This week we’re counting down to the publication of The Shining Ones – exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time! And we start, appropriately enough, with its origins. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint where an idea for a story comes from. But others arrive with an obvious genealogy, even if the story eventually… Continue reading Plagiarising Dracula in my sleep
Trust yourself is about how only you can really know what’s right for you and whether you’re doing your best or not. Only you have a direct line to your deepest truth. The original lojong slogan is: Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one. The two witnesses are you and others, but you are… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Trust Yourself
Last time we looked at the crises that can happen in reaction to a spiritual awakening on the path towards Self-realisation. In this final post we explore exactly what it takes to transform yourself and to embody the potential glimpsed during your awakening. The following notes are taken from Psychosynthesis by Roberto Assagioli: “We now… Continue reading Phases in the Process of Transmutation in Spiritual Awakening
A blurb can sometimes mean a short review quoted on a book cover, but in this post we’re going to look at the other kind of blurb: the book description. The blurb is your sales pitch, printed on the back of your book or quoted on its sales page online. It’s the second most important… Continue reading How to Blurb: Writing a book description that sells
Get over yourself is about not letting your ego hijack whatever you’re doing, whether that’s mind training and meditation, or writing. It helps to get your ego out of the way and remember who you really are. The original lojong slogan is: All dharma agrees at one point, which means that all spiritual practices and… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Get Over Yourself
Last time we looked at the crises that are caused by spiritual awakening on the path towards Self-realisation. In this post we explore the difficulties of maintaining the awakened state and the tendency to fall back to ‘lower’ levels, which can include an experience of the dark night of the soul. The following notes are… Continue reading Reactions to Spiritual Awakening
It should go without saying but: I’m not a graphic designer or an artist. I’ve taught myself how to design book covers and this post distils what I’ve learned from people wiser than me online. The most important piece of advice is: Don’t design your own covers unless you know what you’re doing and have… Continue reading A Blagger’s Guide to Book Cover Design
Don’t waste your life is about facing up to your mortality and remembering not to take your life for granted. Your time is limited and life is precious. The original lojong slogan is: The mahayana instruction for ejection of consciousness at death is the five strengths: how you conduct yourself is important. The five strengths… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Waste Your Life
Last time we looked at the crises that can precede spiritual awakening on the path towards Self-realisation. In this post we explore the kinds of experiences that can happen as a result of awakening and the problems they can lead to. The following notes are taken from Psychosynthesis by Roberto Assagioli: “The opening of the… Continue reading Crises Caused by Spiritual Awakening
Designing a book cover is lots of fun and a welcome change from word wrangling and beating your novel into shape. But it can also be a frustrating experience. I scheduled two days to work on the cover for The Shining Ones, but in the end, it took a week – and it still needs… Continue reading The Shining Ones Cover Considerations
Practice the Five Strengths is about taking your mind training practice and writing seriously, and finding a way to keep motivated and focused on what matters to you. The five strengths empower you to remember who you really are and to put it into practice every day. The original lojong slogan is: Practice the five… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice the Five Strengths
Last time we looked at the process of Self-realisation and how it differs from self-actualisation. In this post we explore the kinds of issues that can arise prior to awakening and what the crisis of awakening itself involves. The following notes are taken from Psychosynthesis by Roberto Assagioli: “In order to understand thoroughly the strange… Continue reading Crises Preceding Spiritual Awakening
Jessica Davidson 