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Destination Inspiration: Caffe Fiore

Caffe Fiore Interior

Sometimes neighborhood coffee shops are our favorite places for writing, as they tend to have a familial feel and a welcoming atmosphere whether we know anyone there or not. Such is the case with Caffe Fiore, a coffee shop with several Seattle locations.

Caffe Fiore Food and Drink

Food and Beverages

On our recent visit to the Sunset Hill location, we shared a zucchini loaf and onion pastry. Sarah opted for a chai while Daytona had a latte …

Caffe Fiore Coffee and Pastries

Caffe Fiore Sign

Caffe Fiore Outside Seating

Caffe Fiore Counter

Location and Atmosphere

Located on the corner of 32nd and 85th, Caffe Fiore is a neighborhood gem but is also located along a busline and on the route down the winding road to Golden Gardens, making it both easy to get there by public transportation and a natural destination if you’re looking to warm up after a trip to the beach on a brisk day.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

It seems just as common to see people sipping their coffee as they read or write at their laptop as it does to see families stopping in here as a stop on a walk. Our take is that it’s a great spot for some relaxed writing. Just be sure to be conversational and friendly with the staff and other customers, and order a second drink if you’re going to stick around a while.

Price: $$

Parking

Located at an intersection, there is ample parking on the side streets flanking the cafe.

Caffe Fiore Counter and Seating      

Writer’s Tip

Take some time at this cafe to revisit old pieces you’ve put on the back burner. See if spending time with them brings about anything new. A fresh place can bring a fresh perspective.

Caffe Fiore Exterior

Find it:

Caffe Fiore, Sunset Hill
3125 NW 85th St
Seattle, WA 98117
Website

 

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From the Pros: Tips for Productivity

*Guest post by Lynnette Bonner*

Let’s face it. We’re all busy. Most of us writers have that disruptive day job that constantly cuts into our writing time. Many of us have children, grandchildren, church, exercise, and other volunteer activities we feel are important to squeeze into our day too. So where does that leave time for writing?

I’ve often been asked how I find the time to write. My answer is almost always the same: “You make time to do the things you love.”

So my first tip for productivity would be for you to assess your passion for writing. You obviously love writing or you wouldn’t be sitting there reading this post. But where is your must-write-or-die level at, right now? We all go through seasons. When I had 3 little boys at home and was homeschooling, I didn’t get a whole lot of writing done. There were nights when all I could do was fall onto the couch and summon the energy to click the power button on the remote. I slowly worked on one book over the course of about 10 years. But now that my kids are older and I’m not their educational teacher, I have more time for writing and have produced 4 books over the last 5 years, or so.

Cover-The-Unrelenting-Tide

Once you’ve assessed the above realistically, you then have to meld your discovery with actual availability. Look at your schedule. What time slots can you set aside for writing? Do it and mark them on your calendar and guard them like gold. Treat them like any other responsibility. When that friend calls to see if you’d like to go shopping, you can then say, “I’m sorry. I already have an appointment at that time.”

Now it comes down to the actual writing time itself and I want you to think through one more aspect. What motivates you? Your personality will have a lot to do with how to assure your success when you finally sit down at the keyboard. If you take me as an example, I’m extremely goal oriented. So I like to make lists. And I take great satisfaction in crossing items off my list and find great vexation when I can’t cross something off. So it is a real good motivator for me to put “write 1000 words today” on my to-do list because I hate not being able to cross it off for the day. I’ve heard of some writers who demand a certain word-count of themselves before they let themselves eat breakfast. (Just don’t skip the coffee, or you might end up with a garbled mess!) Some writers respond to rewards – ie., “If I get this chapter done I can go shooting at the gun range.” Some may need an accountability partner to keep tabs on them. (Although if that’s you, I would seriously reassess your passion for writing.) Some surround themselves with inspirational pictures that put them in the mood of the piece they are working on. Anyhow, whatever it is that works for you, find it and implement it, and stick with it.

Once you sit down at the keyboard turn off your phone, your email, even your internet access, if you have to, and just WRITE. Feel free to let the words flow from your fingers in as rough a manner as necessary to get them on the page. Editing can come later.

Here is a thought to ponder: 500 words a day for 6 months would result in 90,000 words, which is a full length novel, or one and a half to two devotional books. At that rate you could write 2 full length novels a year. Maybe you can’t do 500 every single day, but I bet you could do 1000 words 3 times a week. Why not challenge yourself?

Assess, meld, get motivated and WRITE! You can do it!

Lynnette Bonner just released her 5th title, a romantic suspense titled: The Unrelenting Tide. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four children, and one very spoiled PomChi pooch.

Pick up a  copy of Lynnette’s latest book on Amazon here!  http://www.amazon.com/Unrelenting-Tide-Islands-Intrigue-ebook/dp/B00CLMKQI6/

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Reaching Out for Inspiration

One of my favorite means of finding inspiration is talking to other writers. Nothing shakes off the cobwebs gathered during a stint of writer’s block quite like a good conversation with an author who has been in your shoes.

Pearl
Grab a couple friends and visit one of our Destination Inspiration locations for great conversation and brain storming.

Recently I’ve had the pleasure of touching base with some fantastic writers, some of whom are honoring us with tips and advice in the coming months via our “From the Pros” series. It’s amazing to me how just talking out plot points or bouncing ideas off of friends can rekindle a lost spark or provide fuel to scribble out a scene that was needed to tie everything together.

While writing is generally an isolating profession, it’s important to remember that a big part of our inspiration comes from living life and engaging those around us. Encouragement is fodder for the soul and I truly feel that it’s essential for a healthy writing life. Reach out to authors you admire. They may seem far away, but an email goes a long way and you may be surprised at the response you get.

Get connected with other writers, published or otherwise aspiring. Critique groups are great for this purpose. Communication with kindred spirits can wonderfully clear your vision, steady the nerves, define your purpose, sweeten and strengthen the spirit.

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A Productive April

Books

A beautiful spring here in Seattle has beckoned us to explore sunny nooks and relish pre-summer trips. We’ve been busy learning from other writers and stretching our own craft as we’ve pressed forward, reaching and expanding in our own individual niches.

To begin with, we wrapped up a Destination Inspiration: Portland series with a taste of Powell’s City of Books and also visited a great place to catch up as we’d been parted for a while through travel and spring plans.

Powell's Banner

In Writer’s Kitchen, we celebrate food bloggers who had recently released books. Cheers to our fellow authors!

Books

Finally, and possibly most excitingly, we started our “From the Pros” series in which we are fortunate to have guest posts featuring advice and encouragement from successful and inspirational authors. This month we heard from Lesley Ann McDaniel about finding your character’s Achilles Heel.

Direction

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Destination Inspiration: Phinney Market Pub & Eatery

Phinney Market Exterior

We’ll be honest. Sometimes as writers we just need to get together and hang out. To catch up, reconnect, and share a good meal. The two of us did that one recent day at Phinney Market Pub & Eatery. Due to travel, it had been over a month since we had seen each other, and a relaxed dinner at this restaurant in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood was just what we needed.

We were excited to discover, also, that with the right timing, Phinney Market can also be a great place for writing. Read on for details.

Phinney Market Burger

Food and Beverages

First things first, let’s talk about the food. Phinney Market prides itself on serving local, sustainable, and seasonal food, and their commitment to quality is clear all the way down to the details. The cheeseburger is made with Painted Hills grass-fed beef and Beecher’s white cheddar on a brioche bun from Macrina. Order it with cider-battered butternut squash on the side if only to taste the sweet curry aioli that has the perfect balance of flavors. On the particular night we visited, an excellent bottle of Côtes du Rhône was available for $20 so we went for it. To top it all off, we ordered crème brûlée, which was well-executed but nothing unique.

Phinney Market Burger with Squash Fries

Phinney Market Creme Brulee

Location and Atmosphere

Located just North up the street from the Woodland Park Zoo, this is a great place to stop before or after a day at the zoo. The atmosphere is classy and open with sweeping windows, glass chandeliers and vintage fixtures and wallpaper. Parents will also really appreciate the children’s corner complete with train table, books and cars. You can relax with a latte while the kids play.

Phinney Market Interior

Phinney Market Pub Interior

Writeability and Purchased Presence

So, here’s where things get fun. If you time it just right, you can probably manage to get in a half an hour or so of writing before the place fills up. Arrive right as the restaurant opens and sit down with your notebook or laptop and do some strategic writing as you wait for your order. As soon as people start to file in, do be mindful, though, of the staff and patrons and don’t linger any longer than you need to. And don’t forget to tip extra well–you’re representing an entire class of writers, after all!

Phinney Market Table

Phinney Market Sign

Phinney Market Train Table

Price: $$

Small plates start at $5 and main dishes run from $12 to $16.

Parking

Located on the main road in a residential neighborhood, you’re bound to find a parking spot within a block or two.

Writer’s Tip

Given its location near the zoo and park, this is a great place to people watch. Try the classic exercise of picking one person who stands out to you and imagining a character profile. If you have time, use that profile to start a short story.

Find it:

Phinney Market Pub & Eatery
5918 Phinney Ave. N
Seattle, WA  98103
Website

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Daily Writer’s Fix: April 29-May 3

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Rhubarb Outtake

Don’t always rush to delete the outtakes. Stop for a moment and see if they can inspire your writing in any way.

Tuesday:

Smell

Kauai Path

Each place has its own smell, that aroma that’s carried along by the breeze or suspended in a stuffy space. Even the apparent absence of smell has an aroma, if you stop to consider it. What does your current scene smell like?

Wednesday:

Sound

Waiheke Island

Don’t just tell your readers that the setting is peaceful. Show it, in all its glorious details.

Thursday:

Touch

Palm Tree

Pay special attention to textures in your writing today.

Friday:

Taste

Kauai Silhouette

Take your characters to a cooking demonstration. See what surprising plot points you can cook up.

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Daily Writer’s Fix: April 22-26

Keyboard

Keyboard

What are the things on your to-do list that you keep telling yourself you’ll get around to sooner or later? I’m not talking about writing deep-cleaning the house or getting the piano tuned. I’m talking about things related to your writing career that don’t exactly have to do with the act of writing itself. They’re the things that will help take your career to the next level. This week you’re going to work on them. Take a moment to list a handful of those tasks–they could be starting an e-newsletter or upgrading your blog’s theme. Or perhaps you’ve been meaning to contact your dream magazine and ask for writer’s guidelines. No more procrastination! Each day this week, tackle one of those tasks. By the end of the week, you should be well on your way to the next phase of your career!

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How to Give Your Character an Achilles’ Heel

*Guest post by Lesley Ann McDaniel*

Every hero needs an Achilles’ heel. But what exactly does that mean?

In one of my current manuscripts, the hero gets an opportunity to rescue the heroine in the climax of the book. What kind of hero would he be if he didn’t, right? Since the story takes place on an island, it makes sense that the water surrounding it would figure into the final mêlée. I knew from the start that the hero would jump in to save the heroine, but when the time came to write that moment, he wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t jump.

It was then that I discovered his Achilles’ heel. It’s his overwhelming fear of water.

Direction

So, what exactly is an Achilles’ heel, and where does the term come from?

According to Greek mythology, Achilles was an exceptionally brave warrior. When he was born, his mother tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the River Styx, which presumably held magic powers. Unfortunately, the heel she held him by remained dry and, therefore, vulnerable. All an enemy had to do was aim for the one part of Achilles that was still mortal.

So any weakness, whether in a person, a thing, or an idea, can be referred to as an Achilles’ heel.

As writers, how do we apply this to our characters? Think of it as their greatest fear or weakness, like Indiana Jones and his fear of snakes.

Why does this matter? Because it’s an effective way to raise the stakes for our characters, and a reliable tool to prevent a “sagging middle” in our stories. Knowing a character’s Achilles heel lets us create more difficult decisions for him, if we do it right.

In the example of my poor water-fearing hero, his choice has been elevated from ‘save-the-heroine or not-save-the-heroine’ (a pretty ho-hum choice) to ‘face-my-darkest-fear or continue-to-be-a-coward’. The moment is more powerful because he has to face his greatest weakness.

Here’s how to effectively utilize a character’s Achilles’ heel:

  1. Set it up early in your story.

As with every story element, this shouldn’t announce itself as a set-up. Reinforce this component of your character, but don’t project the pay-off. Let the reader’s curiosity build.

2. Your character must acknowledge his weakness early on.

He can either deny it, decide he’s fine with things just the way they are, or maybe even express a desire to overcome it someday.

3. If your character has a nemesis, that nemesis has to take advantage of your character’s Achilles’ heel.

4. Let your character face his weakness in an interesting, unexpected way.

Ideally, this would come at the 2/3 inciting incident, or the climax. Maybe both, as long as the second event is even more creative and unexpected.

5.   Your character doesn’t necessarily have to overcome his greatest fear, but he does have to face it.

Be creative. What’s the most interesting Achilles’ heel you can come up with?

 

LESLEY ANN MCDANIEL writes romance, romantic suspense, and young adult fiction. Her new book, “Lights, Cowboy, Action” will be released through Heartsong Presents in June, 2013. Contact her at lesleym3@juno.com or visit her website at www.lesleyannmcdaniel.com.

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Daily Writer’s Fix: April 15-19

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Bridge To Hanalei

What’s at the end of the road?

Tuesday:

Smell

Spring Blossoms

How does the season further set the stage for the action happening in your story?

Wednesday:

Sound

Polihale Beach

How far will your character travel?

Thursday:

Touch

Tree In Springtime

Capture a sense of springtime through one of the lesser-likely senses, touch.

Friday:

Taste

Bacon And Bloody Mary

Nearing the end of a long journey, what is your protagonist craving right now?