3 Ways to Rev up Your Creative Juices

May 17, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

We are all working hard to turn out pages and complete our projects, however after while it may take more effort to produce the same amount of work. Before burnout and writer’s block set in take these steps to rev up your creative juices.

Remember the Good Old Times

Think back to when the idea for your current project first entered your mind. Do you remember how and when the idea came to you? Can you remember that spark of inspiration that compelled you to write down your idea? Grab hold of that feeling and let it wash over you. Feel the excitement all over again. Now use that excitement and inspiration to continue working on your project.

Think to the Future

This is similar to taking your past excitement and using the momentum to move forward, but instead of using flashbacks, you create a future for your project. Imagine how good it will feel once you complete your project. Take that feeling of pure joy and satisfaction and use it to propel you forward. What will people be saying about your book? What do you think their favorite part will be?

Switch it Up

Take a break from your current project and work on something just for fun. Forget publication, proofreading and grammar; write whatever comes into your head. Don’t judge yourself; instead enjoy the act of writing, of creating. After all it is your world, anything can happen. Make up something completely ridiculous. Laugh, enjoy, have fun. Then when you feel ready go back to your project with a smile on your face and renewed enthusiasm.

Writing is supposed to be fun. Enjoy the process and happy writing to all. Feel free to share what your current project is and what you think people will be saying about your work when they read your finished masterpiece.

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Creating the Perfect Place to Write

May 15, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

There is only one thing stopping you from finishing your novel; you still have not found the perfect place to write. Distractions bombard you everywhere and some places are just plain uninspiring. Famous authors such as Virginia Woolf, J.K. Rowling, Jack Kerouac, Annie Dillard, and Stephen King have found the key to the perfect writing place and you can too.

Minimize Distractions

The perfect place to write is an environment that is as distraction free as possible. There should be no access to your phone, video games, TV, or internet. If you have to use any of these tools to research make sure you block off a separate time to do this so you can focus solely on the actual act of writing during your writing time.

Know Yourself

Some authors prefer complete isolation to write, while others prefer to write in a café. Try a variety of settings and times to find out what works best for you. No two perfect writing areas are the same. If you simply cannot block off any long blocks of time to write, you may need to take the ‘write anywhere and everywhere’ approach.

The Anywhere and Everywhere Approach

In the ‘write anywhere and everywhere’ approach it is vital that you make your writing easily transportable. Then take your writing everywhere with you. Jot down notes as you wait in line, speak into a tape recorder while you drive, or text yourself ideas before you forget. A pen and paper still work fabulously for people on the go, and will work even without electricity.

The most important thing in this approach is to write whenever you have a few moments to yourself. You will be amazed at how much all that time adds up.

The Best Place for Anyone to Write

Ernest Hemingway wins this one with, “The best place to write is in your head.” No matter where you are physically, you must first write in your own mind.

 

What are some of your favorite places to write?

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Don’t Over Explain

May 4, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

“You do not have to explain every single drop of water contained in a rain barrel. You have to explain one drop – H2O. The reader will get it.” – George Singleton

George Singleton makes a very good point. When writing it is important for readers to grasp the concept, but they do not need to know the entire make up and background of what you are trying to say. Creating an immense amount of background for your world will definitely help you write your story. Everything will be explained and understood fully. Your readers however do not need to know every detail you created.

What readers do need to know are the points and details relevant to your story. Too many other details and explanations can bog down the flow of your novel. Readers also want everything they read to have a purpose. If you go in great detail about the taste of a soup or model of car, readers expect those details to be important to the story. They will be disappointed if you go on for 3 pages about the soup, with no overall importance in the story.

Some of the best writers are experts on what to leave out. It takes great skill and understanding to write concisely and clearly. Take a look at some of your favorite authors and analyze what they put in their novels and what they leave out. Why do you think they kept certain things in the novel but left other things out?

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Alan: Author

April 23, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

Alan is a dog lover who is currently working on a political thriller that contains a lot of suspense, mystery and a little romance thrown in for good measure.

He also participates in an online writing group and posts responses to assignments on his website. You can read his response to April’s prompt ‘Dead Bunnies’ here. Alan’s creativity allowed him to incorporate April’s prompt piece into chapter 4 of one of his works in progress.

Feel free to read Alan’s work and leave feedback for him on his website.

Keep up the good work Alan and happy writing!

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Writing Visualization: You Can Make Anything Happen

April 6, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

Writers get discouraged every now and then. When you are in a writing slump it may be hard to pull yourself out of it. You may be thinking: My writing will never be good enough so why bother, It is too much work to be a writer or I have writers block and can’t get over it.

As with many other goals you set for yourself learning how to quickly and effortlessly accomplish those goals can often take up more time than actually working towards the goals. One technique you can use to boost your mental energy and stay positive is to visualize.

Visualize how wonderful it will feel when you complete your work. Feel the smile spread across your face as you write the very last word. Or perhaps think further down to when you will see your story in print. Imagine how you will feel when you have accomplished your goal. Now what you need to do is hold on to that feeling and positive energy as you work.

If you are not quite ready to think big, try instead visualizing about writing 100, 500, or even 1,000 words a day. Whatever your writing goal is see it in your mind. The human race is a very unique species that when they set their minds to something they can accomplish anything. The first light bulb, the first airplane, the first car; someone had to first visualize what they wanted in their mind before they created it.

It is this power to visualize what we want that makes us human, and being human allows us to create anything we set our minds to. If you can see it, you can make it happen.

 

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Deliver What You Say

March 23, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

When writing it is easy to hook readers with big ideas and strong words. For example if you write that a character is the most beautiful woman in the world, there needs to be facts to back up your statement. What makes her the most beautiful woman in the world? What standards is she measured against?

Another good example is if you tell readers they will never be able to guess who committed the crime. If you promise something such as this, you need to make it memorable and follow through on what you told readers you were going to give them.

In the same regards do not spend a lot of time describing something if it has no bearing on your story. Every word must count and readers will get upset if you give them a big long description of something that is completely irrelevant to your story.

Readers love big promises, but remember that when you make that promise, you have to keep it. There is nothing worse than getting all excited about something that is going to happen, only for it to never happen.

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Overcoming Writer’s Block: Scaling the Creativity Wall

March 16, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

The ever problematic wall that goes up and shuts off a writer’s creativity must be overcome. Finding the right strategy to scale the wall can sometimes be challenging, but luckily there are many writers willing to share their success stories.

As writers we must write to eat, to pay our bills, to survive. We cannot afford to be incapacitated by writers’ block. In Jamie M. Vann’s article “Improve Your Writing and Increase Your Creativity” she offers 7 tips on how to get your writing juices flowing again.

It is always best to find your own unique way to scale the walls of creativity and overcome writer’s block. However, it is helpful to review your strategies and read about new strategies to overcome writer’s block. After all you can always use more ammunition in your arsenal to combat writer’s block.

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What it’s Like to be a Full-Time Writer

March 11, 2012 | Author: Christine Rice

Being a writer is a fun career. Many writers get to work from home, and most enjoy partaking in their favorite, creative pastimes. Although, there is much more to a writer’s job.

What I know about being a writer

I only know what I know. Because writers are people, they have individual lives. The life of a writer is unique to that writer. That being said, I will share with you what my life is like as a writer.

My schedule

I wake up when I’m not tired any longer, have two cups of coffee, and then get to work. I open my email and investigate the messages on the Web as needed. I also check my email periodically throughout the day.

On the Internet

I continue my work online by offering feedback at a writer’s community and a reader’s community (where I also have an author profile and manage it). I also check the activity on my published books, press releases, blogs and websites (two of each), and Facebook and Twitter.

Writing

Then I do a writing activity, either working on my manuscripts, writing a blog post, or creating a book review. I’m currently writing two books (a reference book for freelance writers and a compilation of journal entries), managing two blogs (chronicles of healthy living and all about writing and books), and creating book reviews as requested.

In books

I usually read every day for a book review or for researching writing and publishing. I enjoy reading reference books, as I’m not much of a fiction reader by choice; however, I do write reviews for fiction books. I read and review an assortment of genres, and having the pending review to write is sometimes what motivates me to finish reading the books.

Summary

I mix up the activities I do throughout the day, and go back to some and do more. The amount of time I spend – on each activity and in total – depends on my inspiration, creativity, and motivation. Having several activities to do creates variety in my work schedule, which is pleasing.

I recommend that you search for what you love to do and then make a career out of it. If you do, you will always look forward to working!

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Author Spotlight: Mary O’Malley

March 9, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

Mary O’Malley has been writing since she was 7 years old, however nothing was published until high school. During her high school years she was featured in the poetry slam book. Mary also read her poems frequently aloud to fellow classmates.

When Mary was in college she had an article on pro-choice published in the school newspaper. Eventually Mary began taking her writing more seriously and has articles published at Triond along with at her own website, Mary’s Medley. She has also written website content for clients at Textbroker.

Mary O’Malley strives to continually improve her writing. She enjoys meeting other writers and learning their writing secretes. She enjoys writing about books, movies, television shows, pop culture, organization, relationships and her own life experiences.

Here are some of the articles Mary has written:

Five Simple Ways to Avoid and Diffuse an Argument

Quick Tips on Being a Better Girlfriend

Redecorate Your Daughters Room on a $1000 Budget

 

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Guest Bloggers Wanted

March 5, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

I would like to open up Star’s Escape to other writers. If anyone would like to write a guest blog post, please let me know. The only requirements would be that the post must be writing related. It can be writing advice, tips, motivation, marketing ideas, or even you talking about your writing life. Your name will be displayed along with your article. Frequent contributors will also get a link on Star’s Escape.

If you are interested in this opportunity please e-mail me at katrina@katrinarychling.com

 

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Contest Update

March 4, 2012 | Author: Katrina Rychling

The winner of our February contest has been contacted. The winner will be announced later this month. Congratulations!

March contest

This months winner will receive a blog post written about them, either a biography or promotional message. This is where you can advertise yourself, books, websites and services. Also included in this advertising package is a link to the website of your choice, listed as a link on Star’s Escape for 1 month.

To enter comment on any of the blog posts for the month of March. At the end of the month a winner will be drawn at random and you will be contacted about what link and information you would like listed.

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