The Writer's Lens

The Writer's Lens - E21: Worldviews, Ideas, And The Psychology Of Creating Stories...Now, Did You Get All That?

Happy New Year! And welcome to more Writer's Lens in 2018! 

To kick off the new year, I'm going in deep. Deep into our worldviews; deep into psychology; deep into the very nature of what makes us create what we create. So all that being said, there's plenty of meat and potatoes in this episode. Plenty of which I can unpack in future installments. But, for now, please enjoy this second half of what makes writing a spiritual experience and how a writer's worldview can change attitudes of readers over time.

The Writer's Lens - E20: "Be Unique"; "Be Yourself"...Wait, What Does That Even Mean?

Last episode of 2017! And I decided to end the year talking about...well, myself. 

Okay, not really. But at least, not entirely.   

In this episode, I talk about the creative notion of "being yourself" and "being unique". As a storyteller, I've often heard people tell me to be either of these things if I'm going to "make it" as a writer. However, as experience has taught me, I've arrived at some insights I thought were worth mentioning. Specifically, what's really being told to us when we hear these phrases and how you can figure out the best way to make the most of them. 

Hope you enjoy. And before I go, a big thank you to everyone who listened, subscribed, and showed support as this podcast got off the ground. Looking forward to more great things in 2018! 

- J.C.L. 

The Writer's Lens - E19: I Want What You Have; I Want To Do It Better; and I Want You To Fail

Don't let the title fool you - this is exactly what I'll be talking about.

You may have a new idea or a new book you want to get out there. But, you feel hindered because everyone else is doing the right things: buying bookmarks, showing up at events, launching book ideas that just so happen to be like yours. It's a daunting position to be in. We all want our ideas to soar. Yet what do we do when we get cornered in our thinking? Sometimes we can compromise ourselves and our circumstances.

In this episode, I'll be talking about this very (perhaps dark) thing that can occur along our creative journey and how we can combat it. 

Oh, and a nice little plug for the Ten Commandments in here too. 

The Writer's Lens - E18: Do You Have Deadlines? Or Creative 'Checkpoints'?

I have a love and hate relationship with deadlines. I love it when I make my own. I hate it when they are handed down to me (with completely unrealistic expectations for completion, that is). But, on the other hand, I love getting deadlines from other people. It makes me want to prove myself. I have a goal and an objective that forces me to make things happen. Because if I'm honest with myself, I know how making my own deadlines can go: I get lax. I put things off. I don't have anyone holding me accountable but me.

In this episode, I discuss what it's been like balancing deadlines with regards to writing books. And how I've learned that making checkpoints rather than hard stops has yielded better habits and more gusto to keep a-movin'. 

Hope you enjoy. 

The Writer's Lens - E17: Should We Separate Art From The Artist?

Like the titles says, should we separate what someone creates from what they do in his or her personal life? Every day it seems like more people of influence are falling from grace in the public eye. And with that happening, should we turn our backs on what these people have contributed? Or is that not up for debate at all? 

Well, in this episode, I make a debate of it. Through the writer's lens, of course. 

The Writer's Lens - E16: Who Is Rooting For You?

Who is rooting for you? It's not a question I'm used to asking myself. When it comes to writing, we tend to think of it as a solitary venture. It's you and your idea against the odds. The concept of having a team of people around you, helping you along the way, may seem like a foreign idea. Even a sign of weakness.

But, as I can attest to, it certainly is not. 

in this episode, I talk about the importance of having a community around you as a writer. Not just for the purpose of editing your work, but to keep you accountable. To stay motivated and on task. And to not give in to the voices that ultimately want you to fail. 

 

The Writer's Lens - E15: Can Writing Be Considered a Spiritual Experience?

Just like the title implies, could writing be considered a spiritual venture?

Recently, I heard that exact phrase from an individual I tend to admire. And thus, I wanted to delve deeper into what that might mean. In this episode, I look at why we might consider that to be true. And what modern science might have to say about it. What happens to our minds when we write and where inspiration might ultimately be coming from.

What do you think? 

Enjoy!  

 

The Writer's Lens - E14: Creatives and Their Priorities

It's easy to get lost in the woods. If you feel determined to succeed at something, you may find yourself making compromises you never thought you would: breaking appointments with friends to work on your craft, forsaking time with your kids or spouse, or spending money on anything and everything to get something done. 

As of late, I've felt convicted to do a reassessment of my own priorities. And how I've been managing them. Am I doing right by myself? By others? In this episode, I talk about how I try to align my priorities properly. And hopefully share some insight into how we can feel accomplished while still making our way up the mountain. Because as we all know, the top of the mountain isn't the end of the story: it's only the start of something new all over again. 

Enjoy! 

The Writer's Lens - E13: Dinosaurs... Wait, What?

I promised I would. Now, here it is: an entire episode dedicated to one of my favorite childhood pastimes: dinosaurs. I wasn't sure if I could tie in dinosaurs to the creative process; or storytelling - or anything related to this podcast, but with this episode, I certainly give it my best shot. 

Enjoy (and hopefully you learn something new about dinosaurs in the process). 

The Writer's Lens - Review: Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown

Another review. And this time it's not a television show. In this episode, I tackle the story and plot of the Red Rising Trilogy, as written by author Pierce Brown. 

A dystopian society existing several hundreds of years in the future, Red Rising follows Darrow - a lowly worker on Mars who finds out his entire existence and life of servitude is a lie, as the people who live on the surface are wining and dining and living great lives; all within the Society's "Color Hierarchy". 

Aside from giving my review, I talk about the nature of relationships in big war stories like this one. I also touch on the nature of first-person versus third-person narrative as well as how one might view a book like this 20 years from now. 

Lastly, I hope to interview Mr. Brown at some point in the near future (The challenge made. The challenge accepted).