Culture

A Custom large sculpture is a huge form of art, with three dimensions that have been customized to your liking. Most people prefer to have their personal touch on an art structure other than going with what is already in the market. The advantage is sculptors go beyond using just bronze, wood, stone, or marble; therefore, you can choose almost raw material and come up with some good work of art. Many sculptors are adopting materials such as polystyrene and fiberglass. Below, we discuss why fiberglass is perfect for creating large sculptures.

Why Choose Fiberglass for Sculptures?

Fiberglass, also known as glass fiber, is a material made from fragile glass wires that are melted from molds. In the present day, fiberglass sculptures are beginning to become a trend both in indoor and outdoor designs. They are mostly handicrafts and allow you to create sculptures that bring out your personality and reflect your imagination. Some of its advantages include;

•  Corrosion and Micro-Organisms Resistance

Fiberglass has excellent resistance to atmospheric pressure, water, concentrations of acids, bases salts, and various oils and solvents. Sunlight, which breaks down other materials over time, does not affect fiberglass. It does well in different climatic conditions, and living organisms can’t feed on it; thus, less damage is established.

•  It Moulds Perfectly

Fiberglass material assumes the shape of any object entirely no matter the design or size. It can be used to create sculptures that are much larger than those from other materials.  

• More Durable and Lightweight Than Concrete

Concrete can easily break or chip off. Fiberglass is more resistant as it remains intact due to its flexibility and high tensile strength. Its filaments are more like hard steel bars in concrete, making it strong and long-lasting. It is lightweight, making transportation easier either by yourself or moving service. Whichever the project, it is easier and safer to handle.

•  Versatility

Fiberglass sculptures can be used to decorate any space, i.e. the interior of a building, public spaces like parks or museums, and gardens. You will never o wrong with using fiberglass products in matter sculptures decorations.

• Fire Resistance

It is composed of inorganic materials with no carbon.which is known to make objects flammable; therefore, you are guaranteed that your sculpture will not get damaged in case of a fire outbreak. Also, it does not emit smoke or toxic elements when exposed to heat, so it is safe for any individual.

• Perfect Touch of Modern

Most people are used to natural stones, bronze marble, etc. when it comes to creating art. In recent years, fiberglass has trended in the art industry and is used to create exquisite pieces. You can express yourself in different ways to bring out the perfect blend of classy and modern.

• Cost Advantage

Fiberglass remains cost-effective despite its many properties, making it accessible in the market. If you want something affordable and still want to create something incredible, you should consider it. Fiberglass properties make it one of the most affordable raw materials when doing sculpture work.

Conclusion

Fiberglass sculptures are unique compared to other artworks. They can be easily customized according to your need. Anytime your thinking on what material to try for your sculpture decorations, try fiberglass.

The second in our three-part series on how to be a ghostwriter.

This article is mainly aimed at budding ghostwriters who would like to specialise in writing autobiographies.

It’s a given that anyone intending to embark on a ghostwriting career will already have the requisite writing skills. However, there are some specific techniques needed for a successful ghostwriting career. Here, we look at the basics.

Interviewing techniques

Successful interviewing is the key to a good autobiography. So, start by interviewing your clients in an environment that they’re comfortable in, but not so comfortable that you do everything else (eat and chat away like old friends), but the interviews needed to get the information you need. And yes, it can happen.

Ask probing questions: Probing questions will give you detailed answers and ample material for the book. For example, What did you mean when you said you had to leave, immediately?

Do not lead your client. The focus of the interview should firmly be on your client. After all, it is their book. Asking leading questions such as, I guess you mean that you felt ashamed? unconsciously informs and alters your client’s thought process, putting your words in their mouth. Instead, try, Can you tell me how you felt when that happened?

Keep to the task at hand. It’s natural for your clients to want to know more about you, the person helping them to write their life story. However, this needs to be managed carefully, if you want to do the job that you’re being paid to do, well.

When they ask you questions about your life, give short answers (ahem, diplomatically, please!)  and bring the focus back to your client.

Here’s a typical scenario:

Client: ‘So, how did you get into ghostwriting, then?’

You: ‘My mother knew I loved writing, so she asked me to write the family history. Can I just clarify what you said about your first time in Borneo…’

And, last, but not least. Let your client talk. In fact, the more they talk, the better, because it means that you will have more material to draw from.

Post-interview

Research, research and then, more research

Personally, I don’t like to do too much research before meeting the client, for fear of forming preconceptions about them that may impact the work.

However, when I’m interviewing them, I try and clarify the information I’m being given as much as I can. For example, You said that you and Mary were in Burma in 1978. But, last week, you said you were in Panama that year. Can you clarify the dates and country for me, one last time, please?

Doing this reduces the research (fact-checking etc) that I would have to do after the interviews (interviews can take place over a series of days, weeks or months – circumstances vary).

Quality research also gives you the opportunity to fact-check the information that you’ve been given. Doing this doesn’t mean that you don’t believe your client’s story. You’re just fact-checking and doing your job, that’s all.

Besides, post-publication, the last thing you want are irate readers picking out holes in your work. Imagine the emails…That did not happen in Burma in 1978. I should know, I was there!

Writing the book

By the time you finish interviewing the client, you should have an idea of the best way to approach their story. Make sure you discuss this with the client before writing their story. Do not make the decision yourself.

Tips to approaching your client’s story

Think about them as a character in their own story

I write fiction, so I tend to think of my client as the central character in a novel (essentially, their life story). The novel will evolve and be enriched with other  characters (friends, family or other people who’ve impacted the client’s life in some way), plotlines (events in their lives) and a satisfying conclusion (a summary of events and where they are now, in their lives).

You may have other ideas, but I find this useful.

Stick to a theme or single story line

Having a single theme or story line running throughout the novel will help keep it focused. So, you and your client should decide on what year, facet or season of the client’s life that you want the book to focus on, and run with that.

Tools for the job

These are the basic tools you need for your ghostwriting career.

• Digital recorder
• Microphone
• A transcription service: these are worth their weight in gold. Unless you fancy transcribing 100 hours of interviews yourself 
• A secondary storage system eg, Cubby or Box, to back up your files: trust me, you’ll need it
• Camera

Recommended ghostwritten books

• Bob Hamer, The Last Undercover
• Gayle Haggard with Angela Hunt, Why I Stayed

Over to you: what other tools or techniques do you think are needed for a ghostwriting career?

Okay, I’m not really a fan of prescriptive writing advice. I think every writer should find out what works best for them and then, go with that. That said, a few, carefully-nurtured habits can transform your writing and make you a more productive writer. So, here goes.

Start the day with prayer

The first thing I do when I wake up is brew my coffee and read my Bible/do my devotionals. Doing this reminds me of the important stuff and also helps to focus my mind on the day ahead.

So, if you’re yet to develop a prayer habit, try starting now. It really does help you to focus.

Set a writing target

I write all day. But, it’s mostly write corporate stuff. When I get home, my creative writing work starts. Depending on my work schedule or deadline, I set myself realistic targets that I can meet. This might be an hour of creative writing that day or a daily count that will help me meet my manuscript delivery date.

What is a realistic writing target for you? Find out what it is and try and keep to it.

Have a routine

I’ve been told that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. Having a writing routine will help you develop a habit that will serve you well in the long run.

No, this is not one of those how-to-develop-a-routine articles. It’s up to you to figure out which writing routine works best for you and stick to it.

Your routine might be writing a page of your latest work the minute you open your eyes.

It could be firing off 100 words after the kids have gone to bed. It doesn’t matter what it is. The most important thing is that it is consistent and helps you to be productive, so that you can meet your writing goals.

Stop waiting, start writing

I’ve been on this writing journey for a long time. Along the way, I’ve met people who’ve spend money on a gazillion writing classes, but have yet to write a single page of their own work. I’ve met people who let their writing dream fall by the wayside because of the pressures of life. I’ve met people who deflected any questions on following their writing dream with ‘I’m waiting on the Lord’.

If this sounds familiar to you, stop with the excuses. Pick up the pen, pencil or keyboard, and start writing. The most important thing is the writing, not the quality of the writing itself – you can get to that later. But for now, just start writing. And you’ll find, just like millions of writers have found, that God will meet you halfway.

Pitch your work

Rejection is a part of the writer’s life. Professional writers know not to take it personally. Manuscripts and article ideas are turned down every day for a variety of reasons, some of it related to the quality of your work, and others, not. It’s just the way it is.

If you let your fear of rejection or failure keep you from sending your manuscript to publishers or pitching your ideas to editors, how will your work be discovered? In any case, what’s the point of hiding your light under a bushel?

Have a blog or website

A blog or personal website is the best way to showcase your work and also demonstrate your writing ability.

Wherever possible, try and have your blog on your website. That way, you can have your online portfolio in one place and also build up an audience for your work.

Read, read and then, read some more

By reading other people’s work, you can get a sense of what works and what doesn’t and use that knowledge to inform your writing skills.

So, there you have it: seven habits of successful writers. Now, go away and start developing some productive writing habits.

The last in our three-part series on ghostwriting.

The last two articles in this ghostwriting series talked about how to be a non-fiction ghostwriter and gave tips on the techniques needed to write ghostwritten non-fiction. But, as they say, all theory and no practice makes for dull reading. So, here in no particular order, are sage words of wisdom from commissioning editors and ghostwriters.

Thom Lemmon, (ghost)writer

I got my first ghostwriting project by referral from a publisher. Ghostwriting has helped me gain skills in strategically analysing content (both fiction and nonfiction) to make sure the structure is apparent.

Best advice? Always be alert for opportunities to extend your network.

Amy Boucher Pye, freelance commissioning editor

I’ve worked in the publishing business for yonks, and early in my career commissioned a book on ghostwriting within the Christian community, especially as related to the challenges or unethical practices. Sadly, the author never delivered the manuscript – yes, I guess he needed a ghost. When I worked for two large corporate publishers, we used co-writers on projects, but we would call them co-writers or collaborators, not ghosts. We always put their names on the cover and inside title page as a point of integrity. Now with my (freelance) work with Authentic Media, I haven’t yet commissioned a collaborator, but we have employed what I would call book doctors, who come in and do a heavy job of editing and recommending rewrites. I’ve worked as a book doctor for many projects myself as well, and two autobiographies in particular where I could have been called a collaborator (I shy away from using the term ‘ghost’).

My advice for newbie collaborators is to keep your subject’s voice prominent at all times. You are there to tell their story; you are their servant. Try to make yourself and your style as invisible as you can, so that you’re not imprinting a different style onto their story. The two women I worked with (as mentioned above) were both older Americans, but vastly different in character. One thought deeply with an academic style; the other prized beauty and the power of story. For each, I was able (over many hours) to help them release their voice. Telling one’s own story can be filled with fears about one’s audience, memories that might be buried, concerns about what to say… There can be a lot of untangling that a collaborator or book doctor can help with.

The joys of helping someone to unleash their voice are great. And the intimate closeness that results from the writer/collaborator relationship has for me been a gift beyond compare.

Gill Tavner, (ghost)writer

I landed my first ghostwriting project by temerity and effort. Having published a series of retellings of classic literature (www.realreads.co.uk), I identified my skills as being stealing someone else’s story and adopting their voice to tell it. This led me to think about ghostwriting. I specifically wanted stories about ordinary people who had done extraordinary things to make the world better: inspiring stories. I drew up a short list and contacted them all. This led to work with two people on the list – both very different and both fantastic to work with. The books will be published in summer 2013 and some time in 2014.

How my writing has improved as a result of my ghostwriting? My latest project having been writing with a physicist, I’m far better now at paying attention to minute details within the story. I think I’m also better at seeing the potential shape of a story – largely thanks to help from the commissioning editor at Lion.

In terms of the advice that I would give to newbie ghostwriters, I feel as though I’m just muddling through and so have little advice to give, other than to chase the work that interests you. It would be extremely hard work if you found the subject matter dull. A good relationship with your client is invaluable – this means absolute integrity, respect, reliability and confidentiality on your part. You also have to be able to take constructive criticism on your writing – after all – if someone else presumed to write the story of your life, and said they could do it in your voice,  do you think you’d be 100% happy with their first draft? Oh… and think very carefully before you give up your day job.

Alison Hull, commissioning editor, Lion Hudson

Why did your publishing house use a ghostwriter for your project?

It isn’t that simple. In fact, in the case of both Jimmy and The Eye of the Storm, the projects, when they were put to us (one via an agent) already had ghostwriters on board. Often if people want their story told but know they cannot write it themselves, they will find their own ghostwriter and then approach a publisher. But ghost-writers are necessary, whoever finds them, for books where the person whose story is being told either does not have the time, or does not have the expertise (or both), to tell their own story in a way that others will want to read it.

What do you look for in a ghostwriter?

They have to be able to say what the person whose story it is would say if they could write. So they have to lose themselves in that person’s story, find their voice, and stick to it. They have to be transparent – we look through their writing to see the main character. And they have to be able to write well, to create character, to stick to deadlines, to create a good story arc, to handle descriptions, to have, in short, a strong grasp of all story-telling skills.

Your tips and techniques for newbie ghostwriters?

Read and read and read and read. Read books that have been ghostwritten – and read novels, autobiographies and memoirs, to see how other people have recreated the past, captured a description, a time, or a situation. Analyse what you read. Come on our next writers’ course in November where we will be looking at writing memoirs and biographies, as well as telling stories.

A long time ago – okay, as far back as the 1990s – an autobiography was something someone wrote after they had reached a certain age and had accumulated some life experience and sage wisdom that they could share with their readers.

As I said, that was back in the day.

Nowadays, anyone – from a 17-year-old singer to a reality television show participant – can churn out an autobiography to boost their public image and, of course, keep their tills ringing.

If you would like to write your life story, you must be clear about why you’re doing it. The following tips will help with the planning and structure.

Determine your readership

Having a clear idea of your intended readers makes it easier to write the type of autobiography you think they will be interested in. While it is tempting to believe that your story will be of interest to everyone, the truth is that it will be of interest to a select group of people only.

For example, Richard Branson’s autobiography is of great interest to entrepreneurs, who have much to learn from his business experience. But it is unlikely to be quite as riveting for someone who is not that way inclined.

So, think about your intended audience – your readers – before putting your fingers to the keyboard.

Do some research – read other people’s autobiographies and biographies

Take a trip to your local bookshop or library and take note of autobiographies written for your target audience. Have a read: what works and what doesn’t? Why? In what way has the author’s writing style or technique enhanced or hampered the book? Can you apply the same principles to your book?

Decide on a theme

Your autobiography should be driven by a theme. Having a theme keeps you focused on the premise of your book and gives your readers something they can take away from it. Without this, it stands in danger of being unwieldy and lacking structure, which you don’t want.

So, if you were a soldier and were writing your autobiography, your theme could be ‘Soldier of Christ’, and you would draw parallels between the physical battles and the spiritual battles you fought as a soldier and as a Christian, and how they each affected your life.

Structure your autobiography

A well-structured autobiography is like a stream. It flows well and takes the reader on a journey. When they have finished reading the book, they close the last page with a satisfied sigh, more than a little hungry for more.

Structure your autobiography by breaking your chapters into seasons or critical periods in your life. Many autobiographies written by Christians take their inspiration from biblical references. Thus you might find chapter headings such as ‘Glory days’ or ‘The Jeremiah promise’ in their books.

The way you choose to structure your story is up to you. But beware of using gimmicks or ‘trying to be different’. For the most part, this doesn’t work.

Find an editor

When you’ve finally finished writing your autobiography, you’ll need an editor to help you refine it and make it fit for publication. Try the Society for Editors and Proofreaders Directory, and do a search for Christian editors.

Follow these steps and you should be well on your way to writing a winning autobiography.