Ask the Author: Deborah E. Blair
Answered Questions (7)
Deborah E. Blair
Actually - I would love to go to Solaria -the world where Luna, Peaberry and the rest of the UN-Chained Gang are members of the inspirational Wisdom Runers and Seers. I would love to hang out with Justin, and his wise daughter, Tuvalla Seer at their compound filled with good hearted, wise humans and talking horses, dogs, fantasy creatures where art, goodness and dedication to the quality of life for all beings prevails. I would really value spending hours with Zumulia at her compound - drinking tea, baking with her-learning about plants from her and the plants themselves -
All of this in the world of Solaria -in the book -The Luna Tales -Book One -The Wisdom Runners
All of this in the world of Solaria -in the book -The Luna Tales -Book One -The Wisdom Runners
Deborah E. Blair
Speaking to friends and psychotherapy clients, reading, walking in nature and hanging out with animals and my dogs!
Deborah E. Blair
I am currently working on several things. The Luna Tales - Book Two - Journey to the East continues the adventures of Luna, Jennifer, The UN-Chained Gang and the Wisdom Runners of Solaria. I am also working on a book of personal tales of support, transformation, and quality of life that dogs have brought to friends and myself. And a book of psychological healing that we need today drawn from my decades of working with many clients.
Deborah E. Blair
There are several things -
1) Make time daily - schedule regular time even if it is only fifteen minutes and sit down and write. It does not matter if it is good, It does not matter if you are inspired. Just write. Edit it later.
2) Read widely. Fiction and non-fiction. Read outside of the genre you are inspired to write. Copy turns of phrase and sentences into a word journal - or read the phrases out loud so that your ear gets treated to good phraseology!
3) Keep an inspiration journal. Date your entries. You may not write about it now, but the UN-Conscious likes to be honored by writing the ideas down.
4) keep a dream journal. Even if you do not know what your dreams mean, the UN-Conscious likes to see that you are paying attention. If you pay attention to your dreams your creative ideas will more easily bubble up to consciousness as well.
5) Don't compare yourself to other writers. I am Asperger's Autistic and Dyslexic - if I compare myself to many commercial writers I would just give up!!! It is important to find your voice and to support it.
Read about writing from writers like Stephen King - On Writing - and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird.
Fall in love with writing!
1) Make time daily - schedule regular time even if it is only fifteen minutes and sit down and write. It does not matter if it is good, It does not matter if you are inspired. Just write. Edit it later.
2) Read widely. Fiction and non-fiction. Read outside of the genre you are inspired to write. Copy turns of phrase and sentences into a word journal - or read the phrases out loud so that your ear gets treated to good phraseology!
3) Keep an inspiration journal. Date your entries. You may not write about it now, but the UN-Conscious likes to be honored by writing the ideas down.
4) keep a dream journal. Even if you do not know what your dreams mean, the UN-Conscious likes to see that you are paying attention. If you pay attention to your dreams your creative ideas will more easily bubble up to consciousness as well.
5) Don't compare yourself to other writers. I am Asperger's Autistic and Dyslexic - if I compare myself to many commercial writers I would just give up!!! It is important to find your voice and to support it.
Read about writing from writers like Stephen King - On Writing - and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird.
Fall in love with writing!
Deborah E. Blair
Sharing with others - having people write to share what they have enjoyed and what has been helpful to them in their personal lives or that of their friends and loved ones.
Deborah E. Blair
There are a number of ways I deal with writer's block. Every writer develops their own methods to get through it. For me:
1) Walking in the fresh air daily - but even for five minutes if a block comes up. Walking with a dog is a great help over walking with a human - as having time to not be engaged with social interactions - not that your dog (s) aren't social! But it helps to simply be in the moment as you are walking - seeing the sights, focusing on your breath, smelling the smells- it allows me to return to my writing with a refreshed mind.
2) Bouncing on a mini-trampoline! I keep a mni-trampoline in my office and periodically during the day - I get up and bounce! Great for the circulation, great to clear the mind blocks out!
3) Showing up at regularly scheduled times. If I schedule short writing times of 6 am till 8 am - then I sit there and write - or not. But the phone is off and no excuses - except letting the dogs out - are acceptable. No vacuuming, no making quick phone calls. It allows the conscious and deep UN-Conscious to settle in and know that writing is the task.
4) Meditation twice a day - on a regular time each day. I have meditated formally since 1970 - forty-seven years. As a person, meditation teacher, psychotherapist - I have seen in my own life and that of my clients and friends how regular practice is good for all artists of any medium - as well as for all people. But for visual artists, actors, musicians, and writers formal meditation nourishes one's mind, body and soul which allows creativity to flow.
5) Nourishing my spiritual life daily. Prayer and reading spiritual literature.
6) READ!!!!! From early childhood on I have read. Read widely! Often reading in your own genre is not as good as reading in a variety of topics from fiction to non-fiction. I also listen to audio books. Listening to and reading other authors is refreshing to your creativity which is born in the deep unconscious.
And if these and other tricks don't work for authors - I do recommend a few sessions of psychotherapy with a well trained therapist to help identify underlying issues that the consciousness is not aware of if simple methods don't get through a block - I have seen this help for everyone in the arts.
1) Walking in the fresh air daily - but even for five minutes if a block comes up. Walking with a dog is a great help over walking with a human - as having time to not be engaged with social interactions - not that your dog (s) aren't social! But it helps to simply be in the moment as you are walking - seeing the sights, focusing on your breath, smelling the smells- it allows me to return to my writing with a refreshed mind.
2) Bouncing on a mini-trampoline! I keep a mni-trampoline in my office and periodically during the day - I get up and bounce! Great for the circulation, great to clear the mind blocks out!
3) Showing up at regularly scheduled times. If I schedule short writing times of 6 am till 8 am - then I sit there and write - or not. But the phone is off and no excuses - except letting the dogs out - are acceptable. No vacuuming, no making quick phone calls. It allows the conscious and deep UN-Conscious to settle in and know that writing is the task.
4) Meditation twice a day - on a regular time each day. I have meditated formally since 1970 - forty-seven years. As a person, meditation teacher, psychotherapist - I have seen in my own life and that of my clients and friends how regular practice is good for all artists of any medium - as well as for all people. But for visual artists, actors, musicians, and writers formal meditation nourishes one's mind, body and soul which allows creativity to flow.
5) Nourishing my spiritual life daily. Prayer and reading spiritual literature.
6) READ!!!!! From early childhood on I have read. Read widely! Often reading in your own genre is not as good as reading in a variety of topics from fiction to non-fiction. I also listen to audio books. Listening to and reading other authors is refreshing to your creativity which is born in the deep unconscious.
And if these and other tricks don't work for authors - I do recommend a few sessions of psychotherapy with a well trained therapist to help identify underlying issues that the consciousness is not aware of if simple methods don't get through a block - I have seen this help for everyone in the arts.
Deborah E. Blair
The Luna Tales - Book One - The Wisdom Runners came after my older sister's tragic death. The book came together as a number of ideas merged. Having suffered through a very abusive childhood- often with the help of my animal friends and books from an early age - and then having academic degrees in psychology and literature - and formal study in Carl Jung M.D.'s work that emphasizes the power of story, dreams and fairytale for healing - for many of the situations that children and people face in their lives. As a teen and adult I loved the Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit and other books - so I wanted a fun story that children and adults could enjoy but also find support in if they were facing life's hard questions.
In addition, having the gift of experiencing the incredible sled dogs of the UN-Chained Gang at Eden Ethical Dog Sledding - seeing them as they interact with children and adults for both fun educational adventures and often for support and healing - with so many fans from around the world - I knew that Luna, Peaberry and the rest of the gang have helped so many with their magic. I wanted people who have experienced their magic to continue the journey when they weren't staying at Eden Ethical - - and for those many who can never visit and stay with them - to have the magic, fun and healing that they have brought to so many.
In addition, having the gift of experiencing the incredible sled dogs of the UN-Chained Gang at Eden Ethical Dog Sledding - seeing them as they interact with children and adults for both fun educational adventures and often for support and healing - with so many fans from around the world - I knew that Luna, Peaberry and the rest of the gang have helped so many with their magic. I wanted people who have experienced their magic to continue the journey when they weren't staying at Eden Ethical - - and for those many who can never visit and stay with them - to have the magic, fun and healing that they have brought to so many.
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