August 15, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: INFINITE SOLUTIONS
Despite the fact that in this blog I give suggestions for dealing with writer's block, and despite the fact that I have an ebook, OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK EASILY, there are not a finite number of solutions to writer's block. (…)
July 25, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: WEBSITE HELP
I must have been looking for inspiration when I went to my bookshelf where I have scads…. 50+…. (…)
July 1, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: FORGIVENESS
For anyone who has been reading my blog for the last six months, you likely will have noticed that I've been writing every three days. I feel proud of myself that I've succeeded in this endeavor. Yet, as of today, I have "fallen off the wagon."
I have diligently been writing in my journal every single day for at least a year. That is, I have never missed a day. In the past, I have skipped days, and likely I will again. However, it is clear to me that I have a fairly strong journal writing habit by now. Habits and any creative activity are important (see Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life). (…)
June 16, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: FRUITS OF PATIENCE & DEDICATION
In my last blog I talked about freewriting and flow, and ended up at patience and dedication. It is simply not possible to be a writer without patience and dedication. (…)
June 4, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: CLEAN UP CLUTTER
In my last blog I mentioned that I finally got fed up with being a writer-technician with no heart in my work. The writer-technician was expressed in my PhD dissertation. (…)
June 1, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: THE PITFALLS OF DOING ONLY FOCUSED WRITING
I have not talked a great deal about focused writing. The reason for this is that without writing — that is, freewriting — there is unlikely to be focused writing that is gratifying. Also, if there is focused writing, it is unlikely to have energy because it will not be coming from our creative selves. (…)
May 29, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: TO OUTLINE OR NOT
You may be surprised that I'm even suggesting that we write from an outline since I typically talk about freewriting. Yet the two are not incompatible. (…)
May 14, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: MENTAL BREAKS
You know you've got a "serious" writing habit when you don't write for a day and you feel you're having "writing withdrawal." This experience is positive because it's likely to get you back to writing the very next day. (…)
May 5, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: WRITE WHEN TIRED
There's no better way to get to the truly uncensored you than writing when you're really tired. When you believe you can't think anymore. When you believe you cannot possibly have anything to say. (…)
April 29, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: KEEP A NOTEBOOK
I guess you could say that the suggestion to keep a notebook is a writing tip. The notebook can serve as a place for random thoughts, observations, and writings. It can also serve as an ongoing personal journal. (…)
April 20, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: LET LONELINESS BE AND WRITE
Last time I was talking about Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life. Let me continue with that. (…)
April 17, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: PREPARATION FOR USING WRITING EXERCISES
I have avoided the topic of using writing exercises because until now I have not wanted you, the reader and writer, to falsely believe that you need writing exercises in order to write. (…)
April 14, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: OVERCOMING STRESS WITH ROUTINE
Stress is inevitable. Whether self induced or externally induced, without managing stress we are at its mercy. In my last post I talked about mindfulness as a way of addressing stress. You may already have an effective way to handle your stress. No one way can work best for everyone. (…)
April 11, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a meditative practice that has gained popularity in the west through the work of Jon Kabat Zinn (Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness). His work was addressed to people who were having physical (medical) problems. Yet, it was found that people with emotional problems benefitted from the techniques as well. (…)
April 5, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: OVERCOMING "PERSPIRATION"
Sometimes I think that we writers believe we MUST suffer. Without "perspiration" how are we to believe that we have produced a worthy product? Without "perspiration" how are we to believe that we are truly writers? The myth of the suffering writer is a long standing belief that is hard to relinquish. (…)
April 2, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: OVERCOMING EDITING FEARS
One of the important aspects of the editing process is freewriting. Usually we don't think about editing as involving freewriting. Yet, in the editing process, we often run into obstacles that prevent us from moving forward. When that happens, we know from experience that freewriting gets our writing voice active. (…)
March 30, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: TAKE A BREAK
I'm suggesting that you take a break from your writing, unless you have a deadline you must meet, in order to rejuvenate your writing. Nor because you feel stuck, frustrated, depleted of ideas…. or any other negative reason you can think of. (…)
March 21, 2009
- TELEGROUPS HELP YOU GROW AS A WRITER
In my writing coaching telegroup, one of the most valuable aspects is the opportunity to receive positive feedback. We often underestimate the value of hearing/seeing what we have done right. In the context of the group, this means what we have written that pleases others. (…)
March 15, 2009
- FREEWRITING DURING REVISING
Nothing can be written, usually, without revision, albeit minor revision. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is possible to get to the point where your freewriting is close to a finished product. But, when this does not happen and revision is needed, there is still an important place for freewriting. (…)
March 12, 2009
- Freewriting During Revising
Nothing can be written — usually — without revision, albeit minor revision. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is possible to get to the point where your freewriting is close to a finished product. But, when this does not happen and revision is needed, there is still an important place for freewriting. (…)
