Blog Archives

Writing Opportunity: Growing Up in the 21st Century

8/23/2019

Happy Summer! I'm working on some longer blog posts, but in the meantime I wanted to share a possible writing opportunity.

Writers between the ages of 12 and 24 have the chance to submit non-fiction stories and poems between 500 and 1,500 words focused on growing up in the 21st century for possible inclusion in an anthology. The website includes more guidelines and instructions for how to submit: https://sites.google.com/view/growingpainsanthology.

I'll close with this quote from Julia Cameron:

Surprises and IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

8/7/2019

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group poses an optional question that members can answer in their blog posts. Special thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for founding IWSG and to this month's hosts: Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner.
The question for August is:

Has your writing ever taken you by surprise?

I usually have a general idea of how my novels will end, but sometimes as I’m writing, the course of the story changes. This can be an asset for a thriller, because I can’t telegraph an ending I didn’t originally plan. Robert Frost said, “No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” It can be nice to be surprised by an unexpected idea for a plot twist.

Sheep the Cat

In non-writing news, my daughter adopted a tabby cat from the local shelter. "Sheep" is sweet and loving -- a happy addition to our family.

Helpful Links

Now on to this month's helpful links. Each month, I like to share writing, reading, and productivity resources.

For writers: Goodreads offers some ideas about managing your author settings on their site. And ICYMI, last week I posted ten tips for beating writer's block.

For readers/listeners: Do you like true crime? Here are some podcasts you might enjoy.

About productivity: 10 Tiny Tweaks That Will Change Your Life by Laura Vanderkam.

Lastly: if you worry about privacy, you can opt out of some popular search sites. This article from Lifehacker explains how.

Happy Summer!

Ten Tips for Beating Writer's Block

8/1/2019

By Yvonne Ventresca

Ten Tips for Beating Writer's Block title image

Sometimes “writer’s block” is really “writer’s rut,” and simple methods can overcome the problem. Other times, more effort is required. Here are ten ways to get back to creative happiness.

Suffering from writer's block? Try these techniques.

Change your writing location. If you write at home, try a coffee shop or a public library. Take a ferry ride. Sit in a park or other outdoor setting. If you generally like quiet, try a more active environment and vice versa. Altering your sensory experience (noise level, etc.) while you create can have a positive impact.
Make yourself accountable to other people. Try arranging time to write with a friend in person or for more scheduling flexibility, arrange to do “sprints” (timed periods of focused writing) with people online. Use #writingsprint on Twitter, for example, to find others who want to write at the same time. Knowing others are involved can help keep you on track.
A related concept is to keep in touch with an accountability partner. When I have an actual editorial deadline, I tend to work more consistently. I manufacture the same effect by telling a writing friend I’ll check in each day (or at the end of each week) and ask them to gently nudge me if I don’t.
Change your physical writing process. I alternate between drafting with pen on paper and editing/revising on the computer. The switch between handwriting and typing helps keep the process fresh instead of an endless slog of sameness.
According to Ernest Hemingway, one technique to prevent blocks is to stop writing for the day when you know what comes next. “The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next,” he said. “If you do that every day. . . you will never be stuck.”
Set up positive reinforcement. Promise yourself coffee/chocolate/social media time after you’ve completed a certain number of words or spent a set amount of time revising.
Take a different approach to a difficult scene. Try writing it from an alternate POV or change the scene's setting. You can also try interviewing your character on paper about the work-in-progress. Or ask, “what do I need to know to write this scene?” and journal the results. Sometimes figuring out a missing piece of information can unlock a story.
Refill the creative well. Julia Cameron suggests going on artist dates, solo activities that bring joy: “Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration.” Visit a museum, color a picture, take photos -- do something alone that allows you to daydream.
Be kind to yourself. A draft is something to be revised later. Perfect words don’t need to flow effortlessly onto the page to make progress. Allow yourself the time and space to make creative mistakes.
Try typing (or writing) ANYTHING. If I’m really stuck, I set a timer and whine (on paper) about not making progress. When the timer goes off, I’m usually sick of complaining, and I can get back to work.

In summary

Use this image as inspiration to beat writer's block. Feel free to share. :)

Overall, don’t wait for the muse to visit. Be proactive in trying to create. Maya Angelou said, “What I try to do is write. . . . And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”

If any of these tips resonate or you want to share your own writer's block ideas, please comment below. Happy Writing!

Writing Opportunity: Growing Up in the 21st Century

Surprises and IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

Helpful Links

Ten Tips for Beating Writer's Block

Suffering from writer's block? Try these techniques.

In summary

Get new blog posts by email:

Archives

Categories

Writing Opportunity: Growing Up in the 21st Century

Surprises and IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

Helpful Links

Ten Tips for Beating Writer's Block

Suffering from writer's block? Try these techniques.

In summary

Get new blog posts by email:

Newsletter: Sign me up!

Archives

Categories