Thursday Thirteen Week 21

January is the probably the hardest month for writers to find motivation, probably because December is so good at wrecking routines!  So, this week, I'm listing 13 tips for anybody who writes - for fun or for profit.  This is a grab bag, and is NOT topic specific. 

13 Tips For Writers

1.  Make your writing fun.  If it's drudgery, you won't do it.

2.  Writer's block got you?  Truth:  there is no such thing as "writer's block."  It's like saying, "I have Mommy block, or jet pilot block, or school teacher block."  Read on -

3.  It's time for the egg timer.  Actually, I prefer the stove timer, because you have to get up and reset the thing.  Grab a notebook and pen and set the timer for 5 minutes - no more.  Don't pick a topic in advance, just write anything that comes to mind for those five minutes.  Do this 2 or three times, for several days in a row.  Soon you'll find yourself not needing the timer to keep you on task.

3.  Few people have a whole, interrupted block of time to write every day, so train yourself to jot notes - in line at the grocery store, waiting to pick up your kids, while you cook - okay that one gets me in trouble, but you get the idea.

4.  Watch people - how they move, how they dress, take in all the details. They are your best source for characters.

5.  Listen!  I constantly hear THE BEST bits of dialog when I'm out and about. 

6.  My favorite research tool - old high school and college year books. They are time capsules!  You can target a specific year, a region of the country, see hairstyles, clothing trends, find great names, and see, first hand, the way people of that area wrote and talked.  Best part - they are inexpensive and available on Ebay or in local flea markets.

7.  Never stop reading.

8.  It's okay to mimic a favorite writer when you first start out, but develop your own voice.

9.  Putting words on paper is the LAST step in writing.  Most of the work is done in your head.  Writing is like planning a trip - you plan for weeks; driving is the last thing you do.

10.  Put YOUR personality in everything you write.

11.  Ignore anyone who belittles your writing or your dream.

12.  When you're working on a big piece like a novel, don't write to the end of a chapter or page.  Stop in the middle of a thought.  Jot a note to yourself to remind you what comes next, but leave it in the middle.  It will jump start your next writing session.

13. Mingle with other writers, doesn't matter what kind.  Some are eccentric, some are fun, some are walking history books - but they all share your goal - to write - AND they all have creative energy.

That's my list.  I'd love to hear your favorite writing tip, too, so leave me a comment.

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Comments

[Jennfactor]

There are some really good ones in there! I especially like #12 as a jumpstart for next time! I don't have any writing tips to offer up, but my TT is full of questions!

[ancsweetnsassygal]

Great tips. I've always had a penchant for writing but never the discipline. Maybe I'll try a few of these to see if I can get it going again. Thanks.

My TT is up also on my fav tv shows.

[Andrea]

Thanks for the tips! I need all the help I can get! :P I usually write on paper the first time, just to get my initial idea down. Either that or I type with my eyes closed so I can "see" it better.

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

Awesome list. I'm finding I'm not lacking motivation (not at ALL; all I want to do is sit and write), but time's short. WAY short.

Well, in another few weeks I'll have the time... but not the motivation, I'm sure.

Happy TT! Keep on writing!

[Laughing Muse]

Perfection is for the final draft. Don't be so concerned about "what others will think" that you don't write anything, ever. Creations need passion as much as they need perfection. Don't let worry suck out all the passion. Mere perfection isn't that interesting, not even to engineers.

That said, have some pride in what you write, or draw, or paint, or sing. It doesn't have to be "perfect", but you should do it well, and thoroughly. So what if no one else will ever hear or see it (if it's something you intend to keep private)? You will hear or see it - at least once, when you create it. It's a part of you. You're worth the good stuff - the stuff with heart.

[Cheryl]

December really did a number on me. I'd just come out of the procrastination cave in late November and every day through mid-December I faithfully wrote entries from the writing prompts in A Writer's Book of Days. Christmas came and I used it as an excuse. Now I'm trying to start again and it hasn't been so easy.

[Wacky Mommy]

Thanks!

[Raggedy]

Thank you for sharing all of these useful tips.
Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
My TT is posted.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT'ing!
*^_^
(=':'=)
(")_ (")Š
Raggedy

[Rose]

As a fellow writer I really enjoyed your post and I needed this reminder. "Ignore anyone who belittles your writing"

[Mary (mert)]

Thanks! I so needed that right now. I have been having a difficult time of it, these tips should help a lot!

[Angelle Trieste]

I like your list. I would like to add that you have to be very careful about how you use your time because most people are so involved with talking about writing that they don't actually get to DO it. (I'm talking about all those loops and boards.)

[MarillaAnne]

Absolutely a fantastic list. (Don't tell anybody but I have my best days when I use the stove timer ... Simply because I have to get up and reset it!)

Ok ... well I'm off to get caught up on the rest of your blog.

ttyl,
pam

[Judy Callarman]

This is a very good list! I'm a writer, myself. I've been keeping a folder of little tidbits, including conversations, for years. In my TT this week, I wrote up a conversation that my kids had when they were little. I agree that it's important to read a lot and to keep writing!

[Kim Priestap]

Great list! My favorite is the free writing you discussed in #3.

[PRACTiCAL CHiCK]

Curing writer's block is easy. Just stare at the paper until your forehead bleeds. ;)

[Barbara H.]

What great tips! Thank you!

[Cindy Swanson]

Wow, DK...what great advice! I'm going to come back to this, I'm sure.

My TT is up too. :)

[Barb]

I love this list. I often make notes wherever I am - even in church!

Check out my Thursday Thirteen.

[Tink]

I don't call myself a writer, but I love to write. Good tips, I'll keep them in mind!
My TT lists 13 of my favourite goddess & fantasy artists.

[beth]

Fantastic advise! I am not a professional writer, but I have found that I've had a hard time writing on my blog much this month - so maybe it's from the same December overdose.

I'm actually going to pass this on to a friend of mine who IS a professional writer and has been having a hard time meeting a book deadline this month.

Happy tt-ing. :)

[Susan]

DK that's a great list - #11 is good for all of us no matter what we do! Very good reminder - I love reading your blog and just dreaming that I'm a writer. It's so inspiring for other applications too! Take it easy :)

[KarenW]

Great tips! I'm going to share these with my kids. My son wants to write a book someday.

[Dave]

Great tips! I agree with you about the writers block too... I've not heard many people say that :)

Also about the jotting of notes and writing about things that are to happen next even if your not there. Sometimes I find I have to do that because I can't keep my hands up with my mind, so I kind of have to skip around a lot to make sure I don't misplace my thought... Then those notes I go back on and elaborate on them when I have the time.

Great!