11 Tips for Maintaining a Daily Writing Habit

This summer I've made a deal with myself -- write something new every morning, Monday-Friday. I can't move on (with submissions, revisions, etc.) until I've written something new. At first it was like scratching nails over a chalkboard. I'd talk myself out of it for at least a dozen different reasons. It's been a few weeks now, and I'm on the daily writing train showing no signs of derailing. I decided to share 11 tips that have helped me so far.






1. Set a schedule and stick to it!

2. Make new writing the first thing you do in your writing time.

3. Avoid Social media and the Internet at all costs.

4. Ignore the little voice in your mind that says "Aw...can't I do this later? Or tomorrow even?

5. Even if you don't feel ready, go to your writing space and open your work in progress.

6. Having more than one work in progress or an idea file comes in handy, just in case you're truly stuck on your main project.

7. If all else fails, write a journal entry.

8. Don't stop until you've reached your allotted time or word count.

9. Reward yourself for a job well done! Some writers allow themselves one jellybean or skittle after every hundred words. Others enjoy a special cup of tea or coffee or a trip to Starbucks. Find out what works for you.

10. Keep a daily writing log to track your progress. Being able to see what you've completed in a week visually is a huge motivator. (A sneaky side note for highly visual folks: You can replace your daily writing desktop icon to one similar to the photo above. That way you know it's a special writing only file.)

11. Sign up for a writing forum to discuss your progress with other writers. It helps knowing others out there have similar goals. Sometimes it's the highlight of my day knowing I can share that I've made my daily writing goal with others.

I hope some of these tips help you maintain a daily writing habit. Happy Writing!

Take Three...

The opening lines of a blog entry a little over a year ago....

Out of the ashes rose a phoenix...wait scratch that, a raven. When I was thirteen years old I began my love affair with dark, paranormal fiction (back then I think the whole section of the bookstore I was drawn to was simply called "Horror." One of my favorites was Of Saints and Shadows by Christopher Golden. Some vampires in the story could transform into animals. This inspired me to write a novel about a young shape-shifter on a quest. I called it Ravyn's Quest. I began typing the story on my tiny Mac Classic. I actually made 3/4 of the way through the manuscript before I realized I didn't know how the story would end. I sent my character on this treacherous journey only to realize I didn't know what she was going to do when she got to where she was going. I always thought in the back of my mind, some day I'll finish it.

And I did take it back out last year. I started over, from the very beginning. This time I'd make sure there were actually characters in the book and that her quest actually had a purpose to it. I thought I liked what I had, but then about 8000 words in, I got stuck. Bogged down by the research of it all. And what did I do? I put it away again. For another year!

In the mean time, I took some much needed time to educate myself at writer's conferences and read, read, read. One very helpful book has been Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Rennie Browne, recommended to me by Stefanie von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

I finally had the urge to take out my manuscript again last week. I blew off the dust and read through it. I deleted the entire preface and half of the word count, so essentially I started over -- AGAIN!


I'm loving it now. It'll take plenty of encouragement, nourishment, love, and dark chocolate, but this time, I think I'll make it to the end. I've found what's most important -- Ravyn's voice. (And it sure helps that she has a supporting cast now)

What are your current works in progress? Do you have that one project or idea in a back cabinet somewhere just screaming to be written?

My word count so far: 

12200 / 50000

(24.4%)

(First time I've made it over 10,000 words with this project. Yay!)

Creating a Writing Nook

Where do you complete your writing? Do you have a zen-like place with the sounds of a gentle trickling fountain nearby?  Perhaps there's a vanilla scented candle burning and Enya playing in the background? I think that's how I pictured it would be before I started writing seriously,  but in reality my writing corner has consisted of this...

A saggy spot in the corner of a 30+ year old couch.  I must say some of my brightest ideas were penned (actually typed) from this very corner.  While it is homey and comfortable it doesn't exactly inspire me to write in a professional and focused manner.  So this summer I made it my mission to create a "Writer's Nook."  Here's what I have so far:

A Writing desk -- complete with Lap Top,'Works in Progress Files to the Left, photo of the hubby, and desk calendar to keep me on track.

My tiny personal library of children's books and writing books.  I hope to keep my collection growing at all times!

A little cubby box for my library books.  I hope to get new books every week (or at least every two weeks.)

I think it so, so important for a writer to have his/her own writer's nook.  It  serves as a constant reminder that our writing is important enough to deserve its own space in our lives.  Mine is very basic right now, but I look forward to jazzing it up more and more as I move forward.  My first goal is to use it every day! (Except maybe Sunday.)

Do you have a writing nook?  Where is your favorite place to write?  If anyone would like to send pictures and a quote I'd be happy to post it here at The Sunflower Scribe.  =)

Update on the journey

Here is a blurb from my first ever Sunflower Scribe Blog Post:

In June 2010, inspiration struck. My first children’s book main character, Iris the Colorful Spider was born. The manuscript is written and now I am learning more about the editing and publishing process. The journey has just begun and I have finally found my focus. I want to be a Writer. I have come to terms with the fact that this may be a process that is years in the making but, I am up for it! Carpe Diem! I hope you enjoy the ride! I know I will.

So how am I doing in my journey now you ask?

Well, let's see...

I've written 12 new picture book manuscripts, several short stories, and 1 1/2 chapter book manuscripts.  

I've submitted and received many rejections (heartbreaking!) as well as a handful of acceptances!  My acceptance rate right now is 9.5% (I've always liked thinking in percentages!)

But really that's not the point....  

Do I still love writing? Yes! 

Have I improved at it? Yes! 

Do I still have a whole lot to learn? Yes, and I always will.

Have I met wonderfully awesome fellow writers who share the same dreams of publishing their stories?  Yes!

Each year my life experiences help to shape who I become as a Writer and where I turn to for inspiration.  It's as much a part of me now as drinking water daily.  That is what the journey is all about.  Where are you in your writing journey? Or perhaps another type of journey altogether?

Bullies!

No -- not the mean kind that pull your hair and call you names, rather English Bull Terriers, of course!  My family has owned and loved them for the past fifteen years.  Some people refer to them as 'lovable dogs in clown suits'.  It's no wonder that bullies spark so many of my children's story ideas.

Stories for Children Ezine Nov. 2011

My first magazine story, Max and Digby's Big Day (cover featured at left) was loosely based on my sister's Miniature Bull Terrier, Elmo.

Here's Elmo posing for a photo op after winning several agility medals.  He is an excellent agility dog with many titles, but Elmo's ever the comedian, and sometimes liked to cause mischief in the ring!

And this is Delby, who lived with me for two years in my very first apartment.  He was always up to something!  He's the inspiration behind my WIP Picture Book manuscript, 'Tank's Tinkle Trick."







Here's another image that shows the absolutely unique, endearing personality a bully can have.

bully crayon

*not my photo*

Got this in an email forward and haven't seen it before. Thought I should share. :)

"Please read!

If you are an owner of a dog, especially one that is considered a "dangerous-breed", and small children visit your home, please take this as a warning. Don't ever leave your dog with the child unattended under any circumstances.

Only a little moment was enough for the following to happen.

See the photo:"

Pick of the Month: February 2012

I have been plugging away at my 75 Book Challenge. I have read 26 books so far.  Awesome -- yes! But, I still feel behind.  Will I make it to 75 by the end of the year?  I hope so! It's been fun so far.

Here is my favorite read from February 2012.


Picture Book:  Lost Boy: The Story of the Man who created Peter Pan by Jane Yolen

This is lovely picture book biography about the life J.M. Barrie, author of "Peter Pan."  At 2990 words, this is probably not the best choice for a one-night bedtime story for young children.  It might work if you spread it out over several nights.  The story is primarily meant for middle grade readers, grades 4-8.  The illustrations are beautiful, whimsical, and fill the readers and listeners with 'awe'.

As an aspiring writer, Barrie's story struck a chord with me.  His path to becoming a successful author was not an easy as you would think.  He went through many of the same trials and tribulations in his time that we all continue to go through now.  It made me feel connected to him in an unexpected way.  I always find experiences like these make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  It's one of many reasons I love children's literature -- the stories reach people of all ages, from 0-90.  I hope you will check it out!

Leaving Room

When writing picture book texts have you ever heard the following advice?  

'You must leave room for the illustrations.'

I know I have.  As a largely intuitive person, I have soaked in the knowledge from classes, conferences, workshops, and reading slowly over time. I can compare my picture book texts from two years ago to texts from today and see a difference -- more room.

So how can you achieve this in your own writing? Here's a few things that have worked for me.

1) Reading at least 30-40+ classic & new picture books.

     I don't just mean flip through the pages, get the general gist of the story, and the add it to your 'read' pile.  I mean really read the story.  Put yourselves in a child's shoes.  Read each page aloud, and then stop to enjoy the illustrations on each page.  How are those illustrations adding to the story? Do they make you feel happy or sad? Do they make you laugh?  Do they make you want to turn the page and find out what happens next?  

2)  Break your picture book text up into scenes, and create a storyboard.

     I am not an Author//Illustrator, but I do like to break the story up into scenes and make a storyboard.  Granted, these are things the Author may not have much control of during the publishing process, but at this point that is not really what it's meant for.  This process gives you the ability to know if what you have written works as a picture book. Are there at least 12-16 distinctly different scenes?  Another added bonus is that it might help you envision changes in the text you may not have seen before.  Perhaps you've written something that is too wordy or has too many descriptions.  Or perhaps there may be an added emotional layer you didn't see before.