Writer Wednesday: Becomingawriterblog.com

I found this site the other day, and felt its streamlined, straight-forward style refreshing.  The author, Angela Greenfield, offers posts on so many writing topics, including prompts.

She covers such topics for fiction writing as character development, inspiration, and dialogue, but also includes a category for non-fiction as well.

I think she needs to add more in the way of posts, of course, but the site is easy to navigate and get where you want to go.

Technorati Tags: wednesday writer,author,blog,character,inspiration

A Smashing Idea- A writer’s smash book!

 On a whim, I decided to start a smash book for writing (and my other projects). The idea is that the smash book is more than just a journal, but where you can explore your creativity, and store things for resources for later. You can write, but also sketch, paste recipes, add photos or pictures, cards, and pretty much anything you can fit between pages.

The smash notebook cost about $10.00, but I altered a composition notebook instead. I did, however, get the smashbook pen . It includes a gluestick and a felt tip marker. I also use one of those 4-color pens by Bic. You can use colored pencils, or gel pens.

The smashbooks come with all sorts of pretty papers, so my altered composition is pretty dull in comparison, that is, until I added stamps, stickers, and all sorts of bling. You have to make it personal. Heck, you could compile your own papers and bind it in a 3-ring binder or something similar.

Altering the notebook was easy; Pick some pretty paper and cover the cover. I used the double sided sticky tape. Glue sticks tend to bubble or not cling well. I have scrapbooking stuff, so I made the corner elements and numbers. I use a rubber  band to keep it shut because I taped envelopes to store cards (to write ideas) on as well as other stuff I intend on ‘smashing’ into it.

If you make your own, you could potentially find any size notebook and use that. Just add notes, stick ideas, cards, pictures, etc.

My pages include;

• Plot outline section.
• Character pages- I paste pictures off the Web or from magazines, or write a brief description, history, and their inner conflict.
• Setting pages- When I get ideas, sometimes inspired from video games, exotic locations, or from where ever, I will add a sketch, description, etc in the pages.
• Title pages- Sometimes I will brainstorm title ideas. These often lead to story ideas as well.
• Project page- This one is important. I post the main stories I’m currently writing. I want to also add a word count challenge page so it prompts me to write every day. (I mark this page with a special tag to get it to it fast).
• Prompt page- This is where I post, sketch, and add ideas for writing.

Sure it’s a mess…creativity is like that. What do you think? Interested in doing a writer’s smash book? What would go into your book?

Post in comments.

Technorati Tags: smashbook,scrapbooking,journaling,writing,inspiration,prompts,authors,idea

Writer Wednesday: Procrastinating Writers

I can’t say I’m a procrastinating writer as much as I’m a procrastinator. Its nice to know there are blogs out there dedicated to helping those with this affliction.

Procrastinating Writers site offers tons of posts on advice and resources for writers. Topics cover motivation, creativity, and inspiration; all vital elements for the would-be author.

Here are some posts I enjoyed;

Break your writing into manageable pieces.

A simple tool every writer needs to know about.

Setting a writing appointment is an effective way to get writing done.

Add your comments, ideas, or links you feel are worthy to share to other writers.

Technorati Tags: wednesday writer,authors,blog,procrastinating,inspiration,creativity

Idea Bubbles

There are times I wonder if I’m not Attention Deficient Disorder. Many times, when a thought flutters through my mind at the oddest moments, I find have to quickly find pen/paper or grab my Iphone to use the note taking app to get that idea down.

Believe it or not, sometimes I still lose it because I wasn’t fast enough. Its like a bubble that simply burst into nothing before I could catch it.

Inspiration can come at odd times as well.

Doing chores.  I tend to daydream while listening to music as I wash dishes, fold laundry or vacuums the floor. Doing something repetitive and mundane allows me to let my mind wander aimlessly, into areas of my creativity where I believe my elusive muse resides.

Right before sleep.

While I’m driving.

While I’m writing something else.

Listening to music.

Generally, I use the following tips to capture these ideas as they come, before they burst and disappear into the nether.

Keep a notebook on hand. You can get small notebooks to jot down ideas, plots, character ideas, and just about anything quickly.

Voice recorder. This is even better in those moments you can’t write- like driving. Simply tell the recorder the idea and viola! you have the idea stored for later. Android phones, Iphones, and many MP3 players have voice recorders in them.

Check your phone for voice recording. Many cell phones have a voice recorder in them. Even my son’s $10 tracphone had a voice recorder. Iphone and android phones also have apps for this.

When do you get inspired? Do you have special tips to share on capturing those ideas? Feel free to add in comments below.

Technorati Tags: ideas,isnpiration,writer’s block,voice recorder,app,muse,writing,authors,blog

Blogging- When you have nothing to say

There are days I find myself staring at the blank screen, trying to figure out what to write about for my blogs. This is where the ‘idea folder’ comes in handy.

An idea folder doesn’t have to be a literal folder, but a service, notebook, phone app, or anything where you store ideas. You can jot down notes on index cards and keep in a recipe box, or use something like Evernote or Web clipping extensions for browsers to put ideas there.

Ideas come to me at weird moments through my day, and I often feel as though I’m grasping at butterflies before they fly away and I forget the idea before it takes full shape.

My inspirations;

Photos- I find lots of ideas through photos on the web, or even when I take my camera out to snap photos.

http://imgfave.com/frootbat31

http://vi.sualize.us/

Chat or conversation with friends and family. I get lots of ideas via my writer’s group, while my personal blog tends to find inspiration in odd things my son says, or emotionally driven rants on politics or issues.

Current events offer tons of ideas to comment about, or you can share your own experience with the topic. For instance, I’m writing about the National Novel Writing Month coming up in November.

Personal experiences I think offer the best topics. Readers appreciate that insight and revelation from a point of view who went through the process.

Books I read offer tons of ideas, especially when I want to add my own two cents on the subject.

Other bloggers. I have a circle of bloggers who visit, read, and post, offering me links back to their blogs. I can then read their thoughts and comment, cross-linking to illustrate where I found the inspiration.

Once you compiled a number of ideas on your list, when you feel uninspired, look at the ideas folder and start writing.

Post your own inspirations and ideas for topics below.

Technorati Tags: inspiration,writing,blogging,author,publishing,idea folder

Forcing yourself through deadlines

The deadline to the writer’s group anthology is tomorrow. I’m not finished with my story. I found through this experience that working with a theme tends to freeze up my muse. She feels confined and, in protest, will hide somewhere.

I’m confident I’ll crank out something by tonight. I have 1,500 words so far, with 1,500-8,500 to go. The plot worked itself somewhere amid the panic I felt last night. So what if the muse is in hiding?

I don’t need her.

This also shows me how important forcing yourself to write is for the writer. No more excuses, complaints, or reasons- you just do it. You write through whatever Life throws your way, and you get it done.

Even if the stuff you crank out is crap, you can polish the plot, characters, and storyline to a beautiful shine through the re-writes.

Technorati Tags: writer’s block,author,deadlines,blog,muse,inspiration