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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Trying to gain perspective about our own writing is like getting the right clothes on; it takes practice to know what really looks good for our body type. The same is true for editing our own work. When we are so close to what we are doing, forget objective, at least try for some distance.

One way to do this is to consider our story from a 180 degree view. What would happen if we considered the flip side?

Everyone is familiar with the front side of a peacock, but how about the flip side? On my recent vacation I had fun taking this fellow’s picture. He was all about the strutting and performing for us, which can distract one from the real show. Imagine my delight when he turned around and I got the view below. A completely different perspective.

When a reader opens our story and begins to make assumptions about who we are as writers and craftspeople, let’s make sure even our backside looks good. Use correct grammar and punctuation, good story lines, fabulous characters and hidden secrets which move the character’s story arcs along to a rewarding conclusion.

If writing a contemporary light romance, consider how a mystery would impact your story. If we like writing horror, how would a sci-fi element change your characters? Right now I am reading “A Discovery Of Witches,” by Deborah Harkness and I love it; vampires, witches, daemons, time travel and all. Sometimes more is better.

Don’t box yourself into thinking your story is one-dimensional. Good writers torture their characters with problems and challenges, then clean it all up at the end with lessons learned. Think of your storyline as a playground and see what happens. If nothing else, it will help you feel stronger about your plot line or open new avenues you have not considered.

Remember to think about the flip side. Let’s make sure even our fuzzy peacock butts, er, story butts look good!

by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

The old cliché says the best things in life are free; clichés work for a reason. On my recent vacation we went for a walk along the Metolius River starting from Camp Sherman. This is a favorite spot of mine to take an easy stroll and shoot some pictures. It’s a photographer’s paradise.

Accompanying us on our trek were butterflies, everywhere. It was magic. Also a challenge to photograph as these beautiful buggers move!

I still haven’t looked at all the photos, but I have shots of partial butterfly wings, dirt pictures where butterflies were and the always helpful out of focus shot because the digital camera battery got tired. (Pack spare camera batteries too, I do.)

But as any photographer learns, keep taking pictures because you never know what will happen. The same goes for writing. Keep at it, keep trying, because some day you might have writing butterfly time and it would be tragic to miss the magic.

Author Elizabeth Lyon has a great saying, “cut wood and carry water,” when it comes to writing. Every type of writing we do and every experience in our lives adds to the writer we are and will become. Use it all. If we all keep writing, one day the butterflies will appear and writing magic will occur. So whether we walk by a stream or on city streets, be open to the creativity around us.

Watch for butterflies!