BOOKS, WRITING, LITERATURE, HUMOR
We chatted with John W. Howell about his new novel Eternal Road: The final stop, the transformation of the heroes, and the meaning behind historical and supernatural elements. 1. What is the significance of the book’s title Eternal Road? The title came to me one day while I was writing one of the scenes. Eternal Road is the avenue to one’s selected spot to spend eternity. The road is well-traveled...
No book worth its salt is meant to put you to sleep, it’s meant to make you jump out of bed in your underwear and run and beat the author’s brains out. Bohumil Hrabal, Czech novelist There’s a book called Aspects of the Novel, a series of lectures from E. M. Forster, written in 1927. I haven’t read it myself yet, but I saw a mention about it in the...
I believe that creativity is some kind of human magic because AI and robots still can’t achieve our imaginary level. However, being creative isn’t easy and doesn’t come naturally. The problems with this kind of magic: it isn’t random, it has nothing to do with inspiration, you aren’t born this way; you can train your brain to be more creative. How? By doing creative work (in your field) over a...
The Path of Ray is not only about writing. It is also about reflections, connecting with oneself and the world. The path of yellow and orange, of sharp speech and bold ideas, of silly pearls of wisdom and hidden truths, healing and awakening. The greatest writers often say that their stories come from a source beyond the thinking mind. How do we access that source? How we cultivate our ideas?...
There’s a beautiful Sanskrit work – Samadhi OR समाधि – which roughly translates as a state of oneness, or complete absorption. How often do you experience such a feeling when you write? You know… that golden moment when you get entirely lost in your own words, and the page fills up effortlessly. The great challenge for us, soulful scribes, is that, all too often, the state of Samadhi alludes us. Our minds swirl with...
Hello, February! The one-month-long vacation is over and the reality of “damn, Ray… are you going to edit the book?” is here, slapping my face with a warning of fast-approaching deadlines. In a world of Indie Publishing, jam-packed with frustration, chaos, confusion, anxiety, and laziness, it’s really hard to stay on track 24/7. Things to remember when you need a push: No one cares! It is you against you. Every...
Written by Jemima Have you found yourself wondering if the whole New Year’s resolutions concept is getting a little jaded and tatty around the edges? If so, allow me a shot at rekindling your passion for pledges to the Self. I know that most of us writers can raise a hand on having made heartfelt promises that have been spectacularly broken, with a mighty tumble before the end of January....
How do you get your ideas? By thinking and thinking and thinking… till I’m ready to kill myself. Isaac Asimov 5 writing advices from “It’s Been a Good Life”, Isaac Asimov and “The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers”, John Gardener (currently reading). 1. The difference between Ordinary and Prolific Writer (by Asimov) The ordinary writer is filled with insecurities and obsesses over the right word,...
Living in Sweden. Awesome. Happy. Ayurvedic food. Healthy lifestyle. Dogs. Literature. Painting. Meditation/Yoga. I love my life.
