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Posts from the ‘Writing Life’ Category

Jan 29

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Use this writing prompt to reveal ideas for your next essay, poem, or chapter

One of the things I love about teaching is what I learn from it myself. In a recent memoir writing class, I gave students a writing prompt based on a story I’d heard about a man who only wrote in lists.

I told the student to write their memoir in 20 statements.

What they wrote was revealing, funny, and at times sad. I also realized that each statement could be a springboard for writing an essay, a chapter for a longer manuscript, or a poem.

If you’re searching for a way into your writing, try it yourself and see what you come up with.

For more ideas about ways to write a memoir, read my posts Four ways to write about your life and Four ways to write about your life, part 2.

Jan 28

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The misconception Author Patricia Cornwell would like to correct

Forensic crime author Patricia Cornwell was recently interviewed by Rob McGibbon for the UK Daily Mail. Besides getting a fascinating glimpse into what Cornwell considers a “fantasy day,” we also get a clue into what the beginning of her career was like and what it took for her to break out and become successful: persistence and never giving up.

When asked what misconception about herself she wishes she could erase, Cornwell answers:

“That I was an overnight success. I had four books rejected before I got accepted. There seems to be a feeling it was a breeze for me and it all comes easily. It doesn’t!”

For more fun facts about Cornwell, you can read the rest of the article here.

For tips on surviving rejection in your own writing life, read my previous post, “Six guidelines for turning rejection into success.“

Jan 27

You have something special to say: Write with abandon

I recently presented a memoir writing workshop. A couple times in class, I gave the students writing prompts. When I asked the students if they wanted to read their writing, almost everyone did. I was inspired by all of them. Each one had something special to say. Each piece of writing had humor and sadness and beauty.

I’m sad to say though that I saw a trend repeated in this class. Almost every student who read, qualified what they were going to read with a statement, such as:

“It’s kind of short,”

“It’s kind of long,”

It’s not very good.”

No matter how many times,I tell students, “Don’t think, just put the words down on the page,” or “the first draft is just a draft,” or, “writing is a practice,” they still feel the need to devalue their words. Read more

Jan 23

Tips for choosing a writing teacher or mentor

In my last post, I wrote about what I learned on a raw food retreat with author and raw food guru David Wolfe. That post discussed that if you want to be an “expert” in a field (like writing your novel), you may want to practice the concept of total immersion.

The second principle I learned at that retreat has to do with who you choose as your mentors or guides. We were talking about food, of course, and David said if you’re considering purchasing a cookbook or diet book, look at the picture of the author. Are they glowing with health? Do they look fit? If they don’t—if they’re obviously unhealthy or unfit—then why would you want to buy their book?

This same concept is true for choosing a writing mentor or teacher. A gaggle of people teach writing, and if you search online, you’ll find hundreds selling their classes or products.

Choose your mentors with care. Read more

Jan 21

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Do you have screen apnea? Breathe deeply to enhance your health and creativity

I’m always happy if I can put myself into a writing trance, shut out distractions, and find my focus. But I figured out something about myself. I sometimes forget to breathe. Literally, I find that I’m holding my breath or that my breathing is very shallow.

So when I read the book, Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind, I was intrigued to learn that there’s a name for this — screen or e-mail apnea. Unfortunately, it can be harmful to your health.

In the chapter, “Awakening to Conscious Computing,” technology consultant Linda Stone, who coined the terms e-mail apnea and screen apnea, wrote about how she observed more than 200 people using computers and smart phones in offices, homes, and cafes. The vast majority, she said, were holding their breath or breathing very shallowly, especially when responding to e-mail. Their posture while sitting at the computer was often poor, which exacerbated the problem. Read more

Jan 20

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How total immersion can help you finish your novel

At a raw food retreat I attended in 2004, raw food guru and author David Wolfe said two things that have stuck with me through the last ten years. This post will discuss the first principle. My next post will go over the second one.

He said that if you want to become an “expert” in any field you have to totally immerse yourself in that field: study it, read books about it, talk about it, write about it. Eventually, you begin to dream about it. Total Immersion.

Writing and finishing a novel requires the same type of immersion. Even when you’re not sitting down to write, your story needs to be running in the background of your subconscious. Read more

Jan 16

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How to break out of the writing doldrums

In Carly’s post, “Four tips to defeat your writing funk,” she shares some tips for what to do when you get stuck in your writing project. Her ideas prompted me to share a few of my own. Goodness knows we all get into the writing doldrums from time to time, but there’s no need to panic!

  1. Give your brain a break. The other day I was stuck on a scene but I was tired and my brain just wasn’t working. So I lay down on the couch and dreamed myself into my story. I didn’t force it but just kind of gently played around with some ideas in my mind. Sometimes, I might fall asleep doing this but that day, an idea floated to the surface that fit, so I got up and continued writing. Score one for my muse!
  2. Write somewhere different. I was working on a piece at my desk the other night and just couldn’t get into it. I felt uncomfortable for some reason. So, I made a cup of tea and curled up in my big white chair in the same room. Before I knew it, I was back in the flow of writing and having fun. Routines are great until your brain gets to complacent. That’s when you have to trick it with a new routine. Read more
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