Inspiration: Weird and Wonderful

Story ideas come from all over the place. With me, it can come from the strangest places. Several years ago I  entered a contest with a local book store with several of my poems. One of my poems won. The prize, a place in the anthology, and a book signing. It was so much fun. I felt like a "real" poet. The inspiration for that winning piece - a toilet paper commercial. Maybe I'll share the poem one day.

Peeps are the inspiration for my new short story. My writing group does writing exercises every other week. One week, and I know I've told this story before, we had to write 500 words on a picture we posted on our Facebook page. I chose this picture.

This picture just cracked me up You would not believe the dioramas people do with peeps.(I saw one about Soylent Green and it said they eat Peeple.) and I was inspired to write my 500 words. The 500 grew to be 3000, and a short story was born. I apologized for the length when I submitted the piece, but the story just kept flowing out of my head and onto the paper. I was blown away when everyone in the group loved it. They encouraged me to clean it up and publish. The original title was "The Case of the Missing Peep," but after doing some research, I found out I couldn't use "Peep," because of the trademark, so I made some changes. The changes worked and "Mallow Mayhem" was born. 

I'm in the process of having the story edited, and my cover is being created. The reveal will be coming soon.  In February look for "Philippa Marlowmellow in Mallow Mayhem." You can't trust anyone in The Pink. I'm very excited about it. 

I never know where my next idea may come from. Another toilet commercial? A picture posted on my Facebook page or Twitter account? Or maybe something my children say. You just never know. Keep your eyes and ears open because there are stories everywhere.

What is your weirdest inspiration for a story. Let me know. Post on my Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Haman-Author/522681927846776. It will be interesting to see what everyone says.

New Logo! New Website! Yippee!

Meet the phoenix - my new logo. Isn't it pretty! I have always been fascinated by the mythology of the phoenix. A bird that resurrects from its ashes, being reborn time and time again. That's how I feel throughout different phases of my life. I grow and am reborn- hopefully into a much better person. That's my goal. 

Writing is the same way. As we figure out who we want to be as a writer, we go through that rebirth. We build the nest and are comfortable in who we are, only to find out we have to burn it and become something new. Something better. And we rise from the ashes. 

How many have you done that in life. Rose from the ashes of something less to be stronger. A better person than you were before? 

Yes, this is a short post today. I wanted to introduce you to my new logo, and invite you to visit my website LisaHaman.com to see its new look. I want to thank Kayelle Allen of the Author's Secret, theauthorssecret.com for my lovely new logo.

I found this great video on YouTube. I love the images and the music.  The title is The Mythology of the Phoenix? I hope you enjoy.

Evolution Of A Writer - 2015 All In!

By Michal Osmenda (Flickr: It's Christmas time) 

[CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It's New Years Day and I got up early (I'm so not a morning person) and am at Starbucks trying to get out my first post of the New Year. It's very distracting at home with the hubby and kids. I stayed up too late and got up too early, so I hope I make sense. After doing a lot of pondering, I have decided on a few writing goals for 2015.

The first thing I realized was I was still in "writing as a hobby" mode and didn't acknowledge it. I was "trying out the water," so to speak. You know, dipping that toe in to see if the water is to cold. I was writing, and trying to get my marketing info in place. I have a website, mailing list, Twitter account, etc. I did all the "right" things, but I still hadn't made that jump. That fear I talked about in one of my previous posts raised its ugly head.

 

"I can't do this."

"This is too hard."

"I'm not good enough or smart enough."

"I'm not a good writer."

These are the thoughts that go through my head when I think about going "all in." Very self-defeating, and if I want to be a writer, they have to go.

I'm reading a book titled, Excuses Begone! by  Dr. Wayne Dyer. It's a very interesting book about reprogramming your thought processes to get past the excuses and live a fruitful and excuse free life. It wasn't my idea to read this book. It was suggested by a health care provider and I'm glad I did. Although, I don't agree with everything Dr. Dyer says, the premise is a good one. I'm going to be implementing his excuses be gone premise and come to this point in my writing career with passion and creativity.

So, what am I going to do about it? Well....number 1- get a logo. My friend, Kayelle Allen of The Author's Secret https://theauthorssecret.com is helping me design a logo for myself. It's gong to be nice. I will reveal it when we are done. We are also going to update my website. There are things that I want to do and offer that I can't with the way things are now.

I'm going to become an LLC and be a business. As much as I love writing, I need to separate part of it from my home finances. It will be easier that way. This is the part that scares me the most. This makes it more than a hobby. it makes it my job, and therefore, I have to do it. This makes it real. And exciting. And REALLY exciting. I could use adverbs until the cows come home, but you get the meaning.

I'm going to blog more. I don't know about what yet. Well, I do know my next blog post will be about the release of my upcoming short story in February. I'm REALLY excited about that too.

I need to be better at time management. That is where I get most of my excuses.

"I got this new job and I don't have time."

"I have to do stuff for my family."

"I don't have time because....."

Well, I did have to get a job, but I can write.

I do have to do stuff for my family, but I can still write.

I don't have time, but I do. I can make time to write.

I have so many stories that want to be told and I want to write every one of them. I want to be all in. So in 2015, I'm taking the plunge. Putting all my chips on the table Going all in. I'm not a  hobby writer. I'm a professional writer. That is my goal. And with the help of God, my family and friends, I will be a good one.

Here's to a wonderful writing 2015!