Let’s look at some useful writing tips for 2020, courtesy of our local writers’ group.
(Original post from December 2017; edited and updated)
Writing tips: start with a process
Ouch. I used to have a writing process, but that vanished this year, due to workplace chaos.
I wrote about an easy writing process here, and I’m getting back to the “50 words” strategy:
I can write those 50 words anywhere:
• While I’m waiting for a meeting to start;
• When I’m hanging on the phone;
• First thing in the morning — even before I make coffee;
• Last thing at night, before I switch off my bedside lamp.
Then I’ll commit to my favorite writing tips from our writers’ group.
1. Write!
That pretty much says it all — write. This year, I found I was too demanding.
My demands included not merely knowing what I wanted to write before I sat at my desk, but also that I “felt creative” before I wrote anything. (Sigh.)
Yes, experience has taught me that creativity comes when I write, but it’s all too easy to forget that. 🙂
2. Be happy: accept
I started the Follyjohn Gossip series of Regency romances on a whim; it’s fun.
At our group, we discussed all the plans we have for our writing, and how much our expectations get in our way. In 2018, I’ll accept whatever I happen to write, whether it’s a sentence, a scene, or a snippet for a blog post… I’ll let my muse decide.
I love this paragraph from Creativity Kick-Start: Practice Creative Self-Acceptance:
To ride the waves of the creative journey requires showing up for yourself. As we move into a season of holiday giving and family craziness, look past the judgments that may come up about yourself and others. Try to see what you can do to create a more self-supportive practice to nourish your creativity in small ways that feel light and fun and make you smile.
My resolution for 2020: accept more, and judge less.
3. Create an editorial calendar for 2020
We (the self-publishing authors in our group) realized that we spend too little time on marketing our books. We decided that we’d commit to a little marketing time each week, rather than focusing on “launches.”
While a big effort on launching a new novel may work for some authors, it’s a huge time and energy commitment. As someone who barely has time to write each week, the time investment in a launch isn’t possible for me.
Other authors in our group agreed. Instead of focusing on launches, we’ll focus on a little advertising, and on social media interaction.
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