Reflections

How is it possible that another year has gone by?  As one gets older, time doesn’t move at the pace of the hour glass; it slips and slides like sand between the fingers. All too soon, I’m chasing that last minute before the day is done, and then I lie in bed wondering if I could have done some more.

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on what we have done these past twelve months with our careers, families, friends, and interests. What have we done to change or enhance our existence? Did our careers get a boost or a nudge, or did it plateau and maybe even take a beating? What were the highlights in our family events? The ones that made us laugh, love, or cry? Did we reconnect with an old friend, make a new one or simply kept our friendships active? Where did our interests take us this year—developed a new hobby or nurtured an old one? Did we try to make a difference to someone’s life?

So much to reflect upon.

I am blessed. I am grateful for many things in my life, and I remind myself of these as often as I can—sometimes daily—with even just one thing that makes me smile. One joyful bundle entered my life this year. My granddaughter, born during the first quarter, never fails to lift my spirits every time my eyes fall on her cherubic face, in many expressions, on my computer screen.

My family, at my side all the time, cheers me on as I measure each success by my writing milestones. A new contact or friend, attendance at a new author’s book launch, my first reading, my name amongst other writers—still unknown, but hopefully not for long.

I have edited more than a quarter of my first novel. The fact that I even finished my first draft this year is an achievement I never thought was possible. For so many years I had dreamed of writing a novel, but never got past the first couple of pages. So I am indeed thankful.

For anyone reading this blog, I hope you’ve had a successful year, however you define success.

Story Engineering - Pearls of Wisdom

The most worthwhile $10 that I spent on a writing book recently was for Larry Brooks’ book, Story Engineering. Not only has he suddenly brought structure to my novel, but he’s infused it with new life.

Last November I started my novel-writing journey. I bought a number of books for technical guidance. I'm reading many novelists' work with a voracious appetite in the hopes of gleaning some nuggets of wisdom. I’m also poring over numerous writing blogs, magazines, and anything that remotely resembles writerly pearls. And now there's Story Engineering, a book I stumbled upon when I was browsing some of the recommended websites by Writers Digest. Until then, I’d say I was probably wandering in the pantser’s forest. Yes, there’s actually a word for my “fly by the seat of the pants” writing style. Mr. Brooks refers to people like me as pantsers.

Well, I took his advice and started to plan my book. That’s not to say I didn’t have a plan before - it was somewhat unstructured with a loose outline. My left brain kicked into high gear as I read Mr. Brooks’ methodology. I’m not suggesting that writing is left-brained, but I like the structured process. I can overlay my creativity freely over my "beat sheet". Knowing my destination ahead of time is actually liberating. I know it almost sounds oxymoronish (dictionary says no such word exists)…structured creativity. Hey, if it gets me excited about my writing, that's what matters.

I have completed the road map for my novel. Thankfully I was only at the halfway point in the book when I realized that I should stop my organic writing. I can now start to navigate my way on this journey with a defined route. While I'm prepared and expect to deviate somewhat during the creative process, I know that the basic path will keep me on course. For any budding novelist out there, if you’re finding yourself doing many re-writes and drafts, I’d recommend trying Larry Brooks’ Story Engineering.

The Perfect Storm of the Book Shopping Kind

I was on a book buying spree this past week. Why? Because all the right conditions were present just like the perfect storm, a rarity.

Ever since I got an iPad from my boys last Christmas, it has an invisible chord attached to me right next to my BlackBerry. I can’t believe how easy it is to browse and download ebooks in minutes. The virtual store is denting my wallet faster than the bricks and mortar kind.

My novel has been in hiatus because I’m focusing on my short stories…or perhaps that’s just an excuse. It occurred to me that a how-to book would help me re-focus. So, I started the week with Bob Mayer’s “The Novel Writer’s Toolkit”. Then came Writers Digest’s bundled deal, a few days later, for “Start (and Finish) That Book Kit”. Hmmm…that seemed like another sign to get me going again. No ebooks here, but I have nothing against traditional books that I can physically hold in my hands. And yes, I could do with a couple of webinars too.

By Friday night, after a couple of @mentions and direct messages with a fellow tweep, Rick Bylina’s “One Promise Too Many” became part of my Kindle collection before I could finish saying “Boo”. Finally, I wound up the week with my first Kobo purchase, “The Accident” by Linwood Barclay. When he was a humour columnist at The Toronto Star, his section was a must read for me.

To sum up, this week has been a productive one for books, someone else’s writing, that is. I’m glad I have a paying job.

Reality Check - The 4-Hour Work Week?

When my son told me to read Timothy Ferriss’ book, The 4-Hour Work Week, I thought the title was very clever. It was an immediate hook. Who doesn’t want to work only four hours a week? If someone has a solution for helping me be ultra productive, then I’m prepared to invest some time in reading the book.

My son raved about the useful tips he was learning from Tim Ferriss. As an entrepreneur, he thought he could apply a number of suggestions shown in the book. He is now trying to avoid meetings unless they are absolutely necessary (he says). He already pays bloggers to manage and post to his company’s website, so he is not averse to the idea of outsourcing…okay, so Tim Ferriss puts a whole new meaning to the concept of outsourcing. As for gunning for mini-retirement, that’s still a pipe dream.

For my part, I found most of the pages “entertaining”, this being the key word. I was especially tickled by some of the stories served up as examples of how to outsource your life. I bookmarked them and shared some laughs with a few of my work colleagues. Alas, Tim Ferriss’ methods will never work for office lifers like me. I bet that if I adopted some of his tactics, I would be standing at the unemployment line in a heartbeat. Now, my boss trusts me…a lot, I think. But to put in face time of, say, three days a week? He’ll pay me accordingly.

For the short period that I spent flipping the pages, I could see myself on board my favourite cruise ships, living out the 4-hour work week. But, Mr. Ferriss, while I chuckled and even laughed out loud reading your book, I cannot heed your advice.

Learning from books

Sometimes we place unrealistic expectations on books to make life-altering changes for us. I have often picked up a self-help book with that hope. Of course, that doesn’t happen. Reality check, please. Indeed I’ve gleaned many useful nuggets that I have been able to apply to my life from reading well-informed authors. I believe that if I can take away two or three tips and incorporate them into my routine, then my time is well spent.

Such was the case when I bought Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein – The Art and Science of Remembering Everything. I thought I would give my brain the gift of memory. Eagerly, I read page after page, holding my breath for the moment of enlightenment. Then I finished reading the book. Still the “Aha” moment did not come.

So I mulled over what I had read. Did I enjoy reading it? Yes, I did. Is there a takeaway for me? I thought about Mr. Foer’s journey from an ordinary person with average memory to winning the U.S. Memory Championship. He shared some of his memorization techniques. Example, “The idea is to create a space in the mind’s eye, a place that you know well and can easily visualize, and then populate that imagined place with images representing whatever you want to remember.” I tried that out. It worked. I loved the suggestion that the more ridiculous the images, the better you would be able to retain them. The problem was that the effort became too much for me. I have lapsed back to my usual forgetful self, but I’m learning not to chastise myself for not remembering.

The lesson:  books can’t change me, only I can…sometimes with assistance from experts in their fields.

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The Palm Leaf Fan

Kwai-Yun Li is an amazing person who I had the pleasure of meeting recently. She is the author of The Palm Leaf Fan, a collection of short stories that has prompted many discussions in university classrooms. A Chinese Canadian who emigrated from India in 1972, she is a generous spirit brimming with enthusiasm about her work, and eager to share her knowledge about the writing world.

Ms. Li’s characters are based upon the Indian Chinese of Calcutta (now called Kolkata). Her stories bring to life a community that was once vibrant in that populous city. Most of these people are now living in other parts of the world, the largest number having settled in Canada. Ms. Li writes about growing up in Calcutta with simplicity that lends credibility to all the personalities. She has a gentle and persuasive style as she weaves her characters into arranged marriages, the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and subsequent internment of Chinese residents, and the Indian caste system.

I feel very fortunate to have made the acquaintance of this graceful person. If you’re looking for something different and uncomplicated to read this summer, try The Palm Leaf Fan.

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Book Review - Dreaming Kathmandu

If you love words, Glenn Forbes Miller’s book, Dreaming Kathmandu, will captivate you. If hiking is your passion, you will be treated to an adventure. If you love traveling, the sights and sounds will reach out to the tourist in you.

Miller has captured the rugged and rustic beauty that is Nepal. His eloquence paints an ephemeral glimpse of a world that is as yet unspoiled, for the most part, by modern advancements. When he reaches fabled Tilicho Lake, the highest lake in the Himalayas at 16,232 feet, its pristine beauty moves him to philosophical musings.

“One has to observe the beautiful and be moved by the phenomenon for the beautiful to exist. Things in and of themselves are only things. A mountain. A valley. A gelid blue lake. Each, all exist without me. And if I perceive one of them as beautiful, it exists because I am there to behold it, to declare it, to think it into existences.”

Then there is the human dynamics. Four family members, Miller and his wife and two adult children, always within yelling distance for 34 days. It is not always a smooth ride. Other trekkers along the way also become characters in his book as he weaves them in with interesting side stories. Add to that mix the local people brought to life with words that he seems to have an endless supply of.

 
Certainly a book worth reading.

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