How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing

By Aiki Flinthart

This little book is not about how to be a perfect writer, or a perfect martial artist. Nor is it yet another “How to Write” type instruction manual.
Instead, it’s about transferring the life-lessons learned in one passion, into another. Using the strengths of one art to overcome the difficulties of another. Learning the mindsets that enable success in more than one aspect of life.

Having trained for 20 years in martial arts, Aiki Flinthart noticed behaviour and thought patterns were applicable to her other love: writing. She went on to apply these, and to help, mentor, and teach many other authors.

Every author—whether a famous veteran, a part-time hobbyist, or an eager new writer determined to build a career—will find ideas of value in this work.
From thoughts on determination and strength, to respect and collaboration, to adaptability, proving yourself, fear, self-control, prioritising, and even to facing your inner darkness. From tips on where to start your journey if you’re a new writer, to how to push through times of uncertainty and worry.
For the newer author, there are recommendations on where to start your journey and what skills you need to learn. For all authors there are helpful suggestions on how to enrich your writing abilities.

Whatever you’re looking for in your writing career, this book will give you something profound to think about.
Perhaps even ideas that will impact your life outside of writing.

Review quote
"Both a call to arms and a comfort, How to get a Blackbelt in Writing is a practical, easy-to-read guide for navigating the writer’s journey. Learn what it takes to get started - more importantly - keep going. From Aiki Flinthart: a woman who’s kicked arse as a martial artist and an author."
Geneve Flynn, editor, author and writers workshop facilitator

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aiki Flinthart
• Release date: Jun 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648773689

Aiki Flinthart

Aiki lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband, (Ernest), teenage son (Leonidis - not their real names, obviously), aging dog and directionally-challenged fish.In between being a wife, running a business full-time and helping Leonidis with homework, she squeezes in a few hobbies, including:Martial arts, painting, writing, reading, bellydancing and playing three or four musical instruments. Occasionally she even sleeps. Very occasionally.

Book preview

How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing

by Aiki Flinthart

Published by CAT Press

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright © 2020 Aiki Flinthart

Cover Design by Pamela Jeffs

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations) without the prior permission in writing of the copyright holder concerned, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A Cataloguing-in-Publications entry for this title is available from the National Library of Australia.

Print copies available from major online retailers.

ISBN-13: 978-0-6487736-9-6 (Trade Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-0-6487736-8-9 (e-book)

CAT Press

PO Box 3388

Darra, QLD 4076

Australia

To all those authors out there – established and aspiring – don’t give up. Your words and stories have value. You are OK and you can do this.

Thank you to my awesome, supportive husband, who never complained about the amount of time I spent doing martial arts, or writing, or any of the other crazy things I’ve tried. In fact, many of them we did together. He’s the absolute best.

NOTE:

This book is written with AUSTRALIAN SPELLING/ENGLISH,

not USA spelling/English.

Don’t panic.

Discover other titles by Aiki Flinthart

at: www.aikiflinthart.com

Or

Blackbirds Sing (Historical fantasy)

The 80AD series (YA Adventure/Fantasy)

80AD Book 1: The Jewel of Asgard

80AD Book 2: The Hammer of Thor

80AD Book 3: The Tekhen of Anuket

80AD Book 4: The Sudarshana

80AD Book 5: The Yu Dragon

The Ruadhan Sidhe novels (YA Urban Fantasy)

Shadows Wake (#1)

Shadows Bane (#2)

Shadows Fate (#3)

Healing Heather (#4)(Romance)

The Kalima Chronicles (YA Sci/Fantasy)

IRON (#1)

FIRE (#2)

STEEL (#3)

A Future, Forged (Prequel)

Sold! (Contemporary Romance/Adventure)

Short Story Anthologies & Collections

Worlds in Words

Zookeeper’s Tales of Interstellar Oddities

Return

Elemental

Rogues’ Gallery

Non-Fiction – Author writing resources

Fight Like A Girl – Writing Fight Scenes for Female (and male) Characters

How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing

Connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aikiflinthartauthor

Twitter: @aikiflinthart

Instagram: Aikiflinthart

CONTENTS

Introduction

Thinking Strategically

Finding Your Style

Co-operation & Collaboration

Warrior Spirit

Adaptability

Big Things & Small

Self-Discipline

Proving Yourself

Fear & Self-Doubt

Commitment

Body Awareness

Old Techniques & New; Good & Bad

Understanding People

Awareness

Perseverance

Monkey Mind / No Mind

Speed, Distance, & Timing

Power

Breath Control

Self-Control

Never Be the Best

Simplifying

Prioritising

Passing on Knowledge

Facing Darkness – Mental Health

Writing THE END – Facing Death

About the Author

Other Titles

NOTE:

This book is written with AUSTRALIAN SPELLING/ENGLISH,

not USA spelling/English.

Don’t panic.

How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing

Aiki Flinthart

2020

Introduction

This little book is not about how to be a good martial artist. Hopefully it will help you hone your craft, and clarify what you want from your life and from this crazy business of being an author.

Because How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing is about taking life-lessons from one passion and applying them to another—and to your life as a whole. Thoughts derived from 20 years of martial arts training are transferred to life and to writing. (Insert pen mightier than sword joke here).

Seriously…Strange as it may sound, there are certain mindsets and skills garnered from martial arts that are astonishingly helpful in many other aspects of your world.

That’s what this collection attempts to convey.

Of course, the path to good writing isn’t quite like training in a dojo. You can regularly attend a good dojo and learn from a wise sensei who knows what you lack and can introduce new skills when you’re ready. It’s all laid out for you, step by step. When writing, you often feel (and are) alone, unaware of a whole bunch of craft techniques, not sure what to do next or who to listen to.

So, in addition to taking life-lessons from martial arts attitudes, this book contains a few other hints. Each module offers a thought to consider, and suggestions of steps to take or concepts to research that might help smooth the path to your writing goals. As the book progresses, the modules drill down from the more general, to more detailed suggestions—beginning with broad concepts around publishing and business, through to specifics on writing techniques.

Because the more you learn and practice, the stronger your stories will become and the more impact they will have on a reader. And the happier you are with your skills, the more confident you’ll be with your ability to produce a good novel or short story.

Enjoying your chosen passion is important to success, no matter how you define that term.

NOTE: I don’t claim to be a world expert on writing. In fact, I feel somewhat uncomfortable even creating this little How To. But I’m also aware how difficult it can be to learn some of these skills on your own. If passing on my hard-earned knowledge can help another frustrated author, I’m glad to do it. Just keep in mind that this is not comprehensive, and it’s somewhat subjective. Feel free to dig further and learn more. I truly hope you do.

How am I qualified to help, you ask? Excellent question. Always ask that whenever someone claims to be an expert. (I don’t believe I know everything. Anyone who says they do is lying. I’m sure I’ve missed things. Quite sure.)

However, I do have a few blackbelts and quite a few books under my belt (pun intended). Plus a decent number of years lived, a lot of experience in some very random things—from geology, waterskiing, scuba diving, and whitewater rafting, to skydiving, lute-playing, bellydancing, painting, archery, and knifethrowing—and a highly supportive and loving husband.

Here’s a bit of background, if you’re interested.

Martial Arts:

In my early 20s I started shopping around for a martial art to do. I tried several: silat, judo, karate, taekwando. Finding a suitable martial art is a personal thing. It’s not just about the art, it’s also about the instructor and the other students; the attitude of the dojo as a whole. Luckily, I chanced across a small Yoshinkan Aikido dojo with a dedicated, intelligent sensei.

Yoshinkan Aikido is considered a ‘hard’ style. While brutally effective, it teaches fluidity and power over force and strength. Sometimes being strong is a disadvantage. Although Aikido has pros and cons—as do all arts—the sensei, students, and the art all suited me. I stuck with it for 20 years, although I have dabbled in other arts to fill in the curriculum gaps.

Writing:

When I started writing, I couldn’t find a convenient list of what I needed to learn. So, I spent 7