WRITING: Tips, Tricks, & Resources

I found the Tips & Resources for Writing on the Wishstudio blog, but I thought that I would add my own, change some meaning to theirs. I hope you enjoy reading the collaboration and commentary of mine into theirs. 

Tips & Resources to Deepen Your Writing Practice

1. Write. Write anything that comes to mind and see where it takes you.
2. Be willing to write badly ~ sometimes it takes the bad to get to the gems hidden beneath the surface. Helps get the 'juices' flowing within you. 
3. www.pw.org ~ This is the Poets & Writers website, billed as “the nation’s largest non-profit organization serving creative writers.” They have interviews, articles, writing tools, and a database of small presses, literary magazines, and writing contests.
4. Submit. Submit them everywhere/anywhere and try not to be afraid of being rejected. Like #2, and try not to let it get you down to much. We all can fall at some point. 
5. Publish Yourself. Been rejected, but you still truly believe in the work? Then find a way to get them out yourself. Lulu, Kickstarter are two that can help you out. (Look further down)
6. Read Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton. (note: I never read this yet, but I'm intrigued to)
7. Enroll in an online workshop with Maya Stein, or take one of Laurie Wagner’s Traveling Writers Workshops. (note: I love Maya Stein's online class)
8. Feeling stuck? Go for a walk or do anything that clears your head.
9. Spend ten minutes writing down any and every memory that comes into your mind, using just a few words for each description. Which one are you most drawn to? Which one are you resisting? Explore both.
10. Scope out what is available in your community ~ university extension classes, community colleges, adult education courses, writing groups, etc.
11. Write what you want to write, what you feel deeply compelled to write. Let go of trying to figure out what will sell, what could be published, how to get published, how to find an agent, what “the public” will like. Write from your heart, and write honestly.
12. Create an inspirational wall/journal. Sometimes going back and looking at your inspiration board/journal can ease some spark back into you. 
13. Read BJG's article on just write. (Like #1, #2, #8 but more wrapped up and I have found inspiration from this myself because it made me realize 'Wow, she is right!') (Want to thank Emily for sharing this article with me so that I could share it all with you :) )

Anything to add to the list?

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Ah glorious sleep, I love thee. I think this will always be true. The feel of the nice warm bed, and the coziness of laying still and drifting into a slumber where dreams can arise and (mostly) be wonderful. I have tried to keep a dream journal, but to be truthful; I am horrible at it. We as humans supposedly dream each night, but well, I hardly remember mine. I love hearing others dreams too, it’s sort of comforting in the way. I guess because most are crazy fun tales that never happened - soothing you. Now scary (nightmarish) dreams are not as fun, and those tend to be the ones we remember the most. Was told if you write those down, or talk about them, they will most likely not come back again. That is harder to hear, talk about, and write down. Honestly, who wants to remember the bad? I sure do not. Good sleep, gives you the rest you need and crave for the day. Bad sleep, leaves you cranky and unrested. I also tend to wake with headaches due to the unrestful nights, which then leads me to be on edge and more susceptible to stress and stressful situations. 

                 Tips to De-Stress:

• Eat and drink well - seems simple enough. It is also helpful to know WHAT to eat: high protein, fruits, veggies, flax seeds, nuts, and drinking green teas and water to keep hydrated. I love making smoothies (egg white powder, fruits, veggies, and flax seeds blended with yogurt) for the morning to keep my healthy (which can help to de-stress); feeling good leads you to being good. 
• Workout - spending 20 minutes of exercise can lead to endorphins, which not only helps relieve pain, but also stress. 
• Meditate and Breathe - 10 minutes of yoga OR 10 minutes of mind-clearing breathing. 

Simple, yes, but effective nonetheless. What do you do to de-stress?

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#5: Think about your audience - Self Publish or Not?

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 Set a timer - sure you do not want to limit yourself, and you could find yourself going WAY past this timeframe…but make one anyway. Just write; do not try to be an editor while you’re writing, or any other perfectionist quality (hitting backspace constantly to name another). 

Outline - a very great and useful tool is to truly outline how you want your novel to go, and the research you may need to acquire to do that. Study it so you do not feel you need to go back during the writing process. You can skew off the outline and check facts later during the editing process. 

Edit - re-read and edit your own work (older) to see how much you have changed and what you might have changed now can give you a perspective on your newer work. 

Find your niche - not only where you like to write, but how you like to write. Read your favorite novel again, and while doing so copy down your favorite lines as inspiration for your own work. 

Write as a deadline - if you give yourself a deadline and stick to it, you’ll be amazed at how quick that will boost you to want to write more and to get it done.         

Anything to add to my own little blurb?