All posts in category inspiration

When belief slips

Last week I saw Leona Lewis live and at the end of her show, she left this thought up for the audience:

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

The show was a journey through love and heartbreak (matching the theme of her album Glassheart) and this ending to me said that just because you’ve loved and lost, something wonderful is around the corner. Don’t give up believing in love just because a love has ended. But you can apply it to life in general.

The phrase has stuck with me ever since. It reminded me of my ‘believe’ tattoo, which I got to inspire me to believe both in myself and that my dreams will come true. It’s hard sometimes to keep up this positive line of thought. When you’ve had disappointments or you’re just stuck waiting to find out what will happen, you start to question yourself and that demon on your shoulder pops up – you know the one, the one that says what you want won’t happen or tells you you’re not good enough for it to. The one that fills you up with self-doubt and conjures up the fear that that wonderful thing your waiting for will never appear.

I wrote a poem recently where I let out all the worries I had. Reading it back now you can see that the self-doubt demon was well and truly present:

Scared I’ve made a mistake

Waiting for my dreams to come true

Feeling like I’m not good enough

All my positivity feels fake.

My ambition is mocking me

The grey clouds of doubt circle above

All I hear is silence

Maybe I no longer believe.

Haunted by fear I’ll fail

Wishing I could see a sign

Trust in me fading fast

My hope preparing to set sail.

So I’m trying to get my confidence back and to stay positive that good things are around the corner. I think belief is something you have to re-do over and over again. Something you have to use to push that self-doubt demon away on a regular basis. We all know writers struggle with believing in ourselves and I really am struggling right now.

I was grateful for the message in that concert. I really needed to hear it and I’m going to try to feel it this week.

How do you get back belief when you feel it slipping away?

Victoria

xoxo

14 Comments

by Victoria-writes on May 14, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Musings, Poetry

Tagged inspiration, musings, poetry

Posted by Victoria-writes on May 14, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/05/14/when-belief-slips/

You are more beautiful than you think

I saw this video being shared around the internet and I finally watched it this morning. It’s six minutes long but I’m glad I took the time to watch it. Here it is:

Obviously this has been produced by a company trying to sell products but I think the message in the video is so important. Dove says that only 4% of women say they’re beautiful. In the video the women are asked to describe themselves so a sketch can be drawn and unsurprisingly they pick out all their flaws. Then someone is asked to describe how they see them and another sketch is made. The differences between the two pictures are marked. When describing themselves, they were critical and when others described them they were complimentary. They saw themselves as less beautiful than others saw them.

I think there are so many of us who struggle with how we look, are critical with how we look and spend too much time thinking about how we would change our appearances. I have definitely looked in the mirror before and thought about all the flaws I have. I just like the simple message in this video – that we are more beautiful than we think.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we all have flaws, no one is perfect but this doesn’t stop us being beautiful, it’s our uniqueness that makes us beautiful.

Victoria

xoxo

23 Comments

by Victoria-writes on April 17, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Beauty, inspiration, Musings

Tagged beauty, inspiration, musings

Posted by Victoria-writes on April 17, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/04/17/you-are-more-beautiful-than-you-think/

Sharing your dream

This photo was on Facebook the other day and it struck me how true a statement it is. I remember how scared I was about telling people I had written a book, it felt like I was revealing a part of my soul and I was nervous they’d laugh or sneer. Luckily that didn’t happen but even now I’ve got over the sharing part, having your dream out in the open still produces insecurity and anxiety.

The problem with sharing your dream is that everyone starts waiting for that dream to come true.

Now that people know I want to be a published author, I am sometimes struck with panic about it not coming true. Having a secret dream is easier, if you fail no one knows and you can act like nothing happened but when everyone knows what you’re aiming for, they will also know if you don’t achieve it.

The only way I’ve been able to talk myself out of this fear is remembering that not everyone tries to make their dreams come true. And this is so important. Because you can’t fail if you try, you only fail if you don’t or you give up. It’s often said that you should never regret the things you do, only those you don’t and it’s better to say ‘oh well’ than ‘what if?’ What if is a scary concept and I’m glad that I decided to chase my dream. Yes, I worry about having to tell people my dream isn’t coming true but I know I’d be worse off if I wasn’t trying to make it come true.

Fear is a huge thing. Somehow writers seem to end up with self-doubt circling our heads on a daily basis but we write because we love to do it and the dream that someone will read our words and be moved or inspired by them makes the dark days worth it.

I don’t know if my dream will come true and yes I am scared that it won’t but I’m glad I’m trying to make it happen.

Were your scared to share your dream with people?

Victoria

xoxo

11 Comments

by Victoria-writes on April 12, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Musings, Writing

Tagged inspiration, musings, writing

Posted by Victoria-writes on April 12, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/04/12/sharing-your-dream/

Writing rules

This picture has been floating around Facebook and made me laugh out loud (yep LOL for real):

There are so many “rules” writers are supposed to follow, it becomes exhausting to try to read and follow them all. Especially for new writers it can be so easy to look up all the writing rules and try desperately not to make a mistake. Sometimes though your creativity can be stumped and let’s be honest, rules are made to be broken right?

Some rules are necessary like showing not telling although from my own experience this can be tough to get right or word counts – don’t send an agent a 200,000 word novel and some are there because some things have become cliches like beginning your novel with your main character waking up. But even so, there are exceptions out there. Divergent by Veronica Roth, for example, is a book I loved and has been really successful – look out for the film version soon – and it opens with the main character looking at herself in the mirror – one of the no-no’s if you read the “rules”. It works in Divergent though because the character is only allowed to look at her reflection when her mum cuts her hair once a year – straight away we know she’s in a different world and we’re intrigued about it. Technically, Ms Roth broke a rule though.

In my own book, I have broken one of these “rules” by using flashbacks. A lot of writing tips sites and books say not to use this device but it’s in there and my agent even encouraged me to add more of them. If I’d listened to and followed the rules out there, I may not have written the same book.

A recent article in the Guardian made me really angry by criticising writers on how they use Twitter – again giving us more rules to follow. You can read the article here. Writers find Twitter useful because generally we’re working alone and it allows us to communicate with other writers and when we’re published, with our readers. And let’s face it, we’re often full to the brim with self-doubt so if someone on there says something nice about our books, we are going to be flattered and hell, even retweet it. So, what? I think you should be yourself on social networking and run your Twitter how you way to – obviously, if you’re kind of mean you’re not going to get anywhere but you should be free to interact with your fans. If I ever get a 5* review, you can be sure I’ll shout about it

I suppose this post is a rather long-winded way of saying that your writing (and social networking) needs to be your creation, you need to find and express your voice in the only way you can and this might mean breaking some of those writing “rules”. I don’t think any truly successful book has ever got to that point by being quiet – they’ve got there by being different and shouting about those differences. Even if you think they’re badly written (naming no names here but you can guess) they’ve made a splash and I think if you want to, you need to follow your own path.

What do you think about writing rules? Have you ever broken them?

Victoria

xoxo

25 Comments

by Victoria-writes on March 26, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Writing

Tagged inspiration, writing

Posted by Victoria-writes on March 26, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/03/26/writing-rules/

Happy International Women’s Day

I shared one of my favourite quotes on Twitter this morning to mark International Women’s Day and I started thinking about my favourite inspirational quotes by women so I thought I’d share them on here. I have definitely been inspired by successful women especially authors in my life so this seems like a great time to pay homage to them.

What are your favourite quotes by woman?

Victoria

xoxo

13 Comments

by Victoria-writes on March 8, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Special Days

Tagged inspiration, International Women's Day

Posted by Victoria-writes on March 8, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/03/08/happy-international-womens-day/

Turning thirty

Today is the start of March – the month that I turn thirty in (the 20th just so you know!). I don’t know why it seems like such a significant birthday. I think it used to be the age when you were supposed to have everything sorted out, be married with a family and basically become a GROWN-UP. The media definitely seemed to think that once you hit your thirties and you are single, you were a spinster likely to be eaten by Alsatians. See Bridget Jones for starters.

When I was younger, I saw thirty as a big, scary, far-off age, kind of old actually but now I’m here, I realise I don’t feel that different to when I was that teenager. I don’t feel all that grown-up and thirty doesn’t seem to herald the end of everything if you have’t ticked off all the life lists when you get there. Maybe this is because people are doing things older now, we live longer so thirty is seen as still young and it’s harder to do the life lists things like buying a house as it’s so freaking expensive.

There’s a still a whole bunch of articles around about what you should have done by the time you hit thirty or how to cope with your birthday (yes I may have Goggled turning 30) but getting to this age has taught me that you can’t be what others think you should be – you can only do what you want to do and when you want to do it.

There’s a song by the Dixie chicks that I can relate to called”The Long Way Around”:

Well I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I’m gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Takin’ the long way
Takin’ the long way around

It makes me feel better that maybe I’m not married with kids or living in my own house but that’s okay, I can do things my way. Right now, I’m focused on my writing career. It took me a while to realise that writing was what I wanted to do with my life and fighting to make this dream come true is what’s important to me. My thirty wish is to get a book deal and while some people may think that’s great or others can’t understand, it doesn’t matter – what matters is that it’s my wish. You can’t live your life based on other people’s wishes, we all do things in a different way and a different time. There’s no RIGHT way to live your life. It’s your life after all.

I have got lots of lovely things planned this month to make sure turning thirty is full of fun. And I may have a couple of wobbles about hitting this age but I will remember this:

How do you or did you feel about turning 30?

Victoria

xoxo

36 Comments

by Victoria-writes on March 1, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Life, Musings

Tagged inspiration, life, musings, turning thirty

Posted by Victoria-writes on March 1, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/03/01/turning-thirty/

A journey of self discovery – guest post from Elizabeth Arroyo

Thanks for having me Vicky!

I’d like to share a little bit of my journey toward publication. What led me here.

It started with Oprah

Live your best life.

I use that Oprah motto as my mantra–no one can define it but me. My earliest memory of the need for change in my life began much in the same way Elizabeth Gilbert starts her book Eat, Pray, Love–on the bathroom floor balling. On that floor I desperately wanted answers. What was wrong with me? Why did I feel so empty inside? I have a great family. My kids are healthy. I have a home. Had a job. What could it be?

I realized then that it wasn’t about looking outside for my answers. I wasn’t empty on the outside. I was surrounded by people I loved and loved me. It was a journey I had to take on the inside. I had to take a moment to reflect on me, my missing parts.

I did and I found out that I was lacking in many aspects of my life. Which led me back to writing.

I always wanted to publish my books, to earn a living with it, to share a part of me with the world because that is what authors do. We share a part of our reality, our fears, our hopes, our dreams. We reach into our imagination and hope the reader follows. We share a piece of ourselves through the written word. Which is why the publication process–querying, receiving critiques and feedback, and finally getting out into the real world is so heart-wrenching. But necessary.

So in all my infinite wisdom (not), I offer these suggestions for transformation:

Be in constant change, always reinvent yourself because the possibilities are endless.
Find what is right for you and try it out. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel just adjust it.
Have a support group, someone in your corner. It helps.
And remember to live your best life.

About the author:
Elizabeth has worked in the community for the bulk of her professional career. She enjoys quiet moments, action flicks, and dancing with her four-year-old. THE SECOND SIGN is her debut novel. You can find more information about Elizabeth at:

Website: http://www.elizabetharroyo.com.
Blog: http://chandarawrites.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizabetharroyo.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EArroyo5

THE SECOND SIGN
Dark YA Paranormal Romance
Sapphire Star Publishing

When a demon guardian comes to collect seventeen-year-old Gabby’s soul, she refuses to give it up. She’s not demon. She can’t be. Her father and twin brother are angels. The demon gives Gabby twenty-four hours to decide her allegiance, and then starts killing her short list of friends, leaving a message behind: She is the Second Sign.

As Gabby and Jake—her almost boyfriend—begin to unravel the mystery behind the Second Sign, she learns Jake may be the key to saving her soul. But it means a sacrifice has to be made that will change their lives forever.

Watch Trailer http://youtu.be/omcmt6q8PIw

9 Comments

by Victoria-writes on February 7, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in guest posts, inspiration, Writing

Tagged Elizabeth Arroyo, guest post, inspiration, writing

Posted by Victoria-writes on February 7, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/02/07/a-journey-of-self-discovery-guest-post-from-elizabeth-arroyo/

Let it be

One of my goals this year was to stop worrying about things so much. I listened to Let it Be earlier this week – it’s my favourite Beatles song and I like the sentiment of letting things happen the way they will and not stressing so much. It’s almost a peaceful thought – going with the flow, feeling calmer, trusting that things will be okay. I can only hope to get better at doing this.

There will be an answer. Let it be.

I had a slip up already though. I was chatting to a writer about submitting to publishers and I had a sudden panic about the prospect of it happening. I felt fear. I described it as a writer freak-out on Twitter. I instantly had empathy from other writers – we do seem to be a neurotic bunch at times But recognising it felt like the first step in overcoming it. There was no point in my anxiety. When my book goes out to publishers I will have done the best I could do – I have worked hard on it, I wrote the story I wanted to and I found an agent who believes in the book and will fight for it in the marketplace. I can’t do anymore.

And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

These words seemed really fitting this week. I spent the weekend feeling melancholy as I looked out at grey skies and a snowy landscape. Because everyday when I feel fear, I know that there will be another day when I don’t. If my book does find a publisher, all the angst will be worth it. I just have to believe that it will be happen. This is my dream, I have chosen this path and I need to focus on when, not if, it comes true.

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

I looked out of the window on Monday and saw the sun was breaking through. Relieved, I snapped a picture of it. I think it shows that tomorrow will always be brighter. There will always be light after the dark. There will always be blue skies on the horizon. I just have to let it come when it’s meant to come.

How good are you at letting things be?

Victoria

xoxo

23 Comments

by Victoria-writes on January 23, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Musings, Writing

Tagged inspiration, musings, writing

Posted by Victoria-writes on January 23, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/01/23/let-it-be/

The power of moments

I saw this quote yesterday. I haven’t read the book it comes from although now I will. I just sat staring at it. It felt true, incredibly sad but also inspiring. I found myself thinking about moments and how easily you can let them slip by. The biggest hurdle for me is fear. I suppose it is for most of us. Fear makes us let moments slip by but afterwards we regret letting it. We usually can’t get the moment back though. We can’t have a do-over.

Maybe this is why I like being a writer so much. I can create moments and how characters respond to them. It’s far harder in real life. It’s easy for me to tell my characters what they should do, it’s even easy for me to tell other people in real life what they should do but it’s never easy to take my own advice. I know that sometimes I just let moments pass when I should grab hold of them and make them mine.

This next quote seemed a fitting conclusion to this conversation. This book I have read and like most books about first loves there is a fairytale quality to these words but I still love the idea of having such a moment in real life. One where you don’t let it go but let it wash over you, knowing that it has the power to change everything but also nothing because you will hold on to it forever.

I can’t promise that I’ll let my fear go in the future but I’m going to try to recognise moments when they come along and do my best to turn them into bigger and brighter ones. At least I can try not to let them slip though my fingers as I’ve done in the past. But if this fails at least I can have happy endings in my books.

Do you ever let moments pass and regret it afterwards?

Victoria

xoxo

35 Comments

by Victoria-writes on January 14, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration, Love, Musings, Personal

Tagged inspiration, love, musings, Personal

Posted by Victoria-writes on January 14, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/01/14/the-power-of-moments/

Inspiration for 2013

Last year I posted some inspiration for 2012 and it helped make some of my dreams come true. To helps us make more of them happen in 2013, here’s some inspiration, some rules we should live in this new year. I hope 2013 will be everything you want it to be!

I think we all know by now I’m a bit of a dreamer and I think writing runs alongside this – I couldn’t write if I didn’t dream, not only in creating stories but in dreaming about making a career out of writing. My writing dream has had a lot of ups and downs and there are still times when I wobble and wonder if it will come dream and I will publish a book but I know that I will try my best to make it come true in 2013.

It’s easy to look back on 2012 and just see the tough times or the moments we made mistakes or didn’t do or say what we really wanted to but ultimately the past is the past and a new year is a new beginning – we need to look ahead and know that we are stronger for everything we went through and this strength will lead us towards something brighter and better in the future.

A few of us suffered from negativity online in 2012, scared to be honest, to be ourselves in case someone else didn’t like it. I’m guilty of worrying too much about what people think. This quote is about remembering there will always be haters who hate but just remember they don’t matter – let yourself shine. The right people will support and encourage you, they won’t try to bring you down.

I have a lot of fears. I guess we all do. One thing I want to do this year is to take more chances, to not fear or worry so much and to not regret things I didn’t do because of fear. Sometimes fear is a good thing – we are scared of things that mean the most but don’t let fear hold you back isn’t what should happen. So let’s take those leaps, let’s be brave and be honest and conquer our fears.

There are times when I fail at loving myself. We all see those imperfections, those pieces of ourselves we wish we could change but I think we should realise that those parts make us who we are. There’s a reason for them. We aren’t supposed to look or think or act the same. We are supposed to be ourselves. Just be the best version of yourself and love that person with all your heart.

What inspiration will your take into 2013?

Victoria

xoxo

16 Comments

by Victoria-writes on January 1, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in inspiration

Tagged 2013, inspiration

Posted by Victoria-writes on January 1, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/01/01/inspiration-for-2013/