content and give them clues to wrap their heads around what may have previously seemed like mysterious behavior.
I hope to be finished by February or March. It will first be published as an e-book. Material versions may follow.
Shane Eric Mathias
Just write! We are all artists. I don't say that to flatter you or blow smoke up your a__, I say that because we truly all have unique perspectives, skills and stories to share with the world.
If you have a burning desire to write, then your purpose is attempting to reveal itself. Get your ego out of the way and let your inspiration guide you.
Aspiring artists and writers often have a perfectionist mentality, when they begin. They expect only perfectly formed ideas and sentences to emerge from their efforts. This mentality will stifle your creativity every time.
You must develop a conversational perspective. Just imagine you are speaking to a friend over a cup of coffee, but the friend is unable to hear you for whatever reason. So instead of using your mouth to communicate, you type, allowing your ideas and responses to flow from your fingers.
Finally, if you're wondering what to write about, follow your interests. Don't think "what will be popular?" or "what do people want to read?" Again, this stifles creativity. You must compose content from your passions. That is the only way to ascend to eloquence, when your very desires are revealed and your creativity will then be unleashed.
Write down a list of topics that are interesting to you and begin watching YouTube videos on those subjects. You'll discover that many other people also are captivated by that subject and you'll soon learn what it is you wish to share with your audience.
Keep writing!
If you have a burning desire to write, then your purpose is attempting to reveal itself. Get your ego out of the way and let your inspiration guide you.
Aspiring artists and writers often have a perfectionist mentality, when they begin. They expect only perfectly formed ideas and sentences to emerge from their efforts. This mentality will stifle your creativity every time.
You must develop a conversational perspective. Just imagine you are speaking to a friend over a cup of coffee, but the friend is unable to hear you for whatever reason. So instead of using your mouth to communicate, you type, allowing your ideas and responses to flow from your fingers.
Finally, if you're wondering what to write about, follow your interests. Don't think "what will be popular?" or "what do people want to read?" Again, this stifles creativity. You must compose content from your passions. That is the only way to ascend to eloquence, when your very desires are revealed and your creativity will then be unleashed.
Write down a list of topics that are interesting to you and begin watching YouTube videos on those subjects. You'll discover that many other people also are captivated by that subject and you'll soon learn what it is you wish to share with your audience.
Keep writing!
Shane Eric Mathias
As I write in my book "The Happiness Tree", available from Balboa Press,
Constructive Solitude is an essential part of a functional happy life. You must spend time digesting and integrating the experiences and lessons of the past days and weeks in order to grow and learn. There are many ways to do this, but they all require involvement in an activity that stimulates the subconscious to bubble up and interact with your thoughts, perceptions and feelings. This is how we integrate the disparate parts of ourselves into a unified whole.
Writing, is a supremely powerful way to integrate our inner and outer lives. When we write, we naturally pull wisdom and truth from deep inside of us. So much so, that often, what appears on the page seems like it was written by someone else, someone with greater life experience.
This is how we come to the realization that we are more than just what appears in the mirror or how we believe our friends judge us, we are actually an amalgam of many heretofore unrealized skills and abilities. Writing puts us in touch with those in a unique way.
There is no better way to reveal the truth of our lives to ourselves and the outside world simultaneously.
Constructive Solitude is an essential part of a functional happy life. You must spend time digesting and integrating the experiences and lessons of the past days and weeks in order to grow and learn. There are many ways to do this, but they all require involvement in an activity that stimulates the subconscious to bubble up and interact with your thoughts, perceptions and feelings. This is how we integrate the disparate parts of ourselves into a unified whole.
Writing, is a supremely powerful way to integrate our inner and outer lives. When we write, we naturally pull wisdom and truth from deep inside of us. So much so, that often, what appears on the page seems like it was written by someone else, someone with greater life experience.
This is how we come to the realization that we are more than just what appears in the mirror or how we believe our friends judge us, we are actually an amalgam of many heretofore unrealized skills and abilities. Writing puts us in touch with those in a unique way.
There is no better way to reveal the truth of our lives to ourselves and the outside world simultaneously.
Shane Eric Mathias
Writer's block is like a form or performance anxiety. You have a certain expectation to generate pearls of wisdom, once your fingers hit the keys and if the results fall short of those expectations, then you freeze.
So, it's really a matter of changing your perspective from one of writing to one of telling. Imagine you're having a conversation with a friend about a subject, in this case, whatever you choose to write about. We don't hear the phrase "talkers block", do we? Because, it rarely exists. Learn to talk with your fingers, rather than write and your block will disappear.
It may take a little practice, but, just by doing it, your brain will understand what you're attempting and get on board. Once that happens, you won't want to stop and the results will amaze you.
So, it's really a matter of changing your perspective from one of writing to one of telling. Imagine you're having a conversation with a friend about a subject, in this case, whatever you choose to write about. We don't hear the phrase "talkers block", do we? Because, it rarely exists. Learn to talk with your fingers, rather than write and your block will disappear.
It may take a little practice, but, just by doing it, your brain will understand what you're attempting and get on board. Once that happens, you won't want to stop and the results will amaze you.
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