Here we are, autumn is beginning and change is in the air. IMG_9129

I recently read that as the days grow shorter and nights longer, many feel a sense of sadness. Yet, another article reminded me that we have the ability to create our own joy, any time, any place. Is it that easy? I think so. It’s a matter of turning the mind to where it should be, rather than to where it wanders. A few simple suggestions:

– Try a change of scenery
Indoor or outdoor, change can be good. An art gallery, a mom & pop shop, a toy or book store, can captivate and trigger a change in mood.

Outdoors, take a walk in a different neighborhood, in a park or by the beach or a lake, if possible. I happen to live near a California Mission; a lovely place to visit with gardens…ah yes, a garden can be a big mood lifter. So can gardening. After I buy a plant and bring it home, I’m not always quick to transplant it, but once I start the process, it feels wonderful! Nurturing, helping it along, and watching it grow are all sweet mood lifters.

– Gratitude is a surefire way to invite joy in. Lifts may be fleeting at first, but after a little practice, the sweet after-effects of a full heart can linger. Writing in
a gratitude journal or simply sitting quietly and contemplating all there is to feel grateful about, sincerely grateful, will make a difference.

– Take a walk down memory lane, (focusing on good memories, of course). Do you have a tangible photo album or a photo library on your phone? Take a look and recall the best of times.

– Do something kind for another person, whether it’s reaching out by phone, email, or letter, or keeping them in your heart and prayers.

– Watching or reading something uplifting and joyful helps, too.

What do you do to give yourself a lift?

For those days when the writing is not going as planned, switching direction may be helpful. I write in different genres; that helps me flex muscles I didn’t know I had, giving me a different perspective, which can be satisfying! Writing prompts can also help crank the engine. Here are six prompts to start with:

1. Find a photo that is intriguing. Write a story around it. Two talented mystery authors tried this regularly on the Sleuths & Sidekicks website, to great success! They left me always wanting to know more.

2. For character development, reflect on a good friend (or not so good) in your life. Write about qualities that make them special to you (or make them repelling). As you may have noted, this may assist in creating villains, as well as heroes/heroines, and even sidekicks in your story.

3. Consider how you have changed in character. Have you gained new insights that have altered your perspective? I did and used it in my latest, MURDEROUS MEANS, to give my heroine, Corrie, insight into a murder suspect’s behavior and motivation. It was enlightening!

4. Think about a favorite memory or a favorite location, and how it shaped your life. Write it down. Every location in my SoCal Mysteries is a location that impacted me in some way. And I weave favorite memories into my stories as well. No one else can relate, but I enjoy inserting bits and pieces of myself in my novels. It’s my little secret.

5. Nearly every night we experience something: dreams. Dreams can be outrageous, distressing, or creative. Try writing about your dream to stir up creativity.

6. What about the silver linings or blessings in your life? Writing about them can be inspiring and uplifting. That type of writing really jumpstarts the creative juices, making one feel that anything is possible. Because it is.

As my readers know, my heroine, Corrie Locke, always brings criminals to justice. Even if she has to take a few wrong turns first. Corrie is adept at capturing public enemies and foes. But what about other kinds of foes, like fear, anger, anxiety? Inner foes that need to be overcome for us (and fictional characters) to make progress.

In Corrie’s case, she sometimes suffers from preconceived, negative notions about people; she doesn’t give them a fair chance. Her suspicious nature stems from living a case-cracking life, but she’s tapering it down. Lately (in MURDEROUS MEANS), she’s been giving suspects a chance to prove they’re not as bad as she thinks. She’s growing in the right direction.

Are we growing in the right direction? Here are a few steps that help overcome pesky negative inner foes:

– Slowing down
Slowness helps us cultivate patience – outside events don’t bother us as much when we exercise patience. Inner turmoil becomes easier to diffuse. Patience nurtures persistence; it’s necessary to outwit inner foes. Without patience and persistence, Corrie would be out of a job.

– Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm gives us the attitude we need – in fact, it keeps fear, anxiety, and anger at bay. Did you know that dolphins are considered one of the happiest animals on earth? At least that’s the vibe they put out there. Imagine if we felt that way, all the time – there’d be little space for negative emotions.

– Self-control
Bluebirds have self-control. I’ve watched them in action. A nest sat right next to our vegetable garden. When we interrupted them at feeding times, they patiently waited, undisturbed, until we moved away, then calmly fed their young. Their hearts never seemed troubled. Okay, I don’t really know if that’s true, but it appeared that way to me. Fear and worry didn’t run their lives.

A very learned person once said: “Use every moment of activity as a stepping stone to where you’d like to be.”