Inspiration and Musings from SPARKS OF ILLUMINATION

Reflection
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

Reflection

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

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Villains
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

Villains

“No-one thinks of himself as a villain.” – Christopher Paolini’s character Oromis in his book Eldest.

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That First Chapter
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

That First Chapter

“Your first chapter is not a straight horizontal line. It’s a jagged driveway leading up a dark mountainside — and the shadows are full of danger.” — Chuck Wendig

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Pitch your book
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

Pitch your book

“The Writer is an Explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.” — Rallph Waldo Emerson

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Building Characters
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

Building Characters

“It’s not until you really throw your character into the story that you can genuinely understand who they are .” — Elijah Bynum

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A New Year’s Resolution
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A New Year’s Resolution

“The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort.” — Billy Cox

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Dream
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Dream

"It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho

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Child-like Spirit
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Child-like Spirit

"Creativity is a combination of discipline and childlike spirit.” — Robert Greene

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Getting a Literary Agent
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Getting a Literary Agent

"If you fail you may be disappointed, but if you don’t try you are doomed.” — Beverly Sills

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Publishing
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Publishing

“You too can have your book out in the wild.” Nathan Bransford

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Rewriting
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Rewriting

"If you fall in love with the vision and not the words, the rewriting will become easier. — Nora DeLoach

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Creativity
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Creativity

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

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Courage
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Courage

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

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Hope
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Hope

“Hope is wild and contagious.” — Elin Kelsey

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To love a person. . .
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

To love a person. . .

“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.” — Arne Garborg

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Patience
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Patience

Patience has earned this snowy egret its dinner!

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Collaboration
Dorothy Vriend Dorothy Vriend

Collaboration

Summer in California when the grass is dry and yellow.

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