My inspiration is God: In conversation with Sabrina Hughes on writing her debut book, “Experiencing God’s Power and Miracles” she gave advice to aspirant writers that nobody should let others redefine your voice whichever genres you are in. Read her full interview.
LU: When did you realize that you should write about the book, Experiencing God’s Power and Miracles?
SH: One evening in 2021, I was relaxing in my favorite chair and watching the news on CNN. A few new books were discussed during that time. The pandemic afforded many people the opportunity to write books that they never had time to write in the past. These authors had some form of notoriety so, I was discouraged briefly. It was God himself who nudged me and said that a lot of books are being written but they are not about me. It was at that point that the framework of the book began to form. The name of the book emerged first.
LU: Why did you choose only this spirituality, do you have any other provision for writing fiction about romance or thriller?
SH: My inspiration to write this book came from the Lord. He rekindled every truth/event that is in my book into my spirit and filled in every gap. The purpose of this book is to assist others in developing a relationship with Jesus Christ or nurturing the one they have which ideally will foster spiritual growth. My book is therefore a self-help book designed to cause the reader, to reflect, self-exam, and then respond.
This is why spirituality is at the heart of this book and will be at the heart of my next book as well. Through my lenses, one has experiences of true romance and thrillers organically during their Christian journey or a quest for spirituality. Romance and thrillers are intertwined in my book, but they are non-fictional! Thus, the reader gets the benefit of all three. Aside from being an author, my experiences as a Christian, pastor, and an evangelist attest to the same belief. I could easily write a book that is categorized as a romance or thriller, but I do have an interest at this time. I do see myself writing some short stories and books for kids that are fictional.
LU: To become an author, was a dream, or it was an accidental from sacred incident.
SH: I would not say that becoming an author was a dream for me. I have had an interest in writing a book for several years relating to a number of subject matters that were not of a Christian origin. Reflecting, I guess I would say that it was something that I desired to accomplish. However, I did not have a burning desire to write one until the end of 2021.
LU: How real life characters inspired you in the process of book writing your debut
SH: The actions and outcomes of every person/character identified in each chapter of my book really opened my eyes! I was inspired, became introspective, and gained momentum as the book progressed similar to an adrenaline rush. The inspiration gained through the characters heighten my creativity and thinking which led to intriguing plots, suspenseful twists, unexpected climaxes, and smooth transitions to the next chapter.
LU: How many days you took to craft the novel and describe to us the most inspirational moment in your life which drives you as an author
SH: It took me 137 days to write this book. My key driving force and inspirational moment as an author is the desire to respond to a need in a meaningful way.
LU: What message you would like to give to fellow wannabe authors?
SH: My number one message to aspiring authors is to stay true to who you are and the genres you are passionate about. Do not let others redefine your voice.
The story of mystery on how both need each other to escape. The book The Birdcage by Krista Lynne White narrated intriguingly, keeping the reader in suspense.
Krista Lynne White | Twitter
Author Krista Lynne White
Krista is a former executive recruiter who fell so hard for writing, stories soon consumed her every idle thought. Relationships fascinate her. Marital, romantic, familial, professional—as long as they’re ripe with complexity and emotion—she’ll be writing them. Krista lives in an idyllic Southern Ontario hamlet with her husband, sons and vegetable garden. She’s published a handful of short stories, and this is her first book published with Saga Fiction.
Matt’s in awe of his wife. Feisty, intelligent, capable, and now excelling in her first executive sales position. But Jillian’s job requires long hours, and Matt can’t help but suspect an affair. Jillian’s become more suited to her impressive boss than the hapless schoolteacher she’s outgrown.
Jillian’s marriage is slipping through her fingers.
Jill loves meeting the challenges of her new job, despite the unreasonable demands of her misogynistic boss. But she needs to find the balance between being a woman, wife, mother and hard-charging executive. Even a patient man like Matt won’t tolerate being neglected for long.
Episode 1 (The opening paragraph)
‘Are you ready?’
Matt knew he was still limp without having to peek. ‘Maybe a little…you know…lube might help?’
The lamp atop his nightstand illuminated Jillian’s playful smile with soft light. She rolled over and rifled through her nightstand.
Matt reached out and traced the sensual curve of her hip beneath the sheets. He ran his hand through her untamed ginger-gold curls and told himself to relax as she warmed the gel in her palm then slowly caressed him. He moaned as he cupped Jill’s freckle-kissed shoulder then stroked the length of her long, slender arm. Slowly, tenderly, Jill slid along his body with her rhythm and piece by piece the world faded away, until nothing remained but them as one... Shit, she was good at this. A little firmer, a little faster. No, she was exceptional at this. But then, Jill became exceptional at anything she tackled.
‘Mmm, now we’re getting there,’ she purred.
We’re getting there. Tension emerged, stiffening his neck, spreading to his shoulders. That’s not really what she meant. She was there. He wasn’t. He watched Jillian’s smile become cocky, her eyes shift to smug. A competitor, not a wife. You’re coming along now, Matt. Catch up to me, I’m way ahead of you.
Jillian was way ahead of him; distant beyond his grasp, pulling away fast, and he didn’t know how to close the gap.
He grunted and adjusted his hips and shoulders. Their mattress now felt as comfortable as a bed of stones.
‘Relax, babe. I know it’s been a while...Just don’t think about it.’
Thanks a lot, Jill. Trying not to think about the fact they hadn’t made love in the last three months made him unable to think of anything else.
‘Stay with me, babe. I’m losing you.’ She picked up her pace.
Matt shifted, to maximize the onslaught, ‘I’m trying.’
Jillian slowed to a stop, then sighed and kissed his temple, ‘I’m sorry... I ruined it, didn’t I?’
He risked a glance downward. He rolled his eyes and groaned. ’It’s no problem, babe. I’ll try again. Just let me think a minute.’
She rose to her knees and wiped her hands on the sheets, studying him like a doctor assessing a patient. Real sexy.
She suddenly straddled him, leaning forward on her elbows so their chests pressed together and their faces hovered inches apart.
‘I still remember the first time I saw you...’ Her blue eyes twinkled under the lamplight as she gazed into his eyes. Her mouth spread wide, into her adorable gum-bearing smile, as she stroked his thick hair back from his forehead. Cocky or not, she was undeniably beautiful.
‘It would be hard to forget, wouldn’t it? A college doofus who bumbled a first line so badly.’
A lilting chuckle escaped Jillian’s lips and she tried to stifle it in his neck. ‘Is it hot in here, or is it just me?’
Matt grimaced, ‘You. Is it hot in here, or is it just you?’
‘Thankfully, I didn’t know you were giving me a pickup line. If I knew you were trying to woo me by calling me hot, I would’ve presumed you only wanted me for my body, thrown you my nastiest look and turned my back on you forever.’
He chuckled. She would’ve too. Conviction and spirit were among Jillian’s greatest strengths.
She playfully slapped his chest, ‘Okay, yes, I can be a little naïve. I just thought you were too warm, which looked probable—I’d never seen a guy wear a sweater vest to a bar before. That, mixed with your glasses... You were intriguingly intellectual and mature.’
Matt laughed softly, ‘Maybe that’s why I’ve never given up the sweater vests.’
Jillian’s smile faded, all levity gone, ‘That wasn’t the first time I saw you…’
‘It wasn’t?’
‘I noticed you when you came into the bar. Had you not come talk to me, I would’ve talked to you.’
Matt caressed her face with his palms, and stroked her high cheekbones with his thumbs.
Jillian’s eyes narrowed, ‘I’d still notice you. I love you, Matt. Do you know that?’
His chest tightened, a wave of nausea engulfed him. He felt confined, trapped. ‘Yes. I know you love me.’ His head dropped to the side. He couldn’t meet her pleading blue eyes.
He had just lied to his own wife.
‘Do you still love me, Matt?’
‘Of course!’ He looked into her eyes. ‘Of course, I love you.’
Every one of Jill’s facial features relaxed.
Matt kissed her and rolled her onto her back so he could show her just how much he loved her.
He should believe Jillian loved him. In over sixteen years of marriage, she’d never shied away from a hard truth. And it was her honesty that locked him in this cage. He knew she was holding back something big from him, and this time he couldn’t face the truth.
Now that the kids were in school and she could pursue her dreams... Now she’d been promoted and she could see how amazing she really was—how much longer would she put up with him? She drew up seven-figure contracts, while he taught brats with dribbling noses two plus two equaled four. She negotiated with power-brokers while he ended squabbles between playground kingpins. How could she respect him? All day spent around sophisticated, shiny men and a boss who was a picture of male perfection, only to return home to a finger-paint-splattered dweeb who read picture books for a living. He had to do something with himself. To keep her; he needed to grow, to be more. He squeezed her tighter, dug deeper.
‘Babe, careful,’ she whispered. ‘That’s too hard. It hurts.’
He pulled himself up along her body, wrapping his arms around her shoulders drawing them together, wanting to feel every inch of her skin against his. If only keeping hold of her respect was as easy.
How long till she left him? He wasn’t able to satisfy her. Why wouldn’t she have an affair with a man her equal? He couldn’t bear the thought of a life without Jillian, but in conscience, could he fight a divorce? She belonged with someone better, some loaded CEO. He’d always known it. When she left, how often would he get to see the kids? How much did a good lawyer charge?
‘Are you ready?’ Jillian gasped. He let her find out for herself. Her features drew tight, surely in disappointment.
They both rolled back to their sides of the bed.
‘It happens to every guy, babe.’
He knew she was trying to reassure him, but the suppressed frustration in her tone really bit. ‘No, it doesn’t, Jill.’
‘Please don’t nit-pick. You know what I mean.’
He sighed deeply, hoping Jillian would realize he didn’t want to discuss this.
‘All I’m trying to say is this is a common problem for men. Maybe not for guys as young as you, but problems like this affect guys of all ages, I’m sure.’
He wasn’t. He gritted his teeth.
‘Do they sell little blue pills over the counter?’ she asked, ‘Or do you need to see a doctor first?’
His face flushed and his heart rate sped up, ‘Jillian! I don’t need a little blue pill. Don’t put this all on me. What about the nights I’ve been ready and raring, but you’ve been too tired, or couldn’t get your mind off work?’
Jillian’s lips pursed, and her eyes darted to the corner of their bedroom.
‘Obviously it’s not going to happen tonight.’ He threw back the sheets and got out of bed.
‘Matt! If we could just talk about what’s bothering you—’
‘Nothings bothering me. I’m going to get ready for bed.’ He walked along the foot of their bed, shamefully in retreat, and closed the door of their master bathroom louder than he intended.
***
Jillian rolled over, turning her back toward Matt in the master bathroom. How could he give up so easily? What a stubborn jerk. What a shrouded mute. He’d locked himself up tighter than Houdini since she went back to work. It would take divine intervention to open him up. But this wasn’t the first time she’d felt like her husband was a stranger, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. Once Matt got over whatever was bothering him, he’d make it up to her. Because once you adjusted to his silent spells, Matt was kind and sensitive. Loyal and patient.
She pulled her pyjamas out from under her pillow—turquoise plaid bottoms and a shapeless T-shirt. She shook them out, then paused, eyeing the baggy, unshapen form of the oversized shirt. When was the last time she dressed up a bit for Matt? Her little lacy chemise hung in the closet, collecting dust. But then so did her flirty sundresses and her make-up bag. She’d gotten in the habit of suppressing her femininity…
Femininity. Of course! Why hadn’t she seen it before? Gone were the days when she had an excuse to put in the effort. Too many hours working during the week meant housework and napping filled her weekends. So she wore comfortable, frumpy “home clothes”. Working in a male-dominated office meant she couldn’t wear anything that showed off her figure. Not if she wanted to be taken seriously.
Her job challenged her. She loved a formidable challenge, but maybe taking an executive role wasn’t worth it. Maybe the pressure and responsibility had carved away her soft spots and sharpened her into a battle-axe. When she’d been at home with the girls full-time, they’d spent afternoons at the park, singing nursery rhymes while she pushed them on the swing set. Now, she managed a client list of over three hundred. She’d baked cookies covered with sprinkles every week and now she crafted quarterly reports and calculated sales projections.
Maybe that’s why she didn’t do it for Matt anymore. Maybe he didn’t like this vice president version of her. He probably missed coming home to a woman who had nothing on her mind but family. Not that Matt ever complained, but there were some nights she couldn’t get dinner on the table—that really drove her nuts. He obviously didn’t want her to work; he tuned her out whenever she tried to tell him about her day.
She may have to quit. Relegate her career to the “someday” back burner and return to their simple, quiet life.
Amazon self-publishing books is perceptive nowadays. It is easiest, cost saving, freedom to write, fastest and easily made available tools which provided with printing and e-book facility.
Book publishing is among the most prominent businesses worldwide. However, it can be a long and tedious process to pass through the multiple checks of traditional publishers and their editors and manuscript reviewers. You may even be an author who is absolutely fed up with querying and rejection emails. Yet, you haven’t found a way out of traditional publishing or the web of vanity publishers.
However, I’d like to tell you that the modern publishing industry has now created a great solution in the form of self-publishing platforms for all those authors. Who dreams to touch and feel their hard work sooner than they would do via a traditional route. As a self-published author myself, I’d love to share below some wonderful benefits of self-publishing that may clear a few of your confusions about it.
Freedom to write
Whether you are a fantasy writer or a mystery author, you may not like to be bound by the genre in which you write or in the style you write. As every author has their own way of expressing their thoughts and communicating what their soul desires to communicate, they need the freedom to write, like they need their food or a few cups of coffee, probably! If you are that type of writer who wishes to break the boundaries with their creative work, then self-publishing would allow you to follow your heart and never judge you for what you create.
Faster self-publishing
Amazon Self-publishing books tremendously cuts down on the waiting time for your book to arrive in the market and reach the appropriate reader base. Most Amazon self-publishing platforms provide you with options to easily create your books using the basic manuscript you have. On top of that, popular platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing also connect you to the paid services if you are unable to edit your own book or format it. With such help, you can quickly complete the process of preparing your book for self-publishing.
Availability of help tools
If you are stressed about creating your book cover or formatting it for a digital platform, then you should stop worrying. Self-publishing platforms may offer you the online options to create digital and paperback book covers and even take care of your problem to get the ISBN numbers for your physical books. You may also download their easy-to-use software tools when you are ready to develop a platform-compatible manuscript file that can be accessed seamlessly by the readers who use different reading devices, such as Kindle e-readers.
Self-publishing is Affordability
Instead of being trapped by a vanity publisher that charges you a huge sum of your hard-earned money for publishing your work, why not choose an option that lets you come up with your book at almost no cost! Yes, self-publishing usually does not involve any direct costs, while you may have to spend on add-on services if you cannot edit your content by yourself, illustrate for your words, or design a cover. However, these indirect costs will anyway have to be paid for, even when you go for traditional publishing. You can also save more if you are aware of the free third-party services for cover creation and design or content formatting.
Multiple printing options
Most authors find it annoying to follow every rule of printing and publishing their book that is dictated by a traditional publisher. If you feel the same way, then Amazon self-publishing not only rescues you but gives you many options to print your book the way you desire. You can decide on the look and feel of the manuscript and the cover, as well as the paper type and texture you would use to print it. Different printing options are available at different prices. Thus, you can even select a lower-cost printing option as per your budget or the profit margin you want to keep.
Amazon self-publishing books Choices galore
Since you are the publisher on Amazon self-publishing platform, you can review numerous choices while producing a publish-ready book. From a variety of design fonts and colors to a wide range of print paper sizes and finishes, everything remains under your control.
Higher royalties at Amazon Self Publishing
The most lucrative thing about self-publishing is the receipt of every penny of royalty directly in your bank account. There are no middlemen, except what the platform charges for printing your book and distributing it online or offline. While traditional publishing may not even fetch you a breakeven amount in spite of its promotional hassles, you can claim a much higher royalty rate from self-publishing platforms, provided you are good at product marketing and finding workable promotional platforms. Well, nothing comes without hard work.
Final thoughts
Using your money for advertising your self-published work not only brings in improved financial rewards, but also keeps you away from money-sucking vanity publishers. Self-publishing is a fine way to achieving creative control, motivating self to produce better work. And most of all, empowering self and learning to be independent in your choices and decisions as a managing authority of what is precious to you.
Writing is a slow and steady skill that develops from extensive reading and an emotional connection. These below listed down are my thoughts on how writing shaped me and I will tell you how I craft the one.
Sustainability is important in writing.
Above all, life experience makes me a better writer! While I have always loved to read, I struggled with writing until I had been through several life experiences, both positive and negative, that left me holding on to a lot of emotion. There was no place for this emotion to go except onto the page, so onto the page (and another page, and another…) it went!
Being part of a writing community really encourages me to be a better writer—these days, that mostly happens through Twitter. When I publish short pieces, share them on Twitter and get responses from other writers and readers, it emphasizes the fact that I’m not dropping words into a vacuum—there are actual humans reading and responding to my work! This encourages me to always push myself to write better, to live up to the very high standards set by my fellow authors.
Reading, my first love, is the root of any talent I possess as a writer. I spent so much of my childhood and teen years lost in literary worlds, and all that reading helped me understand how to use language to tell a compelling story and to evoke emotion from readers. It also taught me to see everything—a myth or fairy tale, a crazy news story, a beautiful flower or a piece of trash on the street—as the potential inspiration for a story of my own. Reading teaches us to observe the world carefully, to see things through different perspectives, and if we become writers ourselves, to share these perspectives with readers.
I was more of a reader in my childhood
Compared to many writers, I probably did very little creative writing as a child. I always wanted to write stories, but I was also a perfectionist, so I would write a sentence or two, decide it wasn’t good enough and abandon it. Truth be told, I preferred reading to writing. I liked getting lost in other people’s worlds. Even in high school and college, I wrote stories for classes, but couldn’t motivate myself to write too much on my own time. I went on to attend graduate school for writing and wrote a few young adult novels—so my first stage of writing very intensely was in my mid to late twenties.
However, I still didn’t enjoy the process of writing, and I ended up taking a long break from writing while pursuing other jobs. As I mentioned above, it was going through a lot of emotional upheaval, including a difficult breakup and a lot of career changes, that made me want to return to writing. So in my thirties, I began writing again—first with a novel, and then with an explosion of poetry and creative nonfiction pieces. This was the first time I really felt like a writer—writing had become a cathartic experience for me, something I was compelled to do, a way to share my voice with the world.
As for my writing secrets? Well, the biggest secret of all may be that there are no secrets—writing is hard for everyone, and you have to find what works for you. But based on my own experience, I would say that the more emotional connection you feel to your writing, the more meaningful it will be for you and ultimately for readers.
At the beginning of the day, I write with a fresh mind
When I’m working on a longer writing piece, like a novel, or when I’m trying to finish a piece for a deadline, I always start writing as soon as I open my computer in the morning, before I do any other work. This way my freshest, most creative thoughts make it onto the page. Of course, often the real world and my freelance work intrudes, and I don’t have as much time to devote to writing as I would like. For me, what’s more helpful than having a fixed writing schedule is reminding myself that writing is just as important as work I’m getting a paycheck for. Occasionally, I have to give up sleep for writing, and I definitely give up a lot of movie or TV-watching time. But ultimately, I have to believe that my efforts will pay off (emotional connection).
Fairy tales are more than true—not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.
G.K. Chesterton
My advice to my fellow writers
When I was younger, I let perfectionism get in the way of my writing and didn’t allow myself to enjoy the process. I was focused on creating an end product that was worthy of publication, and as a result, my writing was often stiff and didn’t get to the messy emotional heart of a topic. So, I would suggest giving yourself room to experiment and try things that fail. Think of writing as a process rather than a product, and give yourself the chance to grow. And, of course, allow yourself time to live and have experiences as well—they will ultimately enrich your writing so much.
This is how my characters inspire me
I recently saw an author comment on Twitter that her characters experience more growth than she does, and I would say that the same is true in my writing. My characters often start off with many of the same struggles I have—including staying stuck in bad relationships, punishing themselves, isolating—but in a book you want to see characters grow and change. So, my characters actually reach a level of self-acceptance that I have not, and writing these character journeys is a powerful act for me. It shows me that this level of change and self-acceptance is possible, and gives me hope that I will reach it in real life as well.
When I write, I am telling myself a story as much as I’m telling readers one—I’m giving myself hope, creating a world in which characters can slay their dragons, can defeat their problems both internal and external. I believe that stories and language truly are magic—they allow us to transform and to share our experience with people we’ve never met. Writing may be the closest I ever come to performing magic, and I’m happy with that!
Characters in Fiction are a game changer. Writing is never easy, and it can take years to craft a novel. You also have to set a proper schedule, keep yourself focused, and daily inspirations are a huge help.
Being a good writer involves allowing your reader to take charge
Evolving as a writer involves the understanding that there is a barrier in your story between you and the reader. You create the pictures in your head, and then you use words to describe them. The words are then read by the reader, and the pictures form … but the pictures in their heads are going to be completely different to the pictures in yours, no matter how adequately you describe what is happening to your characters.
The best writers are those who understand this, and do not insist that the pictures in both heads should be identical. Who knows how many versions of Harry Potter there were before Daniel Radcliffe portrayed him in film, or Frodo Baggins before Elijah Wood, or Anton Chigurh before Javier Bardem? A good writer lets go and allows their readers to create their own pictures.
So, a good writer concentrates on breaking down the barrier that every reader faces – getting the words into their heads effortlessly so that their pictures can be created. The more barriers you put up – clunky, cliché-riche prose, flowery, pseudo-intellectual language, intrinsically detailed descriptions – the harder it becomes for the readers. The best writers know how to let go and allow their readers to take charge.
My secret to writing is to fall in love with my characters
If you write a book with a fantastic, twisting plot that keeps people guessing from one page to the next, but the characters in that plot are nothing more than uninteresting archetypes, then no matter how good your plot is, your book will fail.
In real life, people enjoy creating and maintaining emotional bonds with others, and the same should be true in fiction. People must like, love, admire, connect with or be in awe of your characters in order for them to form that crucial bond. It doesn’t matter if halfway through your book you sentence your most important character to a firing squad death; if your reader has not engaged with them, they will simply shrug their shoulders and mutter ‘so what?’
That’s why I make sure I fall in love with the characters I create. None of them are perfect, and indeed all will have flaws such as selfishness, a quick temper or the need to always be right. But real people have flaws too, and just like the flaws of our friends we forgive them as the relationship we have with them is too strong for such flaws to break it.
Early mornings and late evenings are my time to shine
I am actually a full-time writer, but as much as I would love it to, my fiction does not pay me enough to pay all my bills! I’m a single man with no family and I own my own home, and I like to live frugally. For example, not only do I not own a flashy car, I do not own a car at all. Therefore, I supplement the income I get from my fiction by copywriting and ghost writing. I have actually lost track of the number of books I have had published. It must be over twenty now, over the course of the last thirty years.
Read another writer, Stephanie Parent, and her thoughts on writing and crafting a novel.
I have one rule for writing – work in the morning, pleasure in the evening. If I have writing that I have to do rather than writing than what I want to do, I start it as soon as I get up so that I can get it out of the way, and out of my head.
For the writing I love to do, it’s the evenings for me. Evenings are peaceful and I am in control of them.
If you want to be a footballer, play football. If you want to be a writer, write.
Some writers (especially young writers) contact me and explain how they find writing exasperating. They seem to think that their finished, polished novel has to spill from their pen the moment they set pen to paper or rather, fingers to keyboard.
But that’s not how writing works at all, and if that is how you write, then you are not becoming a better writer. Your first draught of any piece of writing does not matter. It is simply a framework, or a suggestion to what your finished piece, short story or novel will be. The first version of any piece of writing is all about plot. Just write down what is happening and do not worry about anything else. At first, your characters will do what you tell them to do, because they are not yet formed enough to have opinions for themselves.
Once you’ve completed that first draught, print it out then open a new document. You now have your framework, and subsequent draughts are about your characters. They will come alive, and they may not do what you want them to do or say the things that you want them to say. Once you encounter your first non-cooperative character, you know you are on the correct path.
Writing is like being repeatedly punched in the face, and then given a kiss. The most characters in fiction do.
There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind as to what is the most difficult aspect of writing, and that is getting readers. Writing without readers is like playing music that nobody hears or cooking a fine meal that nobody eats. I write because I want to be read, and I write because I want some people to meet the characters I have created; characters who deserve to exist beyond the confines of my skull.
But getting readers is easier said than done. Imagine how many manuscripts lie on computer or laptops unread and therefore unloved? There’s the chance that the greatest novel ever written is one that will never be read.
The publishing world is one about making money, and agents and publishers are the steely-eyed gatekeepers. It’s an impossible nut to crack, or so it seems, but people still get books published.
Keeping going at times seems pointless, especially when those rejection emails begin to pile up. I keep going because it would seem completely alien for me not to do so. My head is full of stories. Some of them deserve to be told, and some of those deserve to be read.
Hikariuchuu: The Realm of the Lights took me eleven years to write
Hikariuchuu: The Realm of the Lights
I had the idea for Hikariuchuu: The Realm of the Lights in 2010. I wrote the final word of the final chapter of the final revision in 2019. It was published in 2021.
It’s been a long journey, sometimes across raging seas filled with Lovecraftian beasts, sometimes across sweet-smelling meadows accompanied by my favourite people, but it’s a journey I would do all over again if I had to. Expanding a simple, one-note idea into a 135,000-word YA fantasy novel is an achievement I take a sense of pride in. The protagonist, Adam, will always be my favourite character even though many of my readers have said they find him unlikeable. I do not like ‘goody two shoes’ characters who seem not to have a single negative thought in their heads – nobody is like that. Adam can be moody, self-centred, immature, and cowardly, but are we all not guilty of that in some degree? If such traits are our central ones, then that becomes a problem, but if we work so our positive traits eclipse our negative ones, then we deserve to be liked, respected, and perhaps even loved, and that describes Adam perfectly.
I also like Jamie. He’s the me I’d be if I could let my guard down all the time.
My favorite quote
First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him.
Ray Bradbury.
This, to me, outlines perfectly how I write. I have an idea, and there is usually a goal involved. I set my hero off to try and achieve that goal. Sometimes it is achieved, sometimes it is not, but that is not what is important. What is important is what happens along the way.
So, like Mr Bradbury says, you just follow along and see what happens. What does happen will probably surprise you a very great deal.
Very simply put—life experience. You can be the most reclusive of hermits and still write wonderful fiction. But the inspiration will run dry unless you keep giving your mind something to think about. What are your greatest strengths? This could be going out into the world and trying new things; going to new places, or meeting new people.
However, it can also mean taking the time to learn a new skill or read up on a favorite niche topic. Really, anything that keeps the brain thinking about things will work its way into your creative life. Usually, it’s in the most unexpected ways. Also, keeping muses around, that is, people who inspire you or whom you can bounce ideas off, is really helpful eventually.
No matter how rampant that stereotype is, writing doesn’t have to be a miserable hobby for a solitary individual. Besides that, the most important thing is to let go of perfection and just let whatever is coming through do so without judgement. Not everything you write will be a bestseller, and some of the things you come up with might be. So bad they end up in the trash pile, but if you allow yourself to be paralyzed by perfection, you’ll never write at all and whatever gems you are capable of will die before they’re even born.
I was a very creative since my childhood
I was always a very creative child. I loved to tell stories and jokes to the other kids, but I never really wrote anything because my spelling was terrible at the time. I had this belief that being able to grasp proper grammar and spelling was what writing was about, so I didn’t feel like I was good enough to try my hand at it, even when I had several teachers disagree with me. The thing that changed all this was my sixteenth birthday. It was a really depressing event. I’d been out of school for two years (due to illness) and I invited all my school friends over, who I hadn’t seen in all that time. I was so excited. It was going to be the biggest, happiest party of my life.
But then the only people who showed up were my best friend and two boys who had a crush on me. I was devastated. Apparently, my school chums meant a lot more to me than I did to them. I didn’t know where to take my heartbreak, so I sat down and started to write. In doing so I didn’t wallow in my pain but instead rewrote the narrative to make the whole scenario funny — the sort of thing a stand-up comedian might do. And when I did that, I not only felt better about the whole thing, but I also spread a little joy in the form of laughter from the people who did read it. It wasn’t long before I was writing about other events in the same fashion and getting all sorts of positive attention.
People from all over were telling me my life was interesting, and although I had a hard time believing them, I kept on writing. Over the years, I perfected my art until I was able to cross the final threshold into fiction. Now I was free from the restrictions of reality and lived experiences. I could write about anything and anyone. In my adulthood, I have found this just as cathartic. And there’s something so life affirming about spreading joy, or hope, or little glimpses of wisdom. It’s really that fulfilment that keeps bringing me back despite all the other difficulties in my life.
This hardship does not let me sleep
I hate to admit this, but the best time to write is usually in the dead of night, when no one else is awake to disturb the creative flow. Plus, there’s something a bit magical about being up when no one else is. You get a whole new perspective on things when everything is quiet, people are asleep, and there isn’t anything but you and the relative silence around you. It makes it a lot easier to reflect, be one with yourself, and hopefully touch the creative source that inspires you. With that being said, it’s also a terrible schedule to be on if you want to get anything else at all done in your life.
So even a night owl like me had to eventually learn how to just operate on a more normal schedule. Currently, I try to do most of my writing whenever my brain is at full capacity — which is after I’ve eaten breakfast and dealt with anything that might distract my thoughts. It might be as late as dinner before I sit down and focus. It’s less about the timing and more about forcing me to write and hit my daily goals. As long as I have that daily goal lingering in the background, I will not be able to go to sleep that night without accomplishing it. For me, this is what has worked better than anything else. I even write on days when I feel like I have nothing worth writing — just to stay in the habit. And when I do take little breaks, I always find it hard to get back into the routine.
In my opinion, young writers is a need of today
Young writers are very much needed these days, our world is changing so fast that it’s really hard to keep up, and someone needs to be taking note of these changes. When I was rowing up, I had to read all the classics — the vast majority of which were written by affluent older white men — the same stories that had been taught to my parents and grandparents. Therefore, this was somewhat OK for the time because so little had changed in society that they were still relatable, but there was also a lot missing in these narratives. There was such a large chunk of earth’s population that just did not see themselves in these stories, and that’s important.
Not just for the people who are longing for representation, but also for everyone else who is losing out on the opportunity to learn about people unlike themselves. And if there is anyone out there that is writing about these big issues of culture, gender, race, and identity, it’s going to be the younger generations. I hate to say it, but older authors have all been at least somewhat beaten down by life. Each one of us can point to a time when we’ve been silenced or dismissed, and this ongoing struggle can really make us a lot meeker than we used to be.
A lot less likely to blast our personal truths for the world to see. But young people… they have yet to be broken and if the world is ever going to change for the better it’s going to be because they are screaming as an entire generation for progress. And I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to see this happening — this upcoming generation knowing that their story is just as important as some old white dude and telling it like it is! Will they make mistakes? Of course, we all do! Will they at times be a little too much? Always. But all that means is we, the older generations of authors, should be guiding them and helping them become even better. They really are our future.
My inspiration is not limited. It is for all the niches
Oh goodness, I don’t have a single niche. I write everything I feel compelled to — personal stories, travel blog entries, satirical takes on history, more scientific articles for laymen, and fiction that runs the gamut of genres. I will never be able to stick to one thing, and that’s
OK, because I can find a use for all of them. I think many writers encourage other writers to focus on one genre because it is far easier to market yourself if you have a singular voice. I won’t argue that point, but I just don’t think it works for me and my ADHD addled mind.
Furthermore, I go wherever the creative spirit takes me, and I don’t complain simultaneously! In fact, the whole process has been a wonderful avenue to learn and to practice catharsis. Whenever I come across, something that really bothers me. I find it helpful to write my characters into a different scenario, a better scenario. For instance, I got fed up with super dysfunctional (or downright abusive) relationships being shown as romantic, so now whenever I have love interests I try to write them as healthy, respectful, and loving. You might think this would make for a passive and boring read, but no! There are still lots of action and drama, it’s just not coming from the characters, it’s coming from the outside world they live in. It’s been a beautiful process and one that, I think, has over time made me a more kind and forgiving person.
My favorite book, “Achilles in Heels”
Wouldn’t that be nice to have a book that was genuinely popular! I’m afraid I haven’t gotten there yet, though I am certainly trying! Even so, I do harbor an intense affection for the last book I published: Achilles in Heels. It’s a modern retelling of the unusual teenage years of Achilles. Long before he was a Trojan war hero, his mother Thetis thought she’d protect him from his fated death in battle by dressing him up as a girl and hiding him in a harem of princesses. From here the book is about a very action-oriented Achilles dealing with all the usual trivialities of his teenage years but with the added complication of his secret identity. The simplest of things get twisted wildly out of control as he tries desperately to keep face. At his side is his closest friend Deidamia, a sharp-tongued and adventure prone princess who spends all her free time trying to thwart any possible marriage proposals thrown her way.
She provides a cynical yet endearingly funny perspective to every situation and sitting across from her, often in competition for Achilles’ attention, is his childhood best friend Patroclus. Patroclus can’t compete with the cutting with of his companions, but what he lacks in mental prowess, he makes up for in heart. He pulls this unlikely ragtag bunch together in a soft and loving way, smoothing out issues that need a gentle touch. Together, they face the world with courage and audacity, learning all of life’s greatest lessons in one adventure after another. All three of these vibrant characters lived in my mind for about twenty years before I committed them to a book. And now they’re ready to be loved by the world just as much as they were loved by myself.
Reading the first chapter from the book, “Achilles in Heels”
My strength and the source of inspiration is Jack Kerouac
… I shambled after [them] as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me. Because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time. The ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles…
Jack Kerouac
I read this quote when I was still a teenager, and it was only theoretical to me. I dreamed about a life where I would find fellow misfits and freaks. It would be a few years before I started meeting individuals who burned with the same intensity that is noted in this quote, and it took on a much greater significance to me. From there, I realized that there are a handful of individuals out there who are so completely their own person that literally everything else doesn’t matter. These have been my greatest muses, my deepest friends, my most beloved of romantic companions. They have inspired me just by existing and being themselves.
There’s a sort of chaotic, beautiful energy that comes from the excitement of reading them, whatever I am working on. It’s these people, the ones who get me, that are my most loyal of cheerleaders. They believe in my talent and vision even when I am at my lowest and just want to hide in the dark and pretend I don’t exist. And I hope I have, in return, encouraged them to be their best as well in whatever endeavors they chose. They have taught me that if I don’t fit in somewhere, or am unhappy with something, all I have to do is find others like me that can help me change the narrative. It’s been a remarkable journey this life of mine, and I am so grateful I have been able to express this in my writing.
Furthermore, read Ethan on his writing and daily habits
Winnie Harlow Skin problems have been the same for years. Life is difficult for both those who earn a living and those who do not. It is always asking questions every single day and night, but in fact, we only have one answer to them.
Winnie Harlow skin is still has white patches and inspiration to many. It is one of the example of happiest person.
I was never raised as the daughter with vitiligo or the granddaughter with vitiligo or the cousin with vitiligo. I was just Chantelle
Winnie Harlow
It is hidden within what we do and what our karma entails. It is a universal law of attraction that Karma pulls all positive and negative energy toward you if your character is positive and so. It purely depends on what we think, what we eat, and what we say. Everything we do, every single moment of our lives, is recorded and converted into energy known as karma. There are thousands of others people have the white patches like Winnie Harlow Skin. It is nature's gift. However, the is a solution to it
Gary Keller well said, Winnie Harlow Skin problem finally got the solution
Life is a question and how we live it is our answer
Gary Keller, best selling author of America and founder of Keller Williams
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmaNuLZMatS/
We don't even look out for answers to our difficulties, it is we that create and destroy. Winnie Harlow is a great example in front of us, she is a Canadian fashion model, public speaker, and activist. She has been diagnosed with a very bad skin condition, and in the medical term, it is called vitiligo. She had been affected at the age of four, once, she hardly understood what is called "disease."
People must stop abusing others who has same like Winnie Harlow skin conditions
She was used to being scolded in her school days by her friends. She was called a lot of derogatory names and compared to "Cow, Monkey, Zebra" and other animals. Nobody could live with such an annoying society and friends. With this skin condition, she had to fade up and had decided to commit suicide, but the U.S. was waiting for her to praise her beauty and make her someone special.
Winnie was the one who gained prominence as a contestant on the 21st cycle of the U.S TV series "America's Next Top Model" due to her condition. Now she is living her luxurious life and Winnie now gives healthy lectures on her skin condition. She helps others who are affected by such a disease. Her story is so interesting, she was discovered by "America's Next Top Model" host Tyra Banks on Instagram and luckily became one of the fourteen finalists of the twenty-first-cycle in 2014 and she proved that she is only on this earth from Canada and cast ever on ANTM.
Now when she thought about her past, especially her school days and how she was being examined by her friends and received comments on Winnie Harlow skin condition. But the thing is different now, millions of people praise her and adore her beauty. She never hesitates to post her new photograph on Instagram and she is an active user there. Winnie had models Spanish brand Desigual and became their official brand representative not only this but many like others and has appeared in many magazines. French author, Andre well said,
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
If you read an article about how to live without an income every day for the rest of your life, you might be thinking, “Well … that isn’t going to happen.” But you’re wrong, because there is the possibility that we can achieve that on a daily basis.
It’s not easy, but there are some things that should be a minimum amount of work. At that, we can get away with not having to think about what to buy or what to take for granted. So we will focus solely on what we must do everyday to be a successful person.
I’ll be writing each of these articles on a different aspect of being a minimalist.
This article was originally published at BoredPanda and has since been republished here with permission.
Let’s start by saying this: You are not going to live your life like a caveman: You would want to starve out the hunger in your body to avoid wasting too much calories.
The ideal amount of clothing, makeup, and hairstyle — it all matters to me.
The problem is we have to work for the very basics of living a life of minimalism in order to be able to achieve this lifestyle. While we can have food, exercise, and time for fun.
The ideal amount of clothing, makeup, and hairstyle — it all matters to me. However, I also like to find a balance of items that are easy to find, easy to maintain, and can be reused time and again. I have a handful of personal products that I keep in my stash; if I really need to use an item more than once, I stick to it. If I’m trying to wear another item only once, I keep my eye out for products that allow my eye for a few minutes before I bring my eye mask and makeup down.
When it comes to clothes, I’m willing to experiment by shopping a “somewhat” basic mix of clothes that complement my lifestyle. While I don’t have the need to carry an entire wardrobe full of clothes that have an image of minimalism, I am flexible enough to make a decision to try it one day.
For example, in the past, when I’d be really desperate to find a good balance between light and bulky clothing
How to Be a Fashion Show King" was an official guide and fashion book from the Royal Enfield Factory. It was illustrated with detailed illustrations of the main events.
The books sold like hot cakes before they were taken over by the National Museum in 2005 and, despite being a major influence on the world of fashion, they're no longer in circulation. But there are a few collector's items that remain that may still be worth a visit. Here they are!
The first was a large-scale replica of the original royal army uniform, which has still never been restored.
The second was an actual pair of pants that might be worth a lot more than they currently are.
