The Fabulist Flash

Number 3

Golden Retriever Journal

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. The Writer's Bookshelf
3. A Writer's Journey, Bring Your Journal
4. Tip of the Week
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

It's been another busy week for me sending out queries, accepting rejections, taking another online class, and keeping up with the pets. Throughout everything two different subjects kept surfacing. The first was journaling. The how and why of keeping journals. Read the article below "A Writer's Journey, Bring Your Journal" to find out how I addressed this one.

The second was how do you find new article ideas. Here's a story:

Article topics come from everywhere in our lives. I was reminded of this fact when our online freelancer forum discussion group got off topic. One of our members had a hair coloring disaster and many other members of our group were quick to comment on their own hair disaster experiences. As the posts on experiences and solutions continued throughout the week two things were acknowledged:

1. We were off topic.
2. There were several excellent potential articles here.

So, spend some time with your writer's journal and let your mind wander. What have you been interested in and talking about this week? What topics have been on the inside pages of the daily newspaper? What's been talked about on the radio? What little disasters and triumphs have you had this week? All of these ideas, with a little spin and the right angle, will make interesting articles.


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Gregory A. Kompes is a freelance writer and photographer. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.Kompes.com

Where did you find your last article idea? Email Aha@FabulistFlash.com

2. The Writer's Bookshelf

The Courage to Write

Ralph Keyes' book, "The Courage to Write: How Writer's Transcend Fear," is a book I'm glad I added to my bookshelf.

One of the more interesting aspects of this book is Mr. Keyes' collection of stories and quotes. It's worth reading just for this wonderful collection. Discussions of fear, rejections, and the usual negative litany of writer complaints are discussed in colorful detail both by Mr. Keyes and through his collection of writer's experience stories..

The first half of the book, "The Elements of Courage" is a little tough to get through at times, from a style standpoint. The second half, "Coming to Terms with Fear," is better written; it flows and reads easier. Part II really feels like Mr. Keyes found some inner voice and he shares that voice openly.

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Click the link below to get your own copy of Ralph Keyes' The Courage to Write and other informative and inspirational titles from The Writers Bookshelf.

Link: http://writersbookshelf.kompes.com

3. A Writer's Journey, Bring Your Journal

by Gregory A. Kompes

Life is a journey. That's a corny, cliché of a phrase. But, as with so many clichés, this one is true, too. As you traverse the hills and obstacles of your daily life take note, literally, in your journal.

Those places you go, the people you meet, and the feelings you experience provide ideas and inspiration for your writing. Whether writing novels or non-fiction articles or love poems, your daily experiences provide the reality details writing requires. Keeping a writer's journal helps you capture and retain those details.

I keep several journals. I write three pages in my dump journal every morning with my first diet soda. Julia Cameron, in her inspirational book The Artist's Way, calls this the morning pages. In these three daily pages I wander around my head and release the thoughts, gibberish, emotions, and experiences roaming around in there. I play with ideas and goals. I let my mind wander and just see what comes out. This is a freeing daily process and it improves personal growth and creativity. It doesn't need to make sense or be written, it just has to happen. The keys to this daily routine is it must be three pages, no excuses, it happens first thing, every day, no matter what, and no one else ever reads it.

My second journal is a dream book. It's a small, red leather-bound book. It's luxurious. In this journal I write my fantasies, dreams, and goals. I write here about career goals. I make lists of places I want to visit, people I'd like to meet, and things I want to own. Again, this is a creative exercise, but it's amazing how the entries in this book come to me. It's important to release our dreams and desires into the universe if we're ever going to achieve them.

My third journal isn't a single book at all. It's those in the moment inspirational thoughts captured on note pads, cocktail napkins, pocket size spiral pads, and index cards. These are the in the life moment experiences and details. When I'm in line at the grocery store or bank and notice an odd character creating an odd event or experience I write it down. When I travel around town or around the globe I take notes about my experiences and emotions. These life experiences add richness and detail to my writing.

Where, when, and how you journal is up to you. It's about getting in the habit, the daily routine. It's about feeling comfortable and free taking note of the world you see and experience on your journey through life and capturing the details to bring to the page.

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Need a new writer's journal? Click the link below and check out Gregory's photo cover journals.

Link: http://www.cafepress.com/gregorykompes/365801

4. Tip of the Week

Journaling can inspire, it can fend off writer's block, it can help you get in touch with your desires, goals, and emotions.

Want more journaling links, prompts, and ideas? Visit Kay Porterfields excellent collection of journaling links.

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