"Many creative entrepreneurs and artists fight a secret battle with depression and anxiety–even those at the top of their game. In this raw podcast episode, New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee reveals her own struggles and how she’s finding freedom."
Showing posts with label Tosca Lee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tosca Lee. Show all posts
Feb 5, 2015
Finding Freedom from Depression as a Creative [Podcast]
www.1ktruefans.com/finding-freedom-from-depression-as-a-creative-podcast/
Oct 15, 2013
Feb 25, 2013
Carpe Annum Interviews
"Each year, Novel Matters chooses a handful of writers as guests on the blog. This year, we've invited great writers to talk to us about the theme: Carpe Annum--Seize the Year! This month, we're happy to welcome Tosca Lee to Novel Matters."
The Carpe Annum Interviews: Tosca Lee
The Carpe Annum Interviews: Tosca Lee
Sep 19, 2012
Sep 4, 2012
Apr 26, 2010
Feb 4, 2010
Jan 4, 2010
Only as Good as Your Word
A writer's credibility is important for non-fiction books. But at the same time, if I'm writing about a city in a fictional book, I want to stay true city's landmarks. If my reader has lived in Chicago all their life and something in my writing contradicts a place they know - even if it is fiction, would that mistake cause him/her to close the book or be so distracted that they can't concentrate?
Research for fiction writers is as important as research for non-fiction writers.
My friend Tosca Lee is researching Biblical text and other similar text as she prepares to write a fiction book (based on the Bible) about the life of Judas.
She did the same (extensive research) with a book about Eve from Genesis and another book about a devil that wants to write a book. Her research is time consuming, but in the end, her words paid off. The books have recieved rave reviews.
Just like an actor would research a role if they are playing a doctor or a cancer patient, we the audience need to believe them and not think, "they are just acting".
Writers:
What resources do you use for researching?
Research for fiction writers is as important as research for non-fiction writers.
My friend Tosca Lee is researching Biblical text and other similar text as she prepares to write a fiction book (based on the Bible) about the life of Judas.
She did the same (extensive research) with a book about Eve from Genesis and another book about a devil that wants to write a book. Her research is time consuming, but in the end, her words paid off. The books have recieved rave reviews.
Just like an actor would research a role if they are playing a doctor or a cancer patient, we the audience need to believe them and not think, "they are just acting".
Writers:
What resources do you use for researching?
Dec 28, 2009
The Write to Blog
Disclaimer, warning, etc.: Yes, this is a blog about blogging.
Blogs (aka Web logs) have been around for the main part of this decade. They've changed the political & news landscape substantially. Learn more on Wikipedia's blog page.
Depending on your blog platform (Blogger, WordPress, TypePad) one of many benefits of the Internet is the ability to publish your writings, thoughts, ideas, etc online. Best thing is, most of these blog platforms are free to use - and for many, easy to use!
I started my personal blog back in 2004 with the intention of writing every day (yes, you may chuckle at that thought), however - more than 1,000 blogs later - I'm still posting things at random. I finally got over posting my weekend updates of telling the world about my laundry chores and focused more about the odds & ends of life in general. After all, I want my blog to be one people read & come back to.
There was no specific reason I chose Blogger for my personal blog or this writer's blog. I have played around with WordPress, but I'm most familiar with Blogger.
Theme/Focus:
Whereas my personal blog is random information about my life, this blog's core topic is writing & the craft of writing.
Sticking to a theme is important for search engine rankings as well as your audience. What kind of readership would you target with your blog?
Reasons Writers Should Have Blog:
A place to write, if for no body else but yourself
A place to hold your writings for others to read, comment, & critique
A place to publish your writings with the very off chance of getting noticed (some blog writers have gotten book deals based on their blog posts)
A place to comment on other's blogs
A place to hold contests, promote your book, & promote yourself
More...?
Also...
As a writer, I'm able to find blogs by literary agents that allow me to get the inside scoop as to what they see & what they are looking for.
Other writers post tips & tricks as to their writing habits that we can all learn from.
So... if you are a writer & you don't have a blog, I encourage you to create on, get some followers, & publish thoughts thoughts. You never know who might stumble across it and notice your talent. Case in point: Break Up Babe (blogger to author).
Check out this writer's blog:
Tosca Lee's Toscology blog
Writers Bookstore:
Books on Blogging
Blogs (aka Web logs) have been around for the main part of this decade. They've changed the political & news landscape substantially. Learn more on Wikipedia's blog page.
Depending on your blog platform (Blogger, WordPress, TypePad) one of many benefits of the Internet is the ability to publish your writings, thoughts, ideas, etc online. Best thing is, most of these blog platforms are free to use - and for many, easy to use!
I started my personal blog back in 2004 with the intention of writing every day (yes, you may chuckle at that thought), however - more than 1,000 blogs later - I'm still posting things at random. I finally got over posting my weekend updates of telling the world about my laundry chores and focused more about the odds & ends of life in general. After all, I want my blog to be one people read & come back to.
There was no specific reason I chose Blogger for my personal blog or this writer's blog. I have played around with WordPress, but I'm most familiar with Blogger.
Theme/Focus:
Whereas my personal blog is random information about my life, this blog's core topic is writing & the craft of writing.
Sticking to a theme is important for search engine rankings as well as your audience. What kind of readership would you target with your blog?
Reasons Writers Should Have Blog:
A place to write, if for no body else but yourself
A place to hold your writings for others to read, comment, & critique
A place to publish your writings with the very off chance of getting noticed (some blog writers have gotten book deals based on their blog posts)
A place to comment on other's blogs
A place to hold contests, promote your book, & promote yourself
More...?
Also...
As a writer, I'm able to find blogs by literary agents that allow me to get the inside scoop as to what they see & what they are looking for.
Other writers post tips & tricks as to their writing habits that we can all learn from.
So... if you are a writer & you don't have a blog, I encourage you to create on, get some followers, & publish thoughts thoughts. You never know who might stumble across it and notice your talent. Case in point: Break Up Babe (blogger to author).
Check out this writer's blog:
Tosca Lee's Toscology blog
Writers Bookstore:
Books on Blogging
Dec 1, 2009
Interview with Tosca Lee - from KitchenShrinks
"Enjoy our KitchenShrinks interview with the award-winning author Tosca Lee! Tosca describes her challenges writing the books "Demon" and "Havah", as well as her inspirations. She talks about her upcoming book "Iscariot: The Traitor", which will be released in Fall of 2011. We hope you have half as much fun listening to this interview as we had talking with the delightful Tosca!"
Interview with Tosca Lee - Author of "Demon" and "Havah"
May 4, 2009
Writers Procrastinate Still
Author Tosca Lee talks about procrastination in her blog, so I thought I'd add my 2 cents.
The difference between Tosca & I is that she is working on her 3rd book and I'm still on my 2nd book.
I believe it all comes down to focus.
When you focus on writing, you can do it.
If you are under a deadline, you can do it.
If you have a week to write something, you wait to the last minute.
I couldn't even tell you how long I've been working/avoiding/procrastinating on my second book.
Do you find that you write better at that point or do you simply find that you know you can complete the task if there is a deadline?
My problem is focus. I have a many side projects - from websites, to a side business, to searching for a job, to cleaning house, to a never-ending list of tasks.
I'm always putting writing off, yet it is the one thing I want to be doing.
There is the old mantra, "Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Until Tomorrow"
The difference between Tosca & I is that she is working on her 3rd book and I'm still on my 2nd book.
I believe it all comes down to focus.
When you focus on writing, you can do it.
If you are under a deadline, you can do it.
If you have a week to write something, you wait to the last minute.
I couldn't even tell you how long I've been working/avoiding/procrastinating on my second book.
Do you find that you write better at that point or do you simply find that you know you can complete the task if there is a deadline?
My problem is focus. I have a many side projects - from websites, to a side business, to searching for a job, to cleaning house, to a never-ending list of tasks.
I'm always putting writing off, yet it is the one thing I want to be doing.
There is the old mantra, "Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Until Tomorrow"
Nov 1, 2008
Author Q and A with Tosca Lee
Tosca Lee, author of both Christian fiction novels: Demon: A Memor (2007) & Havah: The Story of Eve (2008) answers some questions about her experience writing two novels.Question: "Writers block: How do you handle writer’s block?"
Tosca Lee: Having a deadline pretty much resolves that—getting stuck isn’t an option. If there’s some kind of psychological heel-digging going on my part, I need to figure out what that’s about, whether it’s fatigue, fear, or needing to go have some fun for a bit. In general, when I need to blast though, I look at what needs to happen later in the scene. That seems to clear things up. If necessary, I just sketch out the basic happenings and come back to flesh it out later. Allowing yourself permission to write something ugly, sophomoric and juvenile just to move forward helps a lot. Time enough to fix it later.
Question: Writers should be organized: How do you organize yourself?
Tosca Lee: Haha. Oh wait. You’re serious.
Organized, organized…
Well, I guess I keep my basic outline (which isn’t really an outline but a collection of notes in more or less basic order) in a notebook so I can flip around in it and cross things off as I go. That’s about it. I am not terribly organized, though I’m intrigued with the storyboard approach and recently purchased one made by someone in the Pikes Peak Writer’s Group. I think I might give that a whirl on the next go-round
Question: Writing is never exactly how we want it: What would you do differently about the process of writing Demon and/or Havah
Tosca Lee: I would allow myself a little more time, I think, though it’s hard to know if that would make a big difference. Just like the way expenses expand to fit a budget, writing will stretch to fill (and overflow) any amount of time allotted to it.
Question: Writers have a life: How do you balance work & writing?
Tosca Lee: [blank look]
Question: Writers write: When you sit down to write, how long do you try and stay writing?
Tosca Lee: As long as I have. I will write an hour at a time if that’s all I have, though that is hard to do—it’s much easier for me to get into a multi-hour groove and go most of the day. Marathon sessions where I can really get absorbed without the stop and start of picking up and putting down seem to yield the best results for me. So that might be anywhere from 4-5 to 12 hours a day with breaks whenever my eyes, back, or butt hurt.
Question: Writers seek advice: What advice do you have for writers
Tosca Lee: If you’re trying to get published, don’t stop work after your first one. Start your next one. And the next one. The more you have ready, done, and available to offer, the easier you make it on yourself when they start to sell. Also, if your first work doesn’t sell, you can try to break in with your second or third.
Question: Writers have techniques: Do you listen to music, use index cards, or any other technique you find useful
Tosca Lee: Music doesn’t seem to work for me—it’s distracting. Index cards would probably end up all over my floor. Other than my binder of notes, I don’t have much in the way of techniques or systems. I just sit down to the page, which is ultimately all there is. I do often pray, though, before beginning.
Question: Where you write: Do you write at home, at a coffee shop, on the plane, in the airport, etc
Tosca Lee: Yes. The last days on deadline, I’ve generally cleared my work and personal schedule as much as possible to spend in my office.
Question: Writers research: How much research was involved in writing Demon & Havah?
Tosca Lee: Demon consisted of scriptural research and then just knowing my way around Boston. Havah was much more extensive—scripture, horticulture, the Levant, childbirth, fire-making, basket weaving. Yeah. I wish I was joking about that.
Question: Finding time to write: What time of day do you find it best to write?
Tosca Lee: I’m not sure—I don’t usually get the luxury of choosing. I do find that when I’m home if I don’t get up and into it relatively quickly, I lose the drive by afternoon. So I can’t tell myself, “I’ll go run these errands/pick up the house/do e-mail first.” Those things work better as breaks or at the end of the day.
Question: Writers read: What types of books do you read?
Tosca Lee: I don’t read as much fiction as I should! It’s been mostly Biblical commentary and research, though I’m trying to take this opportunity now that Havah is done to catch up with the pile of books that have been patiently waiting on me. This week I’m reading The Shack. Also in my queue: the Twilight series, several of Phillipa Gregory’s books, books by friends Austin Boyd, Randy Ingermanson, and Mark Olsen.
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Thank you Tosca for taking the time to answer these questions for the All Pages Aside - Writer's Blog.
Be sure to check out Tosca's websites:
www.ToscaLee.com
www.HavahStoryofEve.com
www.DemonaMemoir.com
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