Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

9 Writing Websites to Advance Your Fiction Skills

Posted: February 22, 2013 in Inspiration, Motivation, Popular, Productivity, Writer's Toolbox, Writing, YA
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Ever find yourself stuck in your writing? Or you don’t know what to do next? Or maybe you’ve wondered how professionals will react to your work? Check out these websites and learn from some of the best:

  1. kidlit.com – Literary super agent Mary Kole blogs about what makes children’s fiction stand out from the pack. Her site is loaded with tips to hone your fiction and catch an agent’s attention.
  2. goinswriter.com – Jeff Goins blogs about writing, blogging and encourages aspiring writers. He challenges writers to be honest and not be afraid to write the truth. His tips on successful blogging are a must for anyone starting a blog.
  3. novelrocket.com – Novelist Gina Holmes, along with numerous other contributors, give fiction authors the tools they need to hone their craft and make their stories shine. Posts include tips and advice from literary agents, published authors and much, much more.
  4. advancedfictionwriting.com – Randy Ingermanson, known as the “Snowflake Guy,” gives tons of advice on how to write fiction, from concept to completed novel. His Snowflake Method is a great way to help you plan your novel and see it completed.
  5. writetodone.com – Mary Jaksch’s website has articles from hundreds of contributors, all with the focus of helping writers grow. From fiction to non-fiction, blogging to copywriting, she’s got it covered.
  6. killzoneauthors.blogspot.com – Thriller and mystery authors, including James Scott Bell, unite on this awesome site dedicated to those genres. Daily tips and insight into creation of thrillers and ideas, and everything else thriller/mystery related.
  7. margielawson.com – Margie Lawson uses her expertise in psychology to bring powerful emotion to writer’s stories. She offers online classes (very affordable) with other writers to help you hone your craft and deepen your words. Classes vary, but cover topics like emotion, body language and deep editing – just to name a few.
  8. literaryrambles.com – Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre interview literary agents and research the most recent information to help writers find the right agent for them. A great resource if you are on the hunt for an agent.
  9. queryshark.blogspot.com – Literary super agent Janet Reid critiques query letters online, giving her advice from years of experience of how to improve your query. You can read all submissions and her advice.

What writing websites have helped you on your writing journey?

Overcome the Un-Creativity Beast

Posted: February 15, 2013 in Creativity, Inspiration, Productivity, Unleash Your Creativity, Writer's Toolbox, Writing, YA
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Unlocking the creative words from our heads can be a challenge. As a writer, I’ve struggled with that on a daily basis. Some days, I stare at the blank page and think what on earth am I doing? Others, the words flow and I can’t stop them.

The Struggle
As I’m walking this pregnancy journey, my brain has been more unfocused these days. My creative output isn’t what it was pre-pregnacy. And I forget simple stuff. My doctor calls it “prego brain.” While I love the idea of our coming child, I’m not a fan of the prego brain! It’s so annoying.

So how do you overcome the beast of un-creativity?

Tips to Unleash Your Creativity

  • Butt On Chair Time: Even when you don’t feel like writing or creating, write anyways. When I look back over some of the things I’ve written the past few weeks, I’ve found some sparkling lines mixed in along with some great descriptions. And the word count adds up faster than I thought.
  • Rest: Get plenty of sleep.
  • Go for a Walk: Observe nature or the world around you. I always find something new to write about or a creative way to express a thought when I’m out in the world.
  • Try Something New: Maybe it’s taking a pottery class or learning how to build a bookshelf. Go for a hike in the mountains or on a trip to that museum you’ve always wanted to go to but never taken the time for.
  • Debate an Issue or Idea from the Opposite Viewpoint: It’s easy to defend your own point of view, but what if you’ve got a character or situation that doesn’t agree with your ideals? Try writing a paper or debating with a trusted friend about the topic to deepen your story and your characters.
  • Create During Optimal Hours: Are you a morning person or a night person? Whichever it is, use those hours to your advantage. I write best in the morning, so the earlier I start, the more creative my thoughts are.
  • Write on a Blank Page: When I’m stumped, if I open up a blank spiral page or a new Word document, I’m less inhibited about “messing up” my previous words. For me, there’s something about the act of writing in a separate page that gives me permission to write really bad, whatever comes into my head. If I open up the actual document my novel is saved in, I always hesitate to write new things because I’m afraid I’ll mess it up.
  • Freewrite Everyday: Julia Cameron suggests the use of “Morning Pages” in her book The Artist’s Way. The basic premise is to freewrite first thing in the morning, three pages or fifteen minutes – whatever comes into your head, without checking for grammar – in stream of consciousness style. As I do this, words begin to flow and that latch pops off the creativity lock. It’s amazing how it works.

What ways have you found to inspire your creative muse?

Are You in Pursuit of Quantity or Quality?

Posted: January 31, 2013 in Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
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We’ve all complained there aren’t enough hours in the day. I know I’m guilty. If there were just a couple more hours, I could get it all done. Yet, we all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Why do some people seem to manage their time better, get more stuff done, become more efficient or successful?

In our society, we’re plagued with busyness. So how do we overcome it?

Finding Quality
We weren’t designed to be robots. We weren’t even designed to be producers. Yet somewhere along the way, our culture has turned us into would be robots that get our self-esteem from our quantity of production.

But I’ve found my life to be more fulfilling, more successful and more joyful when I pursue quality in my life over the quantity. I have to cut out as many unnecessary things as I can to focus on what’s important. For example, my husband and I recently found out we are expecting our first baby in August. While the planner in me wants to get everything cleaned up and the nursery ready yesterday, my body and mind say slow down. I can’t get as much done as I want at one time. Through this pregnancy, I’ve found it’s okay to enjoy the moment and not feel guilty that I’m not doing something. The dishes can be done later. The clothes folded in a little while. I’m enjoying the rest while I can, before baby comes.

Turn the Time-Eaters Off
According to Nielsen, the average American spends 34 hours a week watching TV. Ouch. I didn’t realize we watched so much. That’s nearly 5 hours a day. And that’s not counting the hours we spend at movie theaters or on social media outlets such as Facebook.

Sure, it’s good to enjoy life and have fun, but sometimes, I have to ask myself if I’m overindulging. So maybe today, I’ll turn the TV off. Or I’ll ask myself, are my daily activities pushing me closer to my goals? Are they helping me grow as a writer or strengthen my family? Or are they Time-Eaters, the busy things that make me feel like I’ve accomplished something today?

How about you? Are all of those extra rehearsals and practices sucking up too much time? Are there moments when turning off the TV would help out? Are you filling your day with noise rather than with things that matter?

When we go through our day without enjoying art or beauty in the world, maybe there’s something missing. By pursuing quality in the things we do, over quantity, we step out of our mediocre life. Get in tune with your spirit life, family, nature, art, music, literature – the beautiful things that lift us up, not tear us down.

10 Tips to Find the Quality Over Quantity in Your Life:

  1. Get plenty of rest and exercise. They are good for you body, mind and spirit. When you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be at your best.
  2. Eliminate Time-Eaters. Can you cut a few hours out? Or DVR programs and fast forward the commercials. My husband started doing this for sports games and it saves an hour or more per game. Wow.
  3. Make time to read. Even if it’s only a chapter a day. It’s rewarding, fills me with creative ideas, helps me grow as a person.
  4. Upgrade your technology. If your laptop is slow and zapping your time, update it. You’ll save valuable time.
  5. Check you’re tools. Are there newer, more efficient programs and apps to help with work and life tasks? Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade!
  6. Make a schedule for your day. Give yourself larger time blocks to get those activities done. And make sure to include family time, me time, God time, friend time, etc. Don’t starve your spiritual and family life.
  7. Turn off the notifications. That’s right – email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Set a scheduled time to check those things once or twice a day, rather than all day long.
  8. Let go of perfectionism. Is it really necessary to organize your clothes in color order and style? Are there repetitive chores that could be done less often?
  9. It’s okay to say no. If people are always asking you to do stuff for them, learn to say no to what’s not important, giving you and your family more time.
  10. Get help. Get the skills or advice you need to help manage your time better. There are tons of great books and websites out there. Or ask a friend who seems to have their time under control, what’s their secret?

Further Reading:

Cha-Cha-Cha Chia! – Catch Your Dream, Part 7

Posted: January 10, 2013 in Catch Your Dream, Creativity, Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
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“Hey, you want to be an artist? Ain’t no money in that.” – Si Robertson, Duck Dynasty

I love A & E’s hit show Duck Dynasty. The Robertson family grew their small duck call building business from a small, one-man operation into a multi-million dollar company. Now, every week, I get to watch their crazy antics and goofy quotes as they try to keep their family and their business growing. And I can’t get enough of it!

What’s Your Passion?
When you’re passionate about what you do, like the Robertson’s, you have to do it. And to be successful, something needs to happen everyday to grow you closer to your dream.

I don’t write for money. I don’t write for fame. I write because it’s truly a part of who I am. An expression of all the things I long to tell others. It’s what wakes me up in the middle of the night when an idea hits me. It’s what gets me up early in the morning when I’m not a morning person. So why wouldn’t I write everyday?

Even if I only have five or ten minutes, I can still jot an idea down. It’s not work to me (except when I’m editing). I love it. And when I’m not writing, I feel pretty miserable.

So what’s your dream? What steps are you taking to make it happen?

Grow, Grow, Grow
You may have little seeds of ideas at first. Or you may have no clue how to proceed. Start researching. Here are a few ideas to help you out:

  • What are the best books out there to help you achieve your dream? Buy one and start reading.
  • Maybe you need to create a vision plan. Tack it on your wall to remind you everyday what your dream is. I put quotes on my laptop wallpaper and up on my writing room wall.
  • Go to classes or workshops. Get the education you need to make your dream a reality.
  • Surround yourself with encouraging friends who will help you achieve your dream.
  • Start thinking like it’s possible. If you always tell yourself this is crazy, and you don’t believe it’s possible, you’ll never achieve it. Your mind is your most powerful ally – or enemy – to achieving your dream.
  • Write out your plan for success. What tangible steps will you take this week? This month?
  • Keep in faith and family. Always remember your family and faith are priorities above your work. Stay humble as you achieve success, and you will do well.

Those seeds will start to grow, even turn into bigger ideas. You’ll be more prepared. You’ll know how to proceed.

Don’t Give Up

Remember, your dream may take many months or years to achieve. It took me several years before I actually called myself a writer. I still have the dream of a published novel. I’m about 8 years into my writing life, and that dream is becoming closer to a reality. I can see it.

But even if I never publish that novel, I believe I’ve caught my dream. I live the life of a writer everyday, and grow more and more passionate about my art. Like the Robertson’s, I believe in putting family and faith first, and doing something everyday to draw you closer to your dream.

In what ways have you grown that have helped you step closer to your dream?

Check out the rest of the series, Catch Your Dream:

7 Tips to Become a Writing Jedi

Posted: January 3, 2013 in Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
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As this new year begins, I’m thinking about all the writing I’d like to get done. My goals are often bigger than probably possible. But maybe that keeps me writing, who knows? These tips have helped me this past year, so I hope they’ll help you in this new year.

  1. Writers Do, There is No Try: Write. Practice. Write some more. No excuses.
  2. Use the Force: There are so many writing books, blogs, magazines, conferences, workshops and classes out there. Find the ones that work and follow their advice. Use the knowledge of others to help you grow and hone your craft.
  3. Seek out Jedi Masters: Writing mentors, critique groups, writing books and blogs can provide the counsel you need to grow into a Writing Jedi.
  4. Be Patient, Padawan: Don’t get in a hurry to send off your work. Polish it. Run it by your critique group. Make sure it’s ready to submit.
  5. Believe: You have to believe it can happen before it does. You have to see yourself as a writer or a published author before it can come to pass.
  6. Be Tested: Yoda and Obi-Wan both left Luke to face the final trials alone. Sometimes it’s scary to put your work out there, but you’ll never know if you can do it or how it will be received until you step up and try. Be tested.
  7. Use Your Powers for Good – Don’t Turn to the Dark Side: We have more power in our words than we realize. What if we wrote something from the heart that had power to it, exposed a truth or shared a heartache? How could impact others? Write the truth as you see it. Do not be afraid.

What things have helped you become successful in your writing?

The Gong Show – Catch Your Dream, part 6

Posted: December 4, 2012 in Catch Your Dream, Creativity, Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
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gongFive literary agents sat at a table across the front of the room. At least two hundred hopeful writers filled the audience, waiting. A basket full of anonymous query letters was to be read out loud for the panel.

If an agent liked what he or she heard, they’d let the announcer read on. If not, they’d strike the gong.

Three strikes and your query was out.

The Dilemma
I contemplated placing my query in the basket. Yes. No. Yes. No. Back and forth, until I chickened out and didn’t do it. I was afraid to hear what they would say. Afraid they wouldn’t like my story. And I wasn’t sure if I could handle hearing all that rejection. Not when I’d worked so hard on my novel.

So I sat in the audience, listening. Letter after letter was gonged. Some made it three words. Some made it a full paragraph. Only one made it all the way through without the dreaded gong ringing.

I was blown away. How are you supposed to get past any agent if they won’t even read three words?

Afterwards, I still wished I’d been brave enough to put my letter in. I realized, I would never know if I was throwing my query letter out there in the dark, or how to improve it. There was a room full of agents willing to shed light on their take of my letter, and I didn’t take advantage of it because I was afraid.

Letting Go of Fear
If we let fear rule our dream, if we’re never willing to risk, we may get discouraged and quit. We won’t be able to see how to improve or what steps to take next. Catching our dream is more than letting our emotions rule us. It’s controlling them, working despite the fear of rejection. Despite the naysayers. Sure, our work may not be good enough yet, but we have to keep working until it is.

Even though I was petrified to enter the Gong Show that day, I had an eye-opening experience. It was a defining moment in my writing life for me. I realized so many things I needed to do to make my writing stronger. Not just in the story aspects, but in learning how to articulate and how to market my writing.

The Risk
So why not take a step closer to your dream?

What’s the worst that could happen? Try something and it doesn’t work? Or ask someone for help? We don’t always like the advice we get, but sometimes, it turns out to be the very thing we need to hear, or the idea that solves our problem. And we may end up meeting a mentor or friend who will guide us closer to our dream.

Sure, rejection is painful, but victory is sweet. I know – so cliché. But if you never put yourself out there, how will you know which one you’ll end up with?

After the Gong Show, I spent the next several months reading new books on how to market my writing for publication and asking people who have been successful the best advice on how to make my query better. I even sent out that dreaded query letter to agents. It’s scary, but it will make me a stronger writer.

And next year at the conference, I’ll have my query letter ready to put in that basket.

“A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.”
~ Bo Bennett

What’s holding you back from catching your dream?
What things have discouraged you from catching your dream?

Check out the rest of the series, Catch Your Dream:

NaNoWriMo Writers Rock!

Posted: October 29, 2012 in Creativity, Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
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All I can say is NaNoWriMo writers rock! I posted last week that I was participating, and my inbox has been flooded with other writers sharing their excitement about November. So many have been gracious to post my site on their blog, and I wanted to return the favor. Check out all these writers and their blogs gearing up for NaNoWriMo:

When I first posted last week, I was a little nervous about the daunting task of 50,000 words in one month. But I see that there are so any out there to support me and other writers, I have every confidence we’ll reach our goals! Good luck to all of you guys! I can’t wait for Thursday! Bring it!

Practice Smarter, Not Harder – Catch Your Dream

Posted: October 18, 2012 in Catch Your Dream, Creativity, Inspiration, Motivation, Productivity, Writer's Toolbox, Writing
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My husband bought this crazy exercise program with the brainstorm I’d try it with him. I’m more athletically challenged than anything else, and I laughed at him when he suggested it. There was no way.

Practice Makes You Better
He bought the DVD set anyway, along with weights, yoga mat, resistance bands and chin-up bar – the whole set up. I sat back as he started the program, sweating, huffing and puffing.

“It’s so much fun,” he told me. I thought he was crazy. “Just try it one day,” he said. “If you don’t feel better, you don’t have to do.”

“Fine,” I said. This will last like five minutes.

I got my workout clothes on, pulled my hair back, not really thinking I would work up a sweat. After all, I’d only be out there for a few minutes.

But an hour passed before I realized it. It was one of the hardest things I’d ever done – trying to do weights and crazy exercises. Afterward, I wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be, and I felt really good. So I kept at it. Everyday. By the next week, I was able to do push-ups (small ones of course – does a few inches count?). And I could reach my toes without pulling my muscles. I hadn’t done that since college. Yikes.

By the end of those three months, I could run further than I’d ever run before, do more sit-ups than ever before. When we push through the hard parts, we grow into people we never knew we could be. We become stronger than we ever thought possible. And we achieve the dreams we thought were beyond our grasp.

The Myth About Practice
Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. I know. Figuring out the things you need to do to make you better is a hard task. But you’ve got mentors and friends to help you. So, ask them, what do I need to do to get better?

There’s this crazy myth about practice floating around out there. It says you have to spend hours every day, repeating boring stuff to learn it. To get good at it.

For the first decade of my musical life, I adhered to this myth. I know, sadly I admit it. No one ever told me that practice could be fun. And that it didn’t have to be so hard. I’d spend hours rehearsing music, starting at the beginning and fudging my way through difficult passages. Then I’d do it all over again. And again. And again.

Sure, I got better and improved as a musician. But it took forever! Who really has hours to waste, hoping they’ll get better?

Practice Smarter, Not Harder

Then my college professor taught me the secret to efficient practice: Practice Smarter, Not Harder.

She showed me how to work on the parts that were difficult. She gave me specific steps to take during the limited time I had. How to work on smaller chunks of music. How to plan my practice time for maximum results. And how a few minutes of fundamental practice each day would build my skills.

As I pursue my dream of writing, I find this same rule is true. You have to hone your craft and practice it everyday…but it doesn’t have to be boring or hard.

So what does that look like? For me, it means setting aside writing time everyday, keeping a writing log. I practice free-writing. Blog weekly and journal. I also practice some form of writing technique regularly, such as working on better dialogue and improved plotting. There are hundreds of great writing books with tons of helpful exercises.

I also make sure to include time to write fun things – the stuff that keeps my brain awake at night, the stuff that made me fall in love with writing. Oh, and I read a lot.

We’re always practicing for something. Even right now, in this moment. The question is, are you practicing things that will move you closer to your dream? Or are you practicing a legacy of waiting and wishing your dream would come to you?

If you’re truly passionate about your dream, why not give it a try? You might find once you start practicing, you won’t want to stop. And it may be more fun than you think.

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing that makes you good.”~Malcolm Gladwell

What ways have you found practice to help you in pursuing your dream?

Check out the rest of the series, Catch Your Dream:

The Force is Your Ally – Catch Your Dream

Posted: October 11, 2012 in Catch Your Dream, Inspiration, Motivation, Writing
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When I tell people I taught 7th grade history, their response goes something like this: “Oh, I’m sorry. Seventh grade?” And you see their visible shudder. Part of me can relate, since my least favorite grade when I was in school was 7th. Big hair, awkward height, mismatched clothes…yuck. But when I got the call one week before school started – an official offer to teach history – I was excited.

My only public school teaching experience had been as in elementary music, so I had no idea what to expect. How do you keep 7th graders engaged? Or excited about history? I can still picture my boring history teacher sitting on her stool, lecturing from the textbook.

I did not want to be that kind of teacher, but I didn’t know what to do.

Jedi’s in an Everyday World
On the first day of new teacher in-service, I met my assigned teaching mentor. She was my age, had only a couple more years of experience. Tough and a little edgy. I wasn’t so sure she really knew how to help me. It was kind of like when Luke Skywalker met Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. He’d been on a quest to find this great warrior, the only Jedi Master left. But Yoda turned out to be a shriveled green hermit with a walking cane. Not at all what Luke expected. (Not that my mentor was green or anything like that.) But she wasn’t like the experienced teachers I remembered from school.

Over the course of the year, my mentor taught me everything about teaching history. Even though she was young, she knew what to do and how to connect with students. She opened my eyes and showed me teaching was fun and rewarding. And we became great friends.

Finding My Writing Jedi
As I stepped on to the road of writing, I joined a writing group. Which meant I had to actually read my novel to other people. Out loud. Eek. My hands shook as I held the pages. What if they didn’t like it? What if they wanted me to change it all? What if they thought I wasn’t a good writer?

I’m sure my voice was a little shaky at first. And I’m pretty sure I read really fast, hoping to end my misery soon. After reading the first five pages, I looked up, unsure what to expect. I thought they would scowl at me or look bored.

But I was surprised. They all smiled and genuinely seemed to like it. They encouraged me and gave me good advice on how to improve my words. More than anything, they gave me the confidence I needed. I could do this writing thing. I could finish my novel.

Through that writing group, months later, I met a writer who became my mentor. My own Writing Jedi. He showed me ways to improve my craft, steps to grow as a writer, and most importantly, became my friend. One that I could go to when I needed help.

When we follow our dream, we have to seek out people to help us. They may be found in places we wouldn’t normally go. Or they may ask us to do things we’re not sure we can do.

Seasons of Mentorship
Eventually, Yoda left Luke to face his final task. He had to prove he could be a Jedi on his own. Whether we realize it or not, we are examples to those around us. We mentor them by our actions or words. It may be a helpful attitude, a word of encouragement or a book suggestion. Or it may be simply showing up to write everyday, even when we don’t feel like it.

So it’s important to ask, what kind of mentor am I to those around me? Am I too busy doing my own thing? Or do I have time to share with a younger person following their dream as well?

When you’re chasing your dream, you need others who are wiser, more skilled, more experienced to show the way. So seek them out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who may have already walked that road.

How about you? How are you mentoring those around you?

Check out the rest of the series, Catch Your Dream:

Writing Book Recommendation

Posted: October 4, 2012 in Productivity, Revision, Writer's Toolbox, Writing
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Today, I want to give a writing book recommendation for those of you looking for a fast, helpful book on writing. (I’ll continue the Catch Your Dreams series next week.) As I’ve been working on my new novel (more on that in future weeks!), I came across an amazing writing book: Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

The book covers the basics of POV, then dives into seven specific techniques to help writers deepen their POV. Ms. Nelson offers helpful examples to illustrate her points. And there are worksheets at the end of each chapter for practice. The book is the best I’ve read on getting into the deeper POV we all strive for, and it’s a fast read, too! I definitely recommend it to all my writer friends out there.

Happy writing!

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