Top 5 Ways to Move Your Writing Forward
I was so energized by the comments and support in my previous post depicting my struggle with outlining that I compiled a list of various ways writers can propel their work in progress forward. All of us have battles each day to face. Mine typically include: getting out of bed without hitting snooze 1-6 times, eating a healthy breakfast, trying to coach people with 20 years of bad habits under their belts, and getting home and not immediately grabbing a bag of chips and falling asleep on the couch missing the ending of yet another movie, and oh yah…writing consistently. I never used to live like this. Yah, right.
So, I started thinking about the different kinds of work writers do. It’s more complicated than ‘writers write.’ We write different genres, we write fiction or non-fiction. We build worlds and set construction, we develop characters for readers to fall in love with, and often, if we are successful, we’ve somehow infused real life into our work. It could be using an image we saw, a place we grew up, a person we knew. We transform the real world around us into great writing and reading. The process to do those things differs for every person. And what kind of Perseverance Expert would I be if I couldn’t help us all find ways to move forward when we’re stuck in one place.
1. Take a Walk Sounds too simple, right? No really. Try it. Sometimes we’re too close to our story to think openly about it. Taking a walk clears our head. We’re able to focus on new tasks, such as crossing the street safely (I look both ways to left and right, left and right, left and right, I look both ways to left and right before I cross the street). I was a Safety City Instructor for 2 years! **crickets** Ok, back to the point, honestly taking a walk could lead you in a thousand directions! Duh, Witkins, we’re walking! No, no, I mean writing directions. You could overhear a conversation that would spark up your own dialogue and give you insight into your characters. You could take a camera with you and snap photos of things that interest you along the way. Maybe an image will help spark a next scene you could jump to or assist you with world building.
2. Brainstorm/Free Write/Scene Build This was a difficult lesson for me. Back in November when I did my own version of NaNoWriMo, it killed me to stare at the cursor on my computer screen and think THINK THIIIIIINK what would come next. It didn’t occur to me I could write non-chronologically and piece the scenes together during editing. If you’re stuck in one place, or writing a particular scene has become daunting or less than fun, move to another scene you’re excited about and sketch it out. It keeps you writing your story and should help keep you passionate for it too.
3. Outline, Character Development If you like structure and that helps you focus, take a time out to list qualities about your characters or plot turning points in your story. Spend time asking yourself about the mask your protagonist/antagonist wears, what do they fear, what is their strength, motto, what characteristics do they admire in others (supporting characters), do they have a dark side, what is their core need and what will make them their best self? There’s lots of character development outlines available online, find one that piques your interest and spend time getting to know your characters.
4. Journal I had a big aha moment this weekend after reading the Freshly Pressed post by Jamie Lee Wallace. She wrote about the top 10 ways journaling can make you a better writer. I highly recommend checking out her post if you haven’t already because all the reasons are great. My favorite two are: it gets rid of the crappy writing by allowing you to get your ideas out on page and it makes it clear to you what you’re really struggling with because it’s a way to record your progress, good and bad. Just start journaling already! I love it. You might too, and there are no rules, the more you do it, the more beneficial, but whatever you choose to enter inside it is what’s right for you.
5. Share If none of the above seem to be helping, bring in another set of eyes. I used to think I couldn’t share my work with anyone until it was completely finished, thereby revealing the proverbial masterpiece that came from my mind alone! Muahahaha! But frankly, that’s stupid. It’s ok, I admit it. I was young and naive, and still am at times, but I’m moving forward and making smarter decisions. 😀 If you read the thank yous published authors write in their books, a lot of them thank the readers who read their work before it was on the shelf. Also, when I was at the Writers Institute Conference, all the agents said you should absolutely submit your work to a critique group before pitching/publication. So unless you’re the next Emily Dickinson or John Kennedy Toole, you should let others give you feedback, good and bad, about your work. Somehow, I don’t think most of us want the hidden papers in a mattress/shoebox approach anyway.
These are the strategies that have been the most helpful to me, because they cover whatever aspect you’re struggling with each day. If I need more structure, outline. If I’m feeling lackluster about a certain part, jump to a new one! Need to set it down for a minute? Ok, go walk or journal. And advice from other writers has always been eye opening to me, both in form and story development.
Many of you have been posting recently about the changes you’re making in your writing lives. Maybe it’s putting your name on your blog! Woohoo, welcome! Some have been blogging about their character developing strategies and what inspires them. And several of my pals are taking writing retreats and attending conferences this weekend. (Even though I just got back from one, I’m still jealous; they’re just so much fun!) So chat with me. What strategies are you focusing on right now with your writing? What changes or steps have you taken to be more successful? Do you have a critique group? How has that input from other writers helped you? How has blogging helped you? I know my community here means the world to me! *bats eyelashes at you all* Can’t wait to hear from you, and happy writing!
The Do Re Mi of Conference Attending
I took the next step this weekend. I invested in myself, and attended the Madison, Wisconsin Writers Institute Conference. I got lost in the city with its one-way streets, froze by Lake Mendota in 40 degree weather, and hammed it up with some really great writers. I love it here!
The conference was exactly what I needed. The breakout sessions alone gave me all the tips I needed to improve the book I’m working on. I found some holes in my story, but that’s good, because now I can work on them. As one attendee put it, “Well, they’ve given us all we need to know to write a successful book, now it’s up to us.” I tried my best to attend a variety of topics so I could improve my plotting skills, learn about non-fiction, learn about the publishing business today, and along with that how to write query letters and synopses. There was such a plethora of people I met and am excited to now know. What I loved about this conference is how many hands on exercises the speakers had us do. And from that point, it was up to us what we did with that material. I pushed myself to participate a lot and challenge myself. So I shared work a few times, I asked smart questions, and I even volunteered for an improv activity. Jess Witkins, Acting Extraordinaire… Anyway, I’m so glad I did. I met more people because they came up to me and told me they loved my voice, what I wrote, and apparently, I’m FABulous at improv. 😉
Lori Devoti
The speakers at the conference came from across the country and were able to speak to a variety of genres/writing styles. Lori Devoti is a paranormal romance writer who hosted a plotting party at the conference. It must have been her magic wand waving over me at the conference because I got paired in the best group for our plotting exercise. We had so much fun talking about our projects and all of us started marketing them for each other. Which reminds me, I’ve got a theme song to work on… Ok, back to Lori, she’s amazing! She talks fast, she’s shows you the basics, and then she puts you to work. Her workshop on character was also so helpful. If you’re struggling with any characters in your own works ask yourself these three questions: What do they love fearlessly? What haunts them? What do they think they cannot do? — Now, make them do it. See what I mean, she’s brilliant. So simple, and so sound. Thank you, Lori!
Josie Brown
Josie Brown is a women’s lit fiction writer and HUGE advocate for social media. I felt good knowing that none of the terms the panels were using about social media were new to me, and I’ll give all that thanks to Kristen Lamb, Social Media Expert! Kristen, I wrote in your name and blog site on the evaluation sheet as a person to bring to future conferences. Please come to Wisconsin! The last panel on sunday discussed the writer’s role in digital media and Josie was so knowledgeable about the importance of creating an author brand before you seek publishing. I was able to ask some questions and she really gave me some concrete ways to use my blog and my twitter account and my facebook to get my VOICE out there and she continues to do this with her own blog. I really appreciated the encouragement.
Ted Weinstein
I chose not to pitch to an agent at this conference. I’m simply not ready. My story isn’t developed far enough and I had too many unanswered questions MYSELF that it didn’t make sense to pay for 8 minutes of rejection from someone ELSE. But Ted Weinstein is the man! He was one of the agents meeting with writers working on non-fiction books. If I were ready to pitch my memoirs to an agent, I would want Ted on my side. Ted sat on panels and did his own session giving writers an inside scoop on what agents are looking for. His feedback was depressing and honest and invaluable. And I mean all of that as a high compliment. He emphasized that as writers, we have to look at this path as a career and be professional about our publishing plans, i.e. how do we plan to market ourselves, because the publishing houses aren’t going to do it. Not unless you’re writing the next Oprah Book Club Book, but that’s right she’s retiring! Nooooo! Seriously, if I hadn’t listened to Ted speak I wouldn’t know what to expect when it came time to publish. For example, ask the agent your pitching to what they’ve recently published? Don’t you want an agent that is successfully selling people’s books on the market?! I think Ted is a rare gem in the world of agents, a man who wants to help his writers with their careers. Careers? Jess, you mean we could potentially make a living from writing? *Borrows Lori’s magic wand* Yes, dearest writers, you can feed yourself and your families by writing for a living, you just have to be somebody famous first. Which takes us right back to Josie, use your blog, your facebook, and your twitter account to show the world YOU.
Are you following me? No I mean that literally, SUBSCRIBE right now! I’m not going anywhere! I just claimed my area of expertise, check it out in my newly edited About page.
Your turn! What are the areas of writing you are working on in your path to publication? Are you already published? Share with us what got you there! How have you been shaped by other authors, reading them or meeting them?
44¢ to Mail out Your Soul
It doesn’t seem right that all it costs to send your work in is 44¢. I spent a few months pounding out my ideas, a few weeks ignoring my characters and telling them to get out of my head (We’re through!), and two very arduous days starting over and crafting a whole new first page which resulted in a whole new setting, character voice, and possibly plot. Yes I’d say 44¢ is too cheap. Maybe, I should have sent my work in for the contest by stage coach, or submarine, or a bicycle delivery man. He looks nice.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Tweedy
Alas, I would not have made the deadline. Nothing like a looming deadline to kick your toucas into gear! At least I’m making good on the resolutions I said I’d do.
I am:
- Enrolled in a Writing Conference this April.
- Submitting work for various contests.
- Writing, reading, and editing again.
- Not eating cheetos for dinner anymore. I’ve upgraded, to bologna…with wine.
- Ashamed for mentioning the aforementioned yet again.
I have to go now. *nervous shifty eyes*
How are you all doing on your writing journey? How do you feel after you’ve just mailed out your soul? Who is going to drag me out of bed and out of pajamas if this all goes miserably? *Breathing, breathing* One day, one word at a time.
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 