No, not that kind. [Your sanity is not in question.**]
You realize you’re better at ideation and first drafting on paper.
But someone has to digitize that brilliance.
Time for…a virtual assistant.
Always wise to check references, however.
**…yet.
Monthly Archives: August 2017
Writers Horoscope August 25 : Today, you’ll have your eyes on a different prize.
© Tim Haag
And you will pay for it.
Three pounds later, 2000 words in arrears, you will resolve to turn it around tomorrow.
You will need twice the willpower to atone for your sins–a day of watercress/kale smoothies and 4000 words [you might as well riff on your day of decadence].
But hey, it was fun while it lasted, right?
Photo courtesy of http://gratisography.com/
Writers Horoscope August 24: Rejection? Make it work for you.
Your friend woke up to three ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ emails last Friday.
A pity.
You could be next.
You could give up. Or you could…
- unleash your trusty PaperMate… [Adding sound effects is perfectly acceptable.]
- scrawl out an angry, primed-for-the-trashcan “You don’t know what you’re missing!” tirade…
- move on with your novel about a thoughtless, talentless book editor who encounters a gauntlet of starving homicidal writers.
Your choice.
Writers Horoscope August 23 : Run your own race. Find your own pace.**
Sure, others will push past you and achieve more notable success.
Look at it this way [yes, it’s Chapter Umpteen in ‘find the positives’.]: You may never have to confront that damnable ‘impostor syndrome’ that creeps up on some folks. And if you keep lip-diddling your way through your one book, you won’t face that fearsome ‘sophomore slump’.
** Yes, sentence 2 was redundant, but I fell victim to the rhyme. So sue me.
Photo courtesy of http://gratisography.com/
Writers Horoscope August 22: The work of others calls your name. Stay original.
Go ahead…
Take a quick peek.
Not bad, huh…
It might be just what you need to freshen up that lifeless essay on your daily struggles.
Tsk, tsk, tsk…stealing from an inanimate object.
Shame on you.
Writers Horoscope August 21: Prepare to be exploited.
Your desperation attracts jackals.
You wanted an editor for your easy chapter book. First quote to come in: $1500.
Say what?
Exhibit patience. Not your strong suit.
Lower quotes are on the way.
Time for you to be the exploiter.**
**Even if you follow up on a $500 offer, and don’t like the results, find another editor with a reasonable rate. Result: Detailed feedback from two editors and you’re still out hundreds less than if you’d jumped at that first profiteer.
Prewriting Mini-Course Available September 15
I’ve been finishing work on this free mini-course.
![Prewriting- Jump-start Your Writing Projects With These Eight Approaches[Fun AND Productive First Steps to a Completed Work]](https://inventwithwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/prewriting-jump-start-your-writing-projects-with-these-eight-approachesfun-and-productive-first-steps-to-a-completed-work.png?w=385&h=578)
If you’d like to take the free prewriting mini-course, just add your email address below.
Video-based Modules Included in the Full Course:
- The flexible outline [K.M. Weiland demonstrated this in a Writer’s Digest article.]
- The Foolscap approach [based on work by Steven Pressfield.]
- Mind Mapping
- Use of concept lists [Here is an Surprise-The Unexpected-Amazement Concept List July 2017 with the theme of ‘surprise/the unexpected’.]
- Character Interviews
- Interviews with yourself as an author
- A recap of James Patterson’s approach to outlining. [I paid $95 for his master class. Good, good investment.]
Also included:
— Videos demonstrating my use of these strategies.
— Writers’ quotes and insights into prewriting.
— Relevant applications from the following two books:
- 45 Master Characters [Victoria Lynn Schmidt]
- 20 Master Plots [Ronald B. Tobias]
Writer Horoscope August 20: Today, avoid being your own worst enemy.
You have enough demons undermining your progress.
Free up those fingers and finish that next chapter.
Photo courtesy of: http://gratisography.com/
Web/Twitter Gems August 14-18
- Creative Success – A 7-Lesson Guide to Creating by Jessica James
http://brainzooming.com/creative-success-a-7-lesson-guide-to-creating-by-jessica-james/16608/ #5…not my favorite step, which means I should definitely buck up and follow through.
- “Be ruthless about protecting writing days…” J.K. Rowling
http://www.advicetowriters.com/home/2016/7/7/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days.html #amwriting #writerslife
- Miserable Day Job Turns Into $100,000 Side Income https://sidehustleschool.com/episode/43
This person used her blog to side-hustle her way out of her job. These eight-minute podcasts might just nudge you to venture forward yourself.
- Jon Winokur @AdviceToWriters
“Outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters’ theses.” –STEPHEN KING
Just one opinion, but geez, this guy just might know something about the writing business.
- So, if, unlike Stephen King, you’re at least straddling the fence on outlining, Steven Pressfield’s foolscap method might just provide that happy medium. http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2011/04/the-foolscap-method/
Key words: “Shut up and begin.” There are plenty of other resources that explore the foolscap method of diving into a writing project.
Writers Horoscope August 19: Today, break from your daily routine.
You don’t always have to write first thing in the morning.
Seek adventure that might spur a whole new plot, a new series of blog posts, even a misdemeanor on your up-to-now unsullied criminal record.
Be open to possibility.
http://gratisography.com/
Word Inventions 