Hey everyone! I’m delighted to welcome back friend and fellow author Harmony Kent. Her newest non-fiction book, Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer, releases tomorrow. From what I’ve seen, this book can benefit both new and seasoned writers.
Harmony, take it away.
Hello everyone. Harmony here. I’m excited to share my latest non-fiction book with you all today. Huge thanks to Joan for hosting me today.
Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer does what it says on the tin (or cover, lol), and offers tools to fire your imagination. With chapters on things such as using chess and tarot to develop stories, plots, and characters—as well as adopting the principles of nursing triage, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, horoscopes, and more—this little guide is full of fun tips and tricks to get your muse working overtime.
This excellent writer’s companion is available on pre-order now in ebook. And both ebook and paperback go on sale on October 9th.
Here’s an excerpt for you:
Many and varied writing prompts exist, as well as ways to use them. Here are some reasons for using writing prompts:
- This one, we’ve covered already … writer’s block. Or, in other words, feeling stuck. A writing prompt can offer a way to clear your block and break you free from this negative cycle.
- To sharpen your writing skills. Prompts can assist you in honing specific areas such as plot, pacing, and dialogue, as well as description.
- To warm up your writing muscles. This is like a work-out for your creative brain. It doesn’t matter what you write. It is the act of writing that is important here.
- To get a better grip on your characters or setting. For example: Ask a question, or come up with a scenario, and write from your character’s perspective. Imagine the place you want to write from/about, and describe it in as much detail as you can.
I list the most common types of prompt below:
- Descriptive Prompt
- Emotion Prompt
- Situation Prompt
- Setting Prompt
- New Story Prompt
- Existing Story Prompt
- First Line Prompt
- New Character Prompt
- Existing Character Prompt
- Ask Your Character a Question Prompt
- Perspective Prompt
- Looking-Inward Prompt
- Take Three Nouns Prompt
- Non-Writing Prompt
The above list is not finite. You can use anything in your life as a prompt. However, when you find yourself stuck for words, these are a good place to start.
Emotion Prompt Excerpt
Emotions can bring a whole new perspective to our experience, and thus the experience of our readers. For instance, I can see the same view from my window day after day, yet the mood I’m in will change how I feel about and see that view.
Also, our perceptions are never the same as anyone else’s. Take my writing desk, for example. To me, it has a history and many associations—some painful and others positive. When I sit at my writing desk, that tells my muse to get ready to play. For other people, though, it’s just a desk. A large wooden thing upon which sits a computer. No two people will view it in the same way.
In the blink of an eye, our emotions can undergo a seismic shift, depending upon events and our reactions to them. Here are some emotions we can experience throughout our day:
- Fear
- Love
- Hate
- Regret
- Jealousy
- Envy
- Aversion
- Disgust
- Dread
- Hope
- Shame
- Embarrassment
- Pride
- Disappointment
- Boredom
- Anger
A note on Anger …
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Anger is only ever a masking emotion. It never appears in isolation but always comes in relation to another emotion.
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A person never feels anger alone. That emotion comes as a response to another emotion, be that fear, hurt, betrayal, disappointment, embarrassment, shame, inadequacy, pride, etc.
Our expectations also shape our emotional responses.
Author Bio
After spending around thirteen years as an ordained Buddhist monk, living in a Zen Buddhist temple, and six years after a life-changing injury following a surgical error, Harmony Kent returned to the world at the tender age of forty.
Now, she is famous for her laughter, and has made quite the name for herself … she’s also, um, a writer … and fairly well known for that too. She’s even won a few awards. Harmony lives in rural Cornwall with her ever-present sense of humour, adorable husband, and quirky neighbours.
Harmony is passionate about supporting her fellow authors.
Links
Website: https://harmonykent.co.uk/
Story Empire (co-authored): https://storyempirecom.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: author.to/HarmonysBooks
Twitter: @harmony_kent
LinkedIn: Harmony
Goodreads: Author Page
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/harmony-kent
Creative Solutions Pre-order Link: http://mybook.to/CreativeSolutions
36 Responses
I enjoyed this post. It’s very true that emotions shape how we can view things and things within our writing.
Thanks, Denise! So glad it resonated with you 🙂
🙂
They certainly do, Denise. Thanks for visiting today.
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Joan. It’s always great to visit with you 🙂
You are most welcome, Harmony. It’s always a pleasure to host you.
Reblogged on: https://harmonykent.co.uk/book-release-creative-solutions-by-harmonykent-tuesdaybookshare/
Thanks for sharing!
This book is making the rounds, and it seems like another winner from Harmony. She’s really having a wonderful year. Kudos, Harmz!
Thanks for hosting, Joan.
Harmony has been busy of late! Happy for her. Thanks for stopping by, Staci.
It’s certainly better than last year, lol. Thanks so much, Staci 🙂
Congratulations, Harmony on your new release. Your excerpt shows a lot of promise for the book. You are busy, aren’t you? I will definitely check out this book when it is out.
I’m full-on busy but having fun. Thanks so much, Joy. All the best! 🙂
Thanks for visiting, Joy.
Harmony is everywhere lately. I liked this excerpt, too.
Lol, I’m like the bad penny! Always turning up! 😂. Great that you like the excerpt. Thanks, Craig 😊
Ha ha. Me too, lately.
She is turning up everywhere. 🙂
I am SO getting this book! Love this excerpt, Harmony, and thanks Joan, for a great post! Harmony will be visiting with me, tomorrow, so Craig is right. She’s everywhere right now, as well she should be! The more, the better!
Best of wishes on the launch of this one, Harmony, and thanks again for sharing, Joan! 🙂
Ooh, excited jumping up and down! Thanks so much, Marcia 😁
I hope you look better jumping up and down than I do, Harmony! Not only isn’t it a pretty sight when I do it, but the dachshund barks, and the cats run hide! 😀 You are very welcome. I’ve already pre-ordered this one and am looking forward to reading it. (And to having you as my guest tomorrow, too.) 🙂 <3
LMAO,🤣! That’s two of us not bing a pretty sight, lol. No cats or dogs, though, just DH running and hiding! 😂❤️
Neither of you wants to see me try to run or jump up and down. 😀
That girl is making the rounds. I also ordered my copy today.
This is another great preview of Harmony’s new book! I can see that is going to be a valuable tool for every writer! Thanks for sharing, Joan! And, thank you for putting it together, Harmony!
You’re welcome! Thanks so much, Jan 😊
It’s always a pleasure for me to host fellow writers. Thanks for stopping by, Jan.
This looks like a handy book for every writer’s toolkit! Congrats on the new release, Harmony!
I agree, Jacquie. This looks like one I’ll refer to often.
Thanks, Jacquie! It’s one I’ll keep dipping into and out of 🙂
Excellent material, Harmony. I especially liked your take on writing prompts. It’s like flexing your creative muscle. Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer sounds like a winner!
I also like the writing prompts. Good food for thought whenever I get stuck!
Thanks so much, Mae 🙂
A wonderful sounding book, Harmony. Thanks for sharing it here, Joan.
Thanks, Robbie! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, Robbie!