Monkey Mind

I read a great article in the April 2013 issue of Runner’s World, called “The Zen Zone.” It starts off eavesdropping on what a runner might be thinking to himself. Those thoughts are scattered from running gear to food, to scenery, what Buddhists call “monkey mind.”

Monkey mind, or those random thoughts that keep popping up, happen to writers too. It might be something like this: Need to write. What about the dishes? I’m hungry. Next time I go to the grocery store, I need to remember to buy tofu. I wonder what my neighbor is doing? Maybe I should brush the dog.

Don’t worry; monkey mind is normal—to a point. When the monkeys are noisy and start saying mean, nasty things (You think you’re a writer? You have nothing to say that anyone will want to read. You can’t finish a novel. This is crap and you’ll be laughed off the face of this Earth!), it’s time to throw the monkeys a banana or two.

Buddhists recommend meditation to cure monkey mind. Now don’t get me wrong, meditation is great, and it can clear your mind and bring focus. Runners need to bring their mind and body into balance, and meditation helps with that. But I think writers have a lot of other tools as well, to bring their mind to their writing.

Some writers have certain music that motivates, others journal. Some use a timer and write anything for thirty minutes to see if it gets the creativity going, others mind map. Some writers research, others interview characters. Some edit what’s already been written, others grit their teeth and just write, knowing they can toss it out with the garbage if they need to.

A little monkey is okay. But when the monkey is wild, do whatever you need to, whatever works for you, to get that monkey off your back.

 

First Impressions

I admit I’m a headline skimmer. I look at them on MSN.com and in the grocery store line. Every once in a while, one catches my attention and I have to open the webpage or the magazine.

I do the same thing when I’m at a bookstore. Sometimes it’s the title that catches my eye, sometimes the cover, and I pick up the book to read the blurb.

Those first impressions count. If your title isn’t alluring, strangers may not pick up your book. If the cover to your novel doesn’t grab someone, it will be passed over, along with hundreds of others.

I usually have a title to my work in progress before I start, but I am working on one novel right now that has no title. I love what I’ve written so far, but nothing sings to me yet. I know it needs to be provocative given the nature of my book, but everything I’ve come up with is bland or feels forced.  I’m not going to worry about it because I still have the other half of the book to write. When the right title comes along, I’ll definitely know it.

My husband is a pro at artwork. He has a knack for knowing what works and what appeals to others. I depended on him to help with my book cover for 2012: The Rising. When the cover was designed, I didn’t like it at first, but my husband told me it was perfect. I’ve gotten several compliments on the design, so he must have been right…again.

Your title and cover should be well thought out with your audience in mind. What will grab their attention? What will make them curious enough to stop and pick up your book? If it’s not enough, you’ll miss those precious sales!

 

Zebekiah is a lovely brindle pit bull. We adopted him when he was a year and a half old, and he clearly came from a traumatic past. Zeb is an independent dog. It took almost six months for him to understand that he was in a family that loved him and would never hurt him. He is now gentle, affectionate, and loving. At five years old, he acts like a pup, running and playing with anything he can find.

Unfortunately, pit bulls have a bad rap. They are banned in many cities and counties because they are very strong dogs and can do a lot of damage.

One day, I took Zeb to work with me because he had to go to the vet. Some of the people in my office were worried about encountering a pit bull. The stereotypes surrounding the breed are what people think of first. After meeting Zeb, my coworkers realized that pit bulls are not horrible animals. One of my coworkers sat on the floor, and Zeb backed up, sat on his lap, and put his head on my coworker’s shoulder.

Zeb is a fine example of how stereotypes and perceptions can mar a person's thoughts. As writers, we try to step outside of stereotypes and perceptions. We write to entertain, and to bring new thoughts and ideas to people. At one time, strong female protagonists weren't common. But now, those stereotypes have been broken. At one time romance novels weren't very detailed in the sex scenes. Now, writers have changed ideas, and erotica has become its own genre.

Writers shouldn't be afraid to challenge stereotypes and perceptions. The viewpoints and story may not be popular, but controversy can boost sales.

Break out of the ordinary, challenge your own stereotypes and perceptions, and see where it leads you. With Zeb, I was able to show that not all pit bulls are mean. With my writing, I can also step into another realm, where I can change people's thoughts and ideas—or at least make them think.