How to not write

Here are the best tips on how not to write;

1. Check email…a lot. Don’t just check it once, you should check email every so often just in case someone sent you a forwarded funny. Its not like those email alerts can tell you when. Check for yourself. Spam and those forwarded jokes may delete themselves later if you don’t read them right away.
2. Spend lots of time planning the story/book, but don’t  actually write anything. This takes up lots of time and helps you avoid the painful process of getting your work done. You can even tell people you’re ‘researching’ even though you’re not going to use what you find.
3. Check all your social networks to see what everyone is up to. I know Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and many other web sites provide endless amounts of ways to waste time. Like email, checking more than once a day also helps keep you from your writing.
4. Let the phone, doorbell, friends, and family interrupt your day. This helps break up concentration and focus so you can continue to avoid the end of your story.
5. Use excuses. You can find tons of excuses as to why you’re not writing. You have other obligations that are more important, like washing the dog or needing to fold laundry. Your novel can wait.

With very little effort, you too can’t find excuses to not write.

Filed under: writer, writing tips , tip, tips, write, writing

Do you like it? Do you need it? Does it make you money?

“Do you like it? Do you need it?  Does it make you money?” These words still echo a deep resonance for me after my niece explained how she’s been cleaning her house and getting rid of clutter. She referred to the piles of junk that had no rhyme or reason. She systematically asked her step-father and brothers these questions before removing items for removal. I found the same three questions hold a strong impact on the considerations of writing.

I tend to have a downpour of creativity at times. I get ideas for titles, story plots, new characters, or I find a project I’d like to add to my lengthening list of things to do. What this creates however is the very similar hoarding behavior illustrated by family. Instead of stuff, I get piles of ideas that end up tucked into files, sketched on scrapes pieces of paper, or even digitized in a voice file for later. It doens’t get done because there’s simply too much.

So now I ask myself these questions:

Do I like it? I think you really need to enjoy what you write. This leads to complete the story, article, or other piece of writing. If you like the idea, then you’ll see success.

Do you need it? This really opened my eyes in regards to writing that doesn’t offer me anything in return. Some blogs I write don’t see many visitors. I then set them on the backburner, if bother with them at all. I then focus on projects that will lead me somewhere, whether for my personal enjoyment, sharpening my skills, or make me money.

Does it make you money? This helps place importance on what I expect from writing as my goal. I don’t want to just write; I want to make a living on it. In order to do that, I now must weigh the time and effort put into fanfiction or blogs as opposed to articles and novel writing. Its okay to do any of them, but now I can easily prioritize what I want to do.

On a side note; I must admit that I really enjoy the comments my readers leave me. Not only does this affirm my goals for this blog, but the wonderful comments also nudge me to write more. Thank you all for comments or adding to my subscriber feed!

Filed under: writer

Stereotypes of writers

Most groups include some form of stereotype, and writers are no different. You think writer; an image pops up, so I decided to go over some of the most common stereotypes.

Writers love coffee. This stereotype arises from the need to have a sharp mind. Oddly enough, most writers I know don’t drink coffee at all. I always make coffee for the meetings we have, but I’m the only one that takes a cup. Everyone else brings soda, tea, juice, or plain water.

Writers own cats. I know of at least two other writers in my group who own only dogs. I own a cat, but never went looking to own one. He showed up on my porch one day. There are benefits to having a cat, who make few demands on their owners, and often sit in the room quietly while you write. (Except mine, of course).

Writers are depressed or emotional. Visions of Edgar Allen Poe or other authors tend to lend to this stereotype. I find this untrue for the most part. Although you do find emotional laden individuals, generally writers are enthusiastic about many things. You need passion to write, and in touch with your emotion in order to write emotionally, and to provoke that in your readers.

Writers spend much of their day alone. Here is another falsehood. Many writers I know complain about not having enough time to write. Of course, most have other jobs, or the demands of Life persist with imposing on their writing time. Writers that do spend much of their time alone, often need to get out into society in order to refresh and re-energize before returning to crafting their manuscript.

Writer’s complain about writer’s block. You only have to endure writer’s block once to understand the frustration and inner turmoil such a state brings. Most writers know exactly what the term means, and often commiserate as a means for healing and understanding. This stereotype is perhaps the only one on this list that strikes true.

Writers write with stereotypes all the time. Many stories certainly have them; the villian with dark hair and ominous laugh, the hero that does everything right, the beautiful woman who turns out to be the love interest. Such stereotypes make for easy reading. Unfortunately, not entertaining reading. This will be a whole blog entry later this month.

I find that many groups have stereotypes for a reason, but I can assure you with this group that not all writers are the same because not all writers write the same.

Filed under: writer, writing tips , author, write, writer, writer's block, writing

Plotting the story

Here lately, I’ve been having so many issues with organizing plots for the fictional novel I’m working on. I admit to often over-thinking things, but so desperate to find some help, I ended up having this as the topic of discussion for my writer’s group. In short, I wanted to know what other writers did for plotting out their stories.

I discovered several members had the same issue as I did, while others simply started writing without structure. Other writers use methods, such as the Index Card method, while others use an outline. Its whatever works for you.

Methods for plots:

Index card method- This strikes me as fine for short stories but a bit time consuming for a novel.

Snowflake method- Simply looking at how this expands into a complex shape of a snowflake should give you an idea how this expands the simple one-sentence plot into something bigger.

Chapter by chapter method- The recent story I’m working on seems to continually be in a state of flux, so I can only write summaries of each chapters until I reach the end. The link provides something a bit more exact that might prove helpful.

I also found a very handy article on the elements of plots. Story Structure Begins with Plot by Adam Sexton gives a handy mnemonic to remember the important stuff.

The important thing to remember about plots is conflict- good stories are about problems and the resolution of those problems by the characters. Conflicts can include external problems such as man versus man, or man versus nature, but conflict also includes the internal struggles as well. Character face their innermost fears, or somehow find a way out of the inner conflict they’ve had most of their lives.

Filed under: novel, writer, writing tips , outline, plots, plotting, story

A Writer Group Organizer Tips and Tricks

One of the things about Western Maryland is how anything worthwhile seems to happen to the busy part of the state; namely Baltimore and Washington D.C. So when I looked to find a writer’s group, the only one at the time comprised of already published authors. I hadn’t published a thing so that left me in the cold.

I decided then to form my own writer’s group. I’m not shy about organizing groups. This wasn’t the first time I was at a loss to finding a group I wanted to join, only to have to start my own. I can proudly say, my writer’s group is the largest in Western Maryland with thirty five members. (Only six members show up at the meetings, which is perfectly fine. Anything more than that and you’re not likely to accomplish much).

You too can accomplish organizing a group, and here are a few tips along the way:

• Keep in mind you’re the organizer. Members look to you to make things happen. This often means finding the venue to meet, finding the topics and subject your meetings will cover, and to move things along in the meetings themselves.
• Protect your group. This translates into making hard decisions if someone isn’t working well with others. I’ve removed members if they couldn’t follow the rules. I try to listen to both sides, but generally if a member proves disruptive, they need to go elsewhere.
• Pick meeting places that work with your group. You need a meeting place that has enough room for members, but also provides the quiet so that members can read, or provide feedback without interruptions.
• Keep an outline of your meeting. This helps move things along for everyone and takes advantage of the time together. (See below for a quick outline).
• Don’t be shy in asking for help. This includes asking for money. If your group helps members, asking for donations or assitastance allows member to participate. You might be surprised that people want the group to succeed.

Sample Meeting Outline:

1. I start with introductions to any new members, with the usual members also introducing themselves.
2. I cover the group’s issues first and foremost. This includes membership fees, change of venues, issues that arise, contests, and any new ideas I want to present.
3. We then go to the topic of discussion. This could include publishing, plotting, character development, or any number of subjects.
4. We move to feedback, where anyone who has chapters to share, they hand them out then. Sometimes if we have too many, they write their email on the drafts so that members can email their feedback. Otherwise, we offer the feedback then.
5. The meetings slow down to open discussion where members can bring up issues, share stories, or bring up anything they want.
6. I end the meeting with when we’re meeting again.

You can decide on how you want your meetings to go. I also should add that it takes time to get members. My group started with a handful of people, most of which never showed up or participated online. Now I have over 30+ members, with ten members that show up and participate regularly.

Filed under: resources, writer, writing tips , critique, feedback, reviews, tips, write, writing

What holds back your writing?

One aspect of writing that lends to low production of words is the simple fact of fear for me. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of making mistakes collide into a mass of anxiety that leaves me staring at a blank screen (or piece of paper). Its frustrating to say the least.

Other causes of holding back a writer’s creative flow include distractions. Many writers must fit in their plot weaving in short increments they find throughout the day; between cleaning house, chores, jobs, attention to family, and the myriad of demands Life throws at you. I wonder if I’m the only one who resents Life sometimes interrupting my groove.

Writer’s Block, which can include a host of causes, also lends to the creative vacuum. There are a number of techniques a writer can use to break through, but you have to consider the cause first. Are you stressed and tired? Get more sleep. Is the lack of ideas spawned by interuptions? Shut and lock a door, or get those handy headphones that block out sound.There are a number of sites and books on the subject of finding solutions to writer’s blocks.

Sometimes its tough to find the block of time you need to slide into the creative flow of writing, and write uninterrupted. I can’t write in short bursts. I need time to reread past chapters, to refocus into the mood of the story, and then edit and write as needed.  I must shut (and lock) my office door to indicate to family that I’m not to be disturbed. Even then, its not unusual for someone to knock, or nudge the door. (My dog figured out how to get my attention by nosing the door.)

There’s must to be said by the quote “Just Do It”, or “Just write”. Ignore the excuses, the distractions, the fear and just write- even if its bad. Words can always be edited.

Filed under: publishing, resources, writer, writing tips , fear, tips, write, writer, writer's block, writing

Do you get support for your writing?

What I mean by support isn’t the monetary support but the emotional support friends and family provide. My writing group found it odd that my husband doesn’t read my work. I thought so too. You’d think just out of curiosity he’d occasional read something. If only to see what its about and what sort of thoughts rattle inside my head. He doesn’t.

My husband claims he reads my blogs from time to time, but never leaves a comment or makes a comment to me personally. I have no idea if he reads them or not; not even the ones about him.

My parents also have no idea the extent of my writing outside of emails and the occasional Instant Message. My mother read a few things I’ve done in the past, but never said much. My father, to my knowledge, hasn’t read anything. Two sisters read religiously to my personal blogs, while the other two could care less.

Some friends read my blogs, where one often copies the subject I write upon to add to her own. I’m not sure how to take that as a compliment to my creativity or her inability to come up with something of her own.

I can’t say the strongest support comes from the writer’s group, because I haven’t shared much with them. I’m too busy organizing, writing the newsletter, and maintaining the meetup site. Most stuff I have written isn’t ‘ready’ for sharing…yet. The group is also growing so sharing my stuff takes away from the time of another writer eager to glean feedback from the group.

I also recognize I don’t really need support to write. I write for myself, losing myself in my own little worlds, or empowering myself through blogs by rant or resolutions shared there. Ultimately, its the little comments and remarks left goad me to write more. I’d write anyway, but a comment begging for another chapter, or a subscriber that emails me to say how much they enjoyed what I’ve written can really make my day.

I don’t need the support, but it certainly nudges me a long my journey.

So thanks for all who leave comments. And who do you think offers support in your writing in the real world?

Filed under: blog, writer , write, writer, writer's group, writing

Bending the Writing Rules

I’ve read a number of articles and blogs that give excellent advice on the rules of writing. For every rule, however, you can find samples of published material that broke them. It reminds me of that quote from the Pirates of the Caribbean, the quote about parlay “the code is more what you’d call “guidelines” than actual “rules”, and I believe writing rules includes the same term of guideline than a law.

One such rule that lends to my own self editor is the dreaded passive voice. So often I’ve read on a list of rules include this rule; avoid the passive voice! I found a number of books that have plenty of examples strewn amid the pages. Another rule is the concise writing. The advice includes cutting the extra stuff, narrowing sentences to speak clearly, and to avoid things like adjectives and adverbs, This is fine if you intend on professional writing for journals or periodicals, but not so much for blogs, memoirs, or fiction writing.

You also find that not all readers enjoy the same style either. For instance I prefer the more common, down-to-earth writing of a stay at home mom over a professional writer of blogs or advice articles. Overuse of big words and concise writing just bores me.

Some rules to follow  should include using correct spelling and grammar. If nothing else, this shows the reader your ability to master the written language. Its also the one element of writing that shows a glaring lack of skill. I’ve faced a number of comments from readers that admitted to enjoying a story or article but found the one or two mistakes very distracting to the entire piece, so I know of whence I speak. Take care to your craft.

Any first draft, however, you should ignore the rules anyway to let words flow freely. The process of writer, after all, demands rewrites and editing before completing a piece of work. Write to enjoy instead of worrying about mistakes that might prevent you from finishing. Whatever mistakes you make you fix before the final product.

The importance rule of writing is do what works for you. If you’re getting published, whatever it is you’re doing is correct for you.

Filed under: writing tips , published, tips, write, writing