everyday writing coach

august 25

2011-09-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

sometimes mid story you will find chronologically inconvienient stuff pops up -- like a good ending when you're on chapter 3. don't be afraid to interrupt your work to write it down. you can go back to the chapter later

writing prompt:

have a piece you are working on via keyboard next to a notebook and pen. that way when you are working with one side of the brain (creative freeflowing prose) and the other engages (planning how the book as a whole will take shape) you can take advantage of both. try it for the next writing session and see for yourself.

august 24

2010-11-30T11:30:00.001-08:00

the building blocks of a good story are the ones you use every day. the same words strung together in a different order say a whole other thing entirely. if your words are not rearranging enough to say something new -- if they are stale even to you, you may need to be intentional about switching things up. really listening when others talk means you will understand their back stories, where their idealogies and beliefs they look at the world through come from. if you read works by writers you disagree with, you will see where you and they have common ground and what it is that makes you different.

writing prompt:

think of the most polar opposite people you know. is there anything they have in common, no matter how absurd or small? put them in a scene featuring it.

august 23

2010-11-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

it is easier to talk that to act sometimes. which is why we like advice, both giving and taking it. the only danger is that in talking, there is a big long pause before any action is taking place.

writing prompt:

what things would you advise yourself to do about your writing habits if you were a good encouraging friend or conversely, a critic? weed out the productive bits and take a page of Rx today.

aug 22

2010-11-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

you know when you hear other people make excuses for not being able to accomplish what they want to. it's a turn off, isn't it? because if you want to, you can take baby steps towards the goal, put the time and effort in, make other adjustments to make it happen. hold yourself to that same standard.

writing prompt:

now is not the time to paralyze yourself with blame if you have been talking about your goals more than doing them or making excuses for yourself for not getting to work. just get to work. make a mini goal -- x amount of words and hit it.

august 21

2010-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

the opportunity is there every day to make a difference with our writing. and it isn't in a forced heavy way. we as readers all need a variety of reads: something light, something to make us take another look at life, something to affirm us where we are...
instead of worrying that what you're producing today isn't what another's is, take a look at what category it falls into and celebrate it for what it is.

writing prompt:

what vein is your current project in? write it without second guessing it. if you have your doubts, set it aside and work on something else. it will look better when you come back and revisit it.

august 20

2010-08-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

in writing, so many things count as research. in fact, being a writer can serve as the impetus to have a super fabulous life, where you enjoy the little moments, see slights as entertainment and material, generally see a whole other side to every situation. you are blessed.

writing prompt:

take a scene from a recent day and slant it, exposing the part you visually recorded, but did not comment on. if you don't want it ascribed to your life, put another character in front of it. there you have it: entertaining honest fiction

august 19

2010-08-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

it is your job to create things that are not what they appear. the fiction piece that stands most securely is the one that is a piece of inspiration stretched taut over the framework of an outline. no matter which comes first, they work best together.

writing prompt:

start two separate writing pieces. start one as an outline, another unrelated one as a freeflowing prose. take the prose and find the points to expand on and go from there. take the outline and ruminate on it until you get a story flowing. both methods work. neither are better than another.

august 18

2010-08-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

cherish what you hold dear in prose. as an idealogy, it might come off as rantish, but pack it into a moralistic tale, and it will resonate with others from an oh, i never looked it that way angle. good stories share points of view, snippets of life, and common ground.

writing prompt:

what personally held conviction do you find hard to convey to others. package it into a what if story with a character opposite to yourself. can you find common ground?

august 17

2010-08-13T09:35:00.003-07:00

reminiscing -- it's not only memoirs that do it. when you think back to your earliest childhood memories, you are reaching a character you would otherwise not have access to. You are a different person now than you were then, for good or ill. Make use of those differences.

writing prompt:

play both former you and current you against each other in a scene. are they friends or not?

august 16

2010-08-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

looking at something in a new way. it's what every work of fiction tries to accomplish. here's where a brilliant novel and stand up comedy run into each other -- both shed light or give voice to something common in experience, but rarely voiced.

writing prompt:

what is something in today's happenings that people are not seeming to notice or wanting to talk about. give voice to that, at once exposing, but in a subtle way (so as not to be yelling with your CAPS on)

august 15

2010-08-13T09:34:00.003-07:00

we keep special track of our writing challenges, some times giving them too much headspace. accepting our circumstances and scheduling parameters and working around them means we will not let hurdles stand in our way of success. keep chipping away on that writing project and keep it organized and accessible so stolen moments have that much more impact.

writing prompt:

how many stolen moments can you find today and what can you accomplish in them? keep a log of the day's work.

august 14

2010-08-13T09:34:00.001-07:00

the books that are ones we can't put down are ones where the author gives us an in to look at things differently. whether it is focus on minute details or a slice of life no ones talks about, it's usually the reason we can't put the book down. as writers, we can take a cue from the technique.

writing prompt:

think of something you think about often (you probably have lots of material on it) that no one seems to want to talk about. how would it affect the characters you place in it?

august 13

2010-08-13T09:33:00.002-07:00

there is nothing like getting paid for your work to feel validity for it. and if it isn't for your fiction at first, there is still business writing by the chockful available. try some reporting, non-fiction articles, or web copy and you will gain both a paycheque and a key understanding of how sitting down to write even when uninspired and facing a deadline can be all you really need to write something well.

writing prompt:

if you have access to a professional writing gig, take it when offered and let it discipline your habits that will in turn benefit your prose. if you don't, give yourself a wordcount and a deadline and watch your pages grow.

august 12

2010-08-13T09:33:00.001-07:00

you know where your strengths lie. are you good at coming up with characters and plot lines, but then your dialogue making process feels tortuous? or see the scenes like a movie play by play but then the phrases that would take them there seem stilted? or you might have a turn of phrase A game, but then have trouble stringing them together with the less inspired sentences. the trick is to balance creative ego with workhorse pragmatist. not every bit of your writing with strike it out of the park, but there will be enough superstar moments to keep you going.

writing prompt:

don't give self-doubt an in. start to work fleshing out your brilliant bits into something more. if the connecting sentences are less than stellar they are simply in draft stages, but you can bring them into their own with sessions concentrated on them down the road.

august 11

2010-08-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

your writing methods are unique to you. you know what kind of environment will get you going the best. no one but you is going to make sure you have it available.

writing prompt:

sit down in three spaces today and write (eg. coffee shop, backyard with notepad, at your computer) see which produces the most scribing. use that to your advantage in the future when you run stuck

august 10

2010-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

don't let others determine your path. the truth is, when you have a vision of how your writing journey is going to play out, you might be right, or inspired or have to change your original vision of it, but what throws all kinds of unecessary drama into it is telling others where you see it going, because even if you are not looking for critique you might find it. and if you can turn that subsequent disappointment emotion into a killer scene, that's great, but if you can't, that's paralysis. write it out. what you're doing will make sense to them all later.

writing prompt:

write a "what if" series of events. imagine your way to your goal. then conjure up the last time someone pooped on your writing dreams and how that made you feel. give that life to a character's tirade.

august 9

2010-08-10T09:29:00.003-07:00

why is it that you expect success from everyone but yourself? it is easier to encourage others' efforts. you are not privy to their self doubt. you only see the accomplished before them. know that it is the same for them. they see what you do and you are in charge of your own angst. let it rule you or not.

writing prompt:

write a back pat list of writing accomplishments to date, goals ahead, a compilation of short stories. when you are running low on steam pull it out. what inspirational piece would you write to someone in your shoes?

august 8

2010-08-10T09:29:00.001-07:00

better to tackle your fears now than to let them pile up. in a heap, they are bigger than they are individually. our worries about everyday life and its missteps can make writing seem futile, but it is the passion of writing that makes changes and on less dramatic days, the business of sorting through thoughts to put them to page and distracting self with imagined character's problems and delights that gives structure to life whatever its circumstance.

writing prompt:

decide which it is you need today: distraction or processing and do your daily writing from that outlook.

august 7

2010-08-10T09:28:00.003-07:00

this day brings its own challenges, but it also has its own inspiration. the small details that we let go by everyday are waiting to be worked into something new so that others don't take them for granted either. sharing them makes us all feel more grateful for life and less alone in general.

writing prompt:

what things do you think others are missing, from big life themes to slices of light hitting accidental sidewalk crack greenery just so. work them into your narrative in a way the reader than stumble upon them and appreciate them.

august 6

2010-08-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

writing is what it is. not something mysterious, but something of substance. think of how many times you have enjoyed a convicing piece of writing or a clever turn of phrase. it adds something to life. you are capable of doing the same for others.

writing prompt:

there is someone out there for every one of your writing pieces. if you not worried about writing only for the audience you knew, what would you write? ok, then. there's your work for today

august 5

2010-08-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

today there are new words that were not there yesterday. you are meant to arrange them into something new, making them strike a chord of recognition with others, making the world seem less lonely, making clearer the purpose of life here.

writing prompt:

you do not have to be a sage. you just have to be honest. it doesn't need to be the loud in your face slam on things you see. the most profound works are the ones that point it out in an understated way. read works that affected you the most and take note of where it happens. do a little of that in your work today

august 4

2010-08-05T07:20:00.004-07:00

not happy with what is coming out of you? it might be what you are taking in. fluff tv and books, while non-taxing for the brain, are not what you want coming out of you when you sit down to write. make a pile to refer to and reread of something a little heavier and worthy.

writing prompt:

read for 20 minutes something you find hard to plow through. take it at a relaxed pace, noticing turn of phrase more than storyline speed-through. what does it make you think of? take things from there

august 3

2010-08-05T07:20:00.003-07:00

you are uniquely able to write about what you write about. don't worry if your style is not like a writer's you admire. there is a reason yours is like yours. one day it could be called "a fresh new voice" on your back bookflap.

writing prompt:

work free of self doubt today. work out a fast paced jotted off draft, fine tuning instead of chopping after. if you chop, set that piece aside to start something new.

august 2

2010-08-05T07:20:00.001-07:00

what fuels your writing? your circumstances, the things you know about the world, what you've witnessed, experienced, things you've heard and read. there are new ways to get to work you haven't tried (walking, biking, car pooling) and new ways to pay for groceries (go to the seedier bottle depots the professionals use, hawk something at a pawn shop) register the experience. you have now banked more material.

writing prompt: write a stand alone story or fit into your current narrative an experience or knowledge you have that might fall on the uncommon side. it's the stuff that make stories interesting to others.

august 1

2010-08-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

don't worry about the interruptions. life is full of them. think of them as the writing fodder they are. having an idea that is written in stone of what you think writing life is makes disappointment inevitable. (if not in circumstances, in yourself) you deserve a more relaxed journey.

writing prompt:

think of the last time you started writing and were interrupted or had set aside time to write that didn't happen. if life interrupted, what did you learn? if you interrupted (time wasting, writer's block), what can you do to prevent it next time (while not beating yourself up for this slip) it feels like a personal essay waiting to happen

july 30

2010-08-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

there is a fine balance between being productive and staying creative. In examining productivity things get measured in terms of saleability and worthiness and in creativity the focus is on accumulating ideas and killer spurts of phrase. each without the other lacks power. you cannot sit around waiting for good words to strike unless you have a deadline years away. you cannot insist that every story is not worthy unless it goes to print. you can sit down to write with an idea of where you are placing the piece you're working on. If it doesn't fit, you know to start a new folder for it.

writing prompt:

do a timed writing session today, with the first 1/3 focused on planning and the second 2/3 churning out those words, good and bad. Let the first draft come out without pressure.

july 29

2010-05-17T09:47:00.001-07:00

the words that are waiting to come out of you are not amazing. they might be, some mornings. but they do not have to be every morning. put down the random thoughts that arrive and the ones you have to force out and you can shine them up after. even if you just have 1 paragraph of fabulousness amongst a whole bunch of not, the great paragraph is proof you have the skills to turn the other ones similarly around.

writing prompt:

write the words that come into your head, arrange them into a sentence, then follow that with a paragraph. if nothing is coming, make a list of all the things your eye lands on in your current surroundings. use those things to make sentences and then paragraphs.

july 28

2010-05-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

arrange with yourself your goals for today. often we do not hit them because we do not set them. it's a bit like working out. it has to be deliberate. then, when you do it by accident later, it will be the gravy on top.

writing prompt:

think of a few characters the opposite of you (gender, hair, coloring, eyes) who procrastinate. are you gentle with them or hard on them? what does their procrastination rob them of? write a little morality tale and post it near your desk (after you submit it, of course)

july 27

2010-04-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

sitting down to write is the writer's biggest to do of the day. plan and think all you want, but if those ideas don't get to the page, you have not written.

writing prompt:

sit down to write with a specific time frame in line, let the topic come out organically. if you are making a novel plot outline, do it outside of writing time (lunchbreak, while kids are playing at the park, at the beach, with a cup of coffee on the couch) you'll thank yourself later.

july 26

2010-04-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

sometimes we give ourselves obstacles as much as we tackle them. think of the excuses you are giving yourself today. be a drill sargeant and blast them out of the water.

writing prompt:

take a tiny time out of your day and write for 10 minutes, then steal a moment with your notebook at lunch. later at night, type those thoughts out onto the computer page and watch as your editor takes over and turns them into something bigger. that's how you get started.

july 25

2010-04-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

your notebook may be teeming with ideas, not yet executed. perhaps the perfectionist in you is not letting you produce any new work, because the old things are not yet perfected. you will have to set that inner editor aside to churn out new things. after you have completed a first draft writing session you can let that editor loose to clean the piece up.

writing prompt:

at the beginning of your writing session write something messy and fresh. it does not have to be impressive. move on to editing a piece that you wrote previously. the day after, start writing something new (it can be a new scene in the same work) and then move on to editing the piece you wrote the day before. you will work more effectively with a bit of time between the free flow writing and editing processes.

july 24

2010-04-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

if you have a gift for writing or simply have a love for it, both are evidence you should be following that path and working on improving your skills. for some, writing comes more easily than others, that's true, but often it's because the writer has done some mind work and has taken the mystique off the process and has sat down to write for so long that it is embedded into who she is. keep at it. there will be a day you are not second guessing yourself into inaction.

writing prompt:

describe a character that is paralyzed by the voices in her mind. what are they saying? will she listen to them? if not, what will be the catalyst for change?

july 23

2010-04-27T06:46:00.001-07:00

reading is often easier than writing. sitting down to read is not work, the writer can justify it as filling up on words in their procrastination process. But if you do not sit down and have your own disciplined regular writing sessions, you will be letting everyone's voice be heard but your own. the writer you are reading right now is not superhuman and also had days he did not feel like writing, but did it anyway.

writing prompt:

describe the procrastination process. not just the activities that take you farther and farther away from your writing medium, but the thoughts that accompany those actions. write some stuff to reprogram those thoughts.

july 22

2010-03-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

the hard stuff is sometimes more easily tackled on paper than on real life. That's why writing and stand up comedy are so therapeutic to us -- we are connecting with someone else's experience that in everyday life they might cover up with a fancier front. when it's a work removed, the potential judgement is removed too.

writing prompt:

think of the hardest thing in your life. many people may not know about it. you are loathe to even get close to it in writing as you are scared you will reveal too much. but you are giving it too much power, and robbing your writing of a variety of topics. give yourself a new name and some new scenarios to live through and describe that circumstance. it's a powerful kind of writing in the end.

july 21

2010-02-27T09:32:00.000-08:00

taking the steam out of a jealousy train is easy. it only runs on what you feed it. and that feeding requires energy you could be using to write with. there is only so much available brain space and if you are taking it up with a revolving door of anger and resentment there will be no room for your characters to do their thing

writing prompt:

take a bad feeling and make it one of your character's. better yet, take the position of the person you are accusing of hurting you and explore why they do what they do. you might end up with more than just a good story.

july 20

2010-02-27T09:27:00.001-08:00

if you are short on ideas for dialogue, characters, or storylines; there is no need to interupt your day to take time and sit at the cliched cafe and people watch. there are story builders all around you. someone's snarky mood, ill fitting coat, or news good or bad. watch people's faces for signs of deception, an underlying depression, or a secret waiting to pop out.

writing prompt:

take a temptation to gossip and keep your mouth shut, twist the tidbit around into a story, and write it out.

july 19

2009-12-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

sometimes you can use your weakness to your advantage. mind all over the place? work on (and finish) multiple small projects in one sitting. discouraged? use that mindset to work authentically on a character or write an encouraging non-fiction piece to others in your place.

writing prompt:

think of your current obstacle. what project could you channel it into? if nothing comes to mind, just essay about it and get your word output that way.

july 18

2009-11-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

writing is not best done all or nothing. that's how we think of it sometimes, looking forward to that day when we can write for a set period, forget about real life, the day job and bills and just do what we want to do. there will be times in life that accomodate that, but for others, you will have to make carving out writing time a priority. and by that, i don't mean, huge chunks of time. it can be as easy as a half an hour where you get right down to work and churn out something good. don't let the dream get in the way of your reality.

writing prompt:

set the timer for 30 minutes and plug away at an on-going project. mark on the calendar the days you are able to accomplish this

july 17

2009-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

when you are finding the step from vision of a scene to the execution of one is going agonizingly slowly, do not be paralyzed by making it fabulous the first time around. The secret to making progress is simply to put one finger on the keyboard after another, just like the steps of a journey. Each day or writing session will come up with a new way to look at the work so if you focus first on getting the word count and the frame of the story aligned, you can later cut and polish much faster to your heart's content.

writing prompt:

with your scene today, if you are trying to find the right words, stop and fill in the most rudimentary of phrases. Later you can think about it (likely when you are occupied with something completely different) and come up with something much more clever. Right now your job is simply to fill the page.

july 16

2009-10-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

getting into your character's head can be a messy place. if you see where the plot should go before it is time to (an aha moment where you picture the story's ending, perhaps, or a scene that you are leading up to a few chapters in the future), simply make note of it in short form or type it out scriptwriter style at the end of your document with a few lines space in between your current narrative and it. It is an easy way to not lose steam or get distracted.

writing prompt:

during your work today record any scattered thoughts (both fiction and non-fiction) at the end of your document. at the end of your writing session, you can either continue with pursuing one of them or leaving them for another day.

july 15

2009-10-19T10:02:00.001-07:00

the best way to lose yourself in your writing is to have some small work of fiction on the go. you can incorporate your writing prompts into it, and if you fear that would make your novel in progress too choppy, you can opt to work on a series of short story pieces instead. short stories wrap up and edit well; they are convienient to have on hand to submit to magazines and contests; and they are like the literary equivalent of sprinting. It's a good way to train.

writing prompt:

whether it's going to be a scene or a short story, give yourself a sketched out plot and a word count and complete something for your files.

july 14

2009-08-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

We spend a lot of time as writers trying to get and stay inspired. Sometimes though, it's the opposite problem -- the keeping up with ideas. For when the challenge is not the coming up with ideas, but the seeing them through to completion, it's about staying focused and a bit organized. Otherwise, in the midst of multiple projects and fear of failure, we can flounder in a bunch of things not done.

Writing Prompt:

Pick one idea, ideally one that has been hanging over your head somewhat and see one through to completion. For the rest of the ideas that pop up, banish them to a binder or box (separated by dividers or envelopes if you want to take it to the next level of organization) Later when you have time to write out those ideas, you can go back to storage

july 13

2009-07-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Writing can provide a shelf for the memories. Nostalgia is one of the most comforting forms of recording history. Do it for yourself and others. Think back as far as you can to your childhood or your children’s early childhood. How would it be different than others’? More special? What is the element that everyone can relate to?

Writing Prompt: put the memories on the page whether by event or free writing for a set time. Free yourself to live today by celebrating yesterday

july 12

2009-07-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest challenges for the every-day writer is pushing through writer’s block. It is worse for some of us than others though we all can suffer. On some days no matter what you do, you just are not as physcholgically free to write as others. What if you were truly frozen?

Writing Prompt: describe the worst writer’s block day. What does it involve/key elements? How will you break through it? Post it on your bulletin board as a reminder that things could be worse

july 11

2009-07-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

A hand to hold your own would be something a writer might pay for if she could afford it. Why is it that writing is so lonely and is that why it is a big dream for many but not followed through by most. I think it is the long shot of “making it” that distracts and discourages people. Don’t let yourself be one of them. Write for the pleasure of it. You have to write for anything to happen with your writing

Writing Prompt: make up a make believe mentor. What would he or she be like, say, what discrepancies or inadequacies would they make up for in you?

july 10

2009-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

What are the everyday necessities to a writer? Sometimes we stop ourselves from writing with our planning and our sensitive little egos. Leaving the need for approval and the perfect writing scenario aside, we can get a lot more accomplished.

Writing Prompt: What would you take on a desert island if you knew you didn’t have to use your time to get yourself rescued. Pretend you are already sunblocked. It would be the ultimate writer’s retreat. Why can’t you write similarly at home? Identify your stumbling blocks.

july 9

2009-05-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

You know how good a blanket feels. A warm layer is almost always a good addition. You can apply the physical to your writing world. Layered works are also comforting for they are the ones we can sink into, completely away from the world we normally find ourselves in.

writing prompt:

so you want to write something that will take a reader away to a place where people will call them and they won't hear? take your usual piece, think of each of the senses' details, surroundings' descriptions, the glances and grimaces of the main characters and work them in one at a time. The true challenge is in the editing afterwards. Keep at it until you can read it outloud without stumbling and until the detail is a subtle addition, not distraction.

july 8

2009-04-26T16:01:00.001-07:00

how to fit writing time into real life? in little bits and pieces. if you are a visual person you might love the appeal of actual bits and pieces to spur you on.

writing prompt:

collect little post-its and receipts from the junk drawer (you know you have one ;) and fill them with little narratives -- the first that come to mind. you can put them into a box and work them into an essay or work of fiction later.

July 7

2009-04-03T07:34:00.001-07:00

When you are pushing yourself, you know you are a writer. If you have that internal drive you will be producing and then will have something to edit and then will have something to submit. It really is that simple. Even if it takes a while to find a market for all those scribblings, you are ahead just being in the possession of them.

writing prompt:

Take today's to do list, assign another character to it, and imagine a lucky, lucky day. How good can things go? Take that character there.

july 6

2009-01-16T10:52:00.000-08:00

Nonsensical. Without the need for a huge sophisticated vocabulary, you could make up your own. It worked for Dr Suess. If you make it super cryptic, people will just think “deep thoughts” and you might land up looking sophisticated by default.

Writing Prompt:

Go willy wonka on your world or create a mentally off kilter character.

July 5

2009-01-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

Get chronological. Sometimes writing on a timeline is the fastest way to get started. You already know what the beginning and the end is. This could be a long writing session if its the right beginning and end. If it's not going well, switch to the next time line.

Writing Prompt:

Start at the beginning of the year, your life, your pet’s life. There are so many options. Use them one after another and you'll be writing the whole day away.

july 4

2009-01-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Stop editing yourself. Sometimes we end our session before we start. Free flow is like children’s writer’s camp. There are no wrong answers. Be an encouraging Mrs. doubtfire (or some such robust maternally encouraging character) to yourself. What are you willing to write about if no one is a critic?

Writing Prompt:

Free from any critique and judgement, what would you say?

july 3

2009-01-16T10:47:00.000-08:00

Stack up your vices. If they were a pile on the desk, what would they be and how much do they cost? How do you justify them? Or work harder to earn them? Get other people to provide them?

writing prompt:

Describe a stack of cigarette packs, or magazines and what they represent. If you are amazingly without vice, write understandingly of another’s.

july 2

2009-01-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

You probably already knew music is good background for typing. The click clack even musically serves to make us feel productive. Put some on (maybe something different than you would usually listen to via satellite radio) and see if it contributes to what comes to mind. Drift away into some exciting prose.

Writing Prompt:

if you have a chunk of time, listen to a variety and write what comes to mind with each new song --catalogue your responses to various kinds for future writing sessions.

July 1

2009-01-12T05:54:00.001-08:00

The trouble with writers is that they tend to get isolated, talk out loud to themselves one too many times, and land up feeling morose from time to time. If you're not putting yourself out there for encouragement (and criticism too -- which is maybe why you're not) Instead personally give yourself positive feedback. Describe your abilities as an ardent admirer would.

Writing prompt:

Think of the compliments you would give yourself in addition to any you have actually receive. If you can think of any you would like someone to say to you, add them too.

june 30

2009-01-12T05:49:00.000-08:00

don't get caught up in thinking that if life was easier, you would have your book written already. Most successful writers first wrote many (unpublished) books while living paycheque to paycheque (or worse). Keep going. Material success might make daily life's wheels a little more oiled, but there will still be the obligations to the ones you love and the work of looking at the world in more detail than the non-writer. Practice writing even at a disadvantage now and you will arm yourself with true capability for later.

writing prompt:

feel sorry for yourself on paper. Then buck up and give yourself a pep talk.

june 29

2009-01-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

When thinking of constructing a novel for the first time, you may be overwhelmed. But the truth is that is simply a collection of scenes and characters tied in with plot. You can plan a outline to start. After you have pieces of scenes that you've written up in random order, decide which chapter each goes into and plunk them in there. You can always cut and paste if later it doesn't work. Take the mystique out of the process and see that its a matter of seeing the project through the end.

writing prompt:

if you are lacking an outline, do one up. see which of your clippings fit in and apply them. you are on your way to your novel

june 28

2009-01-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

you may have to tell yourself in moments of self-doubt -- I know I can write! think back to when you read a book that you had to put down for lack of interest or unappealing construction. now think of a time when your own writing made you re-read a passage purely for the pleasure of it. A large part of the writer's success is perserverance, which means that in times of discouragement, one does not stop producing or growing. If you feel down, pull back from sharing your work with others for a while, put away your editor pencil, and just write. On a confident day you will see that your writing had more merit that you thought it did and now you have more to submit.

writing prompt:

do not stop from lack of good sentences today. time your session and write even if all that's coming out are fragments and blips of thought. have faith that they are something more later on.

june 27

2009-01-12T05:33:00.000-08:00

While you might get frustrated at the lack of time in your life to do actual writing, don't blame your day job. It probably gifts you with some of your inspiration and writing subject expertise. Start thinking of times you would like to write but other things crowd it out. Streamline other obligations -- start a little more each day until you have blocks of time to call your own -- however small they are, if you use them efficiently, they will have the power of another's days.

writing prompt:

don't focus on lack of time. plan a little to ensure you are working towards specific goals and then race yourself there

june 26

2009-01-12T05:28:00.000-08:00

Plenty of advice is given on what to do when the inspiration well dries up, but it is just as likely that from your constant recording of small thoughts and characters that you have enough material to write on for quite some time. Don't get overwhelmed. Binder it all if the ticket stubs, envelopes, and napkins stack up too high, and just start wherever you want -- don't feel like you have to execute them in order of their occurence to you. Make a check mark beside the ones you have worked on already and you will know where you are at.

writing prompt:

pick a new idea from one you had a long time ago. Writing on it with a time lapse in between means there will automatically be a fresh take you don't have to manufacture.

June 25

2009-01-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

Having a brilliant thought to start from right when you sit down to a writing session is a beautiful thing, but don't gamble on it. By capturing on little scraps of paper (or a notebook for the organized) the ideas that come to you when you are not looking for them, you are guaranteeing yourself a whole bunch of starting points and stalling is that much more unlikely -- if you run out of steam on one topic, you can merge into the next or start over with another idea.

writing prompt:

see how many scribblings you can come up with today while going about your regular business. If you usually set aside a large part of the day to write, do the little things you've been neglecting, chores and errands and the like and watch ideas that occur to you while you're doing them flow into your inspiration notebook.

June 24

2009-01-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

True or False?
A real writer is someone who writes every day for hours, is productive, meets their goals, gets better, and gets published.
Things are not picture perfect every day. All writers are humans first. (however we idolize our favorites by re-reading and picturing their writing)
If you are underachieving, it might do you good to feel a bit insecure with the picture of the above and try and follow some of that.
If you are doing well on your own, write down what has achieved you success and what stops progress in its tracks. That's your reality -- work with it.

writing prompt:

Capture either in fiction or non-fiction, your ideal writing life. See if you can achieve some of that this week.

June 23

2009-01-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

For every stretch of spontaneous, free flowing writing, there are going to be many sessions that will have you forced to write through everyday distractions and obligations. Pretend it builds character. If it doesn't, it will at least build your archives.

writing prompt:

Think of your most challenging time of the week to write and plan how you will do it anyways. Then do it.

June 22

2009-01-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Being a write is much like having two mutual friends who complain about each other to you. While you know what they really think, and what they each think they really think, you see the big picture. But just as you'd be wise to do with your friends, don't spill the beans. Let the story you're writing unfold without forcing it or spilling your guts in rambling paragraphs. Better to let the cat out of the bag with a glance, a cryptic statement or a room description or wardrobe choice.

writing prompt:

write down what's really going on for a reference character sketch. Then work bits of it into your story, with a desperate girl's choice of blouse for instance or a poor man's growling stomach.

june 21

2009-01-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

Numbers are letters in another world. See their expression. Do they say anything to you? You know how in spy thrillers, they are a code waiting to be cracked? Sit down with a phone book and let the numbers blur together. What are they telling you?

Writing prompt:

make like a spy or a math whiz and pretend they are another foreign language you are asked to translate.

june 20

2009-01-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Stacks of information are more than you need at any given moment. Research is good, but the flipside is that you can research at the expense of having any time to write. Don’t overdo it. If you have to, time your research sessions. Your imagination is worth something too and it’s unique to you. Make your copywrite worth something

Writing Prompt:

write down the questions you want to research later, but go ahead and write on the steam of what you know now. Writing something more specific can be checked out later. Don't forget to include everything you've wanted to know to streamline your research session. learn. Your challenge is to only research once in the process.

June 19

2009-01-03T09:39:00.001-08:00

Bad breath sucks and so do long winded sermons. Try to keep things concise. If you have nothing more to say, stop. Write, and if you run out of thought on a particular topic, change topics. When editing, don't forget to take out the redundant.

Writing prompt:

think. write. stop. edit.

June 18

2009-01-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Dust is bad for allergies but good for anthills. The same is with all good and bad in life. Even if life is tipping you into the gutter (with the economy or what have you), chances are it is making opportunities for someone else. Write a story with the big picture in mind

writing prompt:

What is working for you and against you in the complications in your life? Or in the lives of your characters?

June 17

2009-01-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

Rough feet may make you think of a trip to the spa but don't go yet. They are a texture that you can write about. Anything is. What previously undiscussed subject can you bring out in your writing and work into a scene or an essay?

Writing prompt:

Study and write about the first thing that pops into your head checking out the room from the ground up.

june 16

2009-01-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Did you know that most of the time a problem in life is easily solved by writing a new ending? Think of your current woe. Now imagine it away. If you use escape writing in addition to escape reading you will double your output. Life is so tidy on paper and thinking positive can bring (at least temporary) resolution to a problem

writing prompt:

what can you bring to tidy end today (if only by distracting yourself)?

June 15

2009-01-03T09:33:00.001-08:00

Specks of dirt are a facet of life. Incorporate them; don’t only get rid of them. Some times we are hesitant to write about the little inconveniences of life, erring on the side of the fairy tale or on the side of gang banger realism. There is a middle ground and most of your readers live in it.

Writing Prompt:

write the opposite of a predictable ending, but not on either side of the pendulum. It's harder than you thought, but you can do it.

June 15

2009-01-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Specks of dirt are a facet of life. Incorporate them; don’t only get rid of them. Some times we are hesitant to write about the little inconveniences of life, erring on the side of the fairy tale or on the side of gang banger realism. There is a middle ground and most of your readers live in it.

Writing Prompt:

write the opposite of a predictable ending, but not on either side on the pendulum. It's harder than you thought, but you can do it.

june 14

2009-01-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

Privacy is for scaredy cats. You are not one. To start, use a different name to chronicle your experiences and they will ring true. When you are ready to bare yourself, use insignificant details to spare yourself embarrassment. This is where blogs come in handy. Most of them are free and you are getting practiced at putting yourself out there. They also help to keep you productively accountable.

Writing Prompt:

what are you outing today? Post it.

june 13

2009-01-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

Desk writing is limiting. Shake things up a bit. Pick a different spot in the house. Keep a notebook at work. Go to the park. Jot ideas down while doing chores. Don't let the everyday -- worries and to do lists and mundane obligations -- steal your writing thunder.

Writing Prompt:

In the spirit of productive escapism, make like someone way different from you (international spy for instance) and share the same daily habits on paper. What exciting direction would such a person take your day in?

june 12

2009-01-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Clothing is not unlike the layers you should have in your story. There is nothing more boring to read than something which is one dimensional. Work towards the sort of sentences the reader reads a few times over before going to the next just for the pure bliss of a well packed sentence. A sentence like that can use setting or the like to propel the story forward, give new insight into an old character, or twist the plot right up.

Writing Prompt:

Start with describing what your main character has on. Then move to their location, current expression, fleeting thoughts, hunger pangs, and plans for the day. Make them human.

june 11

2009-01-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

Nature is the ultimate writer’s block buster. Soak it up and see if it gives you setting or plot or both. If you already have a story on the go, send your characters outside and see if their lives get any more interesting when they get a bit of dirt on their shoes or the wind in their faces. The stimuli of weather conditions is an easy way to conjure up shared humanity. You may not be the same gender or of the same thinking as your character, but chances are a warm breeze will hit you both the same way.

writing prompt:

Describe one thing: tree, rock, puddle and glean as many words out as you can. If you have a writing piece on the go, insert the description into a working scene. If not, let it stand alone in your archives.

june 10

2008-12-20T09:12:00.001-08:00

A lifeline for an isolated writer is other writer friends. They can be nearby or online, depending on circumstance. If you don’t have any, make some or reconnect with former acquaintances that share your passion for writing. While you are waiting to make a coffee date to pick their brains to inspire yourself and remind yourself why you do what you do, do some online searching for something to speak to you now.

writing prompt:

What were you surprised and/or comforted to learn about others’ writing processes?

june 9

2008-12-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Bright orange warning signs are rarely seen in the work passion. It’s okay to have an editor function in your repertoire (in fact it will greatly up your chance of having an editor in the first place and then save your editor a lot of work) but don’t let your inner editor get in the way of your output, stifling ideas before they start. Go ahead and write today without censor. Bring the red pen editor out later when you have enough words to spare.

writing prompt:

do some free flow writing -- at least three pages of garbledy gook so you can guarantee you will have some editing to do later today.

june 8

2008-11-16T11:59:00.001-08:00

Sometimes you just have to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard without having a real idea of what is going to come out. If the thought terrifies you, you can boost your success by regularly taking in the sort of work you wish to produce. Not wasting time on fluff reading is similar to passing up junk food so you have room for real nutrition. Keep your head filled with good stuff.

writing prompt:

Do a timed reading and writing session, reaching for something that is especially engaging or pushes the boundaries of what you believe you are capable. After reading, set the work aside and start on your own, giving equal time and not censoring yourself until the timer goes. Chances are, you have more quality inside you at any given time than you are giving yourself credit for.

june 7

2008-10-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

writing is like anything else in life. you cannot beat yourself up if you fall short of your goals. it is counter-productive and paralyzing. instead, pick up where you left off. likely you have done much living (unless you were in bed and then you have lots of emotion to go on anyways so still ok) and are now going to set the page on fire.

writing prompt:

what's your usual excuse from being away from your writing? what's your current one? think of something outrageous to excuse yourself when you next don't feel like writing and put it to the page today

june 6

2008-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

School is almost back in. For parents who work from home, this will most likely double your writing output. For the last days with the kids here are ways you can write with them around your ankles. 1. write in a notebook on a park bench while they play, 2. write at the beach, 3. wake up early, 4. stay up late, 5. write during morning cartoons
good luck. happy perservering
prompt: the famously assigned back to school essay: what did you do this summer?

june 5

2008-07-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

From all the pieces that make up your writing life -- reading list (and even before that -- book wishlist), article deadlines, submissions, the never ending rotation of querying, and re-pitching and rethinking ideas -- glean some wisdom to tell yourself about the process. How does sticking with it all, on the chance you can make it as a writer, or how you couldn't stop writing even if you were not destined to make it, drive you to tell the stories you tell?

writing prompt:

how does your writing career story -- what you've tried and what you haven't and what has worked for you best -- make you an individualist? are you breaking free from the pack? write something short that pitches to a potential agent just what kind of client you would be

june 4

2008-01-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

the important thing some days is to just pump out some words. any words. the thing that is valuable in forcing them out is that you will be adding to your general unpublished word count -- words that you can call upon one day, polish up and send out or plunk into your novel. never underestimate the power of your word archive. it's proof you write like you say you do.

writing prompt:

for your session today, make a list of random words and write paragraphs on them using word association.

june 3

2007-12-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

So much of society runs on plastic, both the cards and the general fakeness people exchange. Have a more critical eye on the behavior that keeps others at arm's length. You can start by recognizing your own or being more aware of how you are buying into others' flawless pictures of their lives. Be ruthless about exposing them in fiction form. Behind the masks lies every plot line you will ever need to work with.

writing prompt:

write an expose on the pat phrases you hear most, from the "how are you?" that no one actually responds to authentically to the "i'm fine" that covers a closetful of skeletons.

June 2

2007-12-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

What you consider outdated thought can be retro or tired depending on how it’s treated. In light of that, do it right. There are no completely new ideas under the sun. New times do bring new experiences, circumstances, and trends. Let them color something that's been around forever.

writing prompt:

get tough on yourself. What expression do you rely on too much? Make a list. If you feel you are usually operating above cliche-ville, do a list of others' oft used phrases or plotlines and work them into a short piece that smacks of cutting edge.

June 1

2007-12-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

Mundane tasks and information can be beautiful if you examine them for detail and history. Examine why others are passionate about a subject or task you care nothing about. Then think of your strong adverse reaction or disinterest. Both should fuel you.

Writing prompt:

Do five minutes of online research on the most boring topic you can think of. Attach yourself to one or more ideas that surprised you or even intrigued you. Spell out why.

May 30

2007-12-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

Storylines can grow out of any artistic expression -- prose, poetry, painting, music. Try a multitude of mediums to break out and glean more ideas. Use the alternative creative expression to learn something new and get into another headspace whether artist or audience.

Writing prompt:

Practice another art form or take some in. Cover the experience as if explaining it to someone who cannot experience it for themselves except on paper. Make it real for the reader.

May 29

2007-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Your mind is a shop holding a number of writing resources and voices and experiences and you can go there anytime. So do it. Churn it out – there’s no need to get ready first. You become ready in the process of work.

Writing prompt:

Use what you have. Even if you seem to have an absence of new thoughts, do the old ones over. Look through your notes to cover one you've neglected. Not having a writing session because of lack of ideas cannot be a valid excuse. It's like refusing to exercise because of lack of energy.

May 28

2007-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

Protect your creative self from the harshest critics by saving something for private consumption at any given time. You can rotate your work into the public as it is ready. You can start something intensely private and hide it in layers with characters, scenarios, and storyline. It can be just for you (for now). Write something else from a public mindset. Both will be valuable to you later.

Writing prompt:

write something for them and something for you, equal word count. Now combine them.

May 27

2007-12-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

Use a gimmicky hook like starting by grouping words randomly to get out of a tight block spot. Thoughts can be linked together, even messily, and edited later. It works to get your creative thought flowing and to sort through your jumbled but good ideas. Take my word for it. No words are a waste. Put them to page and you'll have more to work with later. Procrastination is an attempt at perfection in disguise. The problem is, by not producing anything you look less credible than when you produce something subpar.

Writing prompt:

What is the messiest scenario you can think of? Put it to paper and let it work itself out. Often the complicated situations that come to mind that we worry about coming across as unrealistic are the ones that are more dramatic in the telling.

May 26

2007-12-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

Celebrating achievement is something you should work with. It's the reason people hire life coaches -- to remind them why they're doing what they're doing and to cheer them on. Make your office a showoff. A bulletin board is a great way to collage your way to your dreams. Using visualization techniques to combine past successes with future goals, make a collage, keeping space for the posting of new ideas as you come across them. Even silly tricks like superimposing your biographical information into a spot on your favorite magazine's contributers page for your viewing pleasure can help you keep up the faith in your abilities. Think it. Do it.

Writing prompt:

Make a multi-media grouping with writing attached. Add your latest plot lines and query ideas to let them marinate in the back of your brain while you work.

May 25

2007-12-01T06:17:00.000-08:00

Your library holds inspiring jealousy. Soak it in. Let yourself really want it and work from there. There is nothing like reading a jaw dropping writer. Whether it's something presented how you've never thought of it before, something familiar you think all the time, or something you can't believe the writer said, it makes you sit up and take notice. Published writers are just like you in that they want to write and are human. Don't be intimidated by the process or the odds. If you want it bad enough, you can make a niche for yourself.

Writing prompt:

If they can do it, so can you. Write about challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve got past them. Then work on the project you've self defeatingly been putting off.

May 24

2007-11-29T15:22:00.000-08:00

Keeping at writing is like running a long distance race. A bit of it, the urgent deadlines, can be sprinted, but running the race is all about continuing on even when no one is noticing. Get practiced at giving yourself kudos. While the paycheques for freelance work are rewarding, something will have to be done about working on that novel that is agentless and therefore advanceless. Build yourself up instead of psyching yourself out. Find the carrot that you will work for.

Writing prompt:

Write a pep talk to yourself. Flattery will get you everywhere. Post it in your workspace to keep your momentum up.

May 23

2007-11-25T04:58:00.000-08:00

Expressing yourself with writing texture adds more than one figurative layer to your work. Adding more than the usual makes readers sit up and take notice. Make them reread that passage multiple times to get every last drop of nuance out of it. That's the sort of writing that makes one re read the same book over and over.

Writing prompt:

Use new words, new settings, and new "out there" descriptions crossed with new things to talk about. If you are wary of multilayering your writing, do it in stages. If you regularly have several things going on at once in a scene, work on clarity before you go on to layer even more enthusiastically.

May 22

2007-11-25T04:54:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter if you're slow like a turtle if you're determinedly moving forward. Pacing yourself, while not always easy in the creative highs and lows, is a healthy way to prolong your writing juice. On the overflowing days, track those thoughts for something to come back to. On dry days, all that matters is that you are moving forward

Writing prompt:

Chart your progress and keep a log for a week, pushing yourself to bring pencil to paper every day on a single topic. The topic doesn't matter. Adding to it steadily, pushing past thinking you have no more to say, does.

May 21

2007-11-25T04:51:00.000-08:00

Cheerful stripes are summertime’s expression. What would you say of fall? Try working on topics that definitely have been done before but treat them to something completely fresh and hip. Every topic in the world has been covered already, but not by you. Even if you feel something has been done to death, you can attempt to revive it.

Writing prompt:

In writing fresh, try thinking like someone else, another gender perhaps. Tackle an overdone topic from two vantage points. Pick the strongest result and take it somewhere.

May 20

2007-11-25T04:44:00.000-08:00

The inner workings of the machine are only visible to you. Don’t worry – you look much more polished on the outside. Do your business and don’t worry so much about image. It's easy in such solitary business to start the self doubt that at worst will turn you into a raving lunatic and at it's least dramatic will freeze any sort of momentum you have going. Rejection in writing is more than just a wall full of "you are not right for us" letters. It is also others non response to your work and your own digust at your day's work. Get over it. If you hope to keep writing, it will have to become your normal.

Writing prompt:

Focus on your craft, not the business, as much as you can. When plagued by self doubts, use it to write a piece either motivating yourself or wallowing in the emotions. Either way, don't let it stop you from writing. Write a page of the side of the fence you find yourself on today.

may 19

2007-10-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

track how your day is spent for a week and which writing ideas you came up with and which ones you tackled. you may think you are spending a lot of time writing, but find you are not. Or you may find you're not executing the ideas you are coming up with. work down your list of accumulated material. if you find you are running to the computer every chance you get, you may be sitting down to write before the ideas have worked themselves out in your head. which is fine too, but you'll leave more time for life if you let them sort themselves out, make a note of the sortings in your notebook and then address them at the computer later.

writing prompt:

ideas breed themselves. start a list of 10 (anything) for a writing session tonight

May 18

2007-10-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

The thing about writing is when you're not doing it, you're probably thinking about doing it. There's no getting away from it. Instead of it whacking off the rhythm of your day, jot down those thoughts when they pop up in the middle of the rest of life and when you get back to your desk, you'll have the material to head off writer's block.

writing prompt:

what idea common to most of your neighbor's days, is a theme that they all could relate to in fiction. what if they met at the garbage cans to compare notes?

May 17

2007-09-18T23:36:00.000-07:00

The most frequent comment about writing is people's lack of time in which to do it. Whether you are employed in a completely different field or are distracted by your career writing in journalism, you need to make time for your fiction. You will never improve until you produce. You will never produce until you make time and sit down and do it. Crank something out. You never know where it will lead next.

writing prompt:

scratch off the next to do item on your list and write the first two what if scenes that pop into your head. see if you can turn them into a short story.