Branching out with my writing
No, you’re not going into witness protection. And don’t expect CIA recruiters anytime soon.
You’ve taken control of your other writing projects.
But you’re feeling a little stale.
Maybe it’s time to create a new Web presence.
Explore a new topic of interest.
Give it time to evolve into something of greater value–to you and your readers.
image courtesy of gratisography.com
Greetings, fellow writers.
I will be sharing various resources here from my mini-course on prewriting.
Here is my concept list with a ‘surprise/unexpected/amazement’ theme, along with a video of how it might be used to develop a story.
I hope it helps. Feel free to pass along this post to writer friends.
And, let me know if…
Okay, here is today’s content…
Surprise-The Unexpected-Amazement Concept List July 2017
Stay true to yesterday’s ‘watch your temper’ advice,
Yes, counter to August 27: Your reclusiveness serves no one. , today IS STILL a good day to be a shut-in. Your editor wasn’t in a compromising mood, so the embers are still smoldering and the deadlines still loom.
No, you don’t have to totally insulate yourself.
But give it another day before you get a handle on the workload.
image courtesy of gratisography.com
Yesterday’s merciless ‘overwhelm’ endures.
The editor shoots you a ‘Where’s your draft?’ email.
You want to show him what you’d like to do with the email.
But the garbage disposal isn’t disposing.
Can you find a tolerable medium?
How about–you’ll do the rewrite if he gives you an extra week?
It’ll at least give you time to get the disposal fixed…in case of future editorial spats.
Today, September 11, is a national day of service, as requested by people who lost family in the 2001 tragedy. Here is a link to publicgood.com.
So many ideas, so little time.
So many projects, so much self-doubt.
It will be tempting to let it wash all over you.
Go ahead, give it an hour.
Call it a short-term pity party.
Then pull out your notebook, audio recorder, laptop, hammer-and-chisel [and acceptable hard surface]–whatever!–and churn out a few words.
Even if it’s that chapter you finally finished yesterday, despite concerted efforts from a family member. If you finished it, that’s success.
Just don’t overdo it. A sugar-high can be an ugly thing.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
The doing is often more important than the outcome.
*Arthur Ashe*
A book I like on success and ‘getting stuff done’: The One Thing by Gary Keller. [No, I don’t always heed the advice, but it serves to get me back to the essentials.]
Image by Gratisography
First of all, I love short chapters.
Thank you, Joel Saltzman, author of If You Can Talk, You Can Write [1993]—50 chapters squeezed into 190 pages.
And he practices what he preaches, as Saltzman might as well be playfully preaching to us over coffee in the kitchen.
Three of my preferred chapters:
My favorite Saltzman quotes:
Saltzman also weaves in short anecdotes, pop quizzes [Ten questions you can’t get wrong], and valuable quotes from other writers, including:
This is one of about a dozen books I would snag from my shelf in case a fire broke out at home. [If it wasn’t already been planted in my back seat box of writing stuff…]
First of all, I love short chapters.
Thank you, Joel Saltzman, author of If You Can Talk, You Can Write [1993]—50 chapters squeezed into 190 pages.
And he practices what he preaches, as Saltzman might as well be playfully preaching to us over coffee in the kitchen.
Three of my preferred chapters:
My favorite Saltzman quotes:
Saltzman also weaves in short anecdotes, pop quizzes [Ten questions you can’t get wrong], and valuable quotes from other writers, including:
This is one of about a dozen books I would snag from my shelf in case a fire broke out at home. [If it wasn’t already been planted in my back seat box of writing stuff…]
This chapter is killing me!
A whine emanates from the other room. He knows…
A little he-and-I time wouldn’t hurt.
A deadly whimper-whine combination.
Stop right there! You know deep down once you leave that keyboard, there’s little chance you’re coming back, not even to turn things off.
Aim for a quick win, or at least a compromise. Set the timer for 20 minutes. You power through till the buzzer goes off and then Droopy-Eyed Ralph can get his walk.
Other anti-distraction tips:
http://published.com/magazine/how-to-create-distraction-free-writing-life
…and for those with family members who can’t read ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs and who claim to not understand clearly-stated boundaries: http://www.diyauthor.com/distraction-working-home-when-you-have-pets/ .
Word Inventions