Category Archives: writing

Writing Rituals. I have heard so so many authors recommend you have writing rituals—to get you to “that place” when you’re ready to start writing. While I understand their points, and while it may work for them, I heartily disagree (besides the fact they don’t really work at all for me).

For one, I don’t think they work because I am completely ADD (self-proclaimed) I constantly have to change it up (just recently I moved my desk/”office” from the kitchen to a corner in the living room). Also, I’m a busy mother of two crazy, lovable littles. I don’t have time for rituals. My rituals will quickly become theirs—lucky pen? They will steal it and hide it never to be found again. Special hat? It’s now their special dress-up hat. Fuzzy socks? I’ll lose them (the wash would eat them). Have to type? My computer will break. I just don’t have time for rituals. Most days if I want to write, I have little snippets of time that I can jot a scene down on a napkin while the kids are eating lunch. Or, what’s been working the best recently, scribbling out a scene on the notepad I’ve taken to carry around while I stand in line at the postoffice or at the bank. I can’t have a certain pen or place because more then likely it would change from day to day.

As my favorite author, Lauren Oliver, said:

“I try to train myself out of writing rivals because I find that if you can only write when you have this pen or at home at this computer, it gives you all these excuses to indulge in not writing . . .”

My point precisely.

What about you? Do you have any writing rituals? Do you agree with them?

So I’m reading this book (I know. . . big surprise right?) Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within. So far I’m liking it, like a ton. There are lots of different writing exercises at the end of each short chapter, and for once I’m actually doing the exercises (most of them anyways).

One of the exercises encourages you to find little pockets of time to write, so I started making a list of the little pockets of time I could steal to write (a little soon adds up to a lot!)

*Kids’ bath time - since this is normally the time I straighten up the living room (no worries the bathroom door is almost straight across from the living room so I can keep an eye on them at all times) I plan on having the kids help me clean-up before they jump in the bath. That way I can take my notebook in the bathroom and write while they play in the tub.

*While the kids play out side – generally I just take whatever book I’m reading or play/work on my phone, but this is a perfect time to scribble out some words!

*While driving – if I’m riding (Andy driving) I can free write some words, if I’m driving, I can use my phone and Suri—I need to use her more.

*Waiting in line at Target and Aldi’s – really these are the only places I generally shop. And let me tell you. . . that Aldi’s weekend line is a doozy. It’s also a good idea to pick the longest line—I can use all the help I can get!

*Eating lunch – since moving my “office” from the kitchen to the living room I don’t actually eat at my desk/while I work anymore (bad habit of mine). Now I have an extra seven minutes to write out some words while the kids chow down on their PB&Js.

*Making dinner – a little here, a little there.

*While watching T.V. – I don’t really watch a lot of t.v., but sometimes Andy and I will get into a show on Netflix (currently it’s Fringe season one. There are four seasons, and we’re LOVING it. . .it’s so strange!) Anyways. I can’t always concentrate very well while watching t.v. and trying to write, but I hate sitting still not doing anything, so even if I only get a paragraph written, it’s a paragraph written.

*If D or E wakes me up early – lately D has been waking up early (thank you canine teeth . . .), but this weekend it was E (our first accident bedwetting. . .she’s been going strong for four weeks, so. . .) I was woken up. Since it wasn’t a simple “Here-is-a-mimi-go-back-to-sleep” type waking up, I was awake, awake. Perfect time to get up and get some writing done. Quiet house. And since it was 4 AM it’s a good 3-4 hours of peace and quite to write—or write until I get re-tired and curl up on the couch and sleep for a couple before the kiddos wake us.

*After I put the kids to bed – this is what I have been doing. It hasn’t been working out so great lately because I have been completely zonked or so behind in work so I either crash or get caught up on work—hence the fact I haven’t been getting any writing done whatsoever.

So that’s the plan. I’d still like to get 1,000-ish words in a day, but some days I can’t hold myself to that. Somedays I have to realized that I also have a household to run, a husband to love, kids’ noses to wipe. But on those days. On the days I’m completely over-whelmed with life, I will just stick to getting something down on paper. A sentence. A paragraph—anything is better than nothing and a little will soon add up to a lot.

When do you steal little bits of time to write? I’d love to know—always looking for more ideas! 

More ideas on my post Finding Time to Write

When I was eleven years old, I decided that I wanted to be the youngest romance writer ever (are you laughing yet?) I have stacks and stacks, files and files of character sketches, book ideas, outlines — tons of them. Somewhere along the way that evil nasty ugly voice — you know the one — the one who says you can’t do it? He got in the way and pushed the idea out of my head. A real confidence shatterer that one. Looking back I do realize this was a very lofty goal, but why did that dream shatterer have to come around at all?

Why do we give in to that voice? Why do we succumb and agree with him — agree that we can’t do it?

I’m here today to stand up and say stop. Stop giving into the negativity of Mr. “You-Can’t-Do-It”. He needs to shut up and get out! Here’s to making more dreams and big dreams and not comparing and talking down to ourselves. We are dreamers. We are writers. We can do it!

I love writing. I especially love when I’m over-the-moon-excited about writing whatever WIP I’m working on. I know that during the writing process you can’t always stay excited (I’m not that naive — just this week I was so tired I looked at my computer screen and said “Psh, it’ll be there tomorrow” and went to bed) I also have an idea that by the time I’m finished with the 7,654 edits that come with a novel, I’m going to be pretty tired of seeing my words.

So what do you do when you want to stay with it, but are getting to the point that you just can’t take it anymore? 

1. Take a break. Not a long break (lest you don’t come back). Doing something else for a bit — go for a run (and then shower and eat because isn’t that what we all do after running?) or write a short story//article (or don’t because you’re tired of writing). Open your fridge 700 times willing it to start creating more food then what’s already in there.

2. Watch a movie with your main character look-a-like. You know those character sketches that you created and those celebrity look-a-likes you casted for your character? Well, find a movie they are in and watch it. I did this with one of my secondary characters last week and not only did it get me geared up and excited about writing, it also made me love my secondary characters more then my primary! (Don’t worry — I have a plan for that and all my readers will hate me, but it has to happen. *insert evil laugh*)

3. Listen to your novel soundtrack. You’ve made one right? (Whhhaaat? You haven’t? You should probably read this then and then go create one) You can listen to the soundtrack for The Black Knight (which FYI isn’t about a knight at all — intrigued?) here.

4. Make a novel pin board. (I’ve done that too) It’s a break in itself to make a pin-board and maybe it’s just the break you need to get re-excited about your project (just don’t get lost on Pinterest).

5. Are you on the re-vision process and you are tired of your novel//hate it//ready to throw in the towel? Slap yourself silly — you have come this far you are NOT stopping now. Give yourself a pep talk and keep going.

The trick is (because I know — haha — that was sarcastic FYI) to keep going. My pal Stephen King (ok he isn’t my pal — in all honesty I haven’t even read any of his books, and I’m just now a couple chapters in in his memoir) says that if you write 300 words a day at the end of the year you’ll have a novel. 300 words. That’s it. You got this! 

How do you stay inspired on your WIP?

This is the beginning. The start. Before I can dig in deep to my story, I must have all my supplies — and a good start on knowing my characters — fleshing them out. There really is no right or wrong way to start, but this is how I beginning.

I’ve been carrying my WIP around with me like — Yes. That’s a manilla envelope.

Inside my envelope, I have my important tools … simple really. A pencil and (of course) a Moleskine – my favorite. I think I need to do something with this cover — yes?? (thoughts? ideas?)

First page is just a brain dump thus far — quick notes on what’s in my head so far. My WIP is my most in-depth story yet. Get ready for twists and turns and “Say what?” moments.

I have a page on a little what my world looks like and the start of my character sketches. Seriously this is one of my favorite parts.

This is the part that I really get to know my character. Flesh them out. I scour magazines and Pinterest until I find the perfect face for my characters. And then I go about finding dress for them and hobbies. So far it’s my absolute favorite part of writing my stories. I fall in love with my characters. Now — if I can get you to fall in love with them as much as I am in love with them.

How do you prepare for your novels? Got any good tips for a newbie like me?

So this post is a bit humorous. Humorous because it’s the 8th day of the month and I have found 0 time to write. This post is as much for me as it is for you.

I really love to write. I do. But sometimes in the midst of life (i.e. sick kids, being a wife, running errands, the NEVER-ENDING-LAUNDRY, etc, etc, yada, yada) I don’t write. I write blog posts and guest posts and to do lists, but I never make time to write for me. To write out the characters in my head. And this post is about making time/finding time to make sure I write for the fun of it.

Keep your laptop open (or pen and notebook) handy during all those mundane tasks. You know the tasks — making dinner, folding laundry, washing dishes (only be carful with the whole laptop/water thing. Write during the little breaks here and there. Yes, it can be frustrating not to be able to finish a scene (or a sentence), however, think at the end of the day when you are dead-dog tired you will have XX many words written instead of nada and you can sleep instead of trying to think about all the reasons you like writing better then sleeping.

Don’t underestimate the power of the “potty break”. Yes, I’m going there. Instead of surfing your phone or browsing a magazine, get a few more words written. If you’re a mom this may be the only few quiet moments you get in a day (and by quite I mean you can lock the door — can I get an amen?)

Think about your WIP when you aren’t working on your WIP. This can be a little hard sometimes — like when you’re trying to type up a press release or read How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the 800th time this week — but with a little practice you’ll be able to multitask with the best of them. The reason you think about your WIP (work in progress) when you’re not necessarily working on it is because when you are ready to work on it you’ll fly through a scene instead of getting three words down before you realize that the hamburger is burning. . . again.

Create a rad playlist. And listen to that playlist when you aren’t working on your WIP. It’ll keep you motivated. I have certain songs that throw me into a scene and I can’t wait to get back to writing it. You can create a playlist from the songs you have on iTunes (and purchasing the ones you don’t have access to), you can create a playlist on playlist.com or Spotify, or (I think you can do this) you can create a playlist on youtube. PS I do have a Spotify account and there are playlist for my current WIPs. I’d love it if you shared your playlists! I love discovering new music. 

Carry a notebook with you at all times (when out of the house). I’ve already covered being in the house with your laptop or notebook pen with you, and now I’m covering the one that everyone covers — carry a notebook with you at all times. I love driving, and I hate driving. I love going on long drives, however, when it comes to in town traffic — hate it. So my notebook is a God send when it comes to traffic. When you’re stuck in it, pull out your notebook and jot down your thoughts. Stuck at a red light? Do the same. I used to study this way in college. It’s the only way I got through. Note: It’s never ever ok to write while in a moving car. These are examples of when your car is stopped, not moving (of course when I am moving and there’s a scene I have to get out now, I put Siri to work writing me a note). It’s also nice when you’re stuck in a check out line to whip out your notebook and write furiously — give those around you something to talk about (the crazy lady taking notes — that would be you).

Whatever your method of madness stick with it! Sooner or later you’ll be holding a finished product in your hands. And then it will be time for the re-writes!

Do you have any tips for finding time to write? I’d love to hear them! 

Some of my favorite writing resources:

Writer Mama by Christina Katz — this one is more for the non-fiction writer but great nonetheless.

Pen On Fire by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett – this is one that I had interlibrary loaned this one time and never got a chance to read beyond the first 30 pages, but those first 30 pages were amazing.

The stuff on this Pin Board — stuff from around the web that I’ve penned (I’m always looking for more rad articles so if you have one, send the link my way!)

And this amazing article on “The Daily Routines of Famous Writers”

And my current favorite all-time tweet that is tacked above my computer:

Secret to writing: You write. You stop dreaming of writing. You stop talking about writing. Stop wishing you were writing. And you write. –@JonathanGunson