Ways to Get Back into Writing

Life gets busy.
Kids need to be fed. Floors need to be swept. Child forgets lunch for school. A mountain of laundry is forming in front of your eyes. Oh, and the kids need to be fed again.
End of day, tired, no writing done.

Or the motivation to write anything is just gone, but you want it back.
Here are a few ways that I have used to help pull me back into the writer's chair.

1. Enter a critique giveaway. I entered Marcia's  January critique and won. I was forced to edit my first 1000 words of the novel I had shelved to submit to her. It was exactly what I needed. If you are interested she seems to have them every few months. Next week Amy will be giving away one to celebrate her birthday, so if you are needing a nudge here is a great way to start.
2. Enter a critique blog fest. I entered Sharon's blog fest last week. It led me to pull out an old PB manuscript that I had been working on. Now I'm polishing that up. This was just the first 100 words, so how hard was that? I've seen these around in the blog world, so keep your eyes open. It was my first one and so much fun.
3. Enter a writing contest. Find a writing contest that interests you and polish something up or create something totally new to enter.
4. Journal. Go back to write your own personal story. I find that writing is therapeutic for me. It just helps me to shut down and reflect on the situation(s).
5. And when all else fails - Block time and sit bottom in chair and start typing. That is what I just did to finish up the PB manuscript for critiquing and to write this post.

What do you do to motivate you to get back in the writer's chair?


*Photo by xlibber on flickr

Writing and Exercise are Alike!

Image by TWAM - Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums via Flickr

Have you ever thought about how exercise and writing are alike? I'm sure I've been thinking about this because I just started exercising again after a 6-week+ break. Alongside with this new exercise regime (which, by the way, my husband totally made up into a fancy little chart. He rocks!) I've started to write again.

Here's my discovery:


Stage 1 = Excitement:
Exercise: You see your workout schedule and think, "Yeah, Baby, in a few weeks I'm gonna look like a top model."
Writing: You've got stories and ideas just flowing out of your head ready to be typed up. You've got your main character  sketched out and he's ready to conquer the world. You think, "Yeah, Baby, I'm the next JK Rowling!"

Stage 2 = Day Two Blues:
Exercise: In all that excitement you ran an extra lap or two. Now you can barely move and you're muttering to yourself, "What in the world was I thinking? There's no way I'm going to be able to do this."
Writing: You write blog posts, articles, and short stories. You pass a few manuscripts to a friend to critique. It comes back dripping red. Your now thinking, "Why did I ever think I could write?"

Stage 3 = Determination:
Exercise: You decide to stick with the exercise plan for the next few weeks. If you don't see any improvements, then at least you tried, right?
Writing: You take a deep breath and look closely at the red markings. Your critique partner is not stupid, right? (which, by the way, I totally think mine rock!) You try the changes.

Stage 4 = Steady Results:
Exercise: The exercise plan is becoming easier and you are seeing results on the scale. You smile and pat yourself on the back for not stopping, but you know you must still work hard to continue to get to the goal you've set.
Writing: Your manuscript is coming along and you really like the changes that your cp suggested. Your reading more about the craft of writing and seeing improvements in your draft work. You know that you still have a ways to go before that goal is reached, but you feel confident.

Stage 5 = Happy Dance:
Exercise: You have reached your goal. You not only pat yourself on the back, but you give yourself a toast for a job well done. You don't want to think about it right now, but you know you have to keep it up to maintain that top model body and excellent health. *wink*
Writing: You've landed an agent and a publisher! Your dancing around the living room in your pajamas! In the back of your head, though, you know that you a lot of work cut out and that the next goal is to start on book #2.
*This stage could probably be broken down into two different stages as I know you rarely land an agent and a publisher all in one day, but needed to wind this post up.

Where am I? Hmm, probably at #3 with both the exercise and the writing. ;)
How about you? What stage are you at? 
Do you have any thoughts about exercise and writing? 

WIP...looking at 2011

Resolutions...New Year Resolutions.  I haven't really set any in years. In high school and college I'd make some up and hope that I'd get them accomplished. But, I found them to be vague and simply unattainable.  I mean, "loose weight", great goal, but not specific.
Yesterday I mentioned that setting specific goals, or resolutions if you want to call them that, is something I plan to do this year. I want them to be attainable, yet stretching and a bit challenging. I want some that are geared towards writing, some towards teaching "Jie Jie"*, and some that are more specific for my health.
Not only do I think that they need to be specific, but also I think they need to be only a handful.  I mean, if I have twenty I will never be able to keep track of all of them. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my reading glasses and cellphone.
So below I'm posting them for you all to see. HA! I need to post them on my computer, my refrigerator, and in my Bible. 

Writing Goals:
*By January 31st finish the first two chapters of my novel therefore finishing my class with Institute of Children's Literature.
*By the end of the year, I will have my novel ready for submission to an agent.
*By November 1st, I will have chosen from my PiBoIdMo list and have complete three picture book stories for submission.
*I will enter at least three writing contests this year.
*I will submit at least three stories to magazines for children, YA, and/or adult.
Teaching Goals:
*I will get back to regular lessons with Jie Jie starting January 2nd, and will continue until June 3rd.
Health Goals:
*I will only drink one carbonated drink a week for the rest of this year.
*I will do some sort of cardiovascular exercise three times a week for at least 30 min. each time. (This one is going to require some scheduling and MAJOR discipline even though I like to exercise.)

*Jie Jie means older sister in Chinese.

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? What are some of yours this year?

Flattened Frogs and Critiques

Image via Wikipedia

A few nights ago I was walking around the track with a good friend. We were chatting away when I noticed this blob on the ground. It was a flattened frog. You know the sun dried kind that is shriveled up.  I didn't want to interrupt my friend, so I stepped over it.  But, as I walked the next lap I began to question myself. Was it truly a frog? On the track? In the city?
So, the second time around, I looked a bit closer. Which is quite hard when you are walking fast and talking. I still didn't say anything about it to my friend.
I did get a better look of it.  I was sure it was a frog.  How did it get there? Who stepped on it? Gross!
The third time around I told my friend. I thought I had better kick it off of the track so we wouldn't have to watch for it every time. We stopped walking and looked at it.
It was a piece of dirt in the shape of a flattened frog. Ya, I should have worn my glasses. 

What's this have to do with critiques?
1.  Take a good look at your manuscript. Slow down. Put it away for a week or two and revisit it. Whether it is 500 words or 50K, make sure it is in good shape before you ask someone to critique it.  I looked at that "frog" twice, but I did't slow down to look at it.

2. Ask people to read it.  Don't assume you don't need anyone to critique it before submitting to a magazine or agent.  Don't be shy of having someone read your work and give you feedback. Don't be prideful and think you can do it on your own.  Most, if not all, published writers have at least 1-2 critique partners.  Remember that critiques are there to only make your story better. If I hadn't asked my friend to stop and inspect the "frog", I would have been stepping over it for the rest of our walk.  


3. Use the critique ideas.  Strengthen your character, clarify relationship, stronger plot...whatever is suggested.  But, remember you do have the right to not make all the changes. *But, remember pride in #2.
Had I not agreed with my friend, I would still believe the dirt clod was a flattened frog.  

4. Give Thanks!  Be thankful for those who took time out of their busy day to read your story or article.  Tell them "Thank-You".
I sure was thankful my friend was willing to slow down and even stop to look at the "frog".

WIP

Ok, I copied this from a great friend and she also happens to be a great writer! I've been following her blog The Green Bathtub for quite some time and have been really encouraged by her WIP.

So, what is WIP? As you might guess from the cute logo...it simply is a day where I share where I am at in my writing. I might actually share the entire story, if I don't plan on trying to get it published. But, I will also share the plot and let you know what I am doing. This WIP is to keep me going forward. If I want to really be published some day I need to stay focused. And in doing a weekly writing update I think I just might get it done.

So today I received the "OK" from my dear friend and just realized that today is Wednesday...so here it goes.

I am currently a student of Institute of Children's Literature. This has been so very helpful in pushing me to write. I can honestly say, I've developed in my writing skills. I have one teacher who reads my work and critiques it quite well. I think I can safely describe her more like an editor. I am currently on Assignment 9 of 10, so I'm almost a graduate!
This assignment is a short story titled "Mei Mei". It is about Tim whose parents bring home a little sister from China. He is excited to be the older brother, but seems to always do the wrong thing. By the end of the week he is bummed. Will he ever become a great big brother?

I will not post the story here, as I plan to submit it to a children's magazine. I still have a bit of tweaking to do before it is ready for my teacher to critique. But, I will keep you updated as to what happens to it in the future.

I have a few other pieces going, but will "talk" about them next week.