Sticking with one novel to completion is something I’m only just now learning this year. I know the struggle of losing steam and deciding to chase down a shiny new idea instead, thinking it’ll be easier. In the words of Rick Riordan, “DON’T! That new book won’t be any easier.” And it never is. As someone who has 70+ unfinished stories laying around, I can attest to that. If you keep chasing new ideas you’ll always chase after the new shiny and never finish anything. So, to help you combat that, here are five tips to overcoming “Ooh Shiny Syndrome” so that you can keep writing your current project. Continue reading “5 Tips to Help You Keep Writing Your Work-in-Progress”
Category: Organization & Process
The Struggle of Sitting Down To Write
Unlike the person in this post’s image, I am not off traveling. But my brain constantly is. At hyperspeed. See, if I had the chance to travel, I’d take the time to enjoy the places I went and savor the trip. My brain, on the other hand, zips around from one topic to another at top speed, making it really hard to focus on anything. Which, of course, includes writing.
I find it extremely hard to start writing. Once I’ve begun and gotten into it, it’s a lot easier for me to stay focused, but being able to keep my brain in check long enough to get started is a struggle. So how do you overcome that? Continue reading “The Struggle of Sitting Down To Write”
My Story Binder
Something that’s mentioned fairly often but doesn’t get talked about clearly is a story bible/story binder. I’ve loved the idea of having a story binder for a while, and I started making one for House of Mages, but it didn’t really go anywhere. There’s not a lot of guidance for writers who want to make one. Well I went looking back in April and decided to start a story binder for my Camp story, The Heart of the Baenor. It now also holds the notes for The Dark War Trilogy, since they take place on the same planet, and I thought I’d share with you what I included in my story binder in case you’re in the same boat I was in and are wondering what to include Continue reading “My Story Binder”
Music and Writing
To me, music and writing go hand-in-hand. I’m a very musical person, having grown up in a musical family and been part of choir for nine years now (going into my tenth), so I love listening to and making music. You could say a random word and it would probably start me singing some song I haven’t heard in years.
I don’t remember exactly when I started listening to music while I write. I think I read an article about it online and decided “Ooh. Writing. Music. Perfect!” and tried it out, but I’m not entirely certain, lol. This post will go over what music Continue reading “Music and Writing”
Writer’s Block: How to Deal With It
Writer’s block is something that I think almost every writer struggles with, so I thought I’d write up several ways to handle it.
1. Change of Scenery
Sometimes just moving somewhere you don’t usually write can help. I went outside one evening and wrote in the tower of the playhouse in my backyard; I ended up writing a short story about the Half-Elves and getting the characters to actually cooperate for the first time in years.
2. Leave the House
This one ties in with the one before. It’s often suggested to go to a coffee shop or someplace to write. I hate this advice, but not because it’s bad advice. I only hate this advice because I’m unable to follow it. I would love to be able to take my notebook and my favorite pen and go sit in a coffee shop or bookstore and watch people and write. Unfortunately, I can’t drive yet, so I can’t actually do that. But for those of you who can, enjoy what I cannot. I think it’ll be helpful.
3. Write Through It
Sometimes what you need is to just keep writing. Sometimes it’ll work, sometimes it won’t. Sometimes you’ll end up writing garbage and sometimes you’ll end up writing an excellent piece. It depends on the writer and the situation.
4. Do Something Else Writing Related
Read. Fill out a Pinterest storyboard. Sketch a character. Read a book of writing advice. Read up on world-building or description or character development. Do something that’s not writing but is still productive. Even watching a movie could sometimes fit in here.
5. Explore Another Story
You have to be a bit cautious with this one, but sometimes you can just work on a different story a while. Maybe it’s that plot bunny you just thought up at midnight last night, maybe it’s a story you’ve been writing for years and still haven’t finished, maybe it’s a short story you want to write. Just be careful not to get too sucked in and abandon your main writing project.
Hopefully some of that advice was helpful. What helps you get through writer’s block?