Demonization

Generally the villain of a story represents the hero's fears and unlikeable, rejected qualities: all the things we don't like about ourselves and try to project onto other people. This form of projection is called demonization.

People in emotional crisis will sometimes project all their problems in a certain area onto another person or group who become the symbol of everything they hate and fear in themselves. In war and propaganda, the enemy becomes the inhuman devil, the "Dark Shadow" of the righteous, angelic image we are trying to maintain for ourselves. The Devil himself is God's shadow (opposite) a projection of all the negative and rejected potential of the Supreme Being.

Sometimes we need this projection and polarization in order to see an issue clearly. A system can stay in unhealthy imbalance for a long time if the conflicts are not categorized, polarized, and made to duke it out in some kind of dramatic confrontation. Usually the Shadow or villain can be brought out into the light. The unrecognized or rejected parts are acknowledged and made conscious despite all their struggling to remain in darkness. Dracula's abhorrence of sunlight is a symbol of the Shadow's desire to remain unexplored.

Villains can be looked at as the hero's Shadow in human form. No matter how alien the villain's values, in some way they are the dark reflection of the hero's own desires, magnified and distorted, her greatest fears come to life.

So, how can you make your own villain appear the complete opposite of your hero? Think of physical attributes as well as emotional, mental, and ethical reasoning.

Who are some of your favorite villains?

Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy

Fear and self-doubt are common enemies to success. Even our most admired mentors, or highly heralded entrepreneurs have encountered those issues. However, they learned to recognize, and overcome, those crippling anxieties.

"Somehow I can't believe there are many heights that can't be scaled by a person who knows the secret of making dreams come true. The special secret can be summarized in four C's. They are: curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of these is confidence." -Walt Disney

"Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Confidence: “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” - J.M. Barrie

 "A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage." - Sidney Smith

 “The secret to success is constancy to purpose.”  - Benjamin Disraeli

Sometimes, it's difficult for us to prevail against our own trepidations. We may need a hand in bypassing the dread, panic, or downright terror that seizes us. The key is to realize we all experience those emotions, and instead of allowing them to control us, we need to surround ourselves with tools and people that will help us realize our full potential.

Be confident about yourself. Don't let naysayers erode your belief in yourself. Create a vision for your goals and remain true to them.

Brevity

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
                                             - Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson admired the beauty of brevity. He urged authors to remember that the goal in writing is to communicate an idea, not show how many words you know.

Strive for brevity in your own work. Write first. Then edit. Remove all the words you can live without and still tell your story. Does your piece still make sense? Are your ideas clearly communicated? Then, your editing works. You are "tightening your writing."

Tweeting is a good exercise in brevity. Just think how much information can be conveyed in 140 characters or less. Remember that when it's time to revise.

Always write with an open heart. Never limit yourself in the first draft. However, keep Jefferson's words present as you edit. After all, he helped write the Declaration of Independence, the document establishing the right to be an independent nation, using less than fourteen hundred wisely selected words!

Aroho, Autumn, and Amazon submissions

AROHO'S TO THE LIGHTHOUSE POETRY AND CLARISSA DALLOWAY PROSE PRIZEhttp://aroomofherownfoundation.org/awards/to-the-lighthouse-clarissa-dalloway/ --- NO ENTRY FEE. AROHO’s To the Lighthouse Poetry and Clarissa Dalloway “everything but poetry” Book Prizes are awarded annually to one woman’s excellent unpublished collection of poetry (48 to 96 pages) and prose (50,000 to 150,000 words), respectively. We encourage and enjoy a diverse range of topics and styles for both competitions. For the Clarissa Dalloway Book Prize, accepted genres include but are not limited to memoir, biography, novel or novella, young adult literature, and graphic novels. Winners receive $1000 and publication of their submitted collection by Red Hen Press. In addition, AROHO will provide promotional efforts and coverage of some related travel expenses, constituting an additional $1000 in value. Deadline April 1, 2014.

AUTUMN HOUSE LITERARY CONTESTS http://www.autumnhouse.org/contest-submissions/ --- $30 ENTRY FEE. Autumn House is accepting entries for its annual literary contests which award cash prizes in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. The Poetry Contest will award publication and $2,500 to the winner in each category. Deadline April 30, 2014.

Amazon Novel Contest, a novel writing contest for original, unpublished or self-published, fictional, English language manuscripts of any genre that is not offensive, pornography, publicity, indecent proposals, technical manuals or guides. Only accepting the first 10,000 entries.

Today is the first day in the "A to Z" blog challenge. There is very little time left to join. For more information, please click the badge at the top of the right column. Happy Writing!

FREE Poetry!

April is National Poetry Month, and for 2014 the Poetry Foundation is celebrating with a trip into Poetry's archives! Individuals, classrooms, and reading groups are invited to sign up to receive a set of back issues of Poetry to read and discuss during National Poetry Month. Submit your request at the link below, and they will select issues from their archives for you to enjoy!

Limit 10 copies per request.

FREE poetry magazines: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/npm

Today's Free Downloads

These ebooks are available for free download for a limited time. The first is a short story by bestselling author and writing mentor James Scott Bell.

 

 

 

 

Seven Ways to Keep Your Network Alive

Whether you need new freelance projects, you want to strengthen your contact with agents and editors, or cull more readers, reaching out can be a highly effective strategy. Although cold emails or phone calls sometimes yield results, you'll often reap better results by contacting clients you've worked with in the past or chatting with others in your industry who may be able to give referrals. Here are seven ways you can keep your network of contacts alive.

1. Send a card - The holidays may be over, but you can come up with other reasons to send cards. Maybe Easter cards? It's a good excuse to reach out to people you've worked with in the past and wish them the best, plus since emails are the norm it's more likely that your cards will get noticed.

2. Connect on LinkedIn - While LinkedIn can be a great place to track down an editor's name or figure out who to contact about opportunities, it's recommended that you only send invites to people you actually worked with, rather than people you want to work with. But if you notice an editor or colleague is on LinkedIn, asking to connect can be a smart way to subtly remind them that you exist and want to continue the relationship (plus, if an editor or client leaves their current job, you'll still be able to keep in touch).

3. Share an interesting article - Not every email or post has to lead to an assignment or advertise your project. Editors are always looking for the latest, greatest stats, studies, and more, so if you see something relevant that they might not have, sharing helps keep you on their radar.

4. Congratulate your contact - It can be a bummer when a favorite editor or client leaves their job. But it's also an opportunity for you to land a new client! When I read that one of my contacts has been promoted to a new job, I'll often send a quick congratulations email (depending on the relationship, I might also mention that I'm available if they need freelancers in their new position). You can also do this for fellow writers who've scored a a great publication. It's good karma!

5. Share relevant opportunities - When I see a lead that's not quite right for me, I'll share that lead with someone else who might be a perfect fit. I try to help my friends who are searching for jobs. You could do the same thing with your editors or clients if you know them well enough. Say your editor mentions that she's looking for a wedding photographer or a retailer who specializes in vintage clothes. If you know someone great, then hook them up!

6. Invite your contact to meet in person - If you live nearby to your client or editor, then inviting them to lunch or coffee can help strengthen that relationship. Alternatively, if you're taking a trip to NYC or another city where editors or clients are located, this can be the perfect excuse to invite them out for coffee. This may lead to a frequency in work opportunities as yo'll be fresh in their mind. You can also do this with freelancers in your area to swap ideas or leads.

7. Participate in a Blog Hop - In just one week, the A to Z blog hop (see top of sidebar on right) will begin. Blog hops are a great way to connect with readers, or fellow writers. I have connected with some very creative and talented individuals, developed a new system for my blogging, refined my communication skills, and initiated what turned into an amazing relationship with some of my readers! Want more reasons to join a blog hop? Try these 12: http://writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/2012/02/benefits-of-blog-challenge.html

How do you keep your network alive and well?