It is said that April showers bring May flowers. For us writers, sometimes our inevitable writing droughts seek those showers so that we can bring forth the blooms of new writing.
Back in March, I wrote a BRP post titled "3 Ways to Reclaim Your Passion for Writing." This month, I want to add three more suggestions on how you can grow your writing.
Find Time Stealers in Your Daily Life
We all have them--those activities that steal time from our daily lives but that offer no real rewards. Examples? Almost EVERYTHING that has to do with electronics, especially when we don't take time to break away from those activities. Spending too much time on Facebook or any form of social media, whether on the computer or on our smartphones and tablets. Checking email every five minutes. Keeping notifications for all apps on so that we're distracted by every ding, chirp, and bell. Take an honest look at a 24-hour chunk of your life and write down how much time you spend doing activities. Are there any places where you can cut and integrate writing? Instead of checking Facebook every ten minutes to see if someone liked your picture of your dog, perhaps take that time to jot notes for a story, or write a page for that story. Reclaim your time for your passion.
Integrate Writing into Your Life
First thing first: be realistic. You know your life is busy. You know all the things you need to do. Where in your life can you realistically place writing, and place it in a way that it becomes a consistent part of your life? If writing is important to you, finding where to place it so that it fits well is important to do.
Pick a Story Idea
Sometimes, when we're in a writing drought, we either don't write anything, or out of desperation, we try to cull together several ideas for stories and try to write them all. How about going through all of your story ideas and listening to your inner writer--which idea speaks to you? Take it and give yourself 30 minutes to just THINK about that idea. After that half an hour, ask yourself, "Am I moved to write on this idea?" If the answer is yes, then WRITE RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Do not delay. It doesn't matter if it's good--just write. If the answer is no, then move on to the next idea.
Every writer knows of drought, but digging in and finding ways to fertilize your literary grounds will enable you to produce colorful, strong stories.
Back in March, I wrote a BRP post titled "3 Ways to Reclaim Your Passion for Writing." This month, I want to add three more suggestions on how you can grow your writing.
Find Time Stealers in Your Daily Life
We all have them--those activities that steal time from our daily lives but that offer no real rewards. Examples? Almost EVERYTHING that has to do with electronics, especially when we don't take time to break away from those activities. Spending too much time on Facebook or any form of social media, whether on the computer or on our smartphones and tablets. Checking email every five minutes. Keeping notifications for all apps on so that we're distracted by every ding, chirp, and bell. Take an honest look at a 24-hour chunk of your life and write down how much time you spend doing activities. Are there any places where you can cut and integrate writing? Instead of checking Facebook every ten minutes to see if someone liked your picture of your dog, perhaps take that time to jot notes for a story, or write a page for that story. Reclaim your time for your passion.
Integrate Writing into Your Life
First thing first: be realistic. You know your life is busy. You know all the things you need to do. Where in your life can you realistically place writing, and place it in a way that it becomes a consistent part of your life? If writing is important to you, finding where to place it so that it fits well is important to do.
Pick a Story Idea
Sometimes, when we're in a writing drought, we either don't write anything, or out of desperation, we try to cull together several ideas for stories and try to write them all. How about going through all of your story ideas and listening to your inner writer--which idea speaks to you? Take it and give yourself 30 minutes to just THINK about that idea. After that half an hour, ask yourself, "Am I moved to write on this idea?" If the answer is yes, then WRITE RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Do not delay. It doesn't matter if it's good--just write. If the answer is no, then move on to the next idea.
Every writer knows of drought, but digging in and finding ways to fertilize your literary grounds will enable you to produce colorful, strong stories.
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| Creative Passionista Shon Bacon is an author, editor, and educator whose biggest joys are writing and helping others develop their craft. She has published both creatively and academically and interviews women writers on her popular blog ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING. You can learn more about Shon's writings at her author website, and you can get information about her editorial services at CLG Entertainment. |
So true about unplugging. I just got a new phone, and one of the first things I did was turn off all social media notifications. I do that on my PC as well. And if you're trying to be productive, turn off the alerts for emails. Remember the 'old' days when we got mail once a day. We survived. I also find that a nice walk outside with the dog does us both good.
ReplyDeleteAnd I mention the unplugging because there are some days that I am SO bad at doing it, and then so much time disappears with nothing done.
DeleteThere are so many distractions in life it is easy to "lose the plot" entirely. :)
ReplyDeleteYES, you are so right, Diana!
DeleteWhat counteracts a drought? Rain, of course. Not a deluge that beats down so hard the water runs off the parched land rather than soaking into it, but a steady, gentle shower that moistens and penetrates the earth to promote growth -- rather like the 30-minute think time you suggest. Great post, Shon!
ReplyDeleteAhhh, thank you, Linda! And you are right about that "steady, gentle shower," too. Everything about us is so fast and NOW that we get caught up in that with everything we do. It's not about being fast (or hard like a deluge) but being consistent like that steady, gentle shower.
DeleteGeez, Shon ... you're taking away all my good reasons for procrastination!
ReplyDeleteAND mine, Christopher! LOL
DeleteI feel like you're speaking directly to me. Well said.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I know for a fact I was speaking directly to me, and if me, then at least one other person. :-)
Delete