Is it about crows or witches or writing or art? Answer: All of the above. These things are what makes T.W. Krahe tick. First and foremost I am a writer. I currently publish a quarterly ezine entitled Krahe’s Nest and you will be able to download the next issue from this site, free. What is the ezine about? Witchcraft, of course. I have been a practicing witch for close to ten years now and it is the driving force behind most of what I do. I believe in magic, whole heartedly. I’m not talking about the kind of magic that Samantha Stevens does. I don’t believe that I can twitch my nose and make things happen. But I do believe in the power of faith. And in my faith, when we want or need something, we pray about it like anyone else but we add a little oomph to the prayer and then we act as if it already is. And if you believe in that thing hard enough chances are you’ve got it coming to you! Now, about the crows… they are just something that please me. They’re big, beautiful, black and shiny and besides that, they have the most complex launguage system of any species of animal around and for a writer that is something to crow about! Pun intended! They also go after what they want and if there are obstacles in their way they immediately find a way to overcome them. Now that’s my kind of magical creature. In these pages you’ll hear alot about my beloved crows in the form of stories which I’ll write. You’ll also get to know a little about the type of magic I perform and you’ll share in my struggles and my triumphs as I muddle through the process of writing my first novel, Returning Remy. And if by some chance you are someone with the dream of writing your first novel, I’d like to hear about your trials and tribulations as well. I also invite you to check out my links page. There is a great site to check out if you need some extra guidance in the how to go about it department. Until next time follow your dreams and make the magic happen!
Okay, I said in the previous post that you’ve got to write everyday. Well, that may have been a little misleading. What I meant is you’ve got to work on your craft everyday and that can include alot of things. Sometimes working can be more fun than you imagined. First, I learned from a writing course I just recently took about mapping the places you’re writing about. That’s right folks get out your paper and your crayons and doodle, legally! It’s an incredible way to move your project forward and have some fun, plus it is a very helpful tool when it comes time to moving your characters from one place to another. Now keeping that in mind, you’re going to need to add cool landmarks to this map so it’s time to hit the streets and act like a tourist! Go anywhere in your own town with your notebook and a camera and snap pictures of cool places that you might want in your world or even in future worlds. Browse through some of those shops that you’ve always wanted to check out but never did, and take notes on all the things you see. They will help make your story come to life. Now, if you just can’t break away from the office but you’d like to describe cool stuff in your book or places you’ve never been here’s another way… www.earthcam.com and www.uswebcameras.com both provide 24-hour web cam views from all over the world- your next visit to an exotic locale is just a click away! So climb the Eiffle Tower on your coffee break or take a stroll through Times Square before lunch! And that is the stuff books are made of. Happy traveling.
I have learned many things on my path to completing a first novel. I have always written articles for things like journals, news papers, magazines and reports. The research is still murder but there is usually a clearcut way of doing things. You decide on your topic, you research it and write about it in an organized manner. Not so with a novel, not if you want to make it a page turner. You have to know all your characters as intimately, if not better, than you know yourself. You have to draw yourself maps and pictures so you know clearly how your characters get from point A to point B and what they saw along the way. You have to have twists and turns and cliffhangers to make it interesting but most of all you have to work at it everyday. That is where it really gets difficult. How do you write when you’re not in the mood or simply can’t find the right inspiration to do so? Well for a witch the answer is clear, you turn to your Muse. Most anybody who is artistic in any possible way has heard of a Muse, right? Well you may not believe in them, but I am sincerely telling you that if you’re stuck in the middle of something and can’t seem to get that forward motion to get through it you need to start believing in that Muse and somehow if you believe and you treat her right she’ll get you through it. Here are some techniques for getting her to appear.
Things You’ll Need:
Step 1
Perform your own special ritual before you sit down to write. Light a candle, take a bubble
bath, burn incense or meditate. The action will “open the door” to the world of spirit and the mysteries of imagination.
Step 2
Carry a small pad of paper and a pen with you at all times. You want your Muse to know you are prepared for her visit.
Step 3
Keep a notebook or journal next to your bed to write down interesting dreams. Your Muse may visit you as you
sleep and give you great ideas.
Step 4
Take care of your body, the “temple” that hosts your writing Muse. Eat regular, healthy meals and
exercise daily.
Step 5
Surround yourself with positive people who support your creativity and writing life.
Step 6
Try not to be too perfectionistic with your writing. At least sometimes, let yourself write first and edit later. Your Muse likes to visit when your “inner critic” is turned off.
I hope this helps you get in touch with your Muse
