Lindsay Elizabeth

New Adult Fantasy Author

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February 12, 2017 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

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THE AUTHOR

HI, I’M LINDSAY

I write NA fantasy that is a little magical, romantic, and mysterious. On my blog, I’m sharing my journey + insight as I write my books, tackle creative blocks, and build my dream business.

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How to Create Dynamic Relationships in Fiction
How to Write a Unique Fairy Tale Retelling
Book Lovers Instagram Story Templates

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I’m Lindsay, an author and creative living blogger. I'm sharing my journey and insight as I write my books, tackle creative blocks, and build my dream business + lifestyle.

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A reader asked me for tips on how to create dynami

A reader asked me for tips on how to create dynamic relationships in fiction (both romantic and platonic) and the element that first comes to mind when I think about my favorite examples is this:

They challenge each other.

The best relationships push your characters to grow in some way.

When we engage in a story, we want to see conflict and progression, so relationships that simultaneously encourage growth in the characters and move the story forward are the most compelling of all.

This is why "frenemies" and "enemies to lovers" tropes are two of the most popular ─ because they take this dynamic to a whole other level. (I'm definitely a sucker for these tropes myself. 😍) Head over to my blog (link in bio 👆🏻) for more of my tips on creating dynamic relationships in fiction as well as a free workbook to help you flesh yours out.

Who are some of your favorite fictional relationships? Have you noticed this element in them?

𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭

𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟑 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?

I'm grateful for... The warm cuddles, hilarious antics, and unconditional love of my fur-babies.

The Ambient Worlds channel on YouTube that makes me feel like I'm living in a movie (usually of the fantasy variety) while I work.

Pizza 🍕 being delivered to my door. (Among many, many other things. 🙏🏻)

If you want things to be different, it starts with

If you want things to be different, it starts with *you* doing things differently.

This sounds obvious, but when it comes to putting it into practice day by day, the limiting thought patterns and behaviors we've been operating on for years are strong contenders. Trust me, I know.

Motivation withers. It becomes harder and harder to believe that what we want is actually possible. And that uncertainty feeds into the action we take (or don’t take) and then we end up confirming our worst fear: that nothing will ever be different.

Change isn’t a river you jump into and it magically carries you where you want to go. You have to swim. Sometimes, you have to fight the current if you want to go in a different direction.

If you've been wanting to finish your book, for example, what's been stopping you? Writer's block? Procrastination? Not enough time?

I had all of these excuses for years and it wasn't until I got real with myself and accepted responsibility for the power I actually had but wasn't using (due to fear and the discomfort involved in stepping into that power) that things started to change.

The secret is in the small choices you make every day. What you do when you first wake up. How you structure your day. Where you put your focus (and getting good at catching yourself when it is running away from you). Who you surround yourself with. Whether you bow down to fear or follow your heart.

YOU are the change agent. So, what do you want to change?

❝All procrastination is fear.❞ — ELIZABETH G

❝All procrastination is fear.❞ — ELIZABETH GILBERT

I’ve definitely earned my black belt in procrastination. It tugs on my sleeve every day, trying to pull me away from the things I've said I would do.

Writing is where I get hit hardest with the procrastination gremlins. So much self-doubt, imposter syndrome & fear there for them to feed on.

Here's what I do when procrastination strikes: ▽ IDENTIFY IT IMMEDIATELY as fear manifesting itself & speak those fears out loud to honor them. When it's causing a really stubborn block, I brain dump/journal it out. The fear doesn't go away but listening to it with disassociation reminds me that I'm in control & don't have to follow its impulses. ▽ CHALLENGE THOSE FEARS & ask myself: are they true? Are they based on actual facts? Is there any evidence to the contrary? Is there a different perspective I could take? ▽ REMIND MYSELF WHY writing is important to me & why I love it. What am I choosing & accepting if I don't do it? How will the future me feel if I give up on this dream right now?

Some other tricks that help:
⇢ Time-blocking & scheduling my writing sessions
⇢ Clear, achievable word count goals
⇢ Employing a writing ritual

There are a lot more tips on how to overcome writing procrastination in one of my latest blog posts if you're interested. Link is in my bio! 💻

Do you struggle with procrastination? What are your go-to methods for overcoming it?

Is your focus is sabotaging you? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀

Is your focus is sabotaging you? 🤔
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I’ve been realizing the breadth of the importance of our focus in everything from combatting overwhelm, increasing productivity, cultivating a clear & positive state of mind, overcoming blocks caused by fear & self-doubt, and pretty much just staying sane in general.
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The brain is literally wired to seek out more of what we're focused on. This is why if you're looking to buy a yellow car, you’ll suddenly notice them everywhere. This is our Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work.
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Your brain also seeks to confirm what you believe. If you believe kindness & opportunity are everywhere, you’ll focus on things that confirm that belief. This is called confirmation bias.
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One of the keys to more intentional living is understanding that our experience of life is shaped by our perception of it. Our perception is guided by our focus.
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This doesn't mean you ignore what's wrong. It simply means you focus your attention & energy on what is going to move you forward & improve the situation rather than trapping yourself in your most uncomfortable feelings & thoughts.
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4 WAYS TO CONTROL YOUR FOCUS INSTEAD OF LETTING IT CONTROLLING YOU:
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▽ SURROUND YOURSELF with positive influences - podcasts, videos, books, IG accounts. Keep healthy perspectives fresh in your mind daily (because the negative ones def aren't sleeping).
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▽ TRAIN with 10-min meditations. It's going to be super hard in the beginning because our monkey minds want to run rampant but good guided meditations will teach you properly (like @headspace & @calm) & help you build up the muscles to direct your thoughts.
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▽ DESIGNATE TIME to sit with your fears, sadness, etc. Journal it out, have a good cry & take time to unplug & relax when your soul is telling you it needs it.
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▽ QUESTION your reactions. Practice disassociating from what's happening & step outside of it (like stepping to the side of a road to observe the traffic rather than standing in the middle of it) before reacting.

Fiction has always been my safe space. The place w

Fiction has always been my safe space. The place where I feel most like myself and where I can escape to when the real world gets boring, lonely or stressful.

It's definitely been my life raft lately.

Besides just being a wonderful escape (whether I'm reading, watching or writing it), storytelling is my passion. I’ve been writing every day. I wake up and go to sleep thinking about my project.

This situation has driven home how important it is that we fill up our lives with the things that bring us to life, because everything can change in an instant.

Things we thought were stable, that we thought were the safe choice, that we thought was a "sure thing" can be turned upside down and taken away overnight.

Life is uncertain no matter WHAT choice you make. Everything is a risk. So, why not take a risk on what’s in your heart?

At the very least, start prioritizing the things that bring you joy, because life is short and uncertain and joy is always a good way to spend your time.
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“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman

How many times have you been in this scenario: you

How many times have you been in this scenario: you’re going along, minding your own business, and then seemingly out of no where, you start to feel like crap?

When we aren’t practicing mindfulness, our automatic response to triggers is to follow their emotional track without question.

Suddenly, we are feeling some type of way and spiraling down a dark hole of anger, frustration, sadness, shame, self-doubt, overwhelm, or some other negative emotion often without even knowing why. If we don't immediately know the reason, our brain is quick to come up with *plenty* of ideas.

The simple act of being mindful of when your mood starts to shift and questioning what has triggered it stops the process of the emotion from going any further. This gives you a chance to disassociate yourself from it and explore where it came from.

Through this process, you'll be able to peel back the layers and figure out what's really causing you to feel that way. When you can witness the trigger head-on, you can actually get to the root of it and deal with it immediately rather than mindlessly follow it into an emotional spiral that is harder to come back from.

Often, there's an easy solution that will become evident or at the very least, you’ll gain insight into something that is bothering you so you can work through it.

I’ll be launching a 5-day mindfulness challenge that will introduce you to the basics and give you an easy structure to implement that will help you strengthen your practice. Make sure you’re signed up to my mailing list to be notified when it goes live soon! (Link in bio! ✨)

❝One of my clients told me about working for a n

❝One of my clients told me about working for a neurosurgeon and said that picking out interiors isn’t the same as saving lives. It’s not. Doctors are most important in crisis moments. Artists are important to your daily existence. There's so much value in what creatives do, but some artists dumb it down or think it’s optional. In the moment you're having a heart attack or a brain tumor, do you want the world's best brain surgeon? For sure. But the other 364 days of the year, the work we do truly changes quality of life for people.❞ — TOBI FAIRLEY (@tobifairley)

This quote from a recent Forbes interview with @tobifairley really struck a chord with me. She put into words the true importance of creativity, the gifts of which are often sadly undervalued. Some people call things like interior design and fashion "frivolous," but what's frivolous about self-expression and the joy it brings us?

What's frivolous about the emotion we feel when we watch a movie that makes us laugh, listen to a song that moves us, or read a story that makes us look at our own human experience differently? Or for that matter, makes us feel compassion for someone else's?

These things aren't frivolous. They're vital to a fulfilling existence. They enrich our daily experience and are what help us live rather than merely survive. So, if you’re a creative, embrace it. Be PROUD of it. Because what you have to offer the world is absolutely needed.

❝Embrace uncertainty as part of the process.❞

❝Embrace uncertainty as part of the process.❞ — Alejandro González Iñárritu
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In one of the Rolex commercials featuring Oscar-winning directors, filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu shared this advice he had received from his mentor Ludwik Margules. It really struck me because it's a lesson I am continuously having to remind myself as I build my business and work on my creative projects.
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Uncertainty is one of those insidious things that block us from exploring our full potential by talking us into playing small. It breeds fear and we are hard-wired to avoid the unknown at all costs. It's a survival instinct. However, in order to create, grow, and move forward, venturing into the unknown is a necessity.
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As Alejandro said, it's part of the process.
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We can't skip it. We can't strategize our way around it. If we want more out of life than just surviving, uncertainty is something we have to make friends with.
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△ You won't know if what you're doing will be successful or well-received.
△ You won't know what problems may arise throughout the process.
△ You won't know exactly how or when it will all come together.
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The good news is: you don't have to know any of these things. You just have to be brave enough to move forward, anyway.

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