My brain is on fire. In a good way. I’m not officially participating in NaNoWriMo this year, but I’m still writing as much as possible. One of the benefits of working on my book every day is something I’ve noticed during NaNo in years past: The more I write, the more ideas come to me
1. Don’t write regularly. 2. See #1. Seriously, that’s it. In my experience, your muse doesn’t show up for work unless you do. All the other stuff about setting aside the time, figuring out your goals, avoiding distractions…those are just tactics for getting your body in front of the keyboard. To write regularly. Only you
When I started writing, three years—oh my God, three years—ago, I didn’t know anything. I had a story I wanted to tell, and I enjoyed sitting at the computer every day banging it out. Ignorance is bliss. I’ve learned a lot since then. Some of it’s been really useful stuff. POV, setting, hooks, active language,
I think the human brain is fascinating. As a writer who wants plot ideas on demand, it can also be frustrating. Recently I read an article that said our brains don’t work as well under stress. (Duh, right?) We can’t force the ideas, they’re more likely to come when our conscious mind is occupied with
Current events not enough to inspire your next story? How about trolling history? For example, the History Channel website lists the following interesting events for March 1st. 1961: President Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps 1932: The Lindbergh baby is kidnapped 1910: Trains are buried by an avalanche in Wellington, Washington 1692: The Salem Witch Hunt
By nature, I’m stuck in a chair all day in front of the computer, or brainstorming on paper, but the irony is that some of my best ideas come while I’m in motion. If I’m stuck on a scene, or struggling for new ideas, I’ve found the best way to open my brain is to
My ideas usually come not at my desk writing, but in the midst of living. ~Anais Nin People often ask writers where their ideas come from. I even find myself wondering the same thing after I read a great book. The answers? Everywhere, nowhere, hard work. We get them from things we see in our