A Sure Cure for Burnout

by Catherine Dilts

What do you do when you realize your creative energy is fizzling, not sizzling? Road Trip!

My husband snagged tickets to the Antiques Roadshow. We watch the show regularly. In true Roadshow style, the program is filmed in different locations each episode. We missed out on one closer to home. The only solution was to take a road trip to Salt Lake City.

Worth a little more than the frame, our beautiful deer painting didn't make the cut to appear on the show.

I was reluctant about being pulled away from work. When you're self-employed, you have the worst boss possible: yourself. But it turned out to be the perfect time to take a break. The date snuck up on us, as if we didn't have multiple calendars and reminders. Boom! Suddenly we were throwing clothes into suitcases and leaving town.

The Antiques Roadshow venue was the Red Butte Garden & Arboretum, which is worth a trip all by itself. Early June, the roses were still in bloom.

I was amazed at how well the appraising was organized. Each attendee is allowed to bring two items. First, we were sent to a “triage” tent, where we were told which items needed to go to which appraiser tent. Then we went to the appropriate tents to have a professional evaluate our treasures.

My great-grandfather’s journal would have been worth more if the bank robbery he described had been famous. My grandfather’s Great War book was too specific to the soldiers from one county in South Dakota. Both were candidates for donation to an historical society, but they’ll stay in the family as long as my offspring have an interest in family history.

My husband dragged our giant abstract deer original art all the way to Utah, only to learn it’s not worth much more than the frame it’s in. And another signed pen and ink print by a famous artist wasn’t worth as much as his more popular paintings.

It’s a good thing we went because we’re fans of the show, and not in expectation of learning we had items of great value. We had a blast being behind the scenes. We lingered around backstage to watch people being selected for the televised spots. We’ll be watching next year to see if we recognize people and treasures we saw filmed.

It turned into a whirlwind trip, with the addition of a visit to the Utah Museum of Natural History. The next day, we drove to Goblin Valley for a short hike. Our final stop was Arches National Park. We hiked two different trails, for a total of about eight miles.

Before heading out on our brief trip, I was struggling with a case of burnout. Seeing new scenery, meeting interesting people, getting into the great outdoors, and breaking routine all conspired to hit my reset button. The wiring in your brain seems to need a hard shutdown on occasion. Flip off the switches, wait a few beats, then turn on the juice again.

During the trip, a novel, or possibly a trilogy, idea that has been nagging at me for a while finally solidified. I also hit upon a short story idea. Both are in the beginning development phases. Upon our return to town, I felt more clear about the projects that need immediate attention. 

A.I.--the Digital Poltergeist

 by Thomas Kies

Last week Artificial Intelligence snuck like a digital poltergeist into our writing critique group. 

About eight of us have been meeting every Tuesday for months and I’ve enjoyed it tremendously.  The group helped me finish my last manuscript.

Most of the participants are former students of mine and their writing skills continue to grow.  Many of them are working on novels of their own and every week I look forward to hearing the next chapter of their book. They work hard on their craft and take it seriously.

Recently, we accepted a new member to our group. For the sake of propriety, let’s call her Mary.  She’s retired, pleasant, and she self-published a novel a few years ago.  It is a harrowing tale about a young girl who is abused and shuttled from one foster family to another. Mary was interested in joining our group because she wanted to rewrite her novel.  She felt it needed to be “fleshed out”, details added and include more scene and character descriptions.  

All in all, she wants to make it a better book.  We enthusiastically welcomed her into our group.

Last week, she read a chapter from her book that had been reworked.  We were all impressed with the level of detail and descriptions that she used, and we told her so.

That’s when she dropped the bomb.  She was using something called Claude AI.  I looked it up and it does much the same as the other A.I. platforms, including “write, edit, and create content”.

Many in the group, including me, were incensed.  I inherently despise A.I.  We work hard at our craft.  We feel that letting A.I. do our writing is not writing at all, but cheating. 

We had a few dissenters and an interesting debate ensued. One of our members said, “She’s planning to self-publish again.  She’s enjoying herself. What’s the harm?”

Another argued, “What’s the difference between using A.I. in writing and using CGI in movies? Do you use Spellcheck or the Thesaurus on your computer? Isn’t this just an extension of that?”

Mary worried that we were going to kick her out of the group, which none of wanted to do.

But it leads me to a conundrum.   Knowing that Mary is using A.I., and that platform is essentially “stealing” word combinations and phrases from other published writers, including myself, how is this different from plagiarism?

And how do we offer criticism and support knowing what Mary is reading isn’t completely her own work?  

My contention is if you’re going to let A.I. do your writing, what’s the point of doing it at all?

Since this came up, I’ve read a lot of arguments, both for and against the use of A.I. in creative writing.  Some argue that it is no different than using Autocorrect or Grammerly, or for that matter, a pen or pencil. 

Others argue that it is, indeed, plagiarizing other writers since what A.I. is giving the user isn’t something new and creative, but something that someone else has already written.  

I know that moving forward, I’m afraid that I won’t be much help to Mary. I am concerned that as A.I. moves further into our daily lives, how that will affect the creative process.  I know some argue it makes it better.  

I liken it a little bit to a handheld calculator.  Since their widespread availability, my math skills have gone straight to hell because I don’t use them anymore.  I rely on that tiny machine.  

Will that happen to creativity?  Will we become so lazy and reliant upon computer chips, that the human soul that is inherent in good writing is subsumed by artificial intelligence?

Or am I being a pain in the ass and should let it go, as someone argued, “She’s enjoying herself. What’s the harm?”

Get Your Focus On

Life is distracting.

There are the two-hundred television streaming options.

There are the 51 million YouTube channels. (not hyperbole. I looked it up!)

There are also 75-thousand Substack newsletters.

Emails. Text messages. Social media doomscrolling you perhaps engage in at two in the morning when your cortisol levels don’t let you sleep.

How can we gather all this chatter, rustle it into a pen, and keep the restless herd/horde contained while we focus on our daily goals?

Focus is not the same thing as concentration. Focus is deciding where to put your attention. Concentration is more difficult because it requires sustained focus. All of us have trouble focusing sometimes. For some, this is more clinical. For others, it’s less clinical and more habit. In our hyper-online world, we are becoming more distracted. There’s just so much to absorb.

It’s NOT our fault!

Okay, well, it might not be our fault in that we didn’t create these algorithms and the tech saturated world we are forced to navigate, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to take responsibility and work on reclaiming our focus.

We can do this. But how? Here are some ideas off the top of my head.

• Go offline more hours every day. This means turning off your phone or putting it in the other room. If you are working on your computer, only open the files on which you are working. If you MUST look up something online, do it quickly and shut the tab down, and whatever you do, do not follow a link trail.

• Only watch TV or YouTube for a specific number of minutes per day and only at certain times during the day/evening. You decide. Stick to it.

• Create a to-do list, not too many items, and check items off as you finish them. So satisfying!

• Meditate. Meditation trains your brain to focus by allowing you to practice pulling your attention back to your mantra or breathing or guide’s voice or sound (chimes, anyone?)

• Review your goals often. Reviewing goals leads to motivation, and motivation leads to focus.

• Reward yourself. Did you choose to deep clean the noxious refrigerator instead of binge-watching a favorite streamer? Did you log into Novlr and meet or surpass your word goal for the day? Reward yourself. I’m not talking ice-cream or chocolate (though these are fabulous and delicious!) so much as giving yourself a mental pat on the back. Sit back and experience the feeling of accomplishment. Tomorrow, remember how good this felt when you have to make that choice again.

• Self-talk. Tell yourself you care more about completing your task and give yourself all the reasons WHY. Why is this task important to you? What’s at stake?

• Make it a habit. Whatever it is you are working on, make it a habit. Habits create less resistance. It’s the difference between zig-zagging around potholes in a back road that hasn’t been maintained for five years and skimming along a smooth highway upgraded with Build Back Better funding. It can be hard to build a habit but well worth it.

• You’ll get stronger with practice.

I’m one who finds it easy to procrastinate & find a million other little things to do than write, but because I have a pretty strong “why” when it comes to my writing, I want to change that. I’m working on building my focus at the same time I’m working to build my muscles. If I want to increase my muscle mass, I need to bring focus to my workout and make working out a priority. If I want to build my book list, I need to bring focus to my work in progress, sitting my butt down at my desk and getting my fingers tap-tapping on the keys.

Sunday, I wrote 4,000 words. Yesterday, 2,000. Today, I’ve got 600 so far. It’s a little harder today. I took some time out to write this blog post.

Darn. I lost focus.

_____

This essay was first published on my online writing journal Shelley's Journal, on June 10. Click the link to see it there and read others like it. I don't always repub, but this one I thought would be interesting to my fellow writers and to everyone, writers and readers alike, who feel distracted and unfocused. Hang in there. We're all struggling. We can DO this! SRB

Creating Characters

 by Sybil Johnson

Creating characters for stories is both fun and challenging. I worry sometimes that the ones I’ve created are too much alike, that readers won’t be able to distinguish between them. Or find them boring or unbelievable or...

I’m always thinking about different ways to create characters that will produce different personalities. These 2 books have been helpful to me: Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins and Creating Characters by Dwight V. Swain. They’ve both been around awhile. I still find them helpful. They are definitely worth reading.

 

In my books, I have a theme for each story. In my latest, Brush Up On Murder, love is the theme since it’s set around Valentine’s Day. I created characters who show love in different ways. The love might be for a parent, child, friend, a romantic partner, the world in general. How far would they go for that loved one? How do they express this love? I hope by doing this the characters are different enough and they make the story interesting. I also do mini bios when I have a feel for the character to delve more deeply into their personality. For my short stories, I do mini bios.

I’ve been thinking about other methods for creating characters. Here are a couple: 

Using characteristics of animals: I’ve often heard people describing others as being like an animal. He’s a dog, she’s a cat... I think that would be interesting to use to create characters. 

Me? I’m a cat for sure. I consider myself to be independent. I don’t mind spending time alone. I can entertain myself. I do like to socialize, though, just not a huge amount. I’m an observer. Our cats, when we had them, did a lot of looking out windows, observing the world. Okay, they were probably looking for birds or squirrels, but they were still observing. I’m generally easygoing, but I do have my limits. I remember our vet describing cats as animals that will let you do things for a bit but, once their limit is hit, the hissing starts and the claws come out. That pretty much describes me.

Using astrology: I don’t mean you need to figure out when a character was born and cast their horoscope. Though, hey, if that’s what you want to do, go for it. I mean reading an astrology book that describes the personality characteristics of different signs and using them to create characters. You get some opposing signs involved, you’ll probably have conflict.

I’ve not used either approach yet, but I keep on thinking they would be interesting.

For the writers out there, how do you go about creating characters? What is your process?

Sorting the Sites

 by Charlotte Hinger

Barbara Fradkin a long time of Type M' recently shared all of her frustrations with social media in a post entitled Social Media Self Destructionn. She captured my feelings so accurately that I can't help drawing attention to all that she said. Right now I'm sorting through a number of sites to decide which ones I want to continue and which I should abandon. 

My feelings about all the sites go back and forth. For some time now, I've turned away from Facebook because I'm tired of all the ads and promotions. Also, I'm acutely aware of the all the danger involved with constant internet activity. I don't like the idea of marketing companies combing these sites for data. 

I've never exactly set the world on fire when it comes to social media usage. I now actively dislike some of the sites I previously used. I liked the concept behind Twitter. But because I am still grief-stricken over some the cuts Elon Musk made to government programs, I cancelled my account when he bought Twitter and renamed it "X". 

As to Instagram, I honor the requests of family members who don't want their pictures plastered all over the internet. In fact one granddaughter has specifically asked that her child's face not appear on Facebook or anywhere else.

 I'm not a great photographer. In fact, I'm usually late when it come to taking pictures. No one oohs and ahhs over my photographs. That said, I'm extremely grateful for the camera function built into my iPhone. Coupled with editing software, most of my photos at least provide a record of moments I would like preserved. Nevertheless, there is little point in my continuing with Instagram. 

I'm on LinkedIn and appreciate the connections it provides. I love reading all the business news and the career opportunities posted. I love it when a friend has a new book coming out or has received a promotion. 

As an example of sites I find frustrating, this morning I tried to find out what had become of a daily podcast I enjoy. Some of the links were vicious diatribes about this recording. There is no excuse for this violent rhetoric and the filthy language used to refer to it. The offending site? One that contains the Morning Office recording of a daily rituals used by Episcopalians world side. I can assure you, there's nothing there that would justify this profane commentary. 

I adore YouTube. I don't know how I managed without it. As a life-long knitter and seamstress, I'm crazy about all the videos and demonstrations. I look up everything: how to fix my garage door opener, how to hem jeans using the original hem, how to MIR and MIL in knitting. I wish I had kept track of all the ways this site has rescued me. 

As to Facebook--it stays. The truth is, I miss it. I especially miss hearing about all my friends in Hoxie, Kansas. 

Now that I've pared down my list, I'm going to visit them regularly. It helped to go through this soul-searching analysis. The next step will be to become a faithful visitor of the sites that made the cut. 

Have you ever been to a murder?

   Type M For Murder, right? So let's talk about one, a real life experience that looked like a murder but that turned out to be a natural death. A DFO as they term it. Done Fell Over.

   This is a true story. 

   I was in a ride-along with an El Paso County Sheriff. I was taking the Sheriff's Citizens' Academy. We had presentations from K9, patrol, detectives, the jail, civil affairs, the 911 Center etc. And ride-alongs with an on-duty Deputy. If you are writing a story involving crime, the Police will be involved to some level. You can only benefit from learning, relatively painlessly, from your local PD or SD (police or sheriff's departments) over four to eight sessions. We shot electronic guns on the tactical simulator, very stressing. K9 was Very Impressive. You do not want to run from these dogs. All voting adults should take these courses.  I've been to CAs at five different organizations. 

   I met my Deputy at the substation and sat in the right seat as we patrolled his assigned area. We stopped a few people for burned out taillights and stoplights. It was also a way to casually find people with open warrants. People with warrants, often from missing court dates or parole officer appointments, might not be interested in their brake light bulbs. When the cops stop you for a traffic offense, they are checking you for open warrants.

   We met a sedan with four Japanese men in their sedan, totally lost, with no English skills. We got them back on the highway, north to Denver.

   Then we got a call to go to a residence. A neighbor reported the front door to a house was wide open. It was October, 6 pm, and there was snow on the ground. Doors should be closed. The split-level house was on a dead-end circle. The door was open, lights on upstairs and in the rear of the main floor. There was an old truck in the driveway. It still had snow on the hood, and there were no tire tracks in the snow. Obviously, it had not moved tonight. There were recent tire tracks in the snow on the other half of the driveway, barely up the driveway, shoe prints in the snow. I think a taxi or another car dropped someone off, or a visitor could have parked and the passenger got out. There were no return footprints.

   No one responded to shouts from the open door. A small dog was leashed in the kitchen next to a water bowl and an overflowing bowl of kibbles. The officer drew his weapon and flashlight and began to search the house, all relayed to his Sergeant via radio. The lower floor was dark. A room up was lit, so we went up. I stayed back.

   A large, overweight man lay crumpled halfway down the hallway, partially in the doorway to what looked like his TV room. His right arm was stretched into the room. In the middle of the floor was a 9mm Beretta pistol. TV and lamp next to the couch were on. No blood apparent, but the solid way he was lying on the floor may have trapped the bleeding from a chest wound. The Deputy tried to find a pulse. Nothing. He called it in and suggested it might be the end result of a gunfight or a suicide.

   In short, a detective and the coroner showed up. No wounds on the body. Many pills in the kitchen. The big man was unwell. We discovered he had been drinking, against Doctor's orders, and was driven home by a friend. We think he made a decision to end his life. He left the dog ample food and water, left the door open, but the dog was leashed. While he was preparing, his anxiety triggered heart failure and he died very quickly. DFO solved.

   I recommend a ride-along. Very educational. The details back up my Criminal Justice investigative classes with real experience. And the details work their way into my stories.

Peonies and Pine Pollen

by Catherine Dilts

Warmer weather is finally here on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. It’s not uncommon for us to receive snow in the summer months. Hail plagues us in any month.

My gardening friends are greedily enjoying their flowers. You dare not hesitate. Stop and smell the roses! A hail storm or freak freeze could take them out without warning.

I hesitate to experiment with delicate plants. My flower beds are filled with perennials like hardy irises, Shasta daisies, hens and chicks, and day lilies. I thought peonies were difficult to grow in our climate.

Then a neighbor offered us a bucket full of roots. Her peonies had done so well, she had to thin out the plants. I didn’t know what to expect, but we stuck them in the ground with little prep or ceremony.

The peonies are thriving. I may have to do some thinning next year. Who knew that such elegant-looking flowers could grow so easily in our rough climate?

With the beauty of spring and early summer comes the pollen. For a couple weeks, yellow pine tree pollen covers everything. I’m grateful for the growing season, but it also requires taking over-the-counter meds to counteract allergies.

I’m glad we took a chance on peonies, and gave these plants space in our flower bed. Experimentation can result in unexpected rewards.

A writing experiment I’m trying involves co-authoring a YA series with my daughter. The "author" is a combination of our middle names: Ann Belice. An added twist is trying self-publishing. Two experiments at once. I might not have been so bold to test this new territory without a writing/business partner. We expect to release it this month.

The series has been a blast to develop. I began fiction writing by dabbling in science fiction. I created three regrettable attempts. Then I wandered into mystery, and stayed there quite a while. I will continue to write mysteries. They’re just too much fun to leave behind.

I hope Frayed Dreams takes root like the peonies. We have book two in the Tapestry Tales series ready to release. There will be a book three. And perhaps more. We’ll see how the experiment goes.

Later this summer, I hope to release the third book in my Rose Creek Mystery series. The Body in the Hayloft has been in limbo for months. After verifying the viability of the process with the YA novel, I’ll give Hayloft a shot as an Indy production.

And now I’ve got to go. My husband has been doing his own experiments in the kitchen. He is seeking to perfect homemade bison jerky. I’d better see if he needs a hand.