It's Never Too Late

A Good Life Lesson by Chris Hadfield

100 Reasons to Stay Alive

Everything is Going to be Okay

When people turn to fictional characters, it’s often because they want an escape. The stories of these people shelter us from the storm of our daily lives; they save us, if only for a little while. But when we really give in, become invested, let ourselves be vulnerable, something changes. We begin to feel that we know them. It’s no longer just an escape, but part of us, something that makes us who we are.

These characters teach us that incredible adversity can be overcome. That people can love each other forever. That life can be an adventure. That magic can be real. And even if these miracles have never happened to us, we begin to go through life believing that, someday, they could.

20 Inspiring Quotes To Help You Finish Writing Your Book

(Originally written by Sam Horn and found here.)

My work is helping people get their ideas out of their head and into the world so those ideas can make a positive difference for others and a prosperous living for you. Ideas in your head help no one.
In the 20 years I’ve had the pleasure of helping people become published authors; I have never met any who were sorry they wrote their book; they were only sorry they didn’t write it sooner.
I’ve collected 20 inspiring quotes to help you finish that book you’ve been talking about. Post these where you see them throughout the day. Keeping your intentions in sight, in mind can hold you accountable for writing every day . . . even if it’s a single page.
I promise you, when you hold your completed book in your hands and hear from people how it influenced them; it will be one of the most tangibly satisfying achievements of your life. It will be a legacy that outlives you – a contribution no one can take away.
1. “If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.” – Dan Poynter
2. When asked the secret to finishing his 500 page masterpiece The Power of One, author Bryce Courtenay growled, “Bum glue!”
3. “If my doctor told me I had only 6 months to live, I’d type a little faster.” – Isaac Asimov
4. “Inspiration usually comes during work, not before it.” – Madeleine L’Engle
5. “I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at 9 am every morning.” – Peter DeVries
6. “I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.” – Steve Martin
7. “I made a startling discovery. Time spent writing = output of work. Amazing.” – Ann Pachett
8. “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see to the end of your headlights; but you can make the whole trip that way.” – E. L. Doctorow
9. “Ever tried and failed? No matter. Try again and fail better.” – Samuel Beckett
10. “It’s never too late – in fiction or in life – to revise.” – Nancy Thayer
11. “The way to resume is to resume. It is the only way. To resume.” – Gertrude Stein
12. “Best advice on writing I’ve ever received. Finish.” – Peter Mayle
13. “When I am writing, I am doing the thing I was meant to do.” – Anne Sexton
14. “You can sit there, tense and worried, freezing the creative energies, or you can start writing something. It doesnt matter what. In five or ten minutes, the imagination will heat, the tightness will fade, and a certain spirit and rhythm will take over.” – Leonard Bernstein
15. “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged. I had pieces that were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avioding sending them out.” – Erica Jong
16. “Once you’ve done the mental work, there comes a point you have to throw yourself into action and put your heart on the line.” – Lakers basketball coach Phil Jackson
17. “The faster I write, the better my output. If I’m going slow, I’m in trouble. It means I’m pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.” – Raymond Chandler
18. “When you speak, your words echo across the room. When you write, your words echo across the ages.” – Chicken Soup for the Writers Soul author Bud Gardner
19. “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” – Carl Sandburg
20. “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” – Pearl S. Buck
Bonus Quotes
21. “If you want to write, you can. Fear stops most people from writing, not lack of talent. Who am I? What right have I to speak? Who will listen to me? You are a human being with a unique story to tell. You have every right.” – Richard Rhodes
22. “A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage.” – Sydney Smith
Make this the year you have the courage of your convictions that you have an intriguing story to tell, a worthwhile message to share.
Take responsibility for getting your ideas out of your head and into the world. I guarantee, you’ll never regret writing your book; you’ll only regret not writing it. . . sooner.
Best wishes and . . . write on.

A Week of Inspiration - Day 6, The Music

This is the last post on my Week of Inspiration with a subject closest to my heart.

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The Music
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Some people love to listen to specific groups or solo singers when they write. I have heard some songs that immediately "fit" whatever story I'm working on, and I create a "soundtrack album" to keep that mood going. But when I'm writing I prefer to listen to soundtracks. The warm, flowing melodies are perfectly suited for those intimate romantic moments, and the soaring, full-throated orchestral passages epitomize the climactic "hero saves the day" chapter.

A Week of Inspiration - Day 5, The Dust Collector

Another tip and trick to help inspire the writing muse:

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The Dust Collector
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I'll bet money there's a story you either started and didn't finish (or did finish but never submitted) that's sitting on a disk or hard drive somewhere. Get it out and read it. Why did you abandon it? And when you've answered that question, ask yourself, "How can I fix the problem/s to make the story better?" If you have to trash whole sections of it, do, but don't abandon the story entirely. Remember, you thought your idea was good enough to start it and maybe finish it. Maybe all it really needs is a good hard edit and a can of polish.

(On the reverse side, let's say you start a story and then run into a brick wall. That's okay, too. Some stews need to simmer longer than others. Same goes for stories. Trust yourself to come up with an idea that'll bring that story back to the front where you can finish it!)

A Week of Inspiration - Day 4, The Locale

More tips and tricks to help inspire the writing muse:
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The Locale
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There's an old phrase that goes "Location. Location. Location." The same goes for writing. Try coming up with a story based on where you live. Don't think your home town has any interesting highlights? Try again. Ask around. Go to the Chamber of Commerce online and see what parts of your town/city they emphasize. Or maybe it's an annual event they encourage people to come help celebrate. Check out what industries are nearby that your hero or heroine could work for. Look to see what's close to you, and set your story there.

A Week of Inspiration - Day 3, The Challenge

Continuing on with my week's worth of ideas to inspire a writer:

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The Challenge
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What's selling right now? What's "hot"? Now ask yourself, can I write that? If the answer is no, don't worry about it. Writing is like any other profession. You are best at what you enjoy most, so don't force yourself to write something you wouldn't feel comfortable writing. But if there's a certain niche you wouldn't mind exploring, DON'T try to write a story "just like it".  Instead, try to come up with a different scenario. Challenge yourself to create a different kind of hero or heroine, a different kind of villain, a different kind of conflict.

A Week of Inspiration - Day 2, The Getaway

To continue on with my tips and tricks to writing, and where I get my ideas and inspiration:

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The Getaway
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It doesn't have to be expensive. It could be some place you like to visit, or a place you've never been before. It can be a local tourist site, a museum, the zoo, or even the park. But get out of the house and go! Clear your mind and let your thoughts flow where they want. The laundry and dishes will always be there. Take just an hour of "away time" for yourself to let the ambiance of the place seep into your brain and give you a fresh perspective. And hopefully an idea or two.

A Week of Inspiration - Day 1, The Photo

I often have people, including authors, ask me where I get my inspiration to write. Where do my ideas come from? This week I'm going to share a few of my tricks which help me.

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The Photo
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I find a picture that inspires me. It can be a single shot of a couple, or two separate pics of a man and a woman. The photo can be one that makes me feel soft and romantic inside, or makes me think this might be the climactic part of the book. From there I begin to build a story around them. Who are these people? Why are they there? What is their conflict? I print out the picture and pin it above my computer to keep me focused. I write their names on the photo, including eye color and any other descriptive nuances (tattoos? scars?). In time, their story begins to emerge.

For the Love of Writing - With Music

I can't write when it's quiet. But neither can I write when the TV's on. I watch very little television. After a full day of teaching, my evenings are for writing, so I can't afford too many distractions.

However, I have to have my music. Soft background music. Sometimes by a particular artist, but usually motion picture soundtracks.

I have my iPod sitting on a base with dual speakers. Once it's on, I'm able to concentrate. And now that I think back on it, when I was in school and college, that's how I used to study -- with the stereo going constantly.

And if I'm very lucky, a song will inspire me for another story. :D