3 Easy Writing Tips To Get Things Done In 2018

Let’s look at some useful writing tips for 2018, courtesy of our local writers’ group.

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, and I’m enjoying this series because 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 2018: accept more, and judge less.

3. Create an editorial calendar for 2018

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.

Happy 2018 — all best wishes for a wonderful year

As 2017 winds down, enjoy the New Years celebrations. Stay safe. What writing tips do you find useful to make 2018 a wonderful year?