Creativity Stepping into Wholeness by Dr. Helen Ferrara

5/27/2023

Debut author, Helen Ferrara introduces us to her book, “Creativity Stepping Into Wholeness”:
... I'm allowing myself to transform in ways that nurture my creativity, so that in essence I'm also effortlessly and spontaneously celebrating creativity, which again brings feelings of unbidden joy.

We are all inherently creative beings. From a very early age, however, we are influenced by the hierarchical values of society; we are taught to focus on following the rules and striving for success by measurable standards, with very little importance placed on creative expression. Creativity: Stepping into Wholeness sheds light on this rigid way of life. Combining personal experience with extensive scholarly research, Dr Helen Ferrara leads us away from the stifling rules of always 'colouring in within the lines' towards a reunion with our own creativity, our own unique beingness. By embracing and nurturing our innate creativity, we become truly free to lead more fulfilling, joyful lives.

Celebrating creativity is when you let go of everything that's been holding you back and you start dancing again to your own inner music - the music of your heart.

I learned so much about creativity that I had never thought about before.
This book is refreshing about a topic that could have been dull and dry. I loved the scholarly personal narrative format. That is the key factor here and that writing style held my attention quite well.
I am looking at creativity in a new way.
We all are creative individuals and can express our creativity in unique ways. Creative expression is subject to many factors some of which are beyond our personal control. Creative expression can be a source of great personal satisfaction.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Stepping-Wholeness-Helen-Ferrara
https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/creativity-stepping-into-wholeness-helen-ferrara
https://www.goodreads.com/-creativity-stepping-into-wholeness
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/creativity-stepping-into-wholeness-helen-ferrara

You can follow the author:
https://www.helenferrara.com
https://www.facebook.com/DrHelenFerrara
https://www.instagram.com/dr_helen_ferrara
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-helen-ferrara
https://twitter.com/DrHelenFerrara

Copyright @ 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

51 Comments

Helen Ferrara link

5/28/2023 09:21:39 pm

Hi Mark, I’m glad you found the book informative. After doing a PhD on creativity I got very excited about it, as I’m certain it is the potential we all share that will see us meeting all the challenges we face in the world (yes, no less!). So I had to share this in a book to make all I discovered available to everyone.

Did you have any questions for me?

Mark

5/28/2023 09:29:36 pm

We are all creative beings; it is part of our DNA. Thank you for writing the book. I know writing a book is very challenging.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Helen Ferrara link

5/28/2023 09:45:35 pm

Well, what I share about myself in the ‘About’ section of my website - www.helenferrara.com - is pretty thorough.

Still, something else I could tell you about is that I’m hugely optimistic, in the best sense of the word. I do look at things as they are and then I proceed to see if they could possibly evolve, or be inspired, to develop to a more pleasing level. This often means there’s lots of work that clearly would need doing to achieve that, and though at first I used to feel that I was personally responsible to get us there, I’ve now realised it’s not all up to me. My job, as I see it is to shed light on things and provide inspiration, then it’s also up to everyone else … we’ll get there yet.

But the hugely important thing is to communicate, to keep conversing, I believe that could greatly improve relations at all levels.

Mark

5/28/2023 09:55:40 pm

I am an optimistic person also. I believe in asking and seeking. One of my mottoes is, if you don't ask you don't get. I certainly agree about the importance of communication. I also acknowledge how difficult it can be to communicate effectively.

We all have a role to play and the more that get involved the better as we work toward common goals.

New question.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

Helen Ferrara link

5/29/2023 05:22:38 am

Although writing is one of my passions I’m still a part time writer. Some of the rest of the time I’m a tutor and mentor for Australian First Nation university students.
Then there’s a myriad of other life things that take up my time, as for everyone.

I would like to do more writing, and I have started writing a fiction book, but I would also like to contribute to the conversation of various magazines. I have had some articles published, as well as some very short true stories and a chapter in an academic book on teaching.

Mark

5/29/2023 07:19:26 am

I think you are going to be writing for a long time. You seem to have the writing bug pretty bad and that is a good thing. Short stories and articles are good training for writing books. The short format requires concise thought.

New question.

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

Helen Ferrara link

5/29/2023 09:30:26 am

Wow! I didn’t actually count them … quite a few, certainly more than 10.

I got my PhD at the beginning of 2012, and a couple of years after that I started editing my thesis into a book, submitted it to a publisher and never heard back, so a couple of years after I did it again.

I re-edited and tried another publisher, this one got back to me after six months to say it wasn’t for them but to keep trying. Finally after another editing period of months in January 2020 I approached the publisher who said yes after reading the book.

I was beyond thrilled, but it still took me seven months or so to finish the final draft. I actually think re-drafting could go on forever for me, I keep learning and changing and I find myself wanting to apply that to what I’ve written …

Mark

5/29/2023 12:02:43 pm

I am not surprised you went through so many drafts. That is frequently the case for a book that is easy to read. There are so many aspects of writing whether fiction or non-fiction that need clarification and smoothing.

Your statement about redrafting is felt by many authors. There is always something to touchup and perfect. Some writers use that as an excuse to avoid submitting or publishing because they are afraid their book won't be good enough.

Congratulations to you for not falling into the redrafting or re-editing trap.

New question.

At first glance, the cover seems obvious, but I frequently miss a detail or two. What do the elements on the cover represent?

Helen Ferrara link

5/29/2023 08:01:55 pm

Oh yes I understand about using redrafting to avoid submitting, it is a temptation, however, I think it could also be more than that at times - Like with readers feeling loss when they finish reading a book, the book you're writing can also become your best friend, and in a way the longer that continues the harder it becomes to share it, especially with the 'strangers' that publishers are.

Now to answer your next question - I am really pleased with how the cover turned out. Having control over the cover was one of the great things about going with a small boutique publisher, and I had a truly perfect experience working on the cover with the person who crafted it for me :)

Firstly the picture is a painting that an artist friend did upon reading the Prologue of the book. The open doors represent the opening of ourselves to our creativity, and letting in the light as we get ready to step into it, and finally the font chosen for the writing is childlike because it's when we're children that we're most connected to creativity and the colours were matched to the painting. Oh and the grey background is our world without creativity.

Mark

5/29/2023 08:21:28 pm

More than once I have had to wait a day or two longer than normal because the impact of the book was resonating within me for longer than usual. As a boy growing up on a non-working farm in a small town, books were my closest friends. I had books to cheer me up when I was sad, I had books with lots of adventure when I was bored.

I didn't think about the gray wall background, that makes a lot of sense. It is a beautiful cover and I love the indistinctness of the colors.

New question.

Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

Helen Ferrara link

5/29/2023 08:29:59 pm

Yes the title took a long time to be finalised, and kept on changing.

The working title was quite different, and the funny thing is that I can't even remember it now. I probably have it somewhere on an old draft, but the main point is that once the 'right' title came to me - which is the one it bears now - it felt like it was the obvious one to have had all along.

Mostly it seemed that each time I totally redrafted the book a new title would appear, which I guess makes sense as I feel the title holds a lot of the 'energy' of the book.

Mark

5/29/2023 08:42:31 pm

The title is important! It does hold a lot of energy. I can't decide which is more important the cover or the title. They attract the attention of potential readers who can turn into buyers.

I am not surprised that the title went through many drafts also. Many authors start with one title and finish with a different title.

New question.

Have you done any public speaking?

Helen Ferrara link

5/30/2023 09:37:17 am

Yes I have, quite a bit.

My first experience of public speaking was when I lived in Italy in my early 20s. Some friends and I (including a friend from the USA and one from Scotland) formed a 'club' called Ways of the World (WOW). Its purpose being to give people the opportunity to practice speaking a foreign language and also to share the culture of different countries, so we held various cultural evenings including - Thanksgiving, Halloween, Hogmanay, and many others. Many people would attend (70+) and I was always the one who had to give a talk about the event at the start of the evenings. The first few times I was very nervous, my heart thumping in my throat, but it helped me to imagine speaking with each individual alone.

Once back in Australia and studying at university I presented papers at a number of conferences. I also taught at some high schools, and later lectured and tutored.

I've held many Chakradance workshops (for which I'm an accredited facilitator) and this involves leading groups through non-choreographed dancing by guiding them with creative visualisations.

I quite enjoy public speaking, I like to interact with the audience, and even with a thoroughly planned talk it will often become more spontaneous.

I'm planning to do an audio version of my book that I read myself.

Mark

5/30/2023 10:16:30 am

That group in Italy was a lot of fun and a creative experience. You and others made something out of nothing.

Public speaking is one of the top fears that most people have. They fear making a fool of themselves in front of others. The first secret to not being afraid of public speaking is to understand the importance of being an expert in your topic, of knowing more about it than the people in the audience. The second secret is knowing that the audience is there to receive what you are giving to them. They want to hear your message. The third secret is knowing you will still be nervous and excited and that can easily be channeled into passion when you share your message to the audience.

You, the speaker, are the expert. They, the audience, want to hear your message otherwise they wouldn't be there. It's good to be passionate about your topic. The audience will enjoy your topic more because your passion will infuse them with a similar passion about the topic.

You likely don't know that I had a severe stammering problem all through high school. It slowly receded over the course of many years. Early in my first career in retail I attended a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking because I still stammered when I was nervous. I embraced those three secrets and am able to speak in front of others pretty easily now. Do I still stammer? Yes, but the stammer causes people to listen more intently to my next words.

I love that you are going to make an audio version of your book. I have two copy-and-paste links for you about that. The first is to an interview I was doing with an author and the narrator joined the interview and shared some interesting insights. https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green
The second link is to a blog about making your own audio book, Joanna is one of my favorite bloggers: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/08/07/build-your-own-audio-sound-booth

I hope this information is useful for you.

New question.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Helen Ferrara link

5/30/2023 08:31:50 pm

Thanks for the links Mark, I will definitely have a look to garner anything that can be of help, as obviously I’d like the making of the audio book to be an enjoyable experience.

What a great approach you took to your stammer, and turned a problem into a strength :)

Just last year I entered a national short story competition. It was the first time it was run, and finding out about it from a writer friend in early May (entries closed by the end of May) I used it as an ‘excuse’ to write a 2500 word short story on an inspiration from a ‘past life’ regression. I wrote that in inverted commas because I haven’t decided whether I believe in that or not. Still, it doesn’t matter as I do regard Jung’s idea of the collective unconscious a possibility, and it is the strength of the experience of this individual’s life that is valuable to me.

Anyway, disappointingly I didn’t place, but my idea was always to use the short story as the basis for a fiction book, which I’ve started. I’ve shared the story with many people and everyone so far has loved it, and that’s promising - it’s set in the 4th dynasty of ancient Egypt.

This year the competition is being held again, entries close in August, but I still haven’t decided whether to take part.

Mark

5/31/2023 07:35:36 am

I don't believe in past-life regression either. I am learning a little about Jung's theories from you.

The story sounds interesting, historical fiction is one of my top 5 favorite genres for reading pleasure.

I have recommended to writers that writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer to improve their writing skills. I do have a warning, there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links for on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New question.

You went through the query process and it was brutal.

What do you think of the query process now?

Will you ever query a manuscript again?

Helen Ferrara link

5/31/2023 08:39:05 am

Yes I did have to jump through a lot of hoops with the first two publishers I approached, and as it turned out it was all for nothing.

However, with the publisher I did end up publishing with it was quite a different story, as we met over a Zoom meeting and then I sent my manuscript as it was, and within two weeks I had received a positive answer about my book being accepted, it was quite brilliant really.

Then all the editing I chose to do myself before submitting the manuscript, as I realised that I wanted to make it much more accessible, and thankfully I had my sister's help as a 'back stop' editor to me. We went back and forth with each chapter at least twice, and three times with a few of them.

So to answer your last question, I wouldn't want to put myself through the gruelling process of jumping through hoops at publisher's whims again. Still, I do think that publishers cold fill a useful role, and the way this might work best needs to be explored between publishers and authors.

Being a self-published independent author is actually a big job, and there are still lots of hoops to jump through to be accepted by distributors and online sellers. I am grateful to my publisher for providing the professional support for the cover and interior design of the book as well as the final proof-reading and the connection to the distributor.

Mark

5/31/2023 09:16:25 am

You are blessed. You did find a wonderful publisher.

So many authors struggle with the query process. They send out dozens of submissions, sometimes more than 100. In most of the cases they never hear back from the agent or publisher.

The traditional publishing industry has been in a serious decline for over two decades, there are now only 5 big publishers left. This industry contraction is due in large part to Amazon. The 'Zon turned over the apple cart of traditional publishing and smashed it to smithereens.

Agents and publishers are barely surviving, their profit margins are so slim they can't afford to lose money on a book. They are in business to stay in business. The book is the product they sell. They can ask the author to change the book in any number of ways. They might decide the book will sell better in 6 or 9 months. They might want the cover changed. All of these possibilities exist with good publishers. The bad publishers will seek to extract as much money from the author and may even steal their intellectual property rights.

Within the group of independent publishers there are hybrid publishers and some people equate them to vanity publishers. I keep them separate in my mind. The vanity publisher will use any means necessary to get as much money as possible from the writer, including surprise fees for different aspects of publishing or marketing. The hybrid publishers have fees also but they are more open about the fees and provide their services ala carte because not every author needs the same things to publish a book.

You are right, being and indie author is a lot of work. New authors think writing a book is hard and the first book is the hardest. But the never-ending process of promotion and marketing is harder.

New question.

Will you stay with an indie publisher for your next book or will you self-publish?

Helen Ferrara link

5/31/2023 09:33:06 am

I'm not sure about that yet as the book is far from finished :)

I think when the time comes I will explore all the options I'm aware of, and certainly I will very probably consult with the publisher I published my first book with.

I have a feeling that book publishing is going to transform yet again, as you say Amazon has changed traditional publishing enormously, yet I don't know that it's exactly sustainable ...

I don't know yet but there might yet be a way forward that is more in everyone's interest (rather than just for the big corporations), it might just be worth exploring ... authors' co-ops and so on ...

Mark

5/31/2023 10:59:31 am

There are author coops out there. The Alliance of Independent Authors comes to mind. Many authors, after publishing several books, start helping other authors publish their books.

As long as Amazon makes a profit they will be a major force in the industry. They are far from the only non-traditional publisher in business. There are many authors who only want to write. They are happy to trade a portion of their profits if someone else will take care of the gritty details for them.

I have long recommended that authors stop putting all of their eggs in one basket. It makes good business sense to publish as wide as possible and in different formats.

New question.

What does a more sustainable publishing industry look like?

Helen Ferrara link

5/31/2023 08:55:57 pm

Alright, I have not really thought that through yet … but this question requires me to think it through 😊

For anything to be more sustainable, especially where there is money involved, it needs to be more equitable, fairer in other words.

That actually means that ‘profits’ cannot be the priority, this needs to change for all industries including the publishing industry. The way I see it the priority needs to be sincere communication and connection, so that writers can more easily reach the readers who want to read their work and readers don’t have to wade through unnecessary ‘publicity’ to find books that suit them.

Appearances still seem to rule the way we do business in this world, but a more sustainable way to conduct business is to base it on honest substance. Though some, and perhaps even the majority, might see this as a naive outlook, I really believe it is a creative one that knows we can overcome the current messy ‘greed’ that seems to rule everything and grown to be a more egalitarian and sustainable society.

This is the concise version of my answer, as I think the fuller version could be a book …

Mark

5/31/2023 09:26:36 pm

I knew that question would be hard to answer. I wanted to know your thoughts. Yes, the longer version could easily be a book.

Equitable is an interesting concept. We all want fairness and justice in society. When it gets down to the personal level we want success. Whoever doesn't get the success they think they deserve claim unfair. Most humans are very selfish for themselves or their children, usually both. That is a basic principle that isn't going away anytime soon, apparently.

Before Amazon, publishing was very difficult until an author was successful. At the heart of publishing is the publisher and their desire to succeed and make money. Agents and publishers were the gatekeepers and most were not able to be published for whatever reason was conjured up. The underlying reason was it wouldn't sell in the view of the agent or publisher.

Then Amazon knocked the gates down and destroyed the wall. Anyone could publish a book. In the early days, ebooks were an extreme novelty and only wealthy people could afford them. They wanted lots of books on their ereader because who doesn't like a variety. As soon as authors started to see dollar signs many wrote books as fast as they could and some were even publishing their first draft to make money. This soured the experience for many and they vowed to never buy an ebook again.

Now a million books are published every year and have been for over a decade. Equitable publishing has been a double-edged sword. A lot of people self-publish and most of these authors only sell a few hundred copies.

We have had equality of opportunity for a number of years now and the market is flooded and it takes a lot of work to get noticed.

Amazon went another step some years ago with Kindle Unlimited, an all you can read plan for an annual subscription. Authors are paid a fraction of a penny for each page read on a Kindle. Amazon owns the Kindle ereader and can easily track each person's reading.

My advice remains to skip the exclusive contract Amazon demands with admittance of a book to KU and authors should publish as wide as possible. Don't put all your eggs into one basket.

There are so many ways to publish now I don't know what the next evolution is going to be. But contrary to popular belief I do not think it will be a takeover of the creative process by AI. The list makers are not creative.

New question.

When you decided to indie-publish how did you pick a publisher?

Helen Ferrara link

6/1/2023 08:28:28 am

Before I answer your last question I'd like to comment on your last comments.

I think that wanting success is a very normal and human thing to want, and what's more I think it's tied up with creativity, and in fact I think that there's room for all to be successful. Selfishness, or excessive greed, can come in from our conditioning that always points to what success means and makes everything competitive, so that someone's huge success often equals the loss of success of many. There is a section in my book where I look at this.

I especially suggest that we need to get to know ourselves better, rather than pay exclusive attention to our conditioning, in this way we would discover what success means to us. In many cases this is different simply because we are unique, although it's the same at the level of human needs, and every one of us deserves to have all their needs met.

Excessive greed is evident in a small percentage of our society - the elite. Interestingly we think ourselves civilised, yet back in Ancient Rome successful generals who rode the 'triumph' - a procession in a chariot through the streets of Rome that was the highest honour granted to victorious leaders - had a slave in the chariot with them to hold a golden crown over their heads and at the same time continuously whisper "Remember you are mortal", so that the success wouldn't go to their heads.

In comparison, CEOs of our big corporation make on average 399 times more than an average worker's wage, and nobody reminds them they're only mortal. That's where equity totally falls down ...

I agree with you that the list makers are not creative, yet there is much unfairness and inequity that we allow, maybe if we were following our creative passions we would not allow these things ...

Now to answer your question - I definitely was, as you said, 'blessed', for I was able to pick a publisher through the advice of a friend. This friend had had experience with this publisher and gave me his name and contact details. The rest was easy, as soon as I summoned up the courage to look him up and schedule a Zoom meeting :)

Mark

6/1/2023 09:04:05 am

I agree, there is a lot of room for success and everyone gets to decide how they define it. In publishing, our context, most people define success as selling enough books to be able to write fulltime. I can't think of a single author that has told me they don't want to write fulltime. Their success hinges on two factors within their control, the quality of their book and how much marketing they can afford to do. Not all authors write equally well and many authors are constrained by a budget so turning a snowball into an avalanche will take a long time. Writing more and better books is a partial answer for many authors. But they are dependent upon buyers and buyers are quite fickle. They want to read what they want to read. Fortunately, there are so many buyers with different tastes that a lot of books are bought.

Many CEOs are paid far more than the average line worker. It's unfortunate they don't have someone to remind them of their mortality.

Equality of opportunity exists for many but not all. Some governments do not permit it. I wish they would change their policies. Equality of outcomes is unlikely because each person's talents and abilities are unique. I wish it were otherwise. Perhaps following creative passions would make a big difference. That would be wonderful.

Word of mouth is the best form of advertising! One of the best things about the internet is word of mouth advertising, also known as reviews. When we write a review we are influencing potential buyers. It is very important to place a review as often as possible.

New question.

What is your publisher doing to market your book?

Helen Ferrara link

6/1/2023 08:20:07 pm

I totally understand and agree with what you say about. authors wanting to write full time and being hampered in this by not being able to sell enough books. Although this might seem quite straight forward I think that what has happened in the publishing industry is rather complex. Basically I think that way too many books are being published, as everyone seems to be enticed to write a book.

How many workshops have you seen advertised telling people they have a book in them, and saying they can write a book in a weekend? Imagine if this was done for singing, so that everyone was told they could release a single, or paint a masterpiece. Now I believe that everyone can sing and that singing is a great creative expression, as is painting, and of course the same goes for writing, however not everyone is a writer.

Yet the market is flooded with books by non-writers, and many of these do really well as there's lots of marketing behind them, especially the ones by a personality or famous person. Once upon a time this sort of book would have been written as a biography by an actual writer. I can't help but wonder if the existence of publishing giants like Amazon have anything to do with this?

At the same time I think readers are getting scarcer, as there's so much 'competition' to reading - social media for one, and also blogs. You mention word of mouth through social media, but word of mouth does seem to work best when it's direct and there is less and less of that as more and more people are isolated and relying on social media, and that's where marketing gains more power as the glitzy and more polished something is the more pull it seems to have. The result I see is that there's lots of buying but of the wrong kinds of things, and not really what satisfies, and this includes books.

This is where I think there will be a change, as the indie movement gets wiser we might just see a shift away from things touted to be 'the thing to do' but which doesn't really bring much result, so why not stop doing it? Less marketing and much more real word of mouth ... and other creative ways to spread the word that we've not seen yet.

Publishers, especially indie publishers like mine, don't have the budget for marketing as such, which answers your question, but they could explore other avenues. Mine does interviews and podcasts, in fact I have the launch interview on my website, as well as being active on social media. I think there's room for something more innovative and probably strikingly simple.

Mark

6/1/2023 08:46:42 pm

You make an excellent point and that is the dark side of equality of opportunity to write, paint or sing. Truly not everyone can do these things well. I know for a fact that I cannot sing well because I am rhythm impaired and have trouble matching tones. Do I like to sing? Yes, when I know the lyrics, I sing rather enthusiastically.

The talent search competition shows also prove that point. While there are some who can sing well, some surprisingly so, there are dozens, no hundreds of people who try out and never even get in front of the main judges. The scouts seem to let a few who are spectacularly bad in to appear before the main judges for contrast and entertainment value for the rest of us. Some of those rejects claim the judges are tone deaf or otherwise not qualified to judge because all of their friends tell them how talented they are.

Amazon probably has everything to do with the flood of poorly written books. Amazon cares first and foremost about selling products and making a profit. Books are only another product for them. If books become unprofitable, they won't hesitate long to pull the plug.

I wish the indie movement would stop listening to the hucksters about the latest and greatest way to make money on Amazon. Faking reviews with bot accounts was once a big deal and made a lot of money for some people. Amazon pulled the plug on that and a lot of honest authors and reviewers lost access to their books, accounts and any money in their accounts.

The Covid lockdowns halted all in-person events for so long, but those things are starting to recover in much of the world. They are a lot of fun but they take up time that has to be balanced.

One of my favorite blogs is about pursuing the local author angle. How to be a marketing star right where you live. Another copy-and-paste link or search the title in the box below: https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/ I would add a few tips, seek out literature teachers at the high school and college level to share in their class and there might be a club in the school. Local newspapers are a good resource for an interview as well as local cable access. There might also be a broadcast arts curriculum and/or a club at the high school and college level. Have some questions ready to hand the interviewer if they seem uncertain.

If there are tourist destinations try and place your books with the local author angle. Museums, gift stores, motels, hotels, tourist attractions are all possibilities. Keep a box of books in your trunk. Get a counter-top holder for a few books, paste a picture of the cover on the holder behind the books and put re-ordering information on the back of the holder.

Consider renting a table at a comic convention, county fair, farmer's market or a flea market. Have free swag to hand out such as a bookmark and sell mugs or posters. There are so many ways to be the 'local author' I doubt I have exhausted the list of possibilities.

New question.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Helen Ferrara link

6/2/2023 05:41:59 am

I love all the suggestions you give on how to pursue the local author angle, and will certainly be having a look at the blogs you recommend. As you know I've only just recently started promoting my book, as even though it was released in February 2021, I was quite ill at that time.

Fortunately may book is an evergreen, as they call it. Interestingly, I feel that people are more open to looking at creativity now then they have been since the book was published, possibly because of the whole protracted Covid times ...

How do I think my book compares to a book published by a major publisher? Interesting question, and one I was sort of faced with just yesterday when a friend told me they had bought a book on the same subject as mine, which however has already become a bestseller (I think) as it's been written by a celebrity. I won't name the actual book, another friend had already informed me of its existence soon after it was published, which was early this year.

So how does my book compare? Very favourably I feel, all that my book 'lacks' is the marketing ... It is a scholarly work, being based on a PhD thesis, yet at the same time it is a passionate book and shares the belief of many voices (also passionate about creativity). It does not neatly 'fit' into a category, as it straddles many, and that is probably its main difference from a book published by a major publisher ... they are usually instantly categorisable.

Mark

6/2/2023 07:09:28 am

I am glad you found those ideas useful.

Celebrity brings a lot of attention to whatever the famous person does. Chances are good that person did not write the book with their name on it. Aa ghostwriter probably did the actual work and will likely never achieve any fame for the work outside of celebrity circles.

Most novels are written in a third person point of view. In that style of writing the narrator is reporting on the events of the story as they unfold and they usually also describe what other characters are thinking and feeling. The narrator may or may not be a part of the plot or story. That creates emotional distance for the reader. Some novels are written in first person point of view. The narrator is a part of the story and describes only the things they hear and see. The first person narrator doesn't know what other characters are thinking and feeling. It is a very intimate experience for the reader.

Reading your book was like reading a novel written in first person POV. I love that style of writing.

New question.

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Helen Ferrara link

6/2/2023 08:11:48 am

The most unbearable unethical practice (fortunately I don't actually know too many of them) that comes to mind for me is mainly because of my academic background.Basically this is that academics don't ever seem to get paid for anything they publish.

For example I had a chapter accepted to be part of an education book. This book has a collection of various chapters written by academic authors from all over the world, it also has six editors and some of them have written a chapter for the book as well. These chapters were all 'peer reviewed', which basically means that other academics read your work and make editing suggestions that you either accept or have to argue why they should not be made. The 'acceptable' thing then seems to be that you sign away any 'rights of revenue' from the publishing of the book (although I'm pretty sure each author retains the basic copyright for their individual work, although I should have a look at the agreement I signed just to make sure, if I can find it ... I think it may have been signed online).

The book I was part of was published in 2017, and I was sent a complimentary copy of the e-book only, on each page of which is a specifically written blurb explaining this is a complimentary copy for just the editors and authors of the book and that any 'unauthorised distribution will be prosecuted'.

It seems to me that this sort of practice is all take and no give, but it goes on all the time. This is also why I wasn't interested in publishing my thesis turned book with an academic publisher, as additionally they make the cost almost prohibitive so that the work becomes inaccessible in many ways.

I've also had an article published in a journal, but it was something quite short and I didn't mind that. The irritating thing (irritating now) is that at the time I felt it was an honour to be asked to publish.

Mark

6/2/2023 08:38:39 am

Good call. As expensive as academic books and textbooks are there should be revenue sharing. Obviously, someone is making a lot of money. This problem is not limited to the academic world, unfortunately.

Just as there are a lot of trustworthy publishers there are many who are not at all levels. Many authors are so excited to be published they trust the publisher will have the author's best interest at heart and nothing could be further from the truth. The publisher has their own interest at heart first and foremost. To remain in business the publisher needs to sell books and make a profit.

Any contract a publisher asks you to sign needs to be carefully inspected by a lawyer experienced in the entertainment or writing business. The devil is truly in the details in every contract. One example, there should be a reversion clause. This clause stipulates the conditions under which the copyright is returned to the author. This clause can say anything. If a book has not sold any copies in six months or more, for example, then the publisher lets go of the license the contract grants and the copyright is returned to the author. This would be a good clause for the author.

The contract should specify what formats are included and what languages are included. There are a lot of formats to tell a story including, to name a few: ebook, paperback, hardback, large-print, audio book, serialization, graphic novels, plays, screenplays, video, TV, movies. There are lot of languages also. Most countries teach English as a second language and some use English as the official language of education, business and government. All of the formats in a different language can each be a different contract.

In the US, an author's estate owns the copyright for 75 years after the death of the author. That could become important to the family. It is not unheard of for a book to become popular after the death of the author.

New question.

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Helen Ferrara link

6/2/2023 09:48:13 pm

I didn’t know that it could be that bad in the publishing world. I thought there were basic laws to protect authors, as I always thought copyright was pretty much ‘sacrosanct’. I feel very fortunate.

If a book I’m reading can cause me to feel so much mirth that I’m actually laughing aloud, then that is gold for me!

One book that does that for me no matter how many times I’ve read it, almost ‘catching me’ again and again, is A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett,

I don’t know if you’re familiar with the author, I’m a big time fan having read all of his books, and many of his Discworld series more than once. They are science fantasy, and the particular book I mentioned features the Nac Mac Feegles - clans of little six inches high beings, somewhat reminiscent of the Brave Heart Scottish clans (though they are actually a fairy race), feisty and drunken and hilarious. In this book they are helping to protect a young witch (Tiffany) from something quite terrible. The chapter that is particularly ‘laugh out loud’ for me is called PLN (plan as they’re really bad at spelling and actually scared of it). Anyway, to get to where Tiffany is they have to board a coach with other passengers, and so as to not reveal themselves they steal clothes and a beard, and fifty or so of them form a ‘man’. All the shenanigans that go on to do this, and carry out their PLN, are priceless.

I’m glad you asked that question as I’m going to read it again.

Mark

6/2/2023 09:53:26 pm

I have heard the name quite a bit and yet I have not read anything by him that I can recall. It sounds like it would be right up my alley. I know I would enjoy it because I love to laugh also.

New question.

What book has changed your mind about any particular topic?

Helen Ferrara link

6/3/2023 07:59:17 am

Yes I think you would like Terry Pratchett, his writing is clever and witty and holds lots of wisdom too. The book I was talking about (which I have just started re-reading) also brings tears as it's quite poignant in places.

Alright, the book that changed my mind is Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra. I didn't have a particularly strong mindset about healing, as I was quite young when I read it, but it taught me a lot about the body that had not been commonly known up to then. Like that many parts of our bodies replace themselves over time. I had not known that, so it added more importance for me to how I lived - from what I fed myself to what products I used which could affect me.

Mark

6/3/2023 08:43:19 am

I learned the hard way about how my body can be influenced negatively by my immediate environment in the 80s. I have since pursued personal health on multiple levels.

New question.

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Helen Ferrara link

6/3/2023 09:29:08 am

I was actually quite young when I learned to read, and I read a lot.

I particularly remember reading Robin Hood and Little Women, and I also remember the plot of a lot of other books but I don't remember their title. Definitely, Little Women was one of my favourites, as was its sequel Little Women grow Up (I think they were all one book originally), and then Little Men, and Jo's Boys.

Mark

6/3/2023 09:36:26 am

We are alike in this way. I learned to read before the first grade without going to kindergarten. A retired elementary school teacher lived behind us and I think she missed her students. She taught me to read while I sat on the back fence one summer.

Those are good books by all reports. I have not read Little Women or the sequels.

New question.

If you could ask every person who has read your book only one question what would you ask them?

Helen Ferrara link

6/3/2023 10:01:14 am

Do you mean asking them all the same question?

What has changed for you since you read my book? As a number of friends who've read it have let me know that it has made a difference to them, it would be nice to know if it has that effect on everyone who reads it.

Mind you if I thought about it a little longer I'm sure I would word it differently, the way I have it now feels a little 'clunky'.

Mark

6/3/2023 10:50:44 am

I leave that question open, but I do mean the same question for each reader. Your question is a good one considering the nature of your book.

New question.

How do you handle bad reviews?

Helen Ferrara link

6/3/2023 09:01:20 pm

Having slept on it (as you know here in Perth, Australia, we are 12 hours ahead of Eastern USA, so that now it's Sunday morning) I think that I might prefer to word the question "What effect has reading my book had on you?"

I've not actually had any bad reviews. Maybe it's a fact that because this book comes from a thesis, and I gave a lot of papers during the process of writing the thesis, when it came to writing the book, bolstered by experience, I had time to address the negative reactions that some people had to some of the things I said and wrote.

For example, once when I gave a paper on creativity I was asked - "What about the dark, or destructive side of creativity?" Having had the chance to practice my answer with a live audience I was able to explain in the book that I can best give an answer by taking that question to be (and here I'm quoting my book):

"deeper and to mean: is creativity the ‘answer’ to everything then, and is it always happy and wonderful?
The reply to this is: ‘No, of course not.’ Firstly, creativity is not an answer; if anything it is more of a question, it’s an open and inquisitive way of looking at life, an attitude, a way of actually bringing our curiosity to life by putting it into action. This means that creativity is more of a process, and furthermore it’s a holistic process that involves many ‘parts’ being brought together and connected through the process itself. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio explains this when he says, "creative behaviour ... results from the interactions of the brain with physical, social and cultural environments." So, given that creativity is inclusive of ‘us’, it can only make us as happy or as positive as we feel, or are. Following the process of creativity is not easy; it needs time, trust, an ability to tolerate uncertainty, as well as a willingness to risk and to face fear and chaos, and all this before anything can crystallise into a form that can be recognised and worked with. So there is indeed much that can hinder this process. Based on all my research, however, as well as by simply looking at the state of the world, I know that we’ve barely had a taste of just how much joy and wholesome living can come from truly nurturing and honouring our creativity. It is the way we need to go, the path we need to take, to become all we can be and live as fully and as joyously as we can."

That's just one example, as I've done that with quite a lot of feedback I received, remember that writing this book has actually taken about 15 years if you include the research for the thesis.

Mark

6/3/2023 09:21:26 pm

That is a good version of the question. It fits well.

It is hard for me to picture creativity having a dark side, at first. As you said, it is a process not an end result. That makes the idea much easier to understand.

Many writers have been hit by trolls and occasionally by multiple trolls. They seem to have only one goal in mind and that is to upset the victim of their attack. The rule many writers have adopted is to ignore the trolls, don't feed them or interact with them. They leave very negative reviews and that is upsetting for the writers. But most people will recognize the review for what it is and ignore it also.

New question.

Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

Helen Ferrara link

6/3/2023 09:58:05 pm

Writing almost always energies me, especially creative writing, I guess it's all creative in a sense, but my favourite is actually writing poetry.

Often when I'm out and about in nature, or immersed in other pleasant things, words and phrases will practically etch themselves in my brain so I can then write them down.

On the other hand, it's through writing that I can revisit and reconnect to the wonder I've felt at any time throughout my life. So I guess the answer would be yes, writing does have both a spiritual and healing component for me :)

Mark

6/4/2023 08:26:14 am

Many authors report a similar experience. At the least, a sense of satisfaction is felt with a productive writing session.

New question.

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

Helen Ferrara link

6/4/2023 10:14:05 am

No I haven't, as before hearing it in your last question I had not heard of it before.

I had a look at it on the internet and it seems really interesting. I'm going to explore it further and maybe take part in it this year.

Do you know many authors who have taken part in it?

Mark

6/4/2023 02:06:16 pm

NaNoWriMo is a popular event and many thousands of writers participate every year. Many of them band together into groups for fun, encouragement and mutual support. Sometimes prizes are offered to winners, those that complete the challenge of writing 50,000 words of a first draft. I offered a big discount on my service for a year, but the winner didn't use her winnings.

Pantsters start with a more-or-less vague idea for a story. Plotters will develop a plot, outline it or at least write the scenes and characters down, as well as do as much research as they can before November first.

New question.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Helen Ferrara link

6/4/2023 08:29:31 pm

The NaNoWriMo does sound intriguing, in many ways. I'll do more research and find out how popular it is here. It especially sounds a good networking opportunity. Thanks for letting me know.

I'm not surprised that something like the NaNoWriMo originated in the USA, as from what I've seen so far the writing community there is more supportive and warm than in other English speaking countries. I'm very glad my daughter had me join Twitter and this led to finding you :)

To answer your question, I'm neither an under-writer or an over-writer, I'm more of a 're-arranger'. I see myself as a word weaver. I have an explanation of this I wrote some time ago that I'd like to share with you as it's the one time I actually took the time to explain how I see writing - Writing is weaving meaning with words. I see words as being colourful bits of light and sound which can be woven together to make magic - this magic is communication! Our whole world relies on communication and more and more on written communication... the art of writing is weaving words together to form a texture that allows meaning to flow directly from what we want to say to those we'd like to say it to.

(This next bit applies especially to your art, when I wrote this I was doing quite a bit of editing, especially for students) - Editing is the word weaver's magic tool that can gently disentangle bumps and snatches in the fabric of communication and then reconnect the words together as smoothly and flowingly as possible. This creates textures that can be dazzingly beautiful, encircling those who read them with delight ... at the very least it creates clear and flowing communication.

Another thing I do, because I see words as energy, is that I purposely write in a sentence, or phrase, that I know will need to come out later, but I write it in anyway specifically because I want the writing imbued with the energy of those words. This might sound 'strange' but it has always worked for me. In a way it's the power of the 'unsaid' or 'unwritten'.

Mark

6/4/2023 09:05:39 pm

I love the word weaver, rearranger idea. I also love how you describe the energy of words, bits of light and sound. I am reminded of an interesting neurological condition known as synesthesia that a small percentage of people have and almost every one of them exhibit the condition in a different manner.

That is a good description of the editing process. Untangling the parts that don't lay flat and smoothing out the snags. I describe my process as polishing. Removing dust, bits of grit and buffing out small imperfections until the entire book shines.

I think about what is unsaid or can be unsaid a lot. Many writers overwrite, they describe common actions in too much detail. I tell them to keep it simple, don't include everything. Let the reader fill in the blanks and it will draw the reader deeper into the magic of the story. Car brands are a good example. Driving a black SUV allows the reader to insert their favorite brand without even thinking about it. But if they are driving a Ford Explorer then those that don't like that brand will lose some connection.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story pace or flow?

How do you control it?

Helen Ferrara link

6/5/2023 07:42:51 am

For me the more flow a story has the easier it is for the reader to stay with it and understand it.

I have read stories where it felt very much like I was totally there, as the story flowed absolutely perfectly. I think that keeping things clear and simple (as you suggest) really helps here. In these kind of stories it hardly matters what the pace is as the readers will stay with the flow, and the pace can slow down or speed up as necessary.

Although it's little difficult to describe all this without giving examples, I'm sure that most readers will have had the experience of reading something like that.

I've not really thought of how to consciously control this, since for me it is more about being able to communicate (tell the story) in as seamless a way as possible. I find that the more drafts I go through the better I'm able to use flow in my writing, as I smooth out the 'clunkiness' and achieve better clarity. This is connected to the idea of weaving and rearranging I spoke of in my last answer, but it is practice and experience that keeps allowing me to improve and find which bit needs tweaking and shifting, as I do all this 'instinctively'. I don't think I would be able to be a writer if this didn't come as second nature to me and I had to instead stop and think of how to 'control' it.

Much like athletes, dancers, and others who love a particular practice - even surgeons and mechanics - it is when we can flow with what we are doing that we do our best practice. I'm sure the same occurs when you read and all the errors jump out at you. This is also how I help students improve their writing, sure I give them lots of strategies, but in the end I show them - give them examples - not tell them, as that is the one way I know I can convey to them what I mean.

Mark

6/5/2023 08:16:18 am

I think you nailed it. A smooth flowing story is an easy reading story, and it is usually the result of hard, solid writing. The pace can be whatever the story needs at the moment, short, choppy sentences for action and long, languorous prose for contemplative passages.

Last questions.

What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Helen Ferrara link

6/5/2023 08:26:41 pm

I do have a tendency to follow the muse (as you put it it) when I write.

I have a routine in the sense that I give myself some free time to write, when I can be alone and undisturbed, but apart from that it's pretty open.

However, if there is something specific I am working towards and need/want to finish, then I seem to be almost 'consumed' by it and with it, as it's always with me, and I find myself writing whenever I can.

Mark

6/5/2023 08:42:14 pm

Many authors follow their muse. One author wished her muse lived closer to her because the muse invariably showed up at 2:30 in the morning. She kept a pad of paper and a pen beside her bed. Sometimes she could even read what she had written a few hours ago. Another writer lamented to me that her muse frequently showed up when she was in the shower. I told her about a pen that will write underwater and notebooks with waterproof paper. I am sure she obtained those items.

I have another promotion starting tomorrow and I thank you for being a fabulous guest from halfway around the world, in Australia. I enjoyed your book a lot and it has been delightful to chat about the behind-the-scenes stuff.
Until next time, keep on writing and stay creative!

Helen Ferrara link

6/5/2023 09:07:14 pm

Thank you Mark. This interview has been very enjoyable for me as well. You ask excellent questions, and some of them have got me thinking more deeply about my writing, which is great. I will certainly be back when I have another book ready.

Creativity Stepping into Wholeness by Dr. Helen Ferrara

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