Category: Inspiration and Philosophy

Eyes Open

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

The oak tree keeps its dead leaves through winter, dropping them in spring. Its dark trunk slides through the bronze leaves, gilded by the sunset over the frozen snow-covered lake.

The healing burn on my hand looks horrific now, but at its most painful it simply looked like a large blister.

When I look through the glass of the patio door at this angle, it is so wavy from age that objects beyond it, trees, mostly, seem to move as I adjust position in my office chair.

There’s almost no difference between the ATV tracks in the snow and those you’d see in sand.

As the sun sets, shining slightly in my eyes, the house looks darker by contrast, when in fact it is lighter than at any other time of day.

The knots holding the dining room chair cushions in place are never even; one always off to the side or listing somewhat to port.

[image: snow fence]
… more … “Eyes Open”

Standing Next to Smart People

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: standing next to the smartest person in the room]I used to try to be the smartest person in the room.

What that means is I made sure that others knew how smart I was, and if someone knew something I didn’t, it was intimidating so I avoided them.

These days I like to go stand next to the smartest person in the room. And learn from them.

… more … “Standing Next to Smart People”

A Foolish Consistency?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: rowhouses]That’s Emerson, by the way.

I read a post recently about keeping a “series bible” so you’d always get the minutiae right as you add more books to the series.

I take a different perspective. I’ll meander toward it.

First, an excerpt from my very first book The Commonsense Entrepreneur. It’s about musicians, but in most ways it applies to authors as well:

… more … “A Foolish Consistency?”

Two Kids Walk Into An Open Mic

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: Joel plays bass]A handful of years ago we were regulars at open mic in a suburb of Sacramento. Some of the performers were excellent musicians and singers; real artists.

Some, not so much.

One night two young boys, the older probably 15 and the younger 10 or 11, came in with their electric guitars. They used a recorded rhythm section backing track and played along and sang.

From a purely musical perspective, they were not very good.

I had seen something, though.

… more … “Two Kids Walk Into An Open Mic”

A Cliché is Worth a Thousand Words

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Diagrams and illustrations make instruction manuals easier to follow.

Gestures can make speech more easily understood.

Metaphors convey ideas it would take paragraphs of words to match.

Shorthand communication. If there’s a quick and easy way to get the picture, feelings, from my mind to yours, it’s my job, even obligation, as a writer, to use the most effective method.

Clichés are shorthand, just as images are.

And both require judicious use.

[image: the bus you just missed] … more … “A Cliché is Worth a Thousand Words”

How Could Learning More Lead to Knowing Less?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I really miss the show Lie to Me. Chap named Cal Lightman (played brilliantly by Tim Ross) is a lie expert. He reads what are called microexpressions in the human face, and can determine whether or not a person is telling the truth. (Based on real science, pioneered by Paul Ekman, the reality is not quite as TV crime show, but is never the less fascinating.)

In the first episode he hires a TSA inspector named Ria Torres. An abusive childhood has taught her to read facial expressions. She is what Lightman calls a natural.

Although the occasional scene where Ria catches something Lightman misses is injected for humorous effect, the dynamic of their relationship is very much mentor and apprentice. Even as a natural, it is assumed that she will expand her knowledge, understanding, abilities through training and experience.

Music Theory Destroys Creativity?

… more … “How Could Learning More Lead to Knowing Less?”

Clearinghouse or Curator?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: Baroque Rackett (a musical instrument)] Know why you’re making a racketWord of mouth is powerful. It’s the backbone of social media marketing.

It’s easy to misuse if you don’t know your goal.

Quite common in some circles to tweet or post or pin and then ask the community to pass it along.

Before you do, ask yourself some questions:

  • Can you genuinely endorse this book or author or are you simply doing them a favor?
  • Will your followers know that?
  • Is that the right reputation for you?

If your aim is to be someone who is known for sharing; that you talk a lot about books and authors; you’re a hub, a town crier, then share far and wide. Be the town crier, the hub, the sharer.

… more … “Clearinghouse or Curator?”

Can’t Hurry Love. Or Marketing.

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: like a caravan climbing a mountain]Since I started the focused marketing of A Long, Hard Look, giving away copies in exchange for reviews and to get attention on Goodreads, the total results (over a the past 5 weeks) have been underwhelming. A handful (that means 5, at most) of sales, a few of which were to people I know. A few reviews, mostly from people who read my blog or newsletter.

Like I said, underwhelming. (Not that I don’t appreciate that folks who know me buy, read, and review, but that isn’t a result of all this marketing, it’s a result of our personal relationship.)

There are a million sales tactics, and hundreds of people out there pitching their “sell a million copies” process. If only I could find the magic potion, the secret formula.

Thing is, I already have it, and it’s no secret, nor is it magic.

… more … “Can’t Hurry Love. Or Marketing.”

Snowflake People: Backstory to the Rescue

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: Chef Joel]I’ve finished 3 mysteries, with a solid first draft of a fourth and half a draft of another. The first, Through the Fog, was a solo project, a lark, a few years ago. This year, I got more serious with A Long, Hard Look and dug a little deeper for Into the Fog, the second of my foggy Irish mysteries.

The first editing note Tom Bentley sent regarding Into the Fog mentioned that its protagonist sounded a lot like the chap in A Long, Hard Look.

All I could think was, wait ’til he reads anodyne.

All three protagonists (wait; there’s a fourth, a woman) speak with my voice. There are subtle differences, but I’ve made the mistake of allowing my writer’s voice to overwhelm these characters’ individuality.

They’re all too much me. I guess I have so many faces I want to use them all. But that’s confusing for readers.

O woe is me. How to fix?

Tom’s first suggestion sounded familiar. That’s because I’ve been recommending it to my business coaching clients since before I wrote The Commonsense Entrepreneur in 2008.

This is why we hire others: so they can help us see, over here, what we’ve been doing for 6 long years over here.

Write What Who You Know

I’d like to introduce you to Eileen Thomasina Armstrong, 36. (She sure doesn’t like her middle name.) Here are some things you might like to know about her: … more … “Snowflake People: Backstory to the Rescue”

What is Your Writing Goal for Today, for This Project, for Your Life?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: what are you aiming for?]A subtle theme, more a motif, runs through my conversations with authors. When they talk about their writing, there’s one thing they don’t mention:

When it will be done.

There’s a reason this site is named Someday Box. A reason I chose Getting Your Book Out of the Someday Box as the title for that book.

“Someday” is not a goal. Someday is a dream, a vague notion. Sir Ken Robinson tells the story of chatting with a brilliant pianist whose name I can’t remember. Robinson said “I wish I could play like that.”

The pianist said something like, “No, you like the idea of playing like that. If you really wished you could, you’d be doing something about it.”

Do you want to be a writer or do you just like the idea?

… more … “What is Your Writing Goal for Today, for This Project, for Your Life?”