Over the Christmas holidays, I never have much time to myself and so writing naturally goes out of the window until after the main chunk of Christmas is out of the way, but what I do often have time to indulge in is my photography, because I can pick it up and put it down.
This year has been such a roller coaster ride for me. 2014 has been one of the biggest and most memorable years of my life. I finally got published after many years of writing and trying so hard to get into the industry and when I looked back over the photos that I had taken, I saw a physical representation of my life. I had no idea that I had done so much, but the main thing that I’ve been doing since I started writing, is taking photographs which have served to inspire my writing.
The Hidden Saga is strongly based around the elements and so has driven my photography in that direction, so I’ve finally put the time aside to put together my own personal collection of pictures that I have taken for the mood boards for The Hidden Saga and I’d like to share them with you.
Every year I send out enough cards to cut down a tree, which doesn’t feel right, so this year I have decided to do something a little different to spread a little Christmas happiness and save a tree. I’ve decided to hold the cards and instead do something a little more personal for you all to wish you all the best. I have therefore put together a Christmas collection of Photographs from my home and a Christmas playlist to listen to in the background.
I really hope you like the alternative to a card and enjoy a little bit of relaxation while you view. Merry Christmas folks, and a huge thank you for all your support in 2014. I hope you have a positive and prosperous New Year 2015 and send you all my love and best wishes.
Look out for some major changes in 2015 by watching my website. Trapped – The Hidden Saga is coming soon.
When I had a day that stretched me both mentally and physically, when I was tired or poorly and had no energy to donate to writing; I still had to write.
The writing process is complicated and diverse. I can’t sit here writing this and tell you that it is done one way or another, because it is different for every writer. I can only tell you about my experience. For me, the creativity can come the moment I sit down. Like the flicking of a switch, I can be immediately connect with the page and tune in with the creative flow, yet there are other occasions when it can be a battle, in which case I need to rely on pulling some tools out of my tool box to get the flow moving. You see the one common factor for all writers is that the creativity must flow freely, regardless of what a writer must do to make this happen. The solution varies dependent on what makes a writer tick and can be from the sublime to the ridiculous.
I have to admit that I am the most easily distracted person in the world. Considering the amount of work I am able to output, that may seem a little unbelievable, but it’s something that I have to keep in check, constantly. Some of my earliest memories from school are of being told to get on with my work. Looking through the window and drifting off into some fantasy land that was always much more exciting than scratching my head in despair at Math. I have to admit that the random part of my nature, the thing that houses the place where my creativity is born is unruly and sometimes needs whipping into shape, especially when I’ve got a whole novel inside your head, fighting to get out.
My biggest distraction, as an adult has to be up there with the bills, the school events, my boss’s latest ideas and what time is it? Days are getting shorter and shorter, as demands increase on a daily basis. These are a recipe for the very thing that kills creativity. The day to day stresses trap the creativity needed to write. They cut off its flow and push it into the background, strangling the space it needs to roam free. The end result is sitting in front of my screen, ready to write, but with a head full of junk that won’t empty, so you can get on.
When I wrote my first book, Hidden – Book 1 of The Hidden Saga, I needed to find a way to tune out the hustle and bustle of everyday. Life is amazing, it keeps us moving forward through time; it fills our lives with experiences, which carry us through. It allows connections and love to flow through us, making us whole, but it can also be draining too, when its demands become overpowering. I have to admit that it took me a while to find my solution. There was a lot of head scratching, while it dawned on me that I needed the reset value that music provides. I found that when I had a day that stretched me both mentally and physically, when I was tired or poorly and had no energy to donate to writing; I still had to write.
Despair finally drove me to plugging into my ear phones one day and the relief was instant. Immediately, I could feel myself relax. Unwinding was the answer when tension inhabited my body, the stress took over killing any incentive I had to write. I found that when I initially plugged in, I would listen to the songs, but gradually the melody of the tunes would work their magic and push everything else out. Listening to music also attuned me to what I was writing. The detail of what I was listening to eventually fell away, leaving my mind to unlock itself. By changing the music, I could influence my emotions to write anything from a love story to a battle scene. I’d found my greatest tool. I set about creating a playlist on You Tube, which I wore out throughout the writing of Hidden.
The music in this playlist both motivated me and inspired whole sections of my story. I know that a lot of my followers, who have already read Hidden – Book 1 of The Hidden Saga, readily ask me for more. They want to continue their experience even after they have finished my book. I see this as a great compliment and privilege that something I shared with the world had an impact on somebody else’s life in such a way. With this in mind, I would like to share what I gathered together.
The selection of the artist’s song in this playlist helped to inspire me to write Hidden – Book 1 of The Hidden Saga, available now from Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Serina-Hartwell/e/B00JOOKH06and many other retailers.
Take a listen and lose yourself. Step into my world and let me take you on a journey…
This year has been such a roller coaster ride for me. 2014 has been one of the biggest and most memorable years of my life. I finally got published after many years of writing and trying so hard to get into the industry and when I looked back over the photos that I had taken, I saw a physical representation of my life. I had no idea that I had done so much, but the main thing that I’ve been doing since I started writing, is taking photographs which have served to inspire my writing.
Serina Hartwell 