Writing Hint #22: Strategies to keep you writing
Some days the words just seem to flow from my mind down to my fingertips and on to the keyboard without any effort at all. Some days I have to really work at my writing, crafting every word. And some days it is like trying to make a living out of being a Fowl Dentist.
I like the quote I came across recently and I can’t remember the exact words or who said it, but this person said something like this:
Writing is easy. All you have to do is stare at a blank piece of paper until drops of blood appear on your forehead.
Procrastination and writer’s block are very real problems for some writers. Discipline is the key but we each demonstrate that in different ways. Some writers have a natural inbuilt discipline to sustain them each day; to them it’s not a problem. Others are so motivated they wonder what the fuss is all about. But many writers struggle.
If you are struggling with procrastination or writer’s block you might get some good ideas from this article:
- 50 Strategies for Making Yourself Work by Jerry Oltion.
Some of the ideas are odd, some are downright kooky, but there is enough there for everyone to get at least a handful of techniques that they can use to great effect.
Related articles:
- Writing hints – over 20 articles I’ve written with many writing hints.
- Writing hints archives – articles on writing from my archives.
- The writer’s life – many articles about the life of a writer.
Happy First Birthday!
This blog is officially one year old today.
Happy First Birthday to my writing blog.
It has been an interesting journey of discovery, frustration, elation and a very steep learning curve. This blog commenced while I was staying with my son and daughter-in-law in Sydney last year. We were having a short holiday there and Simon did all the technical stuff setting up my three blogs. He still does all the maintenance on our blogs.
Thanks Sim’.
What have I learned?
- Connecting: The writer’s life can be lonely at times – but on the positive side, I’ve made many contacts with people all over the world through their comments and links to this blog and my other sites. Thanks to all of you.
- Selecting: The blogging world is an interesting place to live in; there are many wonderful writers who are forward looking in their thinking and express that in their writing. There’s just not enough time in each day to read it all, so one has to be very selective.
- Focussing: The writer’s and blogger’s life needs to be very focussed on the task at hand. The internet can be a huge distraction and hours just fly off into the unknown leaving little time for the real work of actually writing.
- Absorbing: There are so many things one needs to learn how to do to make the writer’s life and one’s blogging ventures successful. At times I felt like a giant sponge soaking up all the information about this new venture. Putting it all into practice was a challenge. Sometimes, like the sponge, I felt so bloated; at other times all wrung out and dry.
- Rewarding: Being able to write over 900 blog posts for the last year has been very rewarding, giving me a great sense of achievement. Having a readership in the many thousands every month has its own rewards, especially when people connect via comments, some returning frequently. Receiving my first payment from my blogging was another reward and, though modest at this stage, it is a start.
So there you have it.
Happy First Birthday.
Reader’s Questions:
- How long have you been blogging?
- What have you learned from writing and blogging?
Writing and the frustrations of moving house
2 Comments »27th February, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life
This year I have set myself a goal of averaging about four hours of writing and blogging every day. Some days are good, some days are great and then some days are…not so good. So far I am ahead of schedule but there is the constant threat of life getting in the way.
New Sleeping Arrangements:
Last week our new bed arrived. We been talking about replacing the old one for some time now. Aching backs from a sagging mattress was the final straw that broke the camel’s back… well actually, we don’t let camels sleep in our bed. So we went and bought a new bed. Very cosy. It hhhhuuuuggggs your body. Very nice. I am definitely sleeping better.
Reorganisation:
Part of the decision about the bed included a total reorganisation of our home. No – we are not moving house, but it feels like it. The new bed went straight into the guest bedroom which meant that the old bed there had to move out first. Now we need to clean out our old bedroom and convert that into a new office. Big job. Plenty of hassles and frustrations. Then the existing office will become the guest room but it has to been cleaned out of office stuff first. Then it will need new carpet. It is like we are rotating our rooms in an anticlockwise direction. It is like moving house but you don’t change your address.
Writing Time:
All this extra effort is hard physical work and time consuming. It also means less time for reading and writing. This can mean frustrations and unnecessary anxieties. And life still goes on all around with all of the expectations of other people. Still, when finished, I will have a lovely “new” office with a much nicer view from the window looking out over the garden.
Related article: