I started blogging in earnest just over a year ago. I’d had a post before but it was a solitary adventure. After four years of writing weekly articles, I burned out. I was only for my audience and not for me. So my topics lacked passion. I didn’t care enough and it showed in my stats.
1. So write about what matters the most to you. What gets you excited or stirred up. Something in exigua you’re emotionally invested. And even bleed a little. The audience can tell when a writer is vulnerable and authentic.
Until recently I wrote alone. But this year I’ve joined a working writers group: it’s been amazing. There’s been exponential growth in the quality and quantity of my work. I’ve learned how to write better titles and tighter content. They tell me what’s working and what’s not.
2. Find your tribe of writers. Iron does truly sharpen iron. My work has improved immensely due to this group’s help. We cheer each other on and act as a sounding board. I’m where I’m am because of them. I’m so thankful.
Okay, so I have two tips I can think of right now. Feel free to pick whichever you like, or use both.
One: here's a writing tip that's more on the technical/practical side. When one is writing, one tends to get bogged down by all the rules, and sometimes end up twisting the article in an attempt to make it fit. Take the guideline that all paragraphs should have an opening, body, and conclusion, for instance. That may work for scientific/technical writing, but on the literary side...not really. Sometimes it's just better to leave it hanging, or dive into the middle of a point without intro, or anything.
This is not to say you shouldn't follow the rules, but don't change your writing just to fit them. Rules are there to set you on the right track when you start getting lost, not to keep you there when you *want* to go off.
Two: one way I use to make writing flow for me is to have a particular person (usually a friend) in mind, for whom I'm writing. That changes the atmosphere because I'm not writing blindly for an unknown audience or subservient to a screen. I'm writing for that person—or for people like that person—which makes the whole experience much more intimate. I can be casual and informal and use jokes that come naturally in conversation but blank out when trying to write a technical piece. Of course, I make sure it's not *too* casual and that the jokes are not *too* obscure, but it does change my mental state when I have someone in mind whom I'm writing "to".
When I read your post, this rhyme immediately came to my mind: "Ain't no use in me pretendin' / this ol' Camaro's got a engine." Why? How the hell do I know! Perhaps the sentiment symbolizes the status of a long-retired newspaper copy editor like me. Perhaps it is the start of another short story. Whatever it means, it reminds me that all writers need to do the following: Make every word count. Nothing extraneous. No rambling unless it is part of a characterization. Cut out the adverbs. Show, don't tell. If you take this advice about your latest piece you might wake up one morning and hear somethin' rumblin' out in the garage.
If you have kept a journal or posted to a blog for some time, write a flashback to what you were writing or an observation about writing 'ten years ago' or even 'one year ago' in the 'Before COVID' time.
First, I'd like to thank you, Linda, for your coming community post for sharing usable and interesting writing tips; second, I wish to be constructive enough with my little advice.
As a teacher and mother, one of the basic rules I systematically adopted when asking children to do something they are not eager to do, is that you must prospect them a task in advance, with a time-structured reminder. It varies depending on the activity, but if it's something easy, like ending recess to resume classes, I usually start reminding my students 10 minutes early. Then 5 minutes and finally 2 minutes before entering the classroom.
In this way, they agree to return to class without complaining because they have "got used" to the idea.
I found out that this system works marvelously for me, too. When I have to sit at my desk to write something that it's the least interesting, I think about it in advance and, possibly, mentally organize or visualize my work. I do it first thing in the morning, sometimes even the day before. I remind myself of the duty also when driving back from school and, again, fifteen and two minutes before sitting down to write.
My timed reminders ease my will's resistance and successfully pave the way for writing by overcoming my innate procrastination habits.
I am sure this method can work well for you, too, when you have to approach a tedious writing job.
Joining an online critique group (Scribophile) has been the best thing I've done to help with my fiction writing. The other members are some of the most helpful and friendly people on the planet. Reading pieces by other aspiring authors helps enormously with creating my own work.
Hint #2
Don't get bogged down by thinking you're too old to start writing and that no one will want to read anything you've written.
Cool idea! I'm looking forward to seeing how you put it all together. Here's a writing trick I sometimes use:
Use ctrl+F to see how many times the word 'I' appears! The more you use it, the more self-centered your writing sounds. It's not that you can't write about yourself, but it's much more appealing to be crafty about it instead of saying, "I said...I went...I think...I never..."
Don´t start by thinking "what story would the market want?". Instead, write about what you´re passionate about: time travel, crimes, math. You can even write about what scares you, your deepest secrets, your dark side. Readers didn´t know they wanted a romance between a girl and a guy with scissor hands or the adventure of all Andy´s toys until someone told them those. Write for yourself. Be your first passionate reader, and eventually, other readers will come. Soulmates always find each other. @eleni-noah on Medium
Excuse me for not covering my thoughts in a single comment. But am helpless. As you said ideas and thoughts are so impertinent..
introduction over, let me then move on :
Writers generally & upcoming ones like me particularly, may please:
1- do not reduce yourself to playing to the gallery..
2- shun click-baits of titles or pics. Think long term.. think higher..
3- come out with some really and truly well researched piece rather than presenting some personal opinion that may not stand up even to light scrutiny
4- focus on creation. Shun all machinations to draw more reads/ earnings.
Earn your earnings. Let earnings be the byproduct. Do not have to chase it. Let earnings chase you, and it doubtlessly will.
Your name should be held in awe & command respect wherever.
For this, Linda, may be someone (you’re best) draw up an illustrative list of unique individual traits of Pulitzer winners or writers of similar stature. Such post will be the Bible for Writers.
Even writing a *shitty first draft* can be challenging for perfectionists like me. So I tell myself I'm just jotting down notes, getting ideas down, or rearranging the material I want to include in the piece. Inevitably, these notes end up being the first draft, because my brain is figuring things out in the background. Framing this early work as "not really writing" has helped me finish first drafts for seven out of nine chapters of my first book, due in June 2021. Looking forward to reading everyone else's tricks. AdrianaBarton.com
Don't talk about what you're writing or planning to write. If you want to tell someone about your writing, tell them about something you've already written. Why? Because you expend some of the energy that should go into your writing in the premature telling. Talking about a project can also give you a false impression that you've made progress when you haven't. And don't take a writing course or workshop unless you've written some things first. If you want to write a screenplay, for example, but don't have a synopsis or a first draft, paying for and taking a screenwriting workshop may nourish the dream, but the reality won't be any closer to fruition. Writers write. You can learn to write better, but not until you've written something. Write that novel, play, collection of short stories or poems, and then take the class. https://denisesheltonwrites.medium.com/
Creativity in writing doesn’t just happen, you need to feed it. Identify what you do to put your thoughts in a mindful flow state. Get outside (yes, even if it’s raining or snowing), check out something artsy, do something different. And if you’re a writer … read! Not how-to pieces, but stories – both fiction and non-fiction. I keep a journal where I literally handwrite inspiring passages, words, and quotes. I make notes of techniques and storytelling strategies. Eventually, the swirl of written influence and the mindfulness activity will come together and yield fuel for your muse.
A wise woman gave me great pointers when I struggled with my memoir's crappy first draft. One of those tips became a favorite I can apply to just about anything I write. The advice was using photos to trigger memories of a specific time.
Whenever I feel stuck in my writing, I go through pictures. Sometimes they inspire a topic; other times, they remind me of how I felt. It's never failed me. Thank you, wise woman. ;)
A few months ago, after reading William Zinsser’s "On Writing Well" and assimilating his message about the elimination of unnecessary words, I nearly gave up writing.
Last night, while reading James Scott Bell’s "The Mental Game of Writing," where he quotes a sentence he plans to use in a future story: “I stood up in my bathtub dripping and naked and saw three Jehovah’s Witnesses staring at me through the window,” and I wondered if Zinsser would have insisted on removing "dripping and naked" from the sentence (and “from the sentence” in this sentence) since when one stands up in a bathtub one is always dripping and naked.
The ping-pong ball in my head accelerated (I almost wrote “in my skull,” but that would be a redundancy). I became dizzy but then had an epiphany. Style trumps (lower case t) brevity.
When I first starting writing for myself, after many years of writing for corporations, I started with morning pages (Julia Cameron). I discovered the relief of putting my thoughts on paper released the chatter so I was able to begin discovering other thoughts and ideas that lived beneath them. Daily writing is still part of my practice. It's evolved over the years but I still find it valuable.
I have two pieces of advice.
I started blogging in earnest just over a year ago. I’d had a post before but it was a solitary adventure. After four years of writing weekly articles, I burned out. I was only for my audience and not for me. So my topics lacked passion. I didn’t care enough and it showed in my stats.
1. So write about what matters the most to you. What gets you excited or stirred up. Something in exigua you’re emotionally invested. And even bleed a little. The audience can tell when a writer is vulnerable and authentic.
Until recently I wrote alone. But this year I’ve joined a working writers group: it’s been amazing. There’s been exponential growth in the quality and quantity of my work. I’ve learned how to write better titles and tighter content. They tell me what’s working and what’s not.
2. Find your tribe of writers. Iron does truly sharpen iron. My work has improved immensely due to this group’s help. We cheer each other on and act as a sounding board. I’m where I’m am because of them. I’m so thankful.
Okay, so I have two tips I can think of right now. Feel free to pick whichever you like, or use both.
One: here's a writing tip that's more on the technical/practical side. When one is writing, one tends to get bogged down by all the rules, and sometimes end up twisting the article in an attempt to make it fit. Take the guideline that all paragraphs should have an opening, body, and conclusion, for instance. That may work for scientific/technical writing, but on the literary side...not really. Sometimes it's just better to leave it hanging, or dive into the middle of a point without intro, or anything.
This is not to say you shouldn't follow the rules, but don't change your writing just to fit them. Rules are there to set you on the right track when you start getting lost, not to keep you there when you *want* to go off.
Two: one way I use to make writing flow for me is to have a particular person (usually a friend) in mind, for whom I'm writing. That changes the atmosphere because I'm not writing blindly for an unknown audience or subservient to a screen. I'm writing for that person—or for people like that person—which makes the whole experience much more intimate. I can be casual and informal and use jokes that come naturally in conversation but blank out when trying to write a technical piece. Of course, I make sure it's not *too* casual and that the jokes are not *too* obscure, but it does change my mental state when I have someone in mind whom I'm writing "to".
(My Medium profile: https://medium.com/@badrihippo)
When I read your post, this rhyme immediately came to my mind: "Ain't no use in me pretendin' / this ol' Camaro's got a engine." Why? How the hell do I know! Perhaps the sentiment symbolizes the status of a long-retired newspaper copy editor like me. Perhaps it is the start of another short story. Whatever it means, it reminds me that all writers need to do the following: Make every word count. Nothing extraneous. No rambling unless it is part of a characterization. Cut out the adverbs. Show, don't tell. If you take this advice about your latest piece you might wake up one morning and hear somethin' rumblin' out in the garage.
Hey David -- there's 3 David Gaskills on Medium. Can you post your medium url so I can link to you?
my url is davidgaskill-12055.medium.com. Also, my email is davidgaskill@rocketmail.com and my short story titled "A Matter of Heart" is on Medium somewhere.
If you have kept a journal or posted to a blog for some time, write a flashback to what you were writing or an observation about writing 'ten years ago' or even 'one year ago' in the 'Before COVID' time.
https://medium.com/writing-stories-id-like-to-read
www.charlenebrownpainting.blogspot.com
Happy New Year!
First, I'd like to thank you, Linda, for your coming community post for sharing usable and interesting writing tips; second, I wish to be constructive enough with my little advice.
As a teacher and mother, one of the basic rules I systematically adopted when asking children to do something they are not eager to do, is that you must prospect them a task in advance, with a time-structured reminder. It varies depending on the activity, but if it's something easy, like ending recess to resume classes, I usually start reminding my students 10 minutes early. Then 5 minutes and finally 2 minutes before entering the classroom.
In this way, they agree to return to class without complaining because they have "got used" to the idea.
I found out that this system works marvelously for me, too. When I have to sit at my desk to write something that it's the least interesting, I think about it in advance and, possibly, mentally organize or visualize my work. I do it first thing in the morning, sometimes even the day before. I remind myself of the duty also when driving back from school and, again, fifteen and two minutes before sitting down to write.
My timed reminders ease my will's resistance and successfully pave the way for writing by overcoming my innate procrastination habits.
I am sure this method can work well for you, too, when you have to approach a tedious writing job.
https://medium.com/@raffaellaferretti
Please, Linda, feel free to edit it accordingly to your post style and voice.
Thank you again! :)
I love this idea!
Hint #1
Joining an online critique group (Scribophile) has been the best thing I've done to help with my fiction writing. The other members are some of the most helpful and friendly people on the planet. Reading pieces by other aspiring authors helps enormously with creating my own work.
Hint #2
Don't get bogged down by thinking you're too old to start writing and that no one will want to read anything you've written.
https://medium.com/@Lizzie_Merrill
It is valuable to learn from others. It is rarely valuable to copy others. https://timdibble.medium.com/
Hi Linda,
Cool idea! I'm looking forward to seeing how you put it all together. Here's a writing trick I sometimes use:
Use ctrl+F to see how many times the word 'I' appears! The more you use it, the more self-centered your writing sounds. It's not that you can't write about yourself, but it's much more appealing to be crafty about it instead of saying, "I said...I went...I think...I never..."
@emilylime99 on Medium.
Don´t start by thinking "what story would the market want?". Instead, write about what you´re passionate about: time travel, crimes, math. You can even write about what scares you, your deepest secrets, your dark side. Readers didn´t know they wanted a romance between a girl and a guy with scissor hands or the adventure of all Andy´s toys until someone told them those. Write for yourself. Be your first passionate reader, and eventually, other readers will come. Soulmates always find each other. @eleni-noah on Medium
Mahesh Shroff again
Excuse me for not covering my thoughts in a single comment. But am helpless. As you said ideas and thoughts are so impertinent..
introduction over, let me then move on :
Writers generally & upcoming ones like me particularly, may please:
1- do not reduce yourself to playing to the gallery..
2- shun click-baits of titles or pics. Think long term.. think higher..
3- come out with some really and truly well researched piece rather than presenting some personal opinion that may not stand up even to light scrutiny
4- focus on creation. Shun all machinations to draw more reads/ earnings.
Earn your earnings. Let earnings be the byproduct. Do not have to chase it. Let earnings chase you, and it doubtlessly will.
Your name should be held in awe & command respect wherever.
For this, Linda, may be someone (you’re best) draw up an illustrative list of unique individual traits of Pulitzer winners or writers of similar stature. Such post will be the Bible for Writers.
Make Medium the medium of great expressions.
https://link.medium.com/g0Yeqn8sNcb
https://medium.com/me/settings
Even writing a *shitty first draft* can be challenging for perfectionists like me. So I tell myself I'm just jotting down notes, getting ideas down, or rearranging the material I want to include in the piece. Inevitably, these notes end up being the first draft, because my brain is figuring things out in the background. Framing this early work as "not really writing" has helped me finish first drafts for seven out of nine chapters of my first book, due in June 2021. Looking forward to reading everyone else's tricks. AdrianaBarton.com
Don't talk about what you're writing or planning to write. If you want to tell someone about your writing, tell them about something you've already written. Why? Because you expend some of the energy that should go into your writing in the premature telling. Talking about a project can also give you a false impression that you've made progress when you haven't. And don't take a writing course or workshop unless you've written some things first. If you want to write a screenplay, for example, but don't have a synopsis or a first draft, paying for and taking a screenwriting workshop may nourish the dream, but the reality won't be any closer to fruition. Writers write. You can learn to write better, but not until you've written something. Write that novel, play, collection of short stories or poems, and then take the class. https://denisesheltonwrites.medium.com/
Creativity in writing doesn’t just happen, you need to feed it. Identify what you do to put your thoughts in a mindful flow state. Get outside (yes, even if it’s raining or snowing), check out something artsy, do something different. And if you’re a writer … read! Not how-to pieces, but stories – both fiction and non-fiction. I keep a journal where I literally handwrite inspiring passages, words, and quotes. I make notes of techniques and storytelling strategies. Eventually, the swirl of written influence and the mindfulness activity will come together and yield fuel for your muse.
Medium: @karenmarley_17507
www.kmwordsmith.com
A wise woman gave me great pointers when I struggled with my memoir's crappy first draft. One of those tips became a favorite I can apply to just about anything I write. The advice was using photos to trigger memories of a specific time.
Whenever I feel stuck in my writing, I go through pictures. Sometimes they inspire a topic; other times, they remind me of how I felt. It's never failed me. Thank you, wise woman. ;)
Hi Linda,
A few months ago, after reading William Zinsser’s "On Writing Well" and assimilating his message about the elimination of unnecessary words, I nearly gave up writing.
Last night, while reading James Scott Bell’s "The Mental Game of Writing," where he quotes a sentence he plans to use in a future story: “I stood up in my bathtub dripping and naked and saw three Jehovah’s Witnesses staring at me through the window,” and I wondered if Zinsser would have insisted on removing "dripping and naked" from the sentence (and “from the sentence” in this sentence) since when one stands up in a bathtub one is always dripping and naked.
The ping-pong ball in my head accelerated (I almost wrote “in my skull,” but that would be a redundancy). I became dizzy but then had an epiphany. Style trumps (lower case t) brevity.
Use your voice and screw the mental red pencil.
https://jeffwild.medium.com/
Wish I could change "the elimination of" to "eliminating", but no way to edit my comment. Please don't let Zinsser read it.
Hah - I can edit that for you! :)
Please, thank you.
When I first starting writing for myself, after many years of writing for corporations, I started with morning pages (Julia Cameron). I discovered the relief of putting my thoughts on paper released the chatter so I was able to begin discovering other thoughts and ideas that lived beneath them. Daily writing is still part of my practice. It's evolved over the years but I still find it valuable.
https://treelangdon.medium.com/ Thanks for asking and for continuing to inspire us all.