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| | | I want to talk about vocation or avocation.
In last Friday’s email -- now a blog post here https://writersfunzone.com/blog/2019/05/02/write-to-market-by-beth-barany/ -- I shared about my rumination on writing to market or not.
I don’t think it’s wrong or bad to write to market. I just don’t do it as a top motivator.
I’ve heard from several of you on your point of view on this issue — thank you so much — and so I wanted to flush out another way of looking at writing fiction.
Some of you said that it was more a hobby than a profession.
I want to honor how seriously you take your hobby. It is more like a vocation, a calling, a way of being in the world, a way of expressing who you are to yourself, to others, and to the next generations to come.
A vocation it’s not something we talk about much in our culture, but my father talked about it with us.
He had many vocations (technically "avocations", but I'll get to that in a moment). My father studied philosophy, the meaning of life stuff, did weaving, loved and served his own gourmet cooking, and played the Japanese bamboo flute. He also loved gathering herbs and wild crafting. He made us home remedies from what he gathered (rose hip tea!) when we were sick from the time I was little.
My father passed away last January 2018, but I think a lot about his vocations. He pursued these things because he loved them. He would even give gifts of his weaving and gift his time and energy with his cooking.
Not that we need to gift and give away our writing. That was his choice.
And yes, I wish he could have modeled the business side of one’s vocation (but he didn't know how, and that's okay), but I am really glad that he modeled passion and the pursuit of something because he loved it.
According to Grammarist, "A vocation is a calling, an occupation, or a large undertaking for which one is especially suited. It can be roughly synonymous with career or profession, though vocation connotes a seriousness or a commitment that these words don’t always bear. An avocation is something done in addition to one’s vocation—usually a hobby."
Whether you pursue writing fiction as an avocation or vocation, a hobby or profession, or something in between (or yes -- all of the above!), I celebrate your passion and your love of the art and craft.
Until next time!
Yes, please, share your thoughts with me on these topics. I love hearing from you and I respond to every email I get, though it may take me a few days.
♥
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| | Reminder! Starts Monday!
Upcoming online course on "Story Structure, Essential Building Blocks of Your Craft"
If you're unsure about how to organize your story, save a bunch of time by familiarizing yourself with several story structures to find the one that works best for you.
Story telling is not a paint-by-numbers affair, but structures maketh art.
Without a skeleton, you could not stand.
Take this very affordable class with me and get insight, save time, and get inspired to write your novel.
For the second year in a row, starting May 6, 2019, I teach “Story Structure: An Essential Building Blocks of Your Craft” as an online email course with Outreach International Romance Writers of America chapter.
Registration details:
Over the course of 4 weeks, I cover these 6 story structures. Students tell me this course helps them decide on which story structure to use to plan and write their novels.
Clarity leads to action!
We'll cover together: - The Three-Act Structure
- The Hero’s Journey
- The Virgin Archetypal Journey
- The 5-Point Plot Structure
- The Five Commandments of Storytelling
You'll get a chance to ask questions, brainstorm, and uncover the best story structure for your WIP.
Let me know if you have any questions about this course.
BTW, it will be the last time I'm offering this course at this low price.
♥
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| Have a happy and creative week! Happy writing! Let me know how it goes!
Best,
Beth
PS. While our 5th anniversary school promo is over, I still have a few more openings in my group coaching program if you want in depth personalized support in an intimate group with people all focused on advancing their writing careers. Check out all the details here: http://coaching.bethbarany.com/. ♥
PPS. Is it too early to be thinking about NaNoWriMo -- National Novel Writing Month annually in November?
Ezra, my husband, and co-teacher in our online school for fiction writers, turned to me recently and announced what book he'd be writing for NaNo. He's excited and I'm so happy that he's plugged into his creative live wire.
Ezra's ahead of the game -- and I've already started brainstorming too because I was inspired!
We're both excited to teach our Plan Your Novel course in October 2019.
Early enrollment will open in July during our Summer Sale. Everything in the school will be 50% for a limited time only, including the October course. So keep an eye out for that.
♥
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| NEWEST BOOK! Plan Your Novel Like A Pro
This book will help you get excited to plan your novel. The tools shared here are designed to spark your muse and give you confidence when you sit down to write your story. Plan Your Novel Like A Pro: And Have Fun Doing It! is for organic writers and pansters who want a roadmap to follow, so that they can let their creativity loose.
** Is this you? => Are you a podcaster or blogger and would like to feature PLAN YOUR NOVEL LIKE A PRO on your channel? Review copies available. Please hit reply and let me know. Thanks!
♥
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| | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Welcome!
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
Not sure which program or course is right for you?
BTW, I'm a working novelist too, with two series published in two genres, and more on the way. :)
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| | ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Check out the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, co-taught with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
Check out her Henrietta series here (YA Fantasy) and her Touchstone series here (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance).
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Arianna Golden
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