writer
Creating Your 2016 Action Plan
The new year always brings lots of talk about goals. We often get so wrapped up in where we want to go this year that we forget that we need an action plan in order to get there. It’s great that you want your book to land on the New York Times bestseller list, but how are you going to get it there? It’s most likely not going to appear there by itself. That would just be too easy. Once you have your goals lined up, next step is to create a plan. Formulate tools that are going to help you reach those goals. A good action plan turns goals into reality.
This afternoon I came across an article on Poynter that handed out some pretty refreshing suggestions for productive writing. Sometimes the action plan seems so overwhelming that we quickly start to doubt that we will even make it past step two. That’s why I loved this article so much, it makes productivity sound easy. The article provides five doable solutions to having a productive writing year. It’s something we can all do without too much hassle. It makes our goals seem within our reach, which is half the battle. We need to believe in ourselves before others will. While creating your 2016 action plan, try incorporating some of these tools:
- Create a to-morrow list.
Slim down your “to-do” list every night. Make a smaller list of 3-5 things that you know you will be able to accomplish tomorrow. Often there are many pending jobs left on our ever expanding “to-do” lists that we constantly have the nagging feeling that we are doing so much but we aren’t moving anywhere. Feel your progress with shorter lists meant for success. Tomorrow never felt so good.
2. Dream Big.
This one might just be my favorite. 2016 is the year of big changes. Big changes means big goals. Take a moment to picture your wildest dream ever. Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy with it. Draw a quick picture of your ultimate success and hang it in your work space. Yes, I said it- draw. It doesn’t need to be the next Picasso, but visual reminders are often the most effective. A take a look at that drawing every day before you get to work. Use that energy to make your day the most productive it can be.
3. Build your own ladder.
Create your action plan in chronological order. Start from the bottom and work your way up. What needs to happen before you can take the next step? Don’t get ahead of yourself. Live within the moment and savor every step of the journey.
4. Just do it.
We can only plan so much before we want to rip our hair out. Sometimes we just need to sit down and write. Get all your thoughts out of paper then go back and revise, polish, revise, polish. In order to create something, you need to have a product. Get your baseline product done early so you have the most amount of time possible to make it the best version of your product out there.
5. Set a timer.
It’s really easy to feel overwhelmed when writing, especially when nothing seems to be working out the way we had envisioned. Work in smaller spurts. Set a timer between 30 minutes to a couple hours. Work until the buzzer goes off, then take a break. If you are really feeling what you are writing, keep going. If not, it’s the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button.
Happy writing! Write On.
New Year, New Writing
I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday season and a very happy new year! I cannot believe it’s already 2016, where does the time go (like, for real)? The start of each year gives everyone the perfect opportunity to take a moment out of their busy schedules to reflect on what has happened over the past year, what they accomplished, what they didn’t get to do, and what they want to change for the coming year. This is a really great time for writers to sit down and think about where they want to go with their work. Are you happy with your current success? Do you need to make any major changes to make yourself more successful? Is there something new you have always been dying to try? Do you want to write more or less? Do you want to try your hand at shorter or longer works? The new year isn’t just the perfect time to reinvent yourself, it’s also the perfect time to reinvent your writing.
If you are looking for a little new year inspiration, I came across a fun article on Business 2 Community this afternoon that gives some ideas for writer’s new year resolutions. Hopefully these suggestions will help inspire you to make your own changes. Change is the only way to continually see the results we want. If we become stagnant and comfortable, soon enough our ‘luck’ will run out.
- Write that ‘thing’ you have always been talking about.
The best new year’s resolution for a writer is to stop talking and start writing. We all have that something that we have always talked about writing, but for whatever reason we haven’t picked up the pen yet. We may have even written countless other stories in the meantime, but that one project just can’t seem to make it’s way to fruitation. Think about what’s holding you back and throw that negativity out the window. 2016 is all about action and change, make it happen so you can move onto the next thing on that growing bucket list of yours.
2. Visit the places you write about or want to write about.
The best way to effectively write a scene, chapter, or story is to write from experience. Plan a couple vacations or day trips this year to visit those places you write about. Spend some time writing in those places as well. Visual inspiration is often just the thing we need to bring our writing to life.
3. Read a book that has had a big impact.
Pick up a book that has made a difference. Read a book that has changed history, that has left many readers talking years after it’s publication. Think about why this particular book was so successful. Become part of it’s history and use it to create your own.
4. Learn a foreign language.
This one is certainly a daring and daunting task, but one that could change the course of your writing forever. Learning how other languages construct sentences, how they use different words, and how they express emotions can open up countless new avenues for your own writing. You don’t need to become fluent is the language, just familiarizing yourself about a particular language’s ‘rules’ will teach you a lot in itself.
5. Study your own writing.
Look back at what you have written over the past year and learn from it. Is there a particular mistake you catch yourself making over and over again? Are there certain words you use too much? Do you find all your characters to be eerily similar? Make note of the things that have worked well too. Your biggest teacher is often yourself.
Here’s to another great [writing] year! Write on.
The[Writer’s] Block-Buster
Becoming Your Own Editor
I do a lot of posts about editing on this blog, it’s no secret. To be honest, I have been feeling kind of lost lately because I haven’t done one in a while. There must be something real off in the universe, right? But have no fear, Bustle answered my cry for help this morning. Rachel Krantz reads essay submissions for Bustle and also conducts monthly writing seminars/workshops for their writers and freelancers alike. It is very safe to say that she has completely immersed herself in every part of the writing process, for better or worse. Her last seminar focused on self-editing (insert happy dance here). It is actually one of the more helpful articles I have stumbled upon when it comes to editing, giving me even more of a reason to share it with you.
I don’t want this advice to replace hiring a professional editor. If you have room in your budget to hire professional help, I would still highly recommend it. I’m also in touch with reality enough to know this isn’t possible for everyone, making self-editing one of your prime concerns because you simply don’t have a choice. Whether you are writing a news article, an essay, a short story, or a novel editing can seriously make or break you. You can have an awesome story, but if the reader/editor evaluating your writing can’t get through a few pages (or lines) without finding structural or grammatical errors your writing is automatically going in the ‘trash’ pile. It may not seem fair, but it’s really hard for someone to connect with your writing when all they can think about are the mistakes that keep popping up. Despite if they are easy fixes or not, most editors aren’t going to be willing to work with you if they can’t connect with your story.
Below you will find some advice from Rachel’s seminar, but you should really check it out for yourself too:
- Get your FAME on.
Rachel created an acronym for the process of self-editing before you even start writing, she calls it FAME.
–Free Write: Designate a certain amount of time and just sit down and basically barf up your story in any way, shape, or form possible. Just write whatever comes to mind. Don’t stop and most importantly, don’t think. Just write.
–Account For Your Details: Look for patterns. Words that repeat themselves and themes that keep reoccurring. Highlight those details.
–Map Your Arc: Create a general map of your story. It will be helpful to know where you are starting, what your climax is going to be, and where you will end up.
–Expect An Audience: Figure out who your audience is before you start writing. Also, make an ideal word count. Different forms of writing, different age groups, and different genres all have different ‘ideal’ word counts. It’s best to figure that out before you start writing.
2. Embrace the first edit with questions.
How nice would it be to only have to do one edit and then call it a day? That has to be every writer’s dream, right? Unfortunately, your first edit is going to be one of oh, I don’t know… 100? It might be helpful to approach your first edit with some questions in mind, instead of focusing on just finding the mistakes. I bet there are many areas that could still be developed, cut down, or made clearer. Your first edit is the best place to tackle these problems. That’s why Rachel provides key questions on content, form, and length for you to think about. It’s important to get these issues resolved as early as possible.
3. Walk away.
Once you complete your first edit, walk away from your writing for a few days. Work on something else, treat yourself to a reward, or pick up that book you have been dying to read. Give yourself some time to digest all the work you have done so you will be able to come back to it with a clear mind.
4. Conquer the second edit and so on.
During your second edit, make sure to revisit the same questions you asked yourself during you first edit. Make sure you still feel the same way about them. Rachel also poses some new questions for you to think about to make sure you are still following your original intended track.
5. Recruit a friend.
Ask a friend to read it through. A fresh set of eyes can often save your writing. Sometimes we become blind to the one thing that really needs our attention because we are so busy making sure our overall message is delivered. You might even want to give them the questions that Rachel suggests, so they can think about them while reading.
Self-editing is scary, let’s just admit it. But, with a little help from people who have been there we will be able to get through it, hopefully with the same amount of hair on our head as when we started. Write on.
Writing Together
There’s no doubt that writing is a personal experience. Our best work is often done in our own solitude where our thoughts can flow freely without interruption. But, in order to grow as a writer we need to keep learning and learning is best done with and from others. Many writer’s often scoff or roll their eyes at the mention of writing groups. The complaints are many- the groups slow your writing down, the other writers are too critical, or they don’t understand what type of writer you are. We are deep into National Novel Writing Month and I challenge you to participate in at least one writing group or better yet, create your own. Creating your own writing group will give you more control over the environment, schedule, and other members so you can make the group more effective for you.
Inside Higher Ed recently published an article on how to make a more effective writing group and it gave some really good advice. Whether you are looking to join a group or create your own, the following tips will give you a good idea of what to look for in a writing group or how to structure your own.
– Make sure to do some writing together. You don’t need to write together all the time, but make a point to do so on a regular basis. Seeing other people working hard will encourage you to work even harder too.
-Talk about each other’s work. Not only is writing together important, but sharing what your working on is just as vital. Along with those writing sessions, create reading sessions as well. Read your work out loud or swap work with a partner. The feedback is essential to your success as a writer.
-Don’t let your schedules keep you from following through. If meeting in person isn’t an option for the people in your group, there are many ways to stay in touch via online forums that are just as effective. Make sure to get some video chats in as well, face to face contact is what makes the experience.
-Share your goals. Social media makes it very easy for us to share every little detail of our lives (for better or worse). But, used correctly it’s a very good thing. Share your goals with your social media friends, talk about your successes, or where you fell short. Their encouragement and support will go a long way.
-Create a schedule and stick to it. Have regular check-in’s so you can hold yourself accountable as well as other writers. You need to follow through on your end in order to benefit the other members, but you also need them to follow through on their end for your own success as well.
-Set due dates. Create due dates for certain milestones well a head of time. Last minute deadlines aren’t effective. For many of us writing isn’t our only priority. Planning can before your best friend.
-Set a format to your meetings. You don’t need to plan everything down to the second but you should establish a format and some ground rules so people know what to expect going into each meeting. It will help ease any nervous jitters. It’s not easy putting your work out there for others to judge.
-Talk about life. Create some time at the beginning, middle, or end of the meetings to just talk about whatever you want. Building a relationship with your fellow writers will make the process more enjoyable. It will also give you a break from thinking about how you are ever going to meet the next deadline.
Go on, try it- just once. Write on.
The [Writer’s] Block-Buster
Writing Your Own Story
Memoir writing is a popular form of expression. Many of us experience at least one life changing moment in our lives and it’s natural to want to share our experiences. It’s in our human nature to want to help others who may be going through the same thing we did or to connect with people who have had similar experiences. We hate to feel alone and reaching out to others who know what we went through or are currently going through is comforting. Writing and putting our experiences out there is the easiest way to build your own personal support group. Writing is also therapeutic, allowing you to work through your feelings and maybe even find some feelings you never knew were there.
Author Mary Karr recently published a book entitled, The Art of Memoir. She presented her book to a group of fans in California and gave out some really priceless advice for all of those struggling to write their life story- whether you wish to publish your writing or just keep it for yourself.
- You need to discover yourself before you can accurately write about yourself.
Before you sit down to write that memoir that has been stuck in the back of your mind for years, make sure you truly understand yourself. It sounds kind of silly, but you need to know who you are first- your beliefs, values, likes, dislikes, etc. You don’t want to accused of writing a ‘fake’ memoir. If you don’t truly understand who you are, how are other people going to? One exercise that will help with your soul searching is writing out a list of all the significant moments in your life. Sit down and think about your life from the moment you were put on this Earth. What stands out to you? What memories keep coming back to you? Those are probably the ones worth writing about.
2. Find your theme.
As you start to write, your memories will naturally start to group into themes. It’s then that you will truly find out what’s important to you.
3. Reaching ‘the end’ is a long journey.
Writing about yourself will be an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. There will be a constant fight between who you are versus who you think people want you to be. Don’t give into the critics or haters. There’s always someone that’s going to want to tear you down, especially when you are vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge the criticism and even criticize your own work. The more layers you uncover, the more real your memoir will become.
I particularly like the advice about only sharing your memoir writing with close mentors or writing groups for a long time. Before you show it to your family and friends, you need to have processed it yourself. You need to be happy with the product and confident in the words you put down on the page. Revealing your writing to close family and friends might lead to some uneasy emotions or some hurtful comments. People can become defensive easily, especially if they are mentioned in your writing. You need to be ready to give your family and friends time to process your writing just as you had to do yourself.
Remember that the most important thing to do when writing a memoir is to write your own story. Write On.
When Science Meets Writing
Professor Yellowlees Douglas, an associate professor at University of Florida, recently wrote a book about the science of writing/reading called The Reader’s Brain: How Neuroscience Can Make You A Better Writer. Usually, science and writing don’t mix well- at least personally. I always took the bare minimum of science and math courses in college and filled up my schedule with any many English and writing based classes as possible. But, Professor Douglas thought otherwise. She bases the data in her book off of a study she conducted that measured the impact of multimedia documents on reading. She used eye-tracking, brain scans, and neuroimaging to back up her findings. What Professor Douglas learned about writing, the structure of writing, and what readers want through her science experiments will make us all wish we paid a little closer attention in those science classes.
Here are a few writing tips from Professor Douglas that were highlighted in an article on Futurity:
- “Prime Your Readers”
Set up your story, don’t leave out missing details, and don’t leave your readers wondering what is going on. Introduce your characters fully and vividly paint the landscape/world your stories take place in. Do this early, since Douglas’ study shows that readers recall information better that they are given early on versus later. The good news is that this doesn’t mean you need to ruin your surprise ending, you just don’t want your readers to feel lost along the way.
2. “Use ‘Recency’ To Your Advantage”
Readers remember last sentences better than any others, so pack the punch in those sentences for a bigger effect.
3. “Disappoint Without Destroying Good Will”
Use priming and recency to take away attention from the disappointing or upsetting things you need to tell your reader that they may not want to hear. Take advantage of the “dead zone.”
4. “Bury Bad News”
If you have bad news to share start off neutral, then drop in the news, then put a positive spin on it.
5. “Harness Cause And Effect”
If you have something unsettling to tell your reader, put the cause first. Build up a rationale for what you are about to tell them, almost to a point where they can predict what is going to happen themselves. When we can rationalize something, we are less emotionally attached to it.
6. “Don’t Let Passive Voice Drag You Down”
Readers expect sentences to be constructed in the order of the way things occurred. When passive voice is used, the study shows that the reader’s speed slows down.
Write on.
Writing Crosses All Lines
This morning I happened upon a rather interesting article on TIME‘s website about writing tips from Associate Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan. I clicked on the article because the headline intrigued me, but what I found inside the article set my writing nerd afire. Her tips were given during an interview geared towards legal writing, but proved the very thing I try to emphasis on this blog. Writing is universal. No better where you are from, what job title is assigned to your name, or what genre or type of writing you practice we can all learn from and relate to each other. Writing is one of those rare things that has the power to bring people together- naturally. Even though Elena and I have taken completely different paths in life, I could relate to absolutely everything she had to say. Her advice will surely resonate with writers everywhere.
- Be a good reader.
In order to truly be a good writer, you need to read. Read to research and educate yourself. It’s good to read a lot within the genre you want to write in- see how other authors do it, what works and what doesn’t. But also read outside your genre, be versatile. You never know what you will learn or what new insights you will gain from stepping out of your comfort zone.
2. Write so normal people can understand you.
Remember that the people who are going to be reading your book are just like you. There’s no need impress with super fancy words or elaborated sentences. Write like you are talking to your best friend. The more accessible your writing is, the more people it will reach. People don’t want to feel like they need to work while reading for pleasure, we do enough work in our daily lives already.
3. Don’t dumb yourself down too much.
Writing is an art. We want to be creative and unique with it. Just because it’s simple, casual writing doesn’t mean it can’t be deep and profound. The best thing is to know your audience. Assume that most people who pick up your book are average readers and will be able to sift through whatever you throw at them.
4. Have fun!
This one is my favorite and well… self-explanatory. Just let you creative juices flow, let loose, and write. Let all your worries fade for a few hours. That’s when your best writing comes to life.
5. Explain your reasoning.
This one is the most geared towards legal writing, but all writers could learn from this. Paint a vivid picture of your story, your characters, your world- it’s laws, it’s culture, it’s traditions. Don’t leave any detail untouched. The smallest thing, maybe the stop signs are green instead of red or maybe children are able to drive at age thirteen, can make the reader feel like they truly understand what you are writing. You want them to be connected to your story and not left searching for the missing puzzle pieces.
6. Get feedback from the people you trust.
This is extremely important. You need other people to read your writing before you publish it. It doesn’t need to be a professional editor, but you need another set of eyes. Eventually, your own eyes become immune to the errors on the page in front of them and start to lose focus on areas that could use improvement. The important part is to get someone you trust. Someone who is going to give their honest opinion. Giving your work to someone who is going to do nothing but praise it, isn’t going to help. But giving it to someone who is going to purposefully rip it to shreds isn’t going to be productive either.
Write on.