Creativity NJRWA

It’s the act of making
new connections
between old ideas.
What Is Creative Process?

Except for video excerpts, it’s
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The Creative Process for
Writers

How do you think?
Are you a perception (process) or a judging
(results) person?
Are you a big picture or detail person?
How do your create?
Your Creative Process

What is your pathological need?
Are you a heart or mind person?
How do you sabotage yourself?
How courageous are you?
Your Creative Process

A detail person needs to ‘see’ the big picture: aka
collage?
A big picture person needs to ‘see’ the details: aka
story grid.
Jenny Crusie uses collages because she is good
with details but needs to ‘see’ the big picture.
I use an Excel spreadsheet for every book that I fill
out as I write the book because I am terrible with
details.
Details vs. Big Picture

Focusing too much the on strategic goal & making it
a job
Being a perfectionist
Getting too caught up in business side
Trapping ourselves with a brand we don’t want
Creative Blocks

Breathe. Slow down and breath
Do something physical
Embrace not knowing
Keep track of dreams
Have your catastrophe plan
Try something different
Creative Openings

Apply to yourself and others, including
characters in your book.
So you can understand the differences in
people.
Archetypes.
Profiling
Myers-Briggs.
Templates

Male linear thinking.
Female circular thinking.
Big picture thinking.
Detail thinking.
Aka pantser vs a planner.
Which leads to profiling yourself.
Archetypes & Creativity.

“Because writing is such a solitary,
inwardly-directed job, a woman
writer really has to carve out a
space for herself to work. Which
means she has to take it seriously.
As John Gardner once said: ‘If you
believe that what you’re doing isn’t
important, you’re right’.”
~Dennis Palumbo

Profile yourself for 24 hours.
Ask yourself if this is the type
of person who will succeed as
a writer?

INTP= Architect
ENTP= Inventor
INTJ= Scientist
ENTJ= Field Marshall
INFP= Questor
ENFP= Journalist
INFJ= Author
ENJF= Pedagogue
ESJF= Seller
ISFJ= Conservator
ESFP= Entertainer
ISFP= Artist
ESTJ= Administrator
ISTJ= Trustee
ESTP= Promoter
ISTP= Artisan
Myers-Briggs Types

Understand what you are, but also focus on
what you aren’t. What is the opposite of
your type?
For example, INFJ is labeled author, and
the least common of the 16 character
types.
If you are an INFJ, what aren’t you?
ESTP= promoter.
This is a big problem for a lot of writers.
Myers-Briggs

The last letter of the Myers-Briggs is
either a J (judging) or a P (perception)
J types like to have matters settled.
Finished.
P types like to have matters open. In
progress.
If you have trouble finishing a book, you
probably are a P.
If you rush through a book, you probably
are a J.
Are you writing a book or writing to finish
Results vs Process

How you organize your daily life-- this is how you will
instinctively organize your book.
If you outline, do you outline just plot, or do you outline
characters?
If you’re a pantser, how much rewriting do you do?
Is your rewriting focused on plot or character?
Consider front-loading the part of the book that is your
weakest writing.
Outlining

A dream with an external visible outcome
that is written down with an end date
becomes a goal.
A goal broken down into steps becomes a
plan.
A plan backed by action becomes reality.
Goals-- What

Most writers are desperate to get published
Once published, they’re desperate to sell
the next book. Then the next.
Or they’re under contract to deliver the next
book, then the next, and . . .
Most writers don’t have a strategic goal
Strategic Goals.

“If you don’t
know where
you’re going,
you’re liable
to end up
somewhere
else.”
~Casey
Stengel

I want to be a NY Times best-selling author in 5 years.
I want to write my memoir for my grandchildren.
I want to write part-time simply because it is a hobby.
I want to get published within 2 years.
I want to have my book in print within 6 months.
I want to write a book that will help people with -----.
Strategic Goals Can Be
Anything.

I’ll do anything to achieve
my writing goal, except
don’t ask me to do . . . . .?

CONFLICT:
The Fuel of Your Story

Basic Story Dynamic
The Protagonist (the character who owns the story)
struggles with . . .
The Antagonist (the character who if removed will cause
the conflict and story to collapse)
because both must achieve their concrete, specific .
. .
Goals (the external thing they are each trying
desperately to get, not necessarily the same thing)

CONFLICT:
EXERCISE ONE
What does your protagonist want most?
(Must be a concrete, external thing)
Do not confuse goal with motivation!

CONFLICT:
EXERCISE TWO
What does your antagonist want most?
(Must be a concrete, external thing)

CONFLICT:
EXERCISE THREE
What is stopping your protagonist from
getting what he/she wants most?
What is stopping your antagonist from
getting what he/she wants most?

The Conflict Box
A way of diagraming your protagonist,
antagonist, goals, and conflict.
You can have conflict because:
Protagonist and antagonist want the same
thing.
Protagonist and antagonist want different
things, but achieving one goal causes conflict
with the other’s goal.

Conflict Box
Protagonist
Conflict
Protagonist
Goal
Antagonist
Goal
Antagonist
Conflict

Conflict Box: Same Goals
•Agnes wants
to keep her
house, which
she bought
from Brenda.
•Brenda wants
to steal back
the house she
just sold to
Agnes
Keep
HOUSE
Get
HOUSE
Back
Protagonist
Conflict
Antagonist
Conflict

Conflict Box: Conflict
Someone is
trying to
steal the
house from
her!
Someone
won’t let her
steal the
house back!
Keep
HOUSE
Get
HOUSE
Back
A
G
N
E
S
B
R
E
N
D
A
GOAL CONFLICT

Conflict Box: Same Goal
• To see if your
conflict is
inescapable:
Draw a line from
Agnes’ goal to
Brenda’s Conflict.
If Agnes is
causing Brenda’s
conflict, you’re
halfway there.
• Then draw a line
from Brenda’s
goal to Agnes’
conflict. If Brenda
is causing Agnes’
conflict, you have
a conflict lock.
Keep
HOUSE
Get
HOUSE
Back
Someone
won’t let her
steal the
house back!
Someone is
trying to
steal the
house from
her!
A
G
N
E
S
B
R
E
N
D
A
GOAL CONFLICT

Conflict Box: Different Goals
KILL whoever is
killing young
girls
KILL the
daughters of the
men who
betrayed him
Protagonist
Conflict
Antagonist
Conflict
•Gant wants to
find out who is
kidnapping and
killing young
girls.
•The Sniper wants
revenge for being
betrayed.

Conflict Box: Conflict
KILL whoever is
killing young
girls
KILL the
daughters of the
men who
betrayed him
Another Girl is
killed,
kidnapped.
Someone is
closing in on
him, trying to
stop him.
•Gant wants to
find out who is
kidnapping and
killing young
girls.
•The Sniper wants
revenge for being
betrayed.

The Craft Of Writing
You start with an Original Idea.
You figure out your protagonist,
antagonist, and core conflict (conflict
lock.)
Remember to stay open-minded to
possibilities.
So now you . . .

Research
Research your characters.
Research your setting (place & time).
Research your plot.
Research produces possibilities.

Book Dissection
It’s been done before.
Learn from the experts.
Do a story break down, focusing on
narrative structure.
Everything in a story is done for a
purpose.
Do a scene break down, focusing on
purpose.
How are you going to be different?

If you aren’t where you want to be, you must
change.
Change isn’t just thinking differently, but the 1st
step of change is to think differently.
Make is externally imposed.
Become is internally motivated.
The successful become.
Change

What step of change do you
believe you have the most
trouble with?
Moment Of Enlightenment?
Decision?
Sustained Action?

Most people think sustained action is their
weakest part of change.
Remember, though, you only get to sustained
action if the other two have occurred.
Look back on when you changed in your life.
What was the hardest part?
Change

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
Emotional Stages of Change
These are also the stages of the editorial process

He tried even though the odds of rejection were high.
He walked in the door, even though he was afraid.
He went even though his wife didn’t think he had it.
He stayed after being rejected.
He asked questions.
Even though he was angry, he was respectful.
He listened.
He used his PLATFORM and tried again.
He used his real self and mined his emotions.
He conquered his FEAR.
He CHANGED.
What Did Johnny Cash Do?

“Life shrinks
or expands
in proportion
to one’s
courage.”
~Anais Nin

Are you better at character (heart) or plot
(mind)?
You need both for an effective story.
You must address whatever you are weak at.
Merge them. Character becomes plot.
Are You A Heart or Mind
Person?

Why are you writing?
What message are you trying to
communicate?
What is your blind spot as a writer? As a
person?
What Is Your Pathological
Need?

Looking at previous questions, you can see
the areas where you are weak.
The number one way we sabotage ourselves
is through our fears.
How Do You Sabotage
Yourself?

Blind Spot
Needs produce blind spots.
Everyone has blind spots.
As an author, make sure you know yours.
Strongest defenses are built around the
blind spot. Therefore . . .
Often the blind spot is the part of character
thought to be the strongest.
Denial defends blinds spot and justifies
needs.

Pathological Need
In a moment of crisis, what is the
driving force?
It is a need, not a want.
Every need has a corresponding flaw.

Trait Need Flaw
• Loyal
• Adventurous
• Altruistic
• Tolerant
• Decisive
• Realistic
• Competitive
• Idealistic
• To be trusted
• To have change
• To be loved
• To have no
conflict
• To be in charge
• To be balanced
• To achieve goals
• To be the best
• Gullible
• Unreliable
• Submissive
• No conviction
• Impetuous
• Outer control
• Overlook cost
• Naive

Fear of failure
Fear of success
Fear of rejection
Fear of starting
Fear of finishing
Fear of revealing too much about ourselves
Fear of criticism
Fears of Writers

Fear of making the wrong decision
Fear of having hit one’s peak
Fear of making a mistake
Fear of not being good enough
Fear of the business
Fear of having regrets
Fears of Writers

The first step is to rip away the denial. Fear
exists.
Look at what you think is your greatest
strength and turn it around.
Most fear is subconscious-- you will likely
need help finding the true root.
Dealing With Fear

We bend our lives around our fears.
Your fear won’t change things-- it has no
power--it won’t keep the plane flying
Fear can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Dealing With Fear

Many writers and artists have difficulty internalizing
their accomplishments
We look to external things like luck and contacts as
the reason for our successes
We feel like we are ‘fooling’ everyone
The more success someone has, the greater this
feeling
The Impostor Syndrome

Many writers/artists feel like a fraud
“I still think People will find out that I’m really not very
talented. I’m not very good. It’s all been a big sham.”
Michelle Pfeiffer
“Sometimes I wake up before going off to a shoot, and
I think, I can’t do this: I’m a fraud. They’re going to fire
me. I’m Fat. I’m ugly...” Kate Winslet.
Everyone has doubts

The more you agree with the statements on
the following slides, the greater your imposter
syndrome.

I can give the impression I am more
competent than I really am.
I often compare myself to those around
me and consider them more intelligent
than I am.
I get discouraged if I’m not the ‘best’ in an
endeavor.

I hate being evaluated by others.
If someone gives me praise for something
I’ve accomplished, it makes me fear that I
won’t live up to his or her expectations in
the future.
I’ve achieved my current position via luck
and/or being in the right place at the right
time.

Incidents where I made mistakes or failed
come more readily to mind than times
when I was successful
When I finish a manuscript, I usually feel
like I could have done so much better.
When someone compliments me, I feel
uncomfortable.

I’m afraid others will find out my lack of
knowledge/expertise.
When I start a new manuscript, I’m afraid I
won’t be able to finish it, even though I’ve
already finished X number of manuscripts.

Women tend to agree more with IS
statements than men.
Women tend to believe that
intelligence is a fixed trait that cannot
be improved over time.
Women who feel like impostors tend
to seek favorable comparisons with
their peers.

Men who feel like impostors tend to
avoid comparisons with their peers.
Often, they work harder so other
people won’t think them incapable or
dumb.
They get angry because they are
afraid.
Or we start a war.

Focus on positive feedback
Weed out your parent’s voice in your head if
negative
Be aware of using self-deprecation as a
social strategy
How To Get Over

Don’t knock yourself—others are more than
willing to do it for you
Internalize your accomplishments
Read your own resume
How To Get Over

Post your strategic goal
“I love me wall”
How To Get Over

People generally only post good news.
You don’t know the real story or situation.
People lie and exaggerate.
You’re not them.
You are unique.
Impostor Syndrome and the
Internet

Stop blocking yourself.
Rejection is an opportunity.
Failure is an opportunity.
Impostor Syndrome

Seinfeld and the blowhole episode.
Trust your subconscious.
Access all the floors of your brain.
Do not edit first drafts.
Impostor Syndrome

Acknowledge it is exists.
Define what you really fear, often the blind spot.
Factor it in, both positively and negatively.
Open and honest communication reduces anxiety and
fear.
Trust reduces anxiety and fear.
Find your blind spots.
Recognize which of the three steps of change is your
weakest.
Overcoming Fear

The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one
to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and
resolution,
The ability to do something that frightens one.
Strength in the face of pain or grief.
What is Courage?

Expand your comfort zone into your courage zone.
Courage is acting in the face of fear.
Your strongest emotional defenses are around your
greatest weaknesses. Often what we think is our
strongest character strength is our weakest.
As writers, most of us must fight being an introvert.
Courage

“Have no fear of perfection--
you’ll never reach it.”
~Dali.

Every day try to do something that you dislike
doing, but need to do.
Action is the only way to grow courage.
If you’re introverted, talk to a stranger every day.
If you’re a practical person, do something
intuitive every day.
Do the opposite of your Myers-Briggs character.
Overcoming Fear

You can’t separate your writing from you, the writer
Living with fear is ultimately worse than confronting it
Attack the ambush
Overcoming Fear

Know the rule
Have a good reason for breaking the rule
Take responsibility for breaking the rule
The 3 Rules of
Rule-Breaking

You can’t separate your writing from you, the
writer
Put long-term goals ahead of short-term goals
Write what you know- maybe write what you
are afraid to know.
Lean into fear-- kaizen
Be curious about your fear-- it’s a cave- but
treasure could be inside
Take action.
Overcoming Fear

We are bleeding onto the page.
We’re writing them instead of living them in
some cases— and that’s a good thing!
Reality is often boring.
Suspension of disbelief in ourselves!
We’re Writing Our Dreams
and Fantasies

Is perseverance more important than talent?
Statistically born out by: weight loss, AA, Black
Belts, getting published, Death & Dying, etc..
Many people are wanna-be’s.
Cannot do three steps on own.
Can’t get through five stages on own.
The 5% Rule

Is talent or perseverance more
important?
Science has too long focused
on intelligence & talent as
determiners of success. And
it’s not.
Strategic Goals:
GRIT

1869 Galton-- Hereditary Genius: ‘ability combined with
zeal & capacity for hard work’ trumps talent.
Duckworth study on Grit: West Point: Grit was
determining factor of Beast Barracks success.
Special Forces Q-Course
Strategic Goals:
GRIT

“80% of success is showing up.” Again and again.
Jim Carrey and the Hollywood Sign
Strategic Goals:
GRIT

• The Three Hardest Words
• Willingness to Surrender
• Buridan’s Ass
• When we have too many options, we don’t focus
on the ones we should
• Close doors
A Growth Mindset

MRIs show people with fixed mindsets had
more activity when receiving positive
feedback.
When they got feedback on what could be
done better, there was little activity.
Growth mindset people were the opposite.
Welcome new ways of thinking.
A Growth Mindset

Setting a specific long-term goal
and doing whatever it takes until
the goal has been achieved.
The Key To Success

“Talent is less important in film-
making than patience. If you
really want your films to say
something that you hope is
unique, then patience and
stamina, thick skin and a kind of
stupidity, a mule-like stupidity, is
what you really need.”
~Terry Gilliam

Creativity NJRWA

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