Now get back to work!
I posted at blogspot this morning. Still tired and trying to clean my office …again. Can’t wait to get the chapbooks from my fellow students which are on the way.
I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines, nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.
Harry Shearer
I should have written this quote. Due to my procrastinating nature deadlines are what drives me. Yesterday I entered a poetry contest, deadline April 30th. I wanted to enter 3 contests but I waited until it was too late so I had to pick just one. Procrastinating makes my neck and shoulders tense up, gives me horrible headaches, an attitude and a lot of anger towards anything that gets in my way in the final hours before my project, paper or assignment is due. This is something I’ve been working on but as my adviser told me my first semester its become part of my writing process so work with it not against it. With that advise I’m extending the following idea to you.
Today is May 1st, TODAY, research contests, dates, assignments, goals you want to accomplish in May. Print out or use a calendar with big spaces. If the deadline for a contest is May 31st put it on your calendar for May 17th. Imagine how good you will feel when you finish something way before its due. Set appointments with yourself to complete work and don’t break the appointment for anything or anyone.
Ask yourself these questions.
What is one thing I could do this month:
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
Fiction
Jena Isle – “Was Love Meant to Last Forever?” - Is there such a thing as eternal love? A story of love’s imperfections.
About Writing
Roy – “Getting back to poetry… my real reflection” - Rediscovering my love for poetry writing…
Izzy Daniels – “Maximizing Your Writing Time: Ideas! I need Ideas!” - Ways to come up with ideas for your writing, and maximizing your outline in order to avoid having to go back.
Poetry / Poetic Fiction
Zorlone – “Ancient Cities” - We are awed by the presence of astounding skyscrapers, sturdy bridges, and majestic monuments. They are in one way or the other influenced by the ancient cities from all over the world.
Deeptesh Sen – “Time Travel” - It’s the creation of a surreal city which you can reach through your mirrors by means of time travel.The vehicle for this telepathic transport is a symphony.
Dragon Blogger – “Unlikeable” - A random word poem about a person who is simply unlikeable.
Gabriel Gadfly – “Shelter” - Two creatures cross paths at the junction of life and death.
Zorlone - “A Gentle Touch” - An intimate beauty of lovers sharing their passion for one another.
Brought to you by PlotDog Press with the Serial Suspense Screenplay “Intervention”
Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top posts as chosen by the April 17, 2009 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends April 24. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 3 weeks using the form on this page.
“It is only through your conscious mind that you can reach the subconscious. Your conscious mind is the porter at the door, the watchman at the gate. It is to the conscious mind that the subconscious looks for all its impressions.”
Robert Collier (American motivational author, 1885-1950)
If you read part 1, I am using S.L. Stebel’s book, Making Your Subconscious Your Partner in the Writing Process and Double Your Creative Power!
This morning I took out my piece of writing from April 9th.
Here’s part II. Take a pen, pencil or highlighter and read your work, circling the words or words that leap out from the page.* When you are done, put the circled words on a new page and repeat the first process, writing at white hot speed without stopping to think. The words you have circled Stebel calls “trigger words’ “messages from your subconscious from stories struggling to get out.” Again when you are done put away the writing for at least a week. Repeating the process until you recognize when you should stop. At the end of the process, weeks or months you should have themes or story starters deep from your subconscious, words that need to be written.
*For me this was amazing, I didn’t remember writing many of these words.
Today, if you haven’t done this exercise I encourage you to do this. I’ve had this particular handout for at least 3 years, and I’m pretty stunned what words came up in part II. I will continue on with the exercise so look for updates. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
Download a FREE copy of the Artella eBook, Peace by Piece: Collage Your Way to Inner Peace and Harmony. This workbook guides you through several collage projects, each one designed to bring you closer to your true self and your powerful ability for manifesting your dreams and desires. Download your copy here!
Found this on a favorite blog of mine this morning, Oh My Word! Beautiful!
Never give up on your dreams, never, never, never.
YouTube - Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics).
Life can’t ever really defeat a writer who is in love with writing, for life itself is a writer’s lover until death - fascinating, cruel, lavish, warm, cold, treacherous, constant. ~Edna Ferber, A Kind of Magic, 1963
Writers who feel a passion for writing might consider writing their constant companion. And with every relationship there are good times and bad. Times that you are in love with writing and times you wish you could end the relationship and start another hobby. How do you keep the spark in your writing relationship? How do you fuel the passion for writing week after week?
1. Experiment with different forms of writing, within and out of your genre
2. Try writing in another voice that is far removed from what you usually write
3. Read genres you normally wouldn’t read
4. Attend poetry readings and read every time, make a name for yourself and support fellow poets, artists and writers
5. Join a critique group or your local writers group and actively participate
6. Use other forms of art to prompt your writing; attend art and history museums, take a watercolor class, explore collage, altered art, or photography. Write about the experience and write about the memories that the art brings to the surface
7. Find a writing partner and collaborate on a writing project or just check in on a regular basis as an accountability partner
Today, start your own list of writing styles or forms you might want to try. Spend some time this week reading the local paper or free independent papers and find out what’s available in your area to explore. Maybe there’s a book signing or a photography hike, a venue that needs someone to start poetry readings, a critique group looking for new members…Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
The things we fear most in organizations — fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances are the primary sources of creativity.
Margaret J. Wheatley
I’ve tried to explain this to my husband in regards to my office but he’s not buying it.
If you’re a regular nag reader you know that I’ve talked about hosting Dr. Eric Maisel’s book as part of his book tour. The time is here. Don’t forget to stop by on Saturday for my interview with Dr. Maisel on Van Gogh Blues.
Today, list 10 sources of creativity in your life maybe as of yet untapped; try to think beyond the most common sources. And then set the timer for thirty minutes and freewrite about one of them. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
My favorite book for creative blocks. The War of Art. Small, powerful words on why the creative person resists the process and how you can change if you choose.
A creative block is the wall we erect to ward off the anxiety we suppose we’ll experience if we sit down to work. Eric Maisel
I wanted to address a comment Jim made yesterday about my sculpting post…
In reference to one writers way of writing.
“I’m sure that’s the case for some but writing is exactly like that for me. I write a basic story and then graft on bits here and there until the work is ready. I’ve written four novels that way and the fifth is shaping up exactly the same.”
My posts are just meant to be exercises to prompt you to write. I find inspiration in quotes from other writers, poets, artists, creative folk etc. Some writers find they need to wait for inspiration I have found I need to hit the keys daily. This may not work for you. And many of the quotes may not emulate your writing life. Don’t be discouraged if that’s the case. Keep searching, keep learning, keep writing. It took me many years to figure out what works for me, during this time I read everything I could on creativity, writing, inspiration and became a fan of the expert on creativity, Dr. Eric Maisel. Some of his books for writers include:
Deep Writing: 7 Principles That Bring Ideas to Life
Living the Writer’s Life
Write Mind: 299 Things Writers Should Never Say to Themselves (And What They Should Say Instead)
At the end of February I will be interviewing Eric on The Writing Nag as part of his blog tour to promote the paperback release of The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression
Tomorrow, I will post more information about Eric Maisel’s work. Today, spend some time writing your goals but this time write ones that you would think impossible and then enter them in this contest. You might want to read the guidelines first. January Contest. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
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