Round Robin Blog Fest Jan 21 2023
Yeah! We’re back! I hope
you and all of my Round Robin friends had a great holiday season and are ready
for this great new year. Thank you to Skye for taking charge to keep all these birdies in line and to Marci for the great new logo!!
What is the topic for January
21st?
New Beginnings
- how do you motivate yourself to get back to writing when life has interrupted
your flow and/or, how do you begin a new writing challenge?
Interesting enough, I have always found writing has helped me
through a lot of interruption in my life. If circumstances block my creativity,
I continue to write by journalling. Emptying my mind as Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way likes to
call it by using Morning Pages. Having been through some major life changes in
the past 7 or 8 years, writing is what has helped me keep my sanity. Kept me
moving forward even on days I wanted to quit.
As for beginning a new writing challenge, I find for me the beginnings are always easy. Words and ideas tend to flow and not always when I consciously feel inspired. Sometimes, they seem to come out of nowhere.
· A lyric from a song
· A line in a movie or book
· Something overheard in a conversation
· A news story
· A situation or interaction between people on
the street
Any of these might set my
writer’s brain into a tizzy of words and suddenly a first chapter is born. Then
a second. Then a third.
Next thing I know, it’s a
novel—or well on its way to being one.
If you've ever read Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones, you'll know how she espouses the joys of writing about anything and everything. "Write what's in front of your nose." I've recently started taking a virtual workshop with her and the very first thing we wrote about was mashed potatoes. For 10 minutes. Imagine what you could do with 15!
It sounds simple enough but sometimes that novel is born 15 minutes at a time rather than in 2-3 hour blocks. Some days, 15 minutes may be all the clarity or time you have.
Use it.
Give yourself a few moments
to escape whatever is going on in your life and take a mini break.
Those 15 minute increments
will add up over a few weeks, months, and years.
Suddenly, you’ve written a
book.
Just don’t give up!
Shut up. Sit down. And write!
Let's see how the other authors in the blog fest motivate themselves and what advice they have. Feel free to hop from one fantastic author to the next!
Marci Baun https://www.marcibaun.com/blog
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2OQ
Anne Graham https://goo.gl/h4DtKv
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator https://dbator.blogspot.com/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Fiona McGuire http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
So true about small increments adding up. Also had to chuckle about the mashed potatoes because my first writing assignment in my Junior year English lit class was to write 500 words on an odor. I thought I was doomed. How amazed was I to slog through the assignment and get an A+. And my writing career was born. You really never know what surprising thing will create a spark.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Congrats on the A+!
DeleteDiane, that's very similar to the way ideas come to me. I might even say, they relentlessly chase me, corner me in some odd spot, and then jump into my computer.
ReplyDeleteAnd potatoes are my second favourite vegetable (after chocolate of course).
:)
Bob
Mmmm, chocolate!! Okay, Bob, write for 10 minutes about chocolate!
DeleteI love Writing Down the Bones! It's one of those books that reminds you to breathe.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane,
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice. This is the second time someone has suggested I set time aside for writing just as I do with swimming. Essentially, it is what you have to do for whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish. Today, it will be cleaning under the sink. (My excitement knows no bounds. LOL) I tried to include my url, but, apparently, it’s invalid. 🤷♀️
I used to participate in this weekly flash fiction contest, but I have done it for a few years now. It was fun and challenging. Perhaps, if it’s still around, I’ll get back to it. Maybe that will bring my mojo back. 😊
Marci
Oh that sounds fun! Maybe we could use a Round Robin Blog for everyone to showcase a short piece they wrote. We'll get back to that!
DeleteA novel is born 15 minutes at a time rather than in 2-3 hour blocks. an interesting concept.Diane your posts are always informative and motivating.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's worked for me for many years!
DeleteIt's a bit like the longest journey starting with a single step. And a good idea. What is it about mashed potatoes? I know several chefs and the smoothness of their mashed potato is an issue. Glad we're back. anne
ReplyDelete'Something overheard in a conversation.' I love this - other peoples' conversations are fascinating. I once stayed on a bus because of the two ladies sat in front of me. I never did here the end of their conversation as they got off one stop before the terminal. On the return trip I came up with various ideas for how it all ended!
ReplyDeleteI can't just do 15-minute increments. Once the "flow" gets started, you have to pry me away from my laptop. Conversely, if I know I only have 15 minutes, the "flow" will elude me--believe me, I've tried. We're all different. But good on you if it works for you. And yes, ideas come from everywhere!
ReplyDelete