Tag: writing advice

The Right Time to Write

DeNikke Carter (DNC)Leave a comment

There is never a right time to write but always time to write whether the time is right or not. Sometimes you just have to start writing or typing to let the story flow. Planning helps but when your mind drifts to the perfect line or scene don’t wait to get it out.

I use to keep notes on my phone but now I carry a small notepad in my purse so I can capture my thoughts. I don’t know what it is about holding a pen and jointing down details or some character’s voice but it feels better than thumbing it into a piece of technology.

But that’s my chosen tool of creative channeling. What’s yours? Whatever it is, just remember to use it whenever you can. It’s still great to have a routine dedicated time to writing but do you think Micheal Jackson only made music each Sunday at noon? Or Maya wrote poetry after working an eight-hour shift? Not likely.

Get your words out, whenever and however you need to. Your legacy depends on it.

Oh, and one of the moments I chose to just get words out is now being published in an anthology by Z Publishing. So these are words that I can testify to. I’ve lived and are still living each syllable. I’ll let you know when America’s Emerging Writers – Atlanta edition is out so you can go grab a copy and see what got picked up. Hint: It’s a fictional young adult fantasy piece (Yay, I write that too).

Until next time…

With passion,

DNC

#writerslife Working on My Ship

DeNikke Carter (DNC)Leave a comment

There are so many moments in life where we lose ourselves in the world’s chaos. Moments where our roles overlap so much that we lose sight of how valuable it is to give each responsibility their necessary nurturing.

That has happened to me over, and over, and over again. And, I understand that will continue to happen again and again if I don’t openly receive the messages, signs, or green lights that God has put so masterfully in front of me.
Where is this thought coming from or going? Let me share…

I’m in editing mode of my next book. The book that I want to pitch to agents and publishing houses. A book that I know tells a story that is new, sexy and introspective. Hence, my due diligence to get it right.

But trying to get it right has been muddled with so many other existing priorities that I’m trying to juggle at the same time; each losing steam because honestly, my brain is exhausted.

So, I come into work today, thinking solely about how to prioritize my work for the day, and notice a uniquely shaped purple package on my desk.

Befuddled by this object, I open it before sitting down to find out that it’s a card, pens and an angel.

Two pens exclaim the message “Tell Your Story” and “Writing Is My Happy Place”. Then tears began to fill up my eyes because it is true. Writing IS my happy place because it lets me tell my story.

The Angel has “Joy” etched in her robe, with an open embrace to the sky.
The card, well the card says more than I want to share in this post because of its personal message and now its home in my heart. However, I’ll sum it up like this:

Sometimes, we don’t know how our actions or words influence the world that we live in. Sometimes we only notice how chaotic it truly is and how we just need to stay afloat. But sometimes, we need a reminder that our purpose is not to “just stay afloat” but to build a ship that helps the world around us, guiding it in a direction we have been entrusted to go.

writinggift3

 

The mom of one of my close friends reminded me of that. She gave me words and gifts that woke my spirit back up to complete this book, and the others that will soon follow, to keep blogging and sharing these moments because they are truths in many ways, and can empower those who may not feel that they can also “build a ship”.

 

“…empower those who may not feel that they can also ‘build a ship’.”

Have you started working on your “ship” yet? You definitely should. I’ll continue to work on mine too.

Stay passionate!
DNC

Why I almost gave up writing yesterday

DeNikke Carter (DNC)Leave a comment

I ALMOST GAVE UP

Yesterday I asked myself, what the hell are you doing? Writing!? For what? Fuck writing. You don’t have enough followers on your social channels. You haven’t heard back from the one agent you submitted to. You haven’t finished any of the stories/novels that you say you want to publish. What in all the hell are you really doing?

And my answer to myself was a plain I don’t know.

Defeated couldn’t describe my mental state yesterday. My soul was dark and my eyes were clouded. I couldn’t see where I was going anymore and I almost gave up writing.
It was like my mind wanted something different but I didn’t know what that “want” was exactly. More results maybe. More followers and likes. More finished projects. Just more. But why?

SOMETIMES IT’S MORE THAN JUST ABOUT THE “WHY”

I’ve been told many times that you have to savor those amazing moments; live in the blessing that you’ve received. One of my most amazing writing moments was the day I released my first book. I was in heaven for that day but by the next day, I was lost in “what the hell is next?”

Honestly, that’s one of my biggest problems as a writer—hell probably as a person—is that I miss out those savory moments. I’m so caught up in “what’s next” or “do more” or “why are you…” that it mentally drains my will and passion.

Some days we’ve got to ask ourselves what have we done to understand why we have and continue to do it.

WHAT HAVEN’T WE DONE!

As writers, in any capacity, we have given the world our words. Words that once they are out, are etched in stone, on the world wide web (remember when we use to say that…ok I digress), or up in the cloud, or in our audience’s mind. We share our thoughts with no real clue how the world may receive our message. As dangerous, scary or rejuvenating as it may be, it’s the biggest and most important what to our journey.

Toni Morrison already told us that “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

We write because we love to do it. If you’re like me, you love to do it so much that you get up early and go to bed late just to get out your story because you have to.

That’s what the fuck we are doing. We are fulfilling our purpose by telling a story that needs to be told. Let’s not lose focus on that. So what if it takes us months or years to get it out, it’s the action that matter’s most. An action that keeps us sane and thriving. An action that is the key to our creative joy.

Push through writer’s block. Push through your doubts and worries about how the audience will receive your message. Push through the unknowns of this journey because it WILL be worth it. God gave us this gift for a reason and we MUST NOT take it lightly.

I almost gave up writing yesterday, until I realized that this gift was directly from God and it’s exactly what I should be doing to leave my legacy.