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Nov 8

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Boost your writing ambitions with a personal mantra

What is your personal writing philosophy? If you’re passionate about writing – for whatever reason – you probably have goals and dreams about what you want to accomplish. I’ve found writing energy by adopting a personal mantra that reflects my writing philosophy.

A personal motto for success can help you derail fear, find strength when you’re feeling blocked, and serve as a reminder of what you really care about and what you ultimately want to achieve. It can bring focus to your writing practice.

The reasons why people write vary, but many writers find their craft goes beyond something they just “do” to something that is part of how they experience life. It’s about how stories are always percolating in their subconscious and how they constantly observe the world to search for ideas and inspiration. They’re driven to arrange their priorities and structure their lives to accommodate writing.

If you possess this kind of passion for your writing goals, you might want to adopt a guiding principle for your pursuits. A mantra may be as simple as, “finish what you start.” I was inspired by an MFA mentor who often reminded students to, “trust the process” – a good reminder to relax, have faith, and just write. Read more

Nov 7

Create a Questing Journal for story and world-building

For my National Novel Writing Month project (Nanowrimo), I’m working on my next book—a paranormal thriller with a female protagonist who is a healer. Along the way, she learns new things about her paranormal world. As I create this world, I have many unanswered questions. As my heroine is on a quest, so am I.

As creator of this world, I have to use everything available to me to make my world and story unique. Often what comes out first on the page is top-of-the-head clichés or unoriginal, boring material. When I write fast, as in Nanowrimo, I also want to go deep. One way I do that is in my dreams. Read more

Nov 4

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Find writing success with a buddy

Everyone should have a writing buddy. My blogging partner Carol Despeaux and I have been writing together since we met at a writing conference three years ago and realized we were both working on memoirs.

Over the past several years, we’ve critiqued each other’s work, brainstormed story ideas, and given each other pep talks (“Go Speedwriter Go”).  We’ve shared writing craft ideas, teaching resources, and favorite books.

We feel that with each other’s support, we can progress faster with our writing goals. Because Carol knows my “story,” she can offer insights and point out meaning that I might not see because I’m too close to it. She can spot areas that aren’t clear or could benefit from elaboration. And I do the same for her.

When I need a laugh, she sends me a funny photo of her cats Simba, Precious, and Teddy Bear. And when she needs to smile, I send her the latest photo of Mr. Cat. Read more

Nov 3

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Eight Quick Tips for National Novel Writing Month

This is the third November I’ve signed up for National Novel Writing Month but the first year I’ve actually tried to reach the goal of writing a new novel (of at least 50,000 words) in a month.

It was a last minute decision based on two things: the right timing (I’m actually ready to start my next manuscript and quit dawdling over my previous one) and the right inspiration. I returned from the Surrey International Writer’s Conference pumped and ready to rock and roll (or is that sit and spin a story?).

So, you have an idea. You may or may not have an outline you’re working from. I have a partial outline—some on the computer and some in my head. I know my main characters pretty well although I haven’t met most of my minor characters yet. I know my overall theme. I know the direction I want to go. The rest? I have no clue. I’m a combination panster (as in flying by the seat of) and plotter.

My eight tips to make your November easier: Read more

Nov 2

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The MacGuvyer version of the commonplace writers’ notebook

I’m going all MacGuyver on you today to tell you about a writer’s tool that you may want when you’re in a situation where you can’t carry a handbag or have limited pocket space. Or maybe you’re floating down the Amazon River or on a camp out with no electricity for charging small electronics.

It’s the Hipster PDA (Parietal Disgorgement Aid). I learned about it from the 43 Folders website and have made Hipster PDAs for students in my writing classes.

Advantages of the Hipster PDA:

  1. No battery required.
  2. Slim size makes it great for when you’re traveling light.
  3. Easy and inexpensive to make. Read more

Nov 1

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Hook readers with these first-page techniques

Before you can reel readers into your story world, you have to hook them with your first page. I find inspiration from reading other writers and seeing how they created a compelling beginning.

Here are a few concepts to consider as you craft your beginning with examples from three authors.

Narrative and character attitude. Imagine you walk into a room and you’re engaging with people and observing the feeling of the place. Are the people angry, happy, tired, or sarcastic? Like rooms full of people, stories have a narrative and a character attitude or feeling. Readers will sense the attitude of your story in the first few pages and will notice at some level the characters’ and narrator’s emotional spin or attitude about their world. Check your first page to see what attitude your words project. Read more

Oct 31

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How to tame the beast called plot

In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d write about plot. The word plot used to scare me more than the time I was ten years old and my cousin dragged me to the local haunted house our little town hosted for Halloween.

I screamed my head off (cliches are okay at Halloween when the veil between good and bad prose is thinnest)—monsters lurching out of the dark, re-enactments of beheadings and hangings, cobwebs tangling in my hair, but when a hand reached out and grabbed my ankle in that dark hallway, I let loose a blood-curdling scream that would make the director of “Saw” proud. (Not that I would ever see said movie). I nearly trampled all the people in line in front of me to get out of there. I’ve never been in a haunted house since. To this day, I still shiver when somebody mentions haunted house and Halloween in the same breath.

But I digress…. Notice, I said the word plot used to scare me. That was before I started reading James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure.As a newbie to writing fiction, I’d get confused about the word plot—what does it mean exactly? It sounds like some exotic species of plant that needs to be cared for in an exact, specific way or all will be lost. Read more

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