Dianne Bright's Blog - Posts Tagged "writers"

Some days, the condition of "almost" can pull us down to the depths of the sea. Not by actual iron shackles, of course.

But metaphorically speaking, as writers trying to make it in the world of publishing and marketing, it gets tough. A numbers game, where the odds are never in our favor.

If you've been at the game for a while, you get what I mean. After questioning my purpose as a writer recently, I asked myself, "Should I just go back to teaching?" But, I've come to realize I'm okay with a pocketful of "almost" adventures compared to never having tried in the first place.

Here are a plethora of "almost" moments you might relate to:

1) I almost drowned during that killer set of waves surfing in San Diego before a dolphin saved me;
2) I almost died falling down that boulder face upside down while repelling out at Joshua Tree;
3) I almost died of thirst climbing the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico City;
4) I almost got attacked by a host of wild monkeys in the southern part of Japan while trying to get my camera to work;
5) I almost got eaten by a thresher shark in Puerto Rico out scuba diving off St. Thomas;
6) I almost crashed into my husband while parasailing off the coast of Maui (we were actually just trying to make out in the clouds);
7) I almost lost a limb after a jellyfish stung me in Oahu (kidding--just my dignity after a surfer told my husband to pee on my leg);
8) I almost crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on my way home from the Ukraine;
9) I almost lost my return ticket looking at all the cool artwork in Paris (I could seriously move there tomorrow);
10) and last but not least-- I almost gave up on my writing dreams after interminable rejection emails/letters.

But if I hadn't endured the trek to the bottom of the sea, I wouldn't be writing this now or formatting book #2 of my Soul Reader Trilogy, or pitching my #ya fantasy/novel: Blood Towers to a gazillion agents and publishers.

The point of this somewhat exaggerated post (though I did actually visit all those places) is to NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!

Keep writing!

--Dianne :)
Soul Reader

To become a writer, you simply have to write, but it's easier said than done. Having readers is great too. But, there's more to it than just sitting down at the computer and tapping the keyboard.

The goal is to be a good writer, but that's pretty subjective, right? Is it possible good writing could be connected with healthy habits? Assuming my theory has some wisdom to it, here are three easy tips to get started.

FIRST, make sure you are eating well. This might sound weird, but food fuels the body and the brain. That means, if you put in good stuff, then you are more likely to produce good writing as well.

Go for leafy greens and fresh fruits and veggies. Combine these with lean meats and other protein rich foods, like low-salt nuts and beans. Cheese slices dipped in hummus is a favorite go-to.

Also, when possible, buy/pick organic to avoid harsh chemicals that can cause lots of weird side effects. Let's not harm those beautiful neurons making their way down to the keyboard.

SECOND, try to fit in some form of exercise every day! This could be a twenty minute walk around the block or some easy twisting on your FitBoard in front of the TV.

Doing sit-ups and push-ups during commercials can get you on the right track as well. You're like, "But I DVR my shows." Fine, fit some in between Netflix binge-watching episodes of Stranger Things and The Hand Maid's Tale. For a feel-cool bonus, add five to ten minutes of free weights after your morning coffee or before climbing into bed at night to stay toned.

For any middle-aged writers/reviewers out there (mentioning this for a friend)--extra muscle mass actually helps to increase bone density and improves joint health too.

THIRD, reduce screen time. I'm the guiltiest of all on this one. But wow, social media eats up way too much of my time. It's great to build our network marketing platforms, especially when it comes to promoting our books/WIPs/blog posts.

But let's take a daily break to rest our eyes by fitting in some afternoon yoga/meditation or a nap. As a reviewer as well as a writer, I love to grab an actual paperback book most days before snuggling into the couch with my afternoon cup of joe (man, I'm starting to sound like my Grandma now).

Hope these tips help! I'd love to hear what works for you. So please, comment below.

*Dianne Bright has written for Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine and blog, along with Today's Christian Woman and Thriving Family. She is the author of SOUL READER and SOUL JUMPER, and her new young adult duology is currently being considered for publication.

Soul Reader

After 200+ queries and ten requests for my full manuscript for consideration, I finally have a literary agent. Her name is Hope, and she gives me hope for the next chapter of my career. Writing isn't for the faint of heart. Anyone who can't take loads of rejection should consider a different job. In some ways, I'd say tenacity is my best character trait, though I'm pretty patient too. Mainly, it's just something in my blood that won't let me give up.

Along the way, it might have made more sense to simply call it quits. My background is in teaching, so it would have been easier to stop putting so much energy into my writing and jump back into that industry. My specific background is in Spanish American Literature and Linguistics (which I do love; don't get me wrong). It's not that I didn't enjoy teaching college students, but I LOVE writing.

It's all been used for the big picture. In my opinion, the pieces of our lives connect together as building blocks preparing us for the next step along the way. That said, I've learned so much from my literary background. Without my previous training, I wouldn't be the writer I am today. Laura Esquivel, Isabel Allende, and Carmen Boullosa gave me a strong foundation for writing fantasy. Magical realism is the equivalent of fantasy in Spanish literature in many ways, with a slightly different shape and voice. I'm currently finishing up the third book in my first series, in which Gabriel Garcia Marquez's over-sized butterflies played a huge role.

If you too have experienced more rejection than you thought possible, just keep hanging on. The voices I listened to, studied, and observed-- like in James Patterson's Master class and throughout Stephen King's ON WRITING kept telling me to press on. So I'm saying the same thing to you. I believe in you even if no one else does. And as a person with great faith (not explicitly a Christian author), I have found hope in two Bible verses along the way.

1) Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

2) Philippians 1: 6, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Some of you don't believe in God or in the Bible, so these verses may not offer equal encouragement. So, I'll add a few secular quotes to the list that sit next to me at my desk.

3) "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world," Harriet Tubman.

4) "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game," Babe Ruth.

5) "Life is trying things to see if they work," Ray Bradbury.

When you get your next rejection letter, just remember, you're one step closer to the right fit. It's coming for you, so don't give up. Eventually the math works itself out.

DianneBright has written for a variety of magazines and professional blogs, including Scholastic's Parent & Child. She has also written SOUL READER and SOUL JUMPER. Her young adult fantasy duology is on query with her agent, Hope Bolinger.

To set New Year's resolutions or not to set New Year's resolutions, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against MAKING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS? Reading more of Shakespeare should be one of them if you're setting resolutions because he's timeless and dramatic in a good way.

But the point is, it's a new year so everyone says it's a new you too. I mean, when you glance in the mirror, don't you pretty much look and feel the same as last week? But it's as if an angelic cloud should lift us up into eternal bliss simply because the calendar upgraded by one digit.

I realize this sounds a bit cynical, but I decided a few years ago to stop writing New Year's resolutions. Not because I'm unmotivated or against being positive. Mostly because they just make me feel pressured instead of encouraged. Like a weight of doom instead of a pedestal of glory.

I'll give an example. I went against my gut last week and set one stupid resolution for 2019: to jog at least one mile per day for the whole year (a no-brainer because I love running). Three days in, I blew my knee out on the treadmill (I swear I wasn't drinking, but it was 11 pm). Anyway, I totally jinxed myself.

Now being balanced and healthy means letting go of my one idiotic resolution for 2019 so my knee can heal. Instead of running, I'll focus on gentle yoga and arm weights (plus a little more drinking--just kidding, kind of). :)

And because I'm magnetically drawn to three points, here are a few easy health hacks for a "NOT SO NEW YOU" (not resolutions, just little goals).

1) Drink more water (buy a fun, new tumbler because why not?).
2) *Load your smoothies up with veggies/fruits AND protein (vanilla whey powder is so yummy--see recipe below).
3) Try to fit in some kind of exercise most days (yoga totally counts and so does gardening; a walk does wonders too). I love the gym but not everyone does, and that's okay!

Brain Smoothie:
1 c almond milk, 1/2 c frozen cherries, 1/4 cup frozen spinach, 1/4 cup meyer lemon (including peel), 3 banana slices, 1/4 c celery, 2 basil leaves, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 2 Tbsp vanilla whey protein powder, + 2 shakes of cinnamon.

Comment below with your fave health hacks; I'd love to hear from you.

Dianne has published two novels, plus a digital parenting book. She has also written for a variety of magazines including Scholastic. Her young adult fantasy duology is on query with publishers via her agent: Hope Bolinger. For more updates, go to DianneBright.com.
Mommy's Hiding in the Treehouse--- With a Glass of Merlot

When editing your manuscript, it's funny how you can reread the same paragraph over and over again to no avail. Then, one day--not sure why exactly--it's like the stars have aligned. And with a few tweaks, the "write" words click.

I'll give an example from my young adult manuscript that's currently #onquery with publishers. Here's the old text:

"Run-off soaked into the soles of my shoes. Taxis were lined at the curb like hyenas waiting for a kill. The soft lighting from the creperie laughed at me. And I was now holding a girl's hand. Her strawberry blond curls were somehow familiar--but tighter than I'd remembered--like the moisture was clinging to them for hope."

By removing a few unnecessary connectors and adding one decisive adjective, the flow improves. Check out the revised text below.

"Run-off soaked the soles of my shoes. Taxis lined the Parisian curb like hyenas waiting for a kill. The soft lighting from the creperie laughed at me, and I was now holding a girl’s hand. Her strawberry blond curls were somehow familiar—but tighter than I’d remembered—the moisture clinging to them for hope."

Maybe the aha moment is just mine alone, but it feels better now--which matters--because it motivated me to take on another round of edits, and that's a good thing.

After recently devouring Stephen King's ON WRITING, my take-away is two-fold. First, write for one person--the ideal reader--not your grandma or your first grade teacher. Second, move the pages along like a screenplay, because readers have to stay hooked.

If you haven't read his book yet, add it to your TBR pile. And no matter what happens, keep writing, keep editing, and NEVER give up!

--Dianne :)

Dianne Bright has written for a variety of magazines including Scholastic. She is currently finishing book #2 of her #ya duology that is on query with her agent, Hope Bolinger. She recently outlined for an #mg series set in New Zealand as well.

It's that time of year when PSL this-and-that are all the buzz. A cool breeze accompanies most people in the evenings now (just not where I'm writing from in so-Cal). ;)

We get excited about baking, and even those on special diets can get almond flour or use oat milk or cashew butter. There are almost too many recipes to take on--between Pinterest, Tasty, and all the other fun food sites, we might even end up overwhelmed simply screening on the couch. This can be especially true for writers (who get in our heads)--full of our sticky notes and to-do lists.

Because of COVID, it's particularly important to set up a list of ways to connect with others during the holidays. We sometimes wear a badge of honor that says, "No really, I'm fine. I've got this."

But it doesn't have to be that way. With the air getting colder and the coffees and teas abounding, why don't you grab your mask and invite a friend out for a warm drink? You can sit six feet apart out on the patio if you want to, and you can pack your hand sanitizer, just in case.

The important part is actually making human contact instead of just scrolling about your social group on social media. Or texting. Or emailing. The truth is, we get so tech-centered, that we can forget what it feels like to be social around other people (anyone remember the Net with Sandra Bullock?).

On this last day of September, I who struggle personally with mental health issues, would be amiss not to challenge you to focus on your head-space as well. Part of that health check-up involves going outside your comfort zone. All that means is taking the first step to initiate plans with a friend or asking a neighbor to go walking. You could even bake cookies for your kid's teacher or a colleague at work.

Just make sure to go into the fall without falling down too hard mentally. Part of that means plotting out the weeks ahead now, while the leaves are still on the trees. Keep it simple. But get it onto the calendar.

It's pretty common to run into someone who says, "Oh, I've always wanted to write a book." But somehow, a decade or two has gone by, and they haven't even written a single page.

So, I'm here to offer some encouragement, plus a few tips. For starters, your goal to write needs to be because it's something you enjoy doing (not because it makes you impressive).

Also, if this is one of your life goals, it's more about carving out time to actually get the project started than selling a million copies (that said, building platform is important--but you can worry about that later). The main thing is to grab a piece of paper--to actually start writing. Now for four basic tips.

1) Begin with a simple brainstorm session. Which topics interest you? Do you have any professional skills? Have you overcome something hard in your life? What do you value most--family, friendships, finances? Just write them down on a sticky note or in your iPhone notes.

2) Turn these into starting points for different book ideas. Then order them from one to ten to see which ones really interest you the most. Sometimes too many ideas can be like good-idea-overload. So, pick the top two ideas, and save the others for later.

3) After the initial brainstorm, write a few sentences about certain aspects (or central themes) of those main topics (these will turn into chapter heads).

4) Now, you're going to dissect one of those chapter heads; it doesn't have to be the first chapter. You could even write the last chapter first. For example: if the book is on money--the chapter head could be "savings." The notes on savings could be about a) starting with 100 dollars, b) opening a separate savings account, and c) paying in cash so you spend less. Now the ball is rolling.

That's it for today. Just remember if you really want this, you have to start somewhere. If it's only one inch, that's okay. It's so much better than doing nothing--because each paragraph is a catalyst--energizing you into the next section.

Maybe the next day, it's ten inches (or you'll write 25 pages). Then a few feet the following week (or 50 pages). Just keep writing words, and worry about edits later.

Also, go ahead and count the small victories. If you wrote 50 words, that's great. On another day, it could be 5,000 words. Make it all count, instead focusing on the glass being half-empty.

You can do it! Don't give up! And get writing! :)

Dianne Bright is a regular contributor with Reader's Digest. Her new book: MOMS KICK BUTT is now available for pre-order and comes out in Feb/2021.
Moms Kick Butt

Writing is not for the faint of heart. It's an arduous task which often involves very little praise. Sometimes, you get positive feedback, but usually an editor tells you what's wrong with an article or a book proposal, not necessarily what's right with it. Of course, there are exceptions to this--but if you've been in the writing industry for very long, you know those accolades can feel few and far between.

Whether you're trying to make it as an indie-anything (writer, artist, musician, film-maker, etc.), you know the goals in front of you will require lots of hard work. So, staying the course has to mean saying "No" to certain things that will take you off-course. So, it's okay to turn down certain projects that aren't as good of a fit for that particular month or quarter; by being discriminating, you're able to focus on the ones in front of you that matter most.

Being a writer can feel pretty lonely at times. I'd even venture to say that most writers are introverts by nature (though I'm sure there are some exceptions). And speaking from experience, it seems like most writers are also runners, swimmers, or rowers--basically anything that checks off "individual sport" from the list.

With awesome play-lists, delicious snacks, and plenty of breaks, this solitude provides time to let the jumbled thoughts of a writer's brain to land in a safe space. This is where she can allow random or more specific thoughts to cycle their way down into more tangible forms of material regardless of how silly or serious they might sound. Note: This often involves talking to oneself to test them out. Or talking to nearby pets or plants. Inevitably, these ponderings might lead to random bouts of laughter, crying, or dancing, depending on the theme(s). Or more cleaning or baking (just keeping it real)!

You've probably heard an author share how she came up with her book idea from a dream. Or how she started taking notes on her iPhone after hearing an interesting conversation at a coffeeshop or on the train. Or how that screenwriter just started pooling notes from different napkins, from here or there, and they came up with something great!

The point is, it all happens because the writer is willing to slow down and practice the pause from the daily routine (even if that involves movement, like jogging, quilting, or gardening). It just needs to be a break from the regular to-do lists. A few more options include painting just for the hell of it, writing a letter to a friend, or playing Scrabble with a stranger online.

As a writer, you basically need to be your own cheerleader. Naturally, writing awards are given out each year, and some people leave positive reviews of your book(s). But for the most part, it seems easier for readers, reviewers, and editors to share the stuff they don't like. While the critical attitude primarily comes from a helpful mindset, sometimes you need a bit more praise to keep moving forward!

Even brief little phrases, like "best book for my teen" or "can't wait for book 2" go a long way. It means so much to writers if you could leave a quick review (omitting the mean stuff). Or, it could be as simple as someone tagging you and sharing your most recent article on their social feeds. What takes a reader less than 60 seconds to post lifts up a writer like she could hold the world in the palm of her hand (trust me).

If you aren't getting much praise or encouragement as a writer, start your day by listing out a few of your own strengths on a sticky note. Then add it to the wall or monitor in front of you. Remind yourself that you're putting yourself out there and hitting your goals!

Good self-care helps writers to stay the course as well. This translates into healthy boundaries. By setting up reasonable parameters for a particular article, manuscript, or screenplay, you can feel more included in the traditional workforce (especially when you're writing from home). When I set these goals ahead of time, it's easier to stop when my watch alarm goes off (and I just snooze it a few more times before closing my document).

The hardest part is keeping to your pre-set time-limits and deadlines. If you've allotted eight hours for a certain article, make sure the last hour includes final edits, or you'll be tempted to push it to nine or ten hours before you're actually done. Of course, there's more wiggle room on bigger projects and always exceptions when an editor sends something back for revisions. So, give yourself a half an hour or more to include that in the timeframe.

When you set a routine for the day that honors your value, you feel more valuable. That's a tautology that goes without saying, but honestly, if you feel worth the task, your writing is more likely to reflect the best that's inside of you. One caveat here: If you are in the zone with a 12-15 hour writing session, go with it. Just don't make that your norm. Otherwise, you will likely burn out. Then it's harder to keep hanging on.

This next tip will be tricky for some of you. It was for me until I became a more experienced "paid" writer. Here it is: If an editor asks more of you than what you can give, then ask for more money. It feels counterintuitive at first because all you want is more work. Sure, at the beginning when you're building up your platform, you might need to write as a volunteer blogger for free or for very little. But eventually, once you get going, the money starts showing up too. So, don't keep saying "Yes" for jobs that don't pay what you're worth. Fear that the next thing won't show up might keep you in that loop, but try to hold your ground. Other stuff is going to show up if you keep investing in yourself, and your time is important, so it's okay if an editor knows that.

As a reference point, the highest rate I've been paid for printed articles is one dollar per word and about 75 cents per word for digital. With more recent groups, I've negotiated based on the approximate number of slides. If it's too much research or writing for the amount of slides, I'll ask for more money--and sometimes, I'll just turn it down. This can feel scary, but remember your time matters! If you're not getting paid what you're worth, use the time to finish that manuscript you've had filed away instead. Or, use the time to build your platform by connecting with filmmakers, producers, or talent agents, etc.

For book deals, I've not yet hit the big one, so I basically move forward when something feels right depending on the season; adding readers always builds my platform, so I consider it a win when I put something out there that I'm proud of. But when I become a more prominent book author, it means I will be able to be more selective about the terms of my book deals. I'm so excited for that!

Last tip: Remember to give yourself lots of grace. Some days, I'm not as productive as others. This could be due to a health issue for one person or a busy list of family commitments for someone else. Maybe it's another job pulling you away from your writing since you need to pay the majority of your bills from that one. Try to pause; then remind yourself it's okay! Some of these things are outside of your control, so mentally berating yourself for not getting more done isn't going to help. During busy seasons, set the timer for 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and keep moving forward to meet your writing goals no matter what. Not giving up is what counts!