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A Writing Environment

August 2, 2017 by Jim Potter 2 Comments

http://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/A-Writing-Environment.m4a

·  Peer Support  ·

Sketch by J. Alex Potter

Despite all the people and animals residing in our home–gerbil, snakes, cats, turtles, birds, rabbits, horses, bull, elephant–visitors often remark how much they enjoy the peace and quiet.

But once our friends get introduced to the multitude of characters, they begin to understand how many stories are interwoven into our tranquil environment.

Thanks to artist and storyteller, J. Alex Potter, our home resembles a fine art gallery. The stories are everywhere!

I’ve heard about writers who can write anywhere, anytime, and about others who require the stars to be aligned properly before beginning an epic journey. For me, my most productive time for actual writing is in the early morning hours, generally around 5 a.m.

“Cow-Cow,” sculpture and photograph by J. Alex Potter

But ideas to further my writing materialize when I’m most relaxed. These occur when I’m outside cutting our so-called grass, when I’m about to fall asleep (picture old-fashioned note cards by the bed stand), and when I’m taking a shower. 

Recently, I heard a famous author discuss his all night writing schedule. “When do you sleep?” must be the most common question he receives from his fans. 

“Georgina FliesLikeGhost,” sculpture and photograph by J. Alex Potter

I recommend that anyone who wants to write find a kindred spirit who also has a deep drive to imagine. Having an ally in the home means there’s a peer who understands the process of creativity and productivity.

It also means a listening ear, free counseling, and free advice (whether you’re ready to listen or not).  

I remain pretty isolated to any community of writers outside the home, but many inventive people are drawn to groups of like-minded artisans. They feed off the circle’s creative energy.

Today, ongoing support is relatively easy to maintain through the wonders of technology, but it still takes that initial moment of one-on-one connectivity before people feel mutual respect. When I sense care and understanding, then I’m ready to share.

I’ve been watching an indie authors group online. They offer a lot of advice and support to one another. There’s one thread that caused my eyebrows to rise. It’s titled, “Can I have a hug?” Group members ask for and receive electronic support. Hey, whatever works!

It’s vital that artists be available to help one another because being a writer can be a lonely place.

“Tang,” sculpture and photograph by J. Alex Potter

A few days ago I received feedback on a story of mine that I had shared with a friend. He closed with these important words: “Good luck with your writing.”

And just today I reminded a friend who is hesitant about publishing work on a controversial subject that her writing is a gift. 

We agreed with Matthew 5:15: You wouldn’t light a candle and put it under a bushel.

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

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Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: artists, creativity, peer support, writers, writing, writing environment, writing support

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    Jim,
    I enjoyed the audio and your comments about writing. My struggle is writing an editorial for the Hutch News published every other Friday. I never thought of myself as a writer. I struggle just to produce a 800-1000 word article every two weeks.
    Keep blogging, I appreciate your thoughts.
    Phil

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      August 3, 2017 at 10:30 pm

      Hello Phil,
      Thank you for writing. Encouragement is always appreciated. I hope you’re getting enough of it. I really appreciate your column because I know I’ll always find a thoughtful point of view.
      How much is your struggle finding the next subject, and how much is it the actual writing? Usually when I’m on to an exciting topic, the words flow more easily. Are you having “writer’s block” where nothing spurts out, or wrestling with shaping the article the way you want it?
      I can identity; for over a year I wrote a crime prevention column for local papers. Sometimes it flowed easily and I felt like Hemingway; other times it was like I was a dentist pulling teeth.
      Could this be a sign that it’s time for you to: a) begin writing your biography? b) begin contemplating a novel? c) take a break from the column? d) find more encouragement for your columns? or e) none of the above? What do you think?
      I’m sure we can continue this conversation if you think it’s “writer’s block.” There are books written on the subject! (I wonder if authors writing books on “writer’s block” ever get writer’s block while they’re writing books about writer’s block?)
      I regularly read the “Ask Hutch” column in the newspaper. What I’d like to see is for you to have your own column of Q&A. It could be more universal or PHIL-osophical. It could be called, “Ask Phil.” What do you think about that idea?
      Peace out,
      Jim

      Reply

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What People Are Saying

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters and the settings in which they live and work. It makes a story more realistic if you can say, I am familiar with the area; I know where that town is or I have traveled that street. It was easy to relate to the characters. In one way or another, I have met them all somewhere in my journeys.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller that the reader quickly becomes immersed and has a ‘bonding experience’ with each of the characters, feeling their joy, fear, passion and pain. Jim’s novel speaks to the empowerment of persistence with the characters as they work through their trials. As a therapist, I appreciated the heartfelt struggles from each of the characters and their diversity. I also found value in the novel’s understanding of society’s misunderstanding of both mental health and other conditions in which people struggle. The novel contains rich exposure to various realities that many of us do not know about . . . but should. When I finished this captivating novel, I was wanting to read the sequel! It was an honor and a wonderful, mesmerizing experience reading this book. Congratulations, Jim!

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centres on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to give enough detail to bring the characters to life, yet not too much so as to slow down the pace of the developing story. A climactic event affects the main characters and it is at this point Potter’s deep knowledge of people and police procedures really hits home; page by page we read how a seemingly simple, though terrible occurrence, can have huge consequences. To Potter’s credit the story does not have a completely conclusive or simplistic ending. Instead it leaves the reader thinking about how the events of a single minute can affect lives forever. I would whole heartedly recommend this book not as a crime novel or even as a novel about crime but as a beautiful and positive affirmation about what it is to be human and how ultimately it is relationships which matter more than events.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental illness. One of my favorite quotes from Taking Back the Bullet is “We’re all just a critical moment from being disabled or mentally ill, and we don’t want to think about it.” The novel also provides the reader an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the individuals, their family, friends, and society. Taking Back the Bullet is a story of forgiveness and overcoming life’s struggles and tragedies.

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a jail, art fair, powwow, rehab center, courtroom, albinos, and even someone in the throes of postpartum depression. So detailed are the descriptions that they must be drawn from the author’s personal experience. Besides the artfully created characters such as the struggling jailer and husband Tom Jennings, local artist Jesse Thomas, and Native American Joe Morningcloud, there is a tight story line that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Human tensions, love, conflict, joys and sorrows are all there. Magically, all the many pieces come together in a final crescendo, giving hope that even when we find ourselves in big trouble we can survive. This is a novel I highly recommend!

Larry Kruckman
Anthropologist
Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Karleen Wilson-Moon

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