I have to say I'm having a blast with this project. Even in the few weeks since the launch of this thing, which started as a kernel of an idea and then kicked its way boldly into being, I've come into contact with some of the most kindhearted people, like Cathy, who met Bradbury project artists Devin and Danielle while camping on a beach in Texas. Cathy looked up the project and backed it, bless her heart. Or Leah, a fellow Bradbury fan. And then there's Barbara Brabec who maintains a fabulous website just packed full of information for writers, especially those interested in self-publishing. Barbara and I spent an hour-and-a-half on the phone and became kindred spirits within the first few words. The wealth of information she shared with me, along with her genuine interest, curiosity and encouragement, were treasures beyond measure. 

Those are just the highlights. I've experienced a whole scad of encouraging and uplifting moments--feedback from friends, backing from loved ones, the project's goal reached--and exceeded--with two weeks yet to go. I've even had a few of those "it's-beyond-me" bits that give a person that little extra inspiration to get going. Like the little nods from Mr. Bradbury himself, it seems. Sending a salamander into one of my stories and then slyly presenting himself on the creature's Wikipedia entry.  Popping into the first two podcasts I downloaded, completely at random, from Selected Shorts (where I dare to dream my own stories will someday find favor). Slipping into conversation where he hadn't before. It's wonderfully erie and terrifically encouraging. 

Inspiration comes, too, from my backers, from the communication I have with each of them, old friends and folks I've just met through this project. Some of them are dear friends I see daily. Some are as far away as Auckland, Dubai, Moscow and Salamanca. They're all invited to have input in the project. 

In fact, one of the incentives I offered was the chance for backers to name a character in one of the stories. Some were even given the option to suggest a couple of traits for their character that might or might not be worked into the story. 

One by one, I have received the names of characters--Wally and Summer, Sharon and Larry, Martha and Peter--and each time they come, each one that introduces her or himself, they almost immediately insert her or himself into one of the already-written stories, as if that piece has been waiting, waiting, waiting just for them to arrive to finally be complete.

Okay, so maybe it's just me, but I was pretty blown away by that. 

And the illustration ideas! Oh, MY! 

Deanna came back with an incredible concept for "The Giant on Bus #5" that completely floored me with its creativity and enthusiasm about her part of the project. 

"I'm SO glad you chose this story for me," she said. "I love hair. It's one of my obsessions."

And Caroline sent me her preliminary sketches of "To Hit a Moving Target" which were just as whimsical and elemental as they should be. 

Paul took me completely by surprise with a very accurate summary of the metaphors in "Undercurrent," isolating a particular moment in the story that he called "very haunting." His idea completely portrays what I was hoping it would convey with the piece.

"There are a lot of great metaphors in this story," Paul said about "Undercurrent." "It has been sticking with me and unraveling since I read it."

Kristin accepted the challenge of stepping outside her comfort zone to illustrate "Blessed Assurance," a piece that also challenged--and is still challenging--me in its creation. Here's a snippet of what she'll be working on: 

"An ink sketch of a small shack-style house. Two windows, small front porch, light shining out from within, a blue light, and the window pane is in a subtle cross shape. The house, although a bit run down, unkempt and alone on the outside, has a glimmer of light that shines within. For me, illustrating this story--I love the symbolism of this image."

And Danielle, sweet, sweet Danielle, sent me some great preliminary sketches that are absolutely perfect for "The Dress in the Window," a story that, as of yet, is still just rattling around in my head but will soon make its way to the page. Danielle took the nuggets I gave her, the primary struggles and temptations of the protagonist in all of her irresponsible silliness, and created exactly the image I'd hoped she would. 

As for me, I'm working on several of the stories that were yet unfinished. I wake each morning (and, sometimes, in the middle of the night), struck by an idea that slides perfectly into a plot, lends itself absolutely to a character, or weaves a new element into a piece to give it just what it needed. I haven't written like this for...well, for years. 

Thanks to you, to all of you, for this gift. Whether you've shared the project on your Facebook page, tweeted about it (Shout out to writers Jonathan Gunson and Jeff Goins for spreading the word! Be sure to visit their pages for great resources and motivation for writers), talked to folks on the beach about it, or backed it with your hard-earned cash at any level, I thank you every single day.

I'm grateful. 

Looking forward!

Check out the project on Kickstarter, and, if you're feeling especially zippy, toss in a buck or three. 

"I think in anything we do as people, there are moments of doubt, but I never really labored, there was nothing I really could do other than this," Krajcik admits. "It's my only trade, and I think that even though I had moments of doubt, I never really steered away from the course.

"There's always really big challenges with any undertaking in life. One of the challenges that I've had has been of blindly jumping into this thing and hoping something lovely comes from it. I'm proud of the outcome."

~Josh Krajcik

Check out my full interview with Josh Krajcik about his much-anticipated upcoming album, Blindly, Lonely, Lovely, set to drop on April 2. 

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” 

― Ray Bradbury

While I have been a huge fan of the short story for most of my life, digging into stuff by Ring Lardner, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, Stephen King, Flannery O'Connor and Mark Twain, I came to know Ray Bradbury late in life. 

It wasn't until my thirties that my eldest daughter discovered, with some amount of shock, that I'd never read Fahrenheit 451 (or ANY Bradbury, for that matter) and insisted that I remedy that immediately, if not sooner. I borrowed the book on CD from my beloved library and was, as anyone should be, smitten. After the book was over, Recorded Books presented an interview with Bradbury in which he talked about, among other things, his first encounter with Aldous Huxley, in which he ordered tea when what he really wanted was coffee. I loved that story, and it got my brain going, got me imagining the scene in my head--Bradbury, this young, virtually unknown writer scared out of his wits and longing for a cup of hot coffee, and Huxley, a literary giant, so confidently sipping as he sums Bradbury up in a surprising way. 

I could see it all playing out right in front of me.

Then Bradbury said, during the interview, that when a short story comes into your mind, you have to write it immediately, because it has been given to you at that time and that place to be written by you. And so, after having felt for years that if I were going to write, it had to be a novel, beginning one and then another and then another with no sign of completion, Bradbury told me, as if he were speaking directly to me, that I needed to write a short story. Now. And it was to be about him. 

And so I did.

When it was completed, I submitted my short story, Bradbury, to the Wayne Regional Writing Awards. It took first place. In fact, all three pieces I submitted took first place. I was told it was the first time that has happened in the history of the awards. 

Then came an avalanche of ideas, a series of short fiction that practically attacked me at every turn, stories about regret and lack thereof, about people faced with making choices that might not seem wise or popular, but are the only reasonable ones for these folks, at this time, to make. And no one else can make them for them. 

The characters sprang to life for me. Bradbury himself, of course, with his unique verbal pause. But also Marge, with her lid-skipping eyeliner and furcated loyalties. And Arnold, anchored to the soil but called by the sea. And Daniel, trying as hard as he can not to be bugged by that nasty Roger Wheeler's incessant hacking cough assaulting him daily as he sits captive in his cubicle. 

When Bradbury died in June of 2012, I knew I had to pull these pieces together into a collection and publish them. After many sessions with my beloved group, the Killbuck Valley Writers' Guild, I have, with their guidance, shaped and crafted and polished and prepared these pieces. And now, they are ready for you. 

But my goal with this Kickstarter is not just to publish my writing, but also to deal out these stories to a handful of my amazing visual artist friends, asking them each to illustrate one tale. Those illustrations will appear alongside the pieces, a collaboration between visual artist and writer, to be printed in these first 200 copies. The original pieces will be offered as incentives for the fabulous folks who fund the project. 

I'm excited about this thing, I tell you. It's been in the works for awhile and, as Steve Jobs and Seth Godin have said, it's time to ship it. 

So I've created a Kickstarter (it's where I ask people to have enough faith in me to pitch in a dollar or two to bring the project to fruition). I've been honored by the backers who have taken the plunge already (thank you, backers!). I've been thrilled to see backers I don't even know invest in me. That's huge. And I've been ecstatic to have the support of people like Jeff Goins, a writer who has been very inspirational to me, who chose to be so generous with his time and resources as to tweet about the project. 

Fan of Ray Bradbury? Here's a cool Kickstarter project: bit.ly/XKL8lU

— Jeff Goins (@JeffGoins) March 30, 2013

So, as I wrote in my first update, I've created my own inciting incident, and there's no going back now. I'd like for you to come along with me, if you're willing. You can go here and view the project video and updates, to get a sense for what I'm hoping, with your help, to do.  If you feel so inclined, toss in a buck or two. If you're feeling especially benevolent, share the link on your blog, Facebook page or face-to-face with your real, live friends. I'm excited about where this is going, and I'd like you to be a part of it. Thanks for your time!

But, for now, I want to give you a present. Consider it an early Christmas gift, one that you'll use for years and years to come, and every time you do, you'll think of me. Okay, not really, but it's still something I love, and I'm hoping you'll love it, too. 

It's music. But not just any music. This is FREE music from one of my very favorite groups in all of the world, Over the Rhine. The fabulous music source, Noisetrade, which magically and simultaneously supports independent artists and gives listeners the opportunity to download free music, is featuring one of OtR's Christmas albums, Snow Angels, as today's FREE download. The whole, heartbreaking, astounding, warm-blanket of an album, completely free (well, you CAN leave a tip for the band, if you're so inclined, which I tend to do). You give them your e-mail address (so they can send you future news of fabulous free downloads) and they give you a download code for twelve delicious, full-length songs that are yours to keep for-eh-vurrr. 

You can thank me later, in the comments, when you tell me what your favorite Snow Angels tune is. 

But I'll just say it in advance: you're welcome. 

Photo by Mutasim Billah Pritam via FlickrThere are few things more wonderful than finding a writing buddy while hobnobbing around the interwebs. One thing that's possibly, maybe, perhaps just a teeny bit more wonderful is when that writing buddy guest-posts on your site.

Shawndra Russell and I first met on Twitter and found we had a lot in common. I also found out that I was in incredible awe of her (and quite a bit jealous) for interviewing one of my favorite musicians, Abigail Washburn (you can read Shawndra's interview for SavannahNow.com here).

Shawndra has launched a Kickstarter to publish her first novel, Couple Friends. She's well on her way to reaching her goal, and if she's able to double her pledges, she can also publish her second novel, which is also finished. 

Today, Shawndra shares with us how she kicks butt at setting and meeting word-count goals, and how, with a little bit of writerly self-acceptance and a dose of discipline, you can, too. 

If you'd like to guest post here on Fresh Thoughts, scrawl an e-mail and fly it over to write2denice AT gmail DOT com. 

And now...

The Discipline of Writing and the Power of Adding Mega Production Days to Your Writing Schedule 

by Shawndra Russell

I won’t be the first to say it, and I won’t be the last: writer’s block isn’t a real thing. Before you get up in arms, hear me out. Writer’s block is just a mental block because we have done something wrong in our preparation. Perhaps you don’t have an outline, you haven’t brainstormed the scene enough, or you haven’t had a new, inspiring experience or an epic conversation recently. 

But the usual culprit? Being too critical. 

As a former English teacher, I watched as my students painstakingly tried to write “perfect” first drafts. They thought that it would be easier in the long run if they just wrote one draft. As a result, most of them hated to write because the experience was just so darn miserable. 

That’s the beauty of being a writer. No one has to see draft one, two, ten. We can screw up and then make it “pretty” later. That’s why the words "edit," "draft," and "revision" exist. Do you think any book worth reading was ever really a first draft that was never looked at again? And before you throw “stream of consciousness” or “Kerouac” around, read this: 

On the Road: The Original Scroll

Yes, Kerouac wrote his first draft in a crazy burst of creative energy in three weeks. But that’s not the novel that we see today. But we can ALL write in this matter—bursts of word counts that blow by any word count you have accomplished before because you allow yourself to make mistakes in your first draft. You don’t reread everything you’ve written—heck, you don’t reread ANYTHING you’ve written. You trust your outline, and you write, section by section, scene by scene.

Can your outline change? Sure. But what you’ve already written stays, and you don’t worry your pretty little head about fixing mistakes, plot confusion, or adding character depth until draft #2. Draft #1 is the skeleton, the time that you let your mind wander and play and just go where it wants to go, scene by scene. You set a daily word count you stick to that’s at least 2,000 words—I like 3,000 per day when I am in book-writing mode—because this will keep the story fresh in your head so you DON’T have to go back and reread and then start criticizing yourself (you know you will).

When you have your biggest production day to date, you will not feel spent or exhausted; you will feel like a bona fide superhero and totally energized. You will secretly mock people who say they have writer’s block or just don’t have time to write or whatever other excuses people like to say. You will feel ready to do it all over again tomorrow because you know you can.

Even better? You will want to see just how many words you can write in a day. 

My highest word count in a single day to date is 12,031 words. Now, I will admit that after a mega production day like that, I AM spent. I do not write the next day (well, not much). My back aches, my butt hurts, and I feel like crawling into bed and not coming out for two days except for ice cream and wine. But then, I come out of my coma ready to schedule my next massive word count day. 

Think about it: instead of toiling over your first draft for months, years, decades, you can get that story out of your head and release yourself from its tormenting power. You can stop daydreaming about it or having nightmares featuring characters suffocating in your brain. And you can have a finished first draft.

I wrote my first novel last year for NaNoWriMo, and I set my daily word count at 3,000 words per day. Since I am a freelance writer and social media strategist/manager, I decided to do my book writing in the mornings and my “day job” from about lunchtime until 7 or 8pm. I know not everyone can have this schedule, but as the cliché goes, we all have the same number of hours in the day.  

I wrote my first draft of Couple Friends in 17 days, but it only clocked in at 51,022 words—not enough for a women’s fiction title. So, I went back and added a second narrator, which was essential to the story anyway as it is now a husband and wife narrating team who takes turns telling the story from their first person POVs. I added a little over 20,000 words in about seven days (changing some of the original 50,000 words into Tyler’s perspective instead of Kieran’s), so the entire first draft only took 24 days—take that, November 30 NaNoWriMo deadline!

This gave me a respectable 71,317 words, and after five edits, it’s finally ready for the world. But I got to the final draft not by being perfect the first time around, but instead allowing myself to truly enjoy the process of making a messy first draft by not filtering my thoughts or succumbing to grammatical twitches.

And then I did it again with my second novel, Keepsakes. Except this time, I added in three mega production days of 10,010 and 10,211 and the 12, 031, so I was able to finish my first draft in 16 days. 

Take a cue from Kerouac. Stream of consciousness rocks for fiction.

You can pre-order Shawndra’s novel, Couple Friends, through Kickstarter, follow her on Twitter at @ShawndraRussell, and read her published work at www.shawndra-russell.com.  

Shawndra Russell is a social media strategist and content creator for hire. She has published more than 200 articles in magazines, newspapers, and websites, and is the sole manager of social media for five clients. She has finished two novels; the first, Couple Friends, will be published in the summer of 2012. She is not only a travel writer, but also writes a regular music column and specializes in writing about craft beers. She loves all things writing and research related and shares the best of what she finds, learns, and writes on her blog, Shawndra Russell's Courting Creativity.