We all get it. I’m not really sure if it is some type of writer’s aliment or if it’s just a serious lack of wanting to actually write but the truth is we all share some form of this mysterious condition at one time or another. I have found over the years that the best way to combat writer’s block for me is to do something totally unrelated to writing for 24 hours and then when I come back I’m all good. Other writers have discovered different ways to combat writer’s block too and some of them are really good suggestions. Today I offer you some of those suggests as a part of our new Writer’s Share series.
People Watching in an Airport: The Cure for Writer’s Block - http://myrawritesback.blogspot.com/2014/05/people-watching-in-airport-cure-for.html
© The Writer’s Advice, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
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Tags: advice, author, book, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, learning, novel, novelist, telling story, writer, Writer's Block, Writer's Share, writers, writing, writing process, Writing tools
Check out this offering….
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Tags: advice, author, based on a true story, Beyond the Call, book, Crime novel, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, mystery novel, novelist, Police crime, relevant, telling story, Vietnam, writer, writers, writing
There will be people who come along in your life that inspire you beyond the stars. These people have such a way with words and story-telling that what they create is magical. Maya Angelou was one of these people. When I was very young I was given a copy of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, it changed my life. I realized after reading that book that telling a story needed to have heart and a lot of it. As a grew older I would listen to Maya as she told her stories anywhere I could find them. Something about her was mesmerizing and I couldn’t listen enough. She inspired me every time she spoke and I always wanted to strive to sound as wise as she obviously was. Today we send Maya Angelou on her way for the next leg of her journey. Although it hurts to lose such an inspiring voice within our writing community we understand that she has done all she can for this world and the next needs her more. I challenge each of you to take this away from her life…we are all the masters of our own destinies and if we fail, we fail because we missed a simple truth….”People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Truer words have never been uttered. Take it to heart and remember it as you write your stories.
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Tags: advice, author, book, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, learning, Maya Angelou, novel, novelist, story, telling story, words, writer, writers, writing
We are a bunch of odd ducks. Writers are unusual in that we are;
-loners but not really
-lonely although technically we are surrounded by people/characters
-self-loathing yet somewhat arrogant
-friendly yet lack the number of friends on one hand that “get us”
We aren’t like those book club members or gym rats that congregate to support each other. You will never see a writer standing behind another writer while they are typing away at the keyboard screaming “you can do it”. No we live lives of quiet desperation as we attempt to put pen to paper and entertain the masses. Very few of us join writing support groups or hang out with other writers…and I have always wondered why.
It makes sense to me that writers would seek each other out. We really are the only ones who understand each other. Another writer is the only other person who will understand that you don’t sleep well because the voices in your head won’t shut up. Another writer is the only person who “gets” that you are impatient with the “real” world because in your heart you create worlds; reality is the only book we can’t seem to finish with the “right” ending and that sucks when you are used to the “right” ending. Why wouldn’t we hang out?
The truth is that while we need each other, we are also afraid of each other and that is sad. We, the writing community, have convinced each other that the competition is so fierce that we need to keep each other an arm’s length away. Because of this when we do get together it often leaves us feeling judgey and irritated. We come away feeling judged as well and that’s just ridiculous.
My challenge for you this week is to seek out another writer and go do something together. Have coffee, hang out at a bar, I don’t care…just do something to support one another. Forget the competition, forget that your book may sell and hers may not, forget that you are technically afraid that they might “steal” your ideas….just go out and have a good time. We need to support each other especially in this day and age when being a writer is harder than ever. And while you are at it…buy each others books too.
© The Writer’s Advice, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
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Tags: advice, author, book, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, learning, novel, support, writers, writing, writing process
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Tags: advice, author, book, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, mystery, novel, novelist, Project, Project Stowaway, story, Stowaway, thriller, writers, writing, writing process
Like throwing a pebble into the water some writers put advice out into the ocean of hopeful newbies hoping the ripple effects will reach them and they will learn a thing or two. Fridays here at The Writer’s Advice is pebble collection time. I will post some of the pebbles of wisdom I discover and I encourage you all to do the same. Each Friday we will help each other. So here are mine….show me yours!
© The Writer’s Advice, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
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Tags: advice, author, editing, freelance, inspiration, Inspire, internet, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, learning, novel, novelist, organization, organize, publisher, publishing, software, story, writer, writers, writing, writing process, Writing tools
I am not a big believer in outlines. While I think that some folks use outlines and do well with them, I am not one of those people. I like to set out on my stories like I would set out on a journey. I follow the story and report on it like I’m working for the New York Times. Although I don’t like working with outlines that doesn’t mean that I don’t see a need for setting the bones of a story.
Setting the bones for me means getting the first draft on paper. This isn’t, mind you, the actual first draft…let’s call it a pre-draft. The pre-draft is the basics of the story. It’s like writing down the facts…what I like to call “setting the bones” of a story. When you are setting the bones you are building the story from scratch. You are creating your characters, giving them something to do and then slamming them with a problem after which you get them out of that problem. It’s the basic basics if you will.
Now some folks consider this outlining but I would beg to differ. With an outline you set the story in it’s entirety. You walk through it, this happens and then this happens and then this happens…the end. With setting the bones you are laying out the basic story with the understanding that it can literally go anywhere. For me an outline is something you have to follow but when you are setting the bones you are creating a concept for your characters to follow.
I do believe that outlines are necessary in some writing, such as non-fiction. But with fiction I think that an outline can pigeon-hole you into a route making it almost impossible for your characters to tell the story. So maybe it is time to change the way we, as writers, think when it comes to beginning a story. Maybe we need to first set the bones in order to allow our characters to tell a good story. After all as human beings we begin with the bones which give our body a good foundation and then it’s covered with all the gooey stuff and then finally clothes. Think of your story the same way and you can’t help but write a good one.
© The Writer’s Advice, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
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Tags: advice, author, book, creation of character, inspiration, Inspire, Jai Colvin, Jai Farris, learning, novel, novelist, organization, organize, setting the bones, showing and telling, skeleton, telling story, writer, writers, writing, writing process, Writing tools
