The Inspiration of Setting … Delsora Lowe

Writing is all about setting. In this case, I’m not talking about the setting of our books or articles or poetry. But the setting in which we place our desk and computer or pad and pencil.

Oak and Sunset From My Window

Moon Playing Hide and Seek with the Oak

For me, visuals are important. I need the distraction of scenery or activity, even if it’s a scene of squirrels chasing each other around my oak tree trunk in the spring or gathering acorns in the fall. OR birds pecking the ground for bugs. OR the profusion of dandelions springing up across the brown turning to green lawn. OR the arrival of elementary-aged kids bicycling or skipping or skateboarding to school, wearing backpacks laden with who knows what.

All those common-day occurrences are fodder for the imagination. When I can’t think of a word or I can’t figure out why the heroes of my story are acting out or not doing anything at all, which is unacceptable in a story that must move along, these little distractions allow my brain to observe and become distracted. That little act of woolgathering helps to empty the mind and allow the muse to take charge and create.

But sometimes, the same ‘ole, same ‘ole just won’t do the job of releasing the muse. A change of scenery is needed. That can be taking a walk around the block, enjoying neighbor’s gardens to free up the brain, or getting away for a self-imposed, writing retreat weekend, where you can stare at waves pounding the rocky shore in New England. OR the vibrant sunsets dipping below the red rocks in Arizona. OR eagles flying over a calm lake surrounded by tall evergreens as far as the eye can see in the Adirondacks. OR the expanse of white sands meeting a blue sky of a North Carolina beach, with only the flight of native birds for company. OR a sunny day in Colorado with the range of snow-covered mountains as a backdrop.

Red Rocks of Sedona, AZ Painted by My Grandfather

Unfortunately, those types of retreats are a bit out of my budget. But, even a three-block trip to the local coffee shop to people watch while inhaling scents of dark roast, spicey chai tea, and cinnamon buns, can elicit memories and help create a new outlook on story.

So, when you’re stuck, or need a break from whatever activity is holding you hostage, take a mini-vacation around the neighborhood, or plan a weekend getaway to really rejuvenate your muse or relieve stress of the day-to-day drudgery that can totally shut us home-bound writers down.

To choose which I prefer, sitting at my usual writing place with the familiar scene or exploring new places with a view, is a toss-up. I know where things are on my desk (even though it is a frightful mess.) I know what I’ll see out the window as I gaze blankly looking for the correct wording. I know I can jump up and grab my favorite mug for a cup of tea, the flavor to match my mood of the day.

The Oak in Early Spring

But changing up my writing environment, puts a new spin on the world and makes my brain do a reset, opening up my mind to think differently. Observe a new prompt to jumpstart my stalled writing. Or bring me in contact with an overheard conversation or new image that will spark an idea for a brand-new story.

Hanging at the Beach

Both the familiar and the unfamiliar have a place in reenergizing our minds and souls, and jumpstarting our writer’s muse…or anything in your life that needs jumpstarting.

What’s your favorite setting?

 

The Love Left Behind

Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Love-Left-Behind-Hartford-Estate-ebook/dp/B08L5N5DS9/

Books2Read   books2read.com/u/mglVqK

 

cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest novella is The Love Left Behind. Two holiday books will be released this fall.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Photo Credits:
View From Desk, Oak Tree, Painting: Photos by author
Kids with backpacks: Free Pictures Of Backpacks, Download Free Pictures Of Backpacks png images, Free ClipArts on Clipart Library (clipart-library.com)
Thinking: People Thinking Clipart, Transparent PNG Clipart Images Free Download - ClipartMax
Steamy Cup: Clip Art - Free Steamy Cup - Google Search

Terri Molina: Just Like Starting Over

Just Like Starting Over

Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I’m Terri Molina, and I write Tex-Mex romance. You can learn more about me at www.terrimolina.com

I can’t believe it’s been a year and a half since I posted here. Thank you, RTG, for having me back.

So, what’s life been like since I’ve been gone? Crazy busy, pretty much.

As you may, or may not, know, my husband lost his job in 2015 and by the end of the year, we decided to uproot our family and move back to Texas to start our own tower lighting company, a job my husband had been doing previously. Basically, our job is to climb towers and change out the lights or beacons as needed. My sons do the climbing and occasionally I work on the ground. Since Texas has a large number of lighted towers, he decided it was the best place to open. Plus, it’s home and what better place to start over?

What a tower looks like in a book.

And  when you are working on it!

Anyway, as for the writerly side, it has its ups and downs. In all honesty, I haven’t been getting much writing done, or not as much as I’d like. I’m a neurotic writer. I go through spurts when I feel like everything I write is garbage and I’m a hack and I’ll never write another book. Sometimes I think my muse decided to stay in Arizona and taunt me from afar. Haha

 

Nevertheless, I do plan to get back to writing. I have a novel to finish and a few to start. The ideas haven’t lapsed just the motivation to sit-butt-in-chair has. But, I’m working on bringing my muse home.

Some things that help are, reading (for sure) books by the authors who motivate me like Nora Roberts, Jayne Krentz, Lisa Gardner, Lee Child…and occasionally I’ll read one of the authors sitting on my bookshelf just for a chance of pace (haha, writer joke).

Other things that get the gears working are long walks, long drives, attending writing workshops and watching detective type TV shows. Then, sometimes, I just go back and reread the synopsis of the book I’m writing (if there is one).

Eventually I will finish the book-in-progress and get it out there. Then my whole “ack, I’m supposed to write another book?” neuroses will start all over again.

Thank you for reading. If you’d like to see a list of my books you can follow this link to my Amazon page

A Charitable Plan

Back in 2011, when I was newly published with only three titles out, I needed to find a way to be found. Take a hard look at reality: with well over a million new ISBNs generated every year, the pool of available books is literally getting deeper by the minute. I'm standing in the midst of it all, treading water, waving my hands, and shouting my own name ~ but who can hear me?

Everyone says that the best promo is good word of mouth. I thought about that and made a decision: I would create my own romance reader event ~ Arizona's only one, by the way ~ and bring the readers to me. Why not?

And, because I strongly believe in helping others along the way, I tapped two dozen relatively new romance authors, and pulled them in with me.

The concept was simple: I bring four of my fans, you bring four of yours, and we cross-pollinate. We help each other out. Easy peasy.

Only it wasn't.

Turns out, there are a lot of authors who don't "get" promotion. Authors who don't think to toot their own horns, much less someone else's. Whose visions are really quite tiny. Yet I pressed on, linking arms with a couple gals who understood what needed to be done. Though much smaller than we hoped, the very first Arizona Dreamin' was nonetheless an huge hit.

Along the way, I knew that just helping other authors wasn't enough, we needed to make some sort of impact on the world outside of ourselves. We needed a charity.

I was in line at a Starbucks when I said that out loud. The woman in front of me turned around and said, "No one ever picks my charity."

"What charity?" I asked.

"Huntington's Disease Society of America."

I grinned at her. "Give me the contact information. That will be our charity." Just like that, it was done.

I felt bad, then, when our inaugural event was so sparsely attended. Even so, we raised $350, and I sent the check the next week.

What happened next, really surprised me. I received two emails from the HDSA headquarters in Los Angeles, thanking me profusely for the donation.

Really? It was only $350. For someone like Susan G Komen, that wouldn't even buy the staff coffee for the week. But these women were truly grateful. And I was truly glad to have helped.

In Arizona Dreamin's second year, our attendance grew by 50% and we raised $550.

When this blog posts, we will have JUST completed our third annual event. We grew in attendance by another 50%, and expect that will be reflected in our donation. I'll comment when this blog posts and reveal the final amount.

As for the authors, some of them have been with me from the start and we are growing together. There are no egos here, but a genuine understanding that the best way to help ourselves is to help others. In fact, this year we added an aspiring-writer sister event, Buildin' the Dream, whose subtitle is "Authors Helping Authors."

Might you join us next year? We are doing good ~ and having a blast!

Buildin' the Dream: May 29-30, 2014 (BuildinTheDream.com)

Arizona Dreamin': May 30-Jun 1, 2014 (ArizonaDreaminEvent.com)