Category: Musing Moments

Gone till September: ICFTS Creative Sabbatical

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

Hello, Fellow Creatives!

June is here and with it comes the start of ICFTS’s three-month creative sabbatical. If you are new to this creative space, no worries. The site will still be up and available or you to browse through and find the creative encouragement you need to grasp your vision, voice, and the courage to do what it takes to see the dream in you come to life!

beach blue car combi
Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com

As it is the start of summer months, I imagine all of us will be taking time away to regroup, refocus, and just rejoice! God has blessed us immensely and through Christ, we are able to enjoy life to the fullest measure.

Take these months to explore, to reconnect, to try new things.

I will be doing all of those things, as well as building up my author page platform. My debut novel, NEXUS GATE 4037: THE ANIMAL, will be out soon so be sure to follow my author page or connect via Facebook or Instagram.

Thank you for continuing with me on our creative journey of creative growth, faith, and discovery.

See you in September with new content and new gusto!

In Him Always,

Candice Coates

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

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Future Plans Ahead!: Summer Schedule for ICFTS

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

Hello, Friends and Fellow Creatives.

I wanted to take the time and interrupt our weekly schedule, this month of May and give you all the scheduling information for ICFTS for the Summer months.

As it stands, ICFTS has weekly postings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. These posting consist of Creative Motivations, Monday’s Muse Writing Prompts, Writing Prompt Results, and Faith for Creatives.

With the summer months approaching, so too, do plans for vacations and more outdoor activities not only for myself but for my fellow creatives. With this in mind, a break from regularly scheduled posting is a must and will be something done annually with ICFTS.

WHEN IS THE BREAK?

ICFTS will be on posting sabbatical for the months of JUNE, JULY, and, AUGUST. We will return to posting articles on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2018, with fresh new content, and prayerfully new voices and topics to grow us all along our creative adventures.

WHY THE BREAK?

As stated, many Creatives will be off on vacations, spending time outdoors with family, regrouping and connecting with friends. Family and relationships are key to healthy creativity and is encouraged. This break will ensure that you don’t miss a beat here on ICFTS, giving you the time to focus on those closest to you.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THE BREAK?

During the break, I will be working on new topics and content for ICFTS, working on my writing, as well as focusing on creative rest as well. THERE WILL STILL BE MOTIVATIONAL POSTINGS ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE SO FOLLOW US THERE TOO!

ADDITIONAL NEWS

In addition to the break, specific tabs under MY JOURNAL will be removed from the ICFTS platform but will have links that will lead to my AUTHOR SITE. These tabs are ART and FICTION.

My goal in moving these tabs is to make ICFTS more streamlined and focused on helping others to grow in their creativity rather than showcasing my own. After all, ICFTS is my creativity and faith in action.

While Monday’s Muse Writing Prompts will still be created on ICFTS, my results, as well as my other fiction pieces, and any created visual art will be posted on my author site.

Thank you so much for continuing the journey with me and ICFTS and exploring your creativity in the summer sun to come!

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER! 

Monday’s Muse Writing Prompt: April 9th, 2018

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

 “The look on her face spoke volumes. Her gaze had more intonation and resonance than that which came from spoken words. Instantly she was understood.”

RULES: 

  • Using the above line and the picture provided, (Or a line of your own choosing) create a story (or even a poem) within up to 20 minutes.
  • Once you have finished your super awesome masterpiece, add a link in the comments section of THIS POST to your story for others to read, as well as a link on your page back to this original post for others to follow along and write with as well. In your “tags” section, add the tag “MondayMuse.”
  • To get the Above Image follow this LINK

If you do not have a blog of your own, leave me a comment and send me an email to icameforthesoup@gmail.com and I will post your lovely words here on my blog.

(PLEASE KEEP ENTRIES THAT NEED TO BE POSTED ON THIS SITE WITHIN A PG13 RANGE. THANK YOU.)

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

Graphite Sketch of the Face

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

Today I decided, again, to continue my practice with the use of graphite on paper, Cretacolor Monolith, graphite pencil to be exact. That familiar but waining hesitation was felt the moment I decided to use graphite instead of something that I am more confident in manipulating such as ballpoint pen or colored pencil.

 

First Drawing

I recognize that my hesitation or fear is born out of a mental lie that I have somehow bought into, and I feel that confronting that lie is the sole reason why the Holy Spirit nudges me to start this journey with graphite…for now.

I spent around forty minutes working on this face. I can already see where I have some discrepancies with proportions, still, I am satisfied with dealing this ‘dragon’ one more deadly blow as I gain back my confidence with using graphite.

Face

It is very likely that I will revisit this image again in the future, but with the medium of colored pencil. Then, we shall do a compare and contrast, maybe even next Wednesday.

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

Debut Novel Coming Winter 2018

Published on by Candice Coates1 Comment

Hello Friends and fellow Creatives!

It brings me great joy to finally be able to share with you the teaser chapters for my debut novel, coming out Winter 2018, Nexus Gate 4037: The Animal!

NG is the very first book in the Ministry of Time Series!

Being that this is my very first go at indie-publication, I have found wisdom in taking my time with the process. My desire is to bring you a rich story that keeps you on the edge of your seat while igniting the depths of your imagination.

This book is my first ‘hello’ in the publishing world and I want to be heard with clarity.

Please enjoy the preview of the novel by reading the teaser chapters, and if you haven’t already, follow my author page, www.candicecoates.wordpress.com.

Nexus GateThe rules of Time Surveillance have been broken.
The past has stepped into the future. 

The threads of time are now tangled and retribution will be dealt…

Will the past devour the future or will they unite in order to survive the threat of the present?

BOOK FLAP AND TEASER CHAPTERS FOUND HERE!!!

 

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

The Wonder of Writing Every Word: Writing Encouragment #NaNoWriMo #MondayMotivation #AmWriting

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” ~Margaret Atwood

Writing is a journey…most days it is an exhilarating adventure that never disappoints, always lending its cathartic powers to the creative soul who has taken up the mantle to bring life through the power of word, paper and pen…or computer.

But there are moments (for many those moments show themselves during NaNoWriMo) where our fountain of words and musing seem to run dry, our focus is lost, or the plot line has gone from thick with delectable tension to just being nothing short of sludgy mud.

If you are like me, you find that in these moments you are questioning your ability as a word weaving wordsmith. You wonder if you can truly hack it. If you have been writing for any length of time, especially during NaNo, the answer is yes!

What we as creatives must never cease to remember is that even though we have something good, it doesn’t mean that every moment is going to be great. That is what editing is for.

So in this final week of NaNoWriMo 2017, I would like to give you your last bottle of refreshment for this writing marathon.

  • As already stated, you will have plenty of room to edit, to build your plot, rework it, or slim it down. Keep your focus on the words ahead and be grateful for what you’ve learned from the work behind you.
  • Ignore the pull of perfection. Perfection comes with practice but in the case of writing editing and revisions.
  • Remember that sometimes your dry spell for words is really the result of an exhausted muse and mind. Allow yourself the chance to refuel. None of us are machines no matter how much we tend to believe the converse.
  • Give yourself a pat on the back for the job well done thus far.

Whether you make novel status by the end of this month or not you’ve still done a fantastic job.

Keep writing. Keep creating. Keep soaring and enjoy the wonder of writing!

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

 

Making Peace With Your Piece: 5 ‘Vows’ Writers Should Keep For a Happy Writing Adventure

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

As we roll into Week 3 of NaNoWriMo, I want to share some words of encouragement whilst you continue to write. I have struggled with this recently and am glad for these reminders. Here is “Making Peace with Your Piece.”

I came for the soup...

Writer's Table

Deciding to write a novel, or to become a full-time writer, is much like making the decision to get married.  (Disclaimer: I’m not yet married or dating, but I’d like to be. I am however in a committed writing relationship and have been for years. I digress.) 

Once a person decides that marriage err, or writing is the avenue they would like to take in life, all the warm fuzzy feelings of marital bliss begin to float around in their hearts in heads.

Things are going to be perfect, we tell ourselves. There are never going to be any arguments with our fictional characters because like in our imagined marital relationship, we’ll always agree.

Our writing will never stink just as our partner will never have any body odor. Our future wife (I hear men say this often about us ladies) will always know what she wants for dinner without any…

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NaNoWriMo: Encouragement for the Weeks Ahead #NaNoWriMo #Author #Writer

Published on by Candice Coates3 Comments

The first five days of NaNoWriMo are behind us with many more blessedly ahead. Some of you have achieved your daily writing and creative goals while others may have missed your designated marks shy of a few words.

No worries. You will achieve your goal if you stick with it. Consider the first five days of NaNo as your glorious warm up.

The fact still remains that when we set out with a great goal and miss our intended marks at the very start, we tend to lose momentum or even the courage to continue. Our plans seem not to be as ‘plausible’ as they were before…and then we drift…staring at our computer screens too afraid to make music by clicking the keys of our keyboards.

Can we really do this? Can we conquer our vision for NaNoWriMo? Everyone else around us seems to be doing just fine.

I would like to take this time to give you a bit of creative advice especially in moments when our creativity seems to get the best of us and cause knots to form in our bellies as well as our creative thoughts.

My advice for you is to simply breathe. Take pauses when you need to. Take a few steps back if you are feeling overwhelmed. 

Sometimes when we are racing toward a finish line we tend to turn our eyes and focus toward those who are around us. Let’s make it a point to no longer see other creatives as competition but community.

Be encouraged by what your neighbor has done and take hope in knowing that you can do it too but in your own unique way.

Don’t give up! There are several full weeks left ahead. Keep your focus, keep your peace, and keep writing!

“We work in the dark — we do what we can — we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.” ~HENRY JAMES

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

How to Take NaNoWriMo 5 Day Creative Tip Countdown Begins TOMORROW #NaNoWriMo #Fiction #Writing

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

Hello, Creatives!

We are just FIVE days away from November 1st, which means we are FIVE days from the start of NaNoWriMo! (National Novel Writing Month.)

This is the month for NaNo vets and newcomers to put their creative noses to the grind and crank out a 50k word novel in 30 days!

Starting tomorrow at 9am EST, I will be giving a daily tip to help you get ready to accomplish your writing goal.

Also, for those who are maybe stumped about what to write, I am adding a link to some of my favorite Monday’s Muse Writing Prompts to help you get started should you need a little bit of a boost.

Remember, if you do choose to use the writing prompt(s) be sure to omit the opening line from your overall word count.

MY ADVICE FOR HOW TO USE THE PROMPTS 

  • Use the pictures as inspiration and create your own opening line that will lead to the start of your 50k word count.
  • Use all 5 suggested prompts and dedicate 10k words to each prompt
  • Use all 5 suggested prompts and create 5 separate 10k stories for a Novella collection

BONUS: ENJOY THE WRITING JOURNEY NO MATTER HOW YOU CHOOSE TO EMBARK UPON IT!

Happy writing.

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!

Back from Sabbatical: What’s on in My Creative World?

Published on by Candice CoatesLeave a comment

Hello, Fellow Creatives! It’s been several weeks since I made an official post. Yes, I have done as I suspected and dropped a few creative seeds here and there but this is a legit planned and on purpose posting.

Over the past few weeks, I have been taking the time to go over my answers from the 12-week Creative Course, Sow the Seeds and Seize the Dream. What I discovered most was that even though I created the questions, I was able to gain a lot of creative introspection once I answered them. As a result, my creative path is more fine-tuned.

If you haven’t given the course a go I do recommend it!

SO WHAT’S NEW?

pexels-photo

I initially planned to dive right back into my scheduled postings with a Monday’s Muse Writing Prompt, coupled with a motivational piece to get you going for the week.  What changed my plans was the realization that November 1st is just a week away!

For those of you who may not understand the significance of that, November 1st marks the first day of NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. It is a time where writers all over the world dedicate thirty days to attempting to write a brand new novel. Some writers continue with older pieces but they only document the word count they’ve acquired during the month of November, hoping to gain 50k words or more!

Since this is what is about to go down, I’ve decided to post a few helpful tips over the five days leading up to November 1st to encourage and help those who’ve decided to give NaNoWriMo a try.

So be sure to look for NaNoWriMo Tip Number One on Friday, October 27th.

For more on the what’s, why’s, how’s, and when’s of NaNoWriMo, click HERE!

ANYTHING ELSE?

NG Promo Cover

Keep your eyes open for updates for my debut novel, NEXUS GATE 4037: THE ANIMAL, book 1 of the MINISTERS OF TIME SERIES. The book is scheduled to be indie published in Winter 2018!

I will also be opening my new Etsy shop, Said Logic, offering Tote Bags, Mugs, T-Shirts, Hoodies, and Wall Art. Pieces inspired by authors, friends, and musings that encourage are all coming soon!

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That is it for now, Creatives. As always, stay creative!

~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER!