Category: Writing practice

Dissatisfied with Your Writing Progress? It Might Be Time to Audit Your Habits

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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I used to be really good at keeping to a schedule. It was easier when I held a steady job. I’d get up in the morning, dress for work, have breakfast, then wait for the bus to take me to my job. After work, I had another routine, usually going to the fitness center in my office building to work out, take the bus home, make dinner, then collapse on the TV or read before bedtime.

Routines can be easy to fall into – and fall out of. When I no longer had a steady job and began freelancing, well, my routine fell apart. I had to develop a different routine for myself, one that allowed me to squeeze in time for my personal writing projects.

Developing a writing habit isn’t that much different. It’s a matter of finding the right time, the right space and the right mindset. If any of those factors are off, that can hinder your writing progress. Having a writing habit can help you stay focused, produce more writing and avoid burnout.

What happens when you fail to make progress on your current project or you lose interest in your story? The problem may not be a lack of knowledge about the writing craft. Instead, it may have more to do with your writing routine, or lack of one. Here are a few signs it might be time to audit yourself:

* You’ve become dissatisfied with the quality of your writing.
* You don’t feel connected to your writing or your project.
* It’s easy to find other things to do instead of tending to your work.
* You’re dissatisfied with the progress you’re making on your current project.
* Something has changed in your life routine, such as changing jobs or moving, which can impact your writing routine.

Before tweaking your routine, you need to know exactly what’s not working, writes editor and book coach Tiffany Yates Martin. She recommends doing an audit of your writing habits to examine the effort you’re actually putting in. Are you spending more time with online research or social media? That means time away from actual writing, she explains. Her post on audits is worth a read.

Mind you, this isn’t about assessing your skills or your craft. It’s about making yourself aware of what isn’t working with your routine so you can make necessary changes to become more productive with the time you do have.
When you assess your routine, be honest with yourself. Here are a few questions to keep in mind.

1. Do you have a writing routine? If not, why? Would your writing benefit from having one?

Perhaps the reason why you’re not making progress toward your writing goals is because you don’t have a routine in place. In which case, it might help to set up a regular time and place for your writing. Or schedule it in your journal or calendar. Understandably, setting a routine may not be possible due to travel, work or school schedules. The important takeaway is awareness. As long as you are aware that not having a writing habit may be the reason you’re not making progress can help you identify a solution.

2. Assuming you have a writing routine, how often do you write and how long are the sessions?
Is the current setup working for you?

You might have a writing routine in place, but that doesn’t mean it’s working for you in its current state. Perhaps you’re writing every day for an hour, but you still feel you’re not making a lot of progress on your story. In which case, maybe you need to add another fifteen minutes to your sessions. Conversely, if you are putting in three hours or longer in the hopes you’ll make better progress, you might experiment with cutting back on your sessions to avoid burnout. Sometimes having a limited time to write forces you to stay focused on the project at hand.

3. What do you actually do with your time? How much do you accomplish during your writing sessions?

This is a tricky question for many writers because their writing sessions may include other tasks, such as proofreading or research, which is fine as long as it pertains to your current project. But if you’re checking emails and looking up information on the internet that has nothing to do with your manuscript, then that’s a sign that you’re either procrastinating or you’re bored. Be aware of how you use your sessions.

Ditto with taking breaks. All those breaks add up and can cut into your productive time. If you’re constantly taking short breaks to play games or browse news stories, it’s time to scale back on those activities and refocus your efforts. It might help to set a timer when you take a break and keep it limited to ten minutes or less.

Be honest with yourself. No judgement either. The audit is intended to make you aware of the weak spots in your habits. It’s up to you to figure out how to change them.

4. Do you set goals for your writing sessions? Do you know what you want to accomplish during that time?

Not knowing how you plan to use your writing time may contribute to your lack of progress. If this step is missing, start your sessions with a small goal in mind, such as drafting 500 words to finish a scene, or reviewing and editing the material you wrote the previous day. Having that small goal in mind keeps you focused so you’re not looking for something else to do.

5. Do you reward yourself for meeting milestones?

Celebrating milestones, such as finishing the first draft or writing 10,000 words in a week, gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps you stay motivated. Author Steven James rewards himself with a sticker in his calendar to mark every day that he writes for three hours. When he sees all those stickers, he knows he’s made progress.

How often you audit your writing habit is up to you, but generally speaking, every six months is a good plan to start with. You might also consider an audit whenever your work or life routine has changed, such as moving to a new house or starting a new job. When your life routine changes, your writing habits will naturally be affected.

If you’re dissatisfied with your writing progress or feeling easily distracted or uninspired, performing an audit of your writing habits can reveal whether your current routine is working.

Creating a Seasonal Writing Practice

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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I can’t believe that summer is already winding to a close. Kids are back at school, and soon the weather will turn cooler and the leaves on the trees will change into more festive autumn colors.

This summer has been especially difficult. Heat waves with high humidity, intense storms and smoke from wildfires have forced me to stay inside my apartment for much of the summer. You’d think that would motivate me to write more, but it didn’t. During the summer months, my mind turned to mush. If it hadn’t been for my writer’s group and weekly sprints, I probably would not have written a single word!

That got me thinking about the impact of the seasons on our writing routines. I’ve noticed that my routine and motivation slows down during the summer months, while my writing kicks into high gear in January when it’s bitterly cold outside. During those long, cold days, it’s easier for me to focus on creative pursuits to pass the time. 

Likewise, spring seems ideal for cleaning, decluttering and redecorating. I feel more energized then. I’m in the frame of mind to revise my work in progress and cut out unnecessary scenes and characters that slow down the story. Meanwhile fall is the time for reflection and education. Attending a conference, learning more about the writing craft or simply dreaming of your next story idea might be on the agenda.

Just as nature goes through periods of growth, rest, renewal, and abundance, so can our creativity, writes Marianne Jennings on her Substack, Weekly Writers Check In. “Your writing can have seasons too. That’s not a weakness; it’s wisdom.”

By paying attention to your own patterns, you might notice a rhythm to your writing behavior.  The key is to observe those patterns without judgment or criticism, says Jennings. Then take advantage of those seasonal patterns by creating a routine that taps into your most productive energies. 

Depending on your situation, your seasonal writing practice might look like this:

Winter – With less daylight at our disposal, you might feel inclined to have shorter writing sessions. Or if you’re like me and hibernate when it gets cold, you immerse yourself into your writing projects. Much like curling up with a good book, why not write one during the winter to keep your heart warm and keep your creativity flowing?

Spring – It’s a time of fresh starts, deep cleaning and planting seeds for the future. Spring might be the ideal time to take out a manuscript you had buried in a desk drawer, dust it off and tackle a revision. LIke cleaning out closets, you might cut unnecessary scenes and characters. Maybe you prefer to plant the seeds of new story ideas, then water and care for them so they grow into mature projects. 

Summer – There’s plenty of daylight to work by, so some writers might enjoy longer writing sessions or sitting out in the garden surrounded by nature and warmed by the sun. Or perhaps you move those creative writing sessions to the early morning to take advantage of early sunlight and stay out of the heat. For others, summer is too busy to write, packed with outdoor activities, fun times with family and friends. Writing might take a back seat then because you feel less focused. Instead, you might use the time for observing the world around you, people watching and taking notes for possible new stories.

Fall – With the school year starting, fall can feel like a fresh start in a different way than spring. As kids return to school, you might decide to do the same by attending a conference, reading up on craft or joining a writer’s group to get feedback on your work. Fall is about changes too. You might decide to experiment with a different genre or rethink your writing process. Other writers find the fall time to be a period of reflection, so they might daydream plots and characters. 

Every writing season is different, and no two people will experience them the same way. Be aware of how the seasons affect you then adapt your practice to their ebbs and flows. You may find a more productive way to arrive at “The End.”


How to Get Over a Mid-Summer Writing Slump

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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This post was originally published in 2022, but the topic is as pertinent now as it was then.

Ever have those days when you simply don’t feel like writing? Funny that those days seem to occur most often during the summer. Blame it on the heat that makes everyone feel lazy. Or the distraction of summer activities – picnics, parties, the beach, outdoor movies in the park. When it’s summer, the last thing you want to do is work. And writing is work. A lot of work.

Conversely, maybe you’re too busy with work assignments and deadlines to squeeze in any pleasurable writing time. Despite my busy schedule, I feel like most days I’m waiting for email responses, interview confirmations and reviewed manuscripts, which make me feel like I’m not getting anything accomplished.

Welcome to summer, where everything and everyone seem to slow to a crawl. That includes your writing practice, which can feel like you’re in a race with snails.

How do you get back into that creative flow? How do you keep your writing practice going when there are so many summer distractions and obligations to take care of? Here are a few strategies that have worked for me. They might work for you too.

*Shorten your schedule. It might be necessary to shorten the schedule. For example, instead of writing every day, cut back to three or four days a week. If all you can give to your writing is three days a week, then go with that shortened schedule. Then when summer ends and activities slow down, you can always go back to writing every day. The most important thing to remember is to keep to some kind of schedule so you don’t lose momentum or motivation.

* Write in the early morning. If you can’t find the time to write during the day, try writing before breakfast. Many writers swear by this practice. It’s quiet at that early hour before the rest of the world awakes, and you can actually hear yourself think. You might be able to do your best work then.

* Write in the evening. If the early morning does not fit your schedule or appeal to you, try writing after dinner or before bedtime. You might find it more relaxing and it might help you get to sleep.

* Write in short bursts. Sessions of 10 to 15 minutes can help you stay productive. You’d be surprised how much you can get done in that brief amount of time. Check out my earlier post about writing in 15-minute sessions.

* Skip a day or two. It’s okay if you have to cut back on writing time to make room for other activities. Just don’t extend it too long or you might have trouble getting motivated to start writing again. Engage with the outside world and exploring new people and activities. They can only help to enrich your writing.

* Focus on non-writing activities. With less time available, writing may not be practical. Use your time instead to read about the writing craft, do research for your work-in-progress, or study the works of a favorite author.

*Set small goals. Setting smaller goals will feel less daunting and may be easier to achieve. Set a goal for writing one page a day. Or 1000 words a week (or about 200 words a day). By writing one page a day, you can still make steady progress toward your larger writing goal.

If none of these suggestions work, then try this exercise. Close your eyes and imagine your life without any kind of writing at all. What if you never wrote another word again? How would that make you feel?

If you see that your world would be drab and empty without writing, then use that vision as a catalyst for your writing practice. Use it as motivation to keep writing.

Summer brings all sorts of temptations that can drag you away from your writing practice. But with proper planning and setting small goals, you can still make progress while enjoying all that summer has to offer.

Feeling Overwhelmed by Your Writing? Here’s How to Deal with It.

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

As writers and creatives, we occasionally experience those moments of overwhelm–when it seems many tasks and projects hit all at once fighting for our attention. Or maybe it’s not many things but one gigantic project that stops us in our tracks.

The good news is that this feeling is quite common, and perhaps even a natural part of the writing process. Though when you’re going through it, it feels like you’re the only person in the world suffering.

For me, the overwhelm struck after I had completed a rough draft of two separate novels. I stared at the pile of pages wondering “Where do I begin to sort through this mess?” The thought of revising my work filled me with dread. The overwhelm I felt stopped me in my tracks, and I struggled to get started on the revision phase. It’s only recently that I jumped back into the project once I realized that the reason for the overwhelm was that I didn’t know how to proceed with my revision. I didn’t have a plan.

I’ve noticed that when overwhelm occurs to me, it’s usually under one of the following circumstances:

* High expectations of myself (also called perfectionism)
* A supersized project that I’ve poured my heart and soul into
* Writing about an unfamiliar topic
* A super tight deadline
* Too many projects of multiple sizes hitting at one time
* Too many story ideas begging for my attention
* Any project where I feel unsure about what I’m doing

I’ll discuss each of these circumstances below, but know that the feeling of overwhelm happens to all of us at one time or another. While the emotional toil can be difficult, I’ve found that each situation requires rethinking how to perform the writing tasks at hand and setting new priorities.

1. High expectations/perfectionism. Sure, it’s important to think big, to envision success for your writing project. But sometimes what you produce on the screen/on paper doesn’t match up with what you originally envisioned inside your head. That can be a tough pill to swallow. Not only does it not match, it’s far from perfect, which can further dampen your enthusiasm for the project and steal your momentum. The image of perfectionism can fill you with overwhelm that’s hard to dig out of. It’s helpful to remember that nothing is truly perfect when you start writing. Think of your project as a stone that is raw and misshapen before it’s cut and polished into a bright, shining diamond.

2. One supersized project. Like my recent work-in-progress, a supersized project can be daunting to complete, like climbing a mountain. It might help to break the project into smaller chunks so they’re easier to manage. For example, if writing a book, try writing and editing several scenes at a time to make sure they flow well and make sense. Tackling a few scenes at a time also gives you a sense of accomplishment. When you see the progress you make, that feeling of overwhelm will likely subside.

3. An unfamiliar topic. As writers, we may have to write about things we know nothing about. Sometimes that lack of knowledge can be overwhelming and prevent us from making any real progress on our current project. Yet, our writing success requires that we develop that knowledge. Whether you’ve been assigned a topic by an editor or you’re doing background research for a novel or memoir, embrace that opportunity to learn and grow. Take the time to read articles or talk to an expert about the work they do. Writing is all about learning. 

4. A super tight deadline. Deadlines and fast turnarounds can feel overwhelming when it’s thrust on you out of the blue. It’s helpful to set aside non-essential tasks and focus on the most important tasks first. It can feel freeing to get past the hard work first before doing simpler tasks.  If you’re feeling truly stuck, consider requesting more time from the client or boss so you get some breathing room.

5. Too many projects to juggle. Sometimes the overwhelm occurs when you’re dealing with multiple projects of various sizes and deadlines. That’s when your organizational skills can really shine. Similar to the tight deadline, it’s important to set priorities. Work on the projects that are the most pressing or have the more immediate deadline. If anything should fall through the cracks, it probably wasn’t that important to begin with.

6. Too many stories begging for your attention. You might be working on one project while another story idea tantalizes you from beyond. While it’s tempting to switch gears, chasing after every new, shiny idea can be counterproductive and slow your momentum. What I’ve done in these situations is to draft notes about the new, shiny idea, which should only take a day or two. It might help to keep a spreadsheet of all your story ideas with a brief summary of the plot and  descriptions of some of the characters. That way you won’t forget your bright, shiny idea, and you can get back to your current project.

7. Not sure what steps to take next. The feeling of overwhelm may result because you don’t know what your next steps should be. When I struggled with the revision process of my novels, it made me feel stuck and overwhelmed. I took a time out to research various approaches to revision until I settled on an option that I felt would work best. Now that I’ve settled on one,  courtesy of Jessica Brody and Writing Mastery, I’m finally making progress. So if you’re feeling stuck because you’re unsure what the next step should be, take the time to research several expert opinions and experiment with them to see which one works.

There will always be moments when writing feels overwhelming. That’s a normal part of the writing process. When that happens, take a step back and observe your work with a critical eye. Once you understand what’s making you feel overwhelmed, you can take the steps to unblock yourself and move your project to a successful conclusion.

Freshen Your Routine with These Spring-Themed Writing Prompts

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As the calendar turns to April, my thoughts often turn to the events of the season, such as long walks outdoors, seeing flowers bloom and watching baseball games. Spring is a time of renewal and cleaning the house, getting rid of things we no longer need. I always feel like I’m being reborn at this time of year, especially after the long, dark, cold winter we’ve had.

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your writing routine or recommit to it. That’s not always easy to do when you’re stuck staring at a blank screen or empty page. Sometimes working with writing prompts can jumpstart your writing routine or give you the inspiration to start fresh.

To help you, I’ve compiled a list of spring-themed writing prompts. They cover everything from rainy weekends, gardening and celebrating Easter. You never know when any of these prompts might spark an idea for a longer story or essay. Challenge yourself and have fun.

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Easter/Passover

Write a story about a child visiting the Easter Bunny at the local mall.

Someone receives an Easter basket filled with goodies plus one surprising and unusual element.

Write a story about someone choking on a jelly bean.

Write a scene or story about someone shopping for a new Easter outfit.

A young couple discovers a lone Easter egg, and they find a cryptic message inside.

A family comes together for Easter or Passover celebration. Over dinner, someone reveals a secret they’ve been keeping for years.

Write about someone who gets stuck in an Easter bunny costume.

Gardening

A new hybrid tulip has been introduced at the annual tulip festival. What is it? Why is it special?

You discover a package of seeds. When you plant them, something unusual and magical sprouts from them.

Describe the first spring flower you notice while out for a stroll in the park.

Imagine a snowflake and flower meeting for the first time, but neither knows what the other is. Write a dialogue between the two.

Write a story set during the annual cherry blossom festival.

Write about someone struggling to keep a houseplant alive.

Write about a small town or community as it prepares for celebrating Earth Day.

Miscellaneous

Someone experiences spring fever in strange ways.

Write about a springtime wedding in which either the bride or groom realize they’re making a mistake.

Write a story set during a spring music festival.

Imagine attending a class reunion. Someone there recognizes you right away, but you can’t remember who they are.

Write a story about a group of teens preparing for their first spring dance.

Write a story set in a treehouse.

Write a meet-cute in which two people fall in love over a spring weekend.

Write a story featuring three sisters named April, May and June.

Write about someone rushing to get their taxes done on time.

While cleaning out closets, someone uncovers an item that they haven’t seen or worn in years. What memories does it bring back? What do they do with the item?

On a weekend getaway, someone gets lost on the road or has a flat tire. What do they do next?

Describe someone attending their first baseball game. What do they experience? How do they respond to it?

Write about someone who is auditioning to be the mascot of the local baseball team.

Spring is a time of fresh starts. Write about what plans you want to make for this spring.

15 Writing Ideas for Your 15-Minute Writing Session

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The following is an edited post from six years ago, but the ideas are just as pertinent today as it was then.

One of the most common complaints I hear from writers for not writing is the lack of time in their schedules. That’s understandable with all the responsibilities we’re juggling these days, whether it’s work (or looking for work), household chores, taking care of kids or parents, and maintaining an active social life. Yet writing every day is helpful to create a consistent practice.

Fortunately, you don’t need hours of time to write. Try 15 minutes. Where can you find those pockets of time to sneak in writing? If you can find 15 minutes in your schedule, whether that’s part of your lunch break or waking up earlier or eliminating social scrolling time, you can accomplish more than you think. Sometimes 15 minutes is all you need to make progress towards your writing goals.

Stop worrying about finding more time to write. Even if you did have more time, would you use it for writing? Or would you find other ways to use it, like housework, sleeping or catching up on the latest streaming shows?

Because here’s the honest truth: It’s not about finding more time to write. It’s about having a system that allows you to make better use of the time you do have.

Start with a simple goal. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to write about? Are you experimenting with flash fiction? Or are you trying your hand at poetry? There are plenty of ways to use your writing time. If all you have is 15 minutes, here’s how you can use that time:

1. Freewrite. Set a timer, then put your pen to paper and begin writing. Let the ideas flow from your brain to the page. Aim to write 100 words every session – at a minimum. Do not stop to edit or rethink what you just wrote. Just keep writing. You may be surprised at the ideas that you see on the page afterward. If you do this consistently, over 10 sessions (aiming for those 100 words), you should be able to complete a 1,000-word essay.

2. Draft a dialogue. Create a scene in which two characters have a conversation. Start with one character asking the other character a question. See where that dialogue takes your characters. Avoid writing back story or other narrative. Focus only on the dialogue.

3. Describe an object. Choose an object on your desk or somewhere close to you. Then write about it using descriptive details, such as color, shape and texture. Use the item in a short story or essay. How was the item acquired? By whom? What is the story behind that item?

4. Write an animal story. Draft a story featuring your pet and give it a voice. Write a few paragraphs as if the pet is speaking to you. What would the animal say? Would he lavish you with praise, or whine and complain that you don’t pay enough attention to them, or give enough treats?

5. Brainstorm potential story ideas. Create a bullet list of stories you’d like to write. It might help to use prompts like “I remember” or “What if?” to jump start the ideas. At the top of the page, write the prompt, then fill in the blank. For example, I remember…my first day at school, learning to ride a bike, getting my first story published. Then from the list, choose one that resonates most and begin writing about it.

6. Write a book review. Recall the last book you read and write a review about it. Alternately, write a review about a movie you watched. What did you like or did not like about it?

7. Write the final chapter. Review your current work in progress and draft the ending. Sometimes by writing the ending first, you have a clearer idea of how to start your novel.

8. Write about a vacation you took. Browse through vacation photos, old or recent. Describe the place as you remember it. Add as much detail as you can recall.

9. Create a character sketch. Think about your protagonist, antagonist or other major character. Describe their appearance, then write as much detail as you can about their personality. What do they want? What does it mean to them? What is the character’s back story?

10. Write about a dream. Recall a dream you had recently. Then write the dream as a scene in a book or movie. Be sure to include as many details as you can remember.

11. Write a letter. Is there a friend or loved one you haven’t seen in a long time? Draft a letter to someone you care about. You don’t have to mail it, just focus on expressing your heartfelt emotions. Alternately, write a letter to a historical figure you admire and wish you could meet. What would you say to them?

12. Play writing games. For example, choose three words at random from the dictionary (close your eyes, open to a random page and let your finger stop on a word) and write a story using those three words. The story can easily be two to three paragraphs.

13. Rewrite the ending of a book or movie. Think of a book or movie in which you did not like the way it ended. Rewrite the ending. Remember you only have 15 minutes, but you can jot down the key ideas.

14. Write a story about the sounds you hear. What do you hear? Describe the sounds and the images that come to mind when you hear them. Are there birds chirping? Is there a plane flying overhead? Is someone playing their stereo loudly?  You can do this same exercise with other senses as well, such as touch, taste and smell.

15. Write about a piece of music. Listen to a song you love (or alternately, one you dislike). Try an instrumental piece with no lyrics. Close your ideas as you listen to it. What images come to mind? Does it bring back any memories? Then write about the music. Does it inspire a story?

No matter how busy you may be, I believe you can always find time to write, even if it’s only 15 minutes. Your writing practice shouldn’t suffer because your time is limited. As long as you have the desire to write, you can make space in your schedule for it.

If you like this post, please feel free to share it with your friends.
Don’t forget to check out the latest writing prompt: Write a scene or short story about someone getting lost while hiking in the woods.

Demystifying Common Writing Advice

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I recently came across several discussion threads on Reddit where participants shared the worst and best writing advice they’ve received. 

In most cases, they felt the advice didn’t quite fit their skill level or genre. Others felt the advice was unrealistic. “How am I supposed to write every day when I have a full-time job, a family and other obligations?” was a common concern.  In a few instances the advice was deemed inappropriate and downright wrong, like the former college professor who advised students to include more violence in dark fantasies because “that’s what readers expect.” 

One thing to keep in mind: advice is just that–advice. Not rules which can feel more permanent and harder to shake (yet in the discussion threads the two terms were used interchangeably.) Advice is meant to be helpful; they’re recommendations or guidelines for improving our craft. We don’t have to accept any writing advice if it doesn’t work for us. 

All the same, some words of advice can be confusing. So for the purpose of this post, I’ll try to clarify a few of the most common ones.  

Advice #1: Write every day. It’s understandable that writing every day is unrealistic due to work schedules, school, family obligations, etc. This advice is usually given to new writers to encourage them to establish a consistent routine of writing every day. Even 15 minutes can make a difference. When you make time to write every day, you create momentum, you establish a consistent practice, and your craft improves exponentially. While many writers wish they had more time in their schedules for writing, the reality is, “more hours to write doesn’t guarantee they’ll be productive ones,” writes author Polly Campbell in the current issue of Writer’s Digest. “Writers who finish books and publish regularly aren’t the ones with more time to write–they’re the ones with a system that helps them write during the time they have.” 

So sit down with your schedule, find pockets of time, even if it’s only 15 minutes. Then develop a system for writing every day.

Advice #2: Write what you know. Writing requires two types of knowledge: personal experience and external supplemental knowledge. The “write what you know” part refers to personal experience, events that you’ve lived through that you can tap into while writing your story.

External knowledge represents the things you don’t know or perhaps isn’t commonly known. If you’re writing a crime novel, for example, you might need to understand how a police detective solves a crime. If your character works in a library or hair salon and you don’t know anything about either profession, it’s helpful to your story to find out about those professions.

So, yes, it’s important to write what you know, but there will be times when you need to find out what you don’t know.

Advice #3: Join a critique group. Some writers swear by getting involved in critique groups and have successfully honed their craft from their feedback. Others have gotten so bogged down by feedback that they never seem to progress toward the end of their piece. Critique groups can slow a writer down because the writer feels compelled to implement every piece of advice – whether that advice is suitable or not. Only you know if a critique group is right for you. If the group option doesn’t appeal to you, try working with a single critique partner or two. The important element is trust. No matter if you join a group or work with a single partner, you benefit from having your work seen by people you know and trust. 

Advice #4: You need a detailed outline before you start writing. The thought of using a detailed outline fills pantsers like myself with dread. A detailed outline is not for everyone and, in fact, can be limiting to the creative process. On the other hand, working with no outline can be problematic too because you may end up producing extraneous material that needs to be cut later. Most writers, I believe, fall somewhere in between. They might do a rough outline up front that is flexible enough to allow for new characters and plot points to show up during the initial draft. Or they will draft first, then create their outline afterwards before revising. Either way, it’s important to have some semblance of outlining to understand the structure of your story.

Advice 5: Don’t include a prologue. In my opinion, most novels don’t require a prologue. They tend to be dumping grounds for backstory and setting that’s not necessarily important or interesting. However, there are some situations and genres in which prologues can be helpful, or even expected. Many thrillers, mysteries and science fiction stories, for example, include prologues, usually written from a different character’s perspective or focused on an earlier time period. For most other fiction, prologues aren’t necessary and may only drag the story down. 

Advice #6: Write only when you’re inspired. Any writer will tell you that waiting for inspiration to strike before writing is a terrible waste of time because you’ll likely be waiting a long time. You have to prime the pump, so to speak. The best writers start writing even when they don’t feel like it or have anything meaningful to write about. There have been plenty of times when I didn’t feel inspired to write or my heart wasn’t in it. When I forced myself to sit and write, the words might come out wrong – at first – but eventually, the faucet turned on and the words started flowing. You almost have to show the universe that you are serious about writing before the creative muses show up for you. So even if you don’t feel inspired, start writing anyway.

Advice #7: Leave all editing until the end of the first draft. I’m inclined to agree with this advice. I prefer to finish the first draft before editing, and usually only after I’ve let the manuscript cool off for a few months. Then when I’m ready to review it, I’m able to see it with fresh eyes. Like everything else, there are exceptions. Some writers can’t progress through their first draft until they’ve edited the sections they wrote the previous day. One writer I know drafts the first five chapters, then goes back and edits them before continuing with the drafting process. As with anything else, you need to experiment to see which process works best for you.

Hope these insights help clear up any confusion about writing advice. As writers, we’re all trying to figure out this writing craft together. Take whatever advice you hear with a grain of salt, then find what works best for you.

This weeks writing prompt:
Imagine yourself hiking in the woods, either by yourself or with a friend or two. It’s getting dark out and it’s beginning to snow/rain. You realize you are lost. How do you find your way out of the woods?

Eight Ways to Reconnect with Your Writing

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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As much as I loved the holidays, I’m glad they’re over because I’m ready to get back to the business of writing. I haven’t looked at my current work-in-progress or completed any meaningful projects since October, and I have felt disinterested in any form of writing.

Now that 2026 is here, I’m ready for a fresh start but at the same time, I dread tackling the massive revision I’ve been putting off the past few months. Since then, I have felt disconnected with my writer self. Between the holidays, illness and a sore foot, I’ve had little interest in writing, not even a short story or essay. My only consolation is that several other writers I know have expressed similar experiences.

What does that disconnection look like? For me, it was staring at blank pages and having a calendar with no interviews scheduled. It also was a series of avoidance tactics and excuses for not writing. Anything to get out of my commitment to write or work on my novel. Everything felt like an effort. Disconnection affected my physical body too, such as brain fog and a general emptiness inside.

The good news is that there are numerous ways to climb out of this lull in writing activity and reconnect with your writer self. All it really takes is 15 minutes a day and a little ingenuity. Below are some of the tactics I’ve used to reconnect with my writing and jump back into a creative mindset.

1. Start your day with a warm-up writing exercise or brainstorming session. On a blank sheet of paper and pen (or your computer screen if you prefer) jot down whatever topics come to mind. It could be a bullet list of story ideas, a description of something you see out your window, or a description of the last thing you ate. You could write about your pet, your best friend, your spouse or your boss. Maybe write a quickie review of the last movie you watched or the last book you read. You don’t even have to keep what you write. The point of the exercise is to simply put words down on the page, so your creative juices start flowing again.

2. Write in your journal. If you already write in a journal, congratulations. If not, a journal can serve as a useful starting point to get back into a writing routine. While the exercise above is more about taking stock of your surroundings, the journal is meant to help you explore your internal landscape–your thoughts and feelings. Again, start writing for 15 minutes and see where it takes you.

3. Take a walk in nature. One of my writer friends swears by this technique. Whenever she feels stuck when writing a scene, she walks in nature, usually with her dog. By the end of an hour or so, her mind has cleared and she’s resolved her writing problem. The next time you feel stuck in your writing or need to reconnect with your writer self, go for a walk. Then when you feel refreshed, sit down at your desk and start writing, even all you write about is what you saw on your walk.

4. Use a writing prompt. If you’re still staring at a blank page, try using a writing prompt to get the words flowing. One common prompt is “I remember…” Fill in the blank with any number of situations you remember from your life. Other possibilities include: “What if…” and “I believe…”  There are plenty of other sources for writing prompts you can find online, such as Reedsy and Writers Digest.

5. Re-read something you wrote and published previously. It will remind you of the success you’ve had in the past. Would you do anything differently? Perhaps rewrite paragraphs differently, or give it a different ending? By re-reading something you wrote, you might feel encouraged to try something new.

6. Find a writing buddy or join a group write-in. As writers, we tend to spend a lot of time alone in our own imaginations. But spending time around other like-minded souls can motivate you to write again. You can bounce ideas off each other, swap writing tips and review each other’s work. Besides, it’s comforting to know that you’re not alone, and that can be enough motivation to keep writing. Group write-ins are similar but in a group setting, like a library or classroom. Everyone is writing. There is a feeling of community when you’re all working alone, but together (if that makes any sense).

7. Skim through a book (or two) about writing. One way to reconnect with writing is to read about writing technique. Learning something new can inspire you to experiment with it in your own writing.

8. Sign up for a workshop or webinar. Much like reading about writing, taking a workshop or webinar can inspire you to try out a new technique, or to look at your own work with a fresh perspective. Or check out some videos on YouTube to get into the spirit of creative writing again.

No matter which strategy you try, remember to start slow and ease into your writing routine, one day at a time. You don’t need to spend hours either. Sometimes all it takes is 15 minutes. Before you know it, you’ll be reconnected with your writer self in no time.

Honor Your Inner Writer During November National Writing Challenge

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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Whether you’ve been a writer for some time or you’re just starting out on your writing journey, you likely have heard about National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. While the organization that started this event has shut down, the mission still holds true: to encourage writers of all levels of experience to amp up their productivity. The aim is to write 50,000 words during the month, or approximately 1,666 words per day.

That’s a hefty load for any writer. It’s much like aiming to walk 10,000 steps that doctors recommend (or about five miles). Who has time to do that? Both activities require more time than most people have available to them. 

The way I see it, the November Writing Challenge can be about any goal you want to achieve. It doesn’t have to be about 50,000 words if that goal is too steep. The Challenge is about finding new ways to fit writing into your life, whether that’s writing for one hour per day or writing only 500 words per week. It’s about stretching yourself beyond what you’re used to doing in your writing life. Plus it just feels better knowing other people are going through the challenge too. There’s power in numbers, and it’s empowering when you know you’ve got other writers beside you. Remember, the November Writing Challenge is whatever you want it to be.

Several writing communities offer their own writing challenges and support systems for writers. For example, Story Forge’s challenge is 30,000 words, or about 1000 words per day. That’s a more accessible goal for many people. You can find quite a few others like Reedsy, ProWriting Aid and AutoCrit. 

No matter which challenge you follow or if you make up your own like I’m doing, the key point to remember is to stretch yourself. Aim for more words. Longer writing periods. Or do something different. Consider these other possibilities:

* Draft one flash fiction story (about 1500 words) or a short story (up to 15,000 words) per week
* Commit to writing 500 words per day, the equivalent of two pages.
* Write for 30 minutes per day, especially if you’re used to writing sporadically.
* Write your current work-in-progress from a different character’s point of view.
* Write in a different genre than you’re used to. If you’re used to writing fiction, try writing essays.

You might consider some non-writing activities too.

* Read the first draft of your current work-in-progress, noting changes you want to make in the margins. But don’t make the changes just yet.

* Read about the writing craft. If you’re new to writing, this might be a good time to become familiar with the tools you need to craft your story. Learn about plotting, story structure, character development, conflict, etc.

* Got a story dancing in your head? Sketch out several scenes to get your creative juices flowing.

* Do background research. Is there a subject you know nothing about but is imperative to your current project? Spend a few minutes each day researching that topic.

* Spend some time world-building. What do the settings in your story look like? Whether you’re writing a fantasy in a make-believe world or a mystery set in a small town, take time to convert the setting from your imagination to the paper or screen.

* Work on character development. Get to know your characters by writing profiles of the main ones. Describe more than their appearance, but their desires, their personality quirks, their strengths and weaknesses.

The beauty of the November Writing Challenge is to make it whatever you want it to be depending on your goals and what you’re working on. You set the goals and how you’ll measure your success. Just remember to ramp up the activity so you’re challenging yourself to do something different or to improve your productivity.

For example, I plan on using November to draft a holiday romance novella. I’m already prepping by sketching out scenes I plan to write later. My goal is to draft five pages per day, or roughly 1000-1,2000 words. If all goes well, my rough draft should be complete by the end of the month.

If you’re creating your own challenge, it might be helpful to follow these basic rules:

* Establish your goal for November. What do you want to accomplish by month’s end?

* Make sure your goal is measurable. How do you know you’ve achieved success? Set a specific time limit or number. For example, aiming to write 1000 words per day or writing for 15 minutes before bedtime.

* Track your progress. Using a calendar, mark a symbol or star on the days you write or jot down how many words/pages you finished.

* Be sure to ramp up the difficulty. If you’re used to writing three days a week, what can you do to increase that output to five days?

* Reward yourself. When November ends and you can see the progress you’ve made, celebrate your accomplishments. Perhaps treat yourself to a low-cost writing webinar or a book about the writing craft.

You don’t have to target 50,000 words to be successful during November Writing Month. Whether you commit to writing one page per day or 1000 words per day, simply by sitting down to write, you’ve already achieved success.

 

Use These Prompts to Kickstart Your Autumn Writing Practice

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

There’s a hint of autumn in the air (at least where I live). Once Labor Day passes, I’m ready for pumpkin spice and apple cider, fall foliage, and making soups and stews.

It’s also an opportune time to reconnect with your writing routine especially if the long, hot, humid summer zapped your creative juices. If you’re looking for a chance to start up your writing routine or need some fresh story ideas for fall, I’ve put together a list of 40 prompts that can kickstart your imagination, including a few for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Feel free to embellish or tweak to fit your genre, whether that’s romance, fantasy or narrative nonfiction.

Hope these ideas inspire you to have a little fun with your writing this autumn season.

Just a reminder too that you can find writing prompts on my website, which are updated every couple of weeks.

Autumn-Themed Prompts:

1. An event that takes place in an apple orchard or pumpkin patch.

2. A child/children follow a black cat to some unknown destination.

3. A pumpkin carving contest with a surprise twist.

4. Someone gets lost in a corn maze.

5. An event or mishap takes place during a football game.

6. Grade-school students get a surprise visit from a famous person.

7. A group of people plan the annual fall festival.

8. A farmer and his crew bring in the fall harvest.

9. A character discovers or invents a new autumn-themed beverage.

10. A battle of the marching bands reaches a crescendo during a half-time show.

11. A football player pops the question to his girlfriend on the field.

12. A group of alumni celebrate their university’s Homecoming weekend in an unusual way.

13. A couple marries during a fall-themed wedding.

14. Something surprising and unexpected happens during a tailgating party.

15. A newlywed couple in their new home makes their first attempt at fall housekeeping, including cleaning the garage or attic and clearing out the gutters.

16. A story featuring caramel apples or apple cider donuts or some other apple treat.

17. Someone attempts to make soup, stew or chili and mistakenly adds one surprising and unexpected ingredient.

18. A character reminisces about the last day of the weekly farmer’s market.

19. A story that features one of the following: hot cocoa, hot apple cider or pumpkin spiced latte.

20. Someone sees the fall foliage for the first time.

21. A grade school class goes on a fall-themed field trip – farm, petting zoo or cemetery.

22. A broadcaster makes a blooper during a live telecast of a football game.

23. Someone discovers an old cedar chest in the attic, but it’s locked. How do they get it open? What do they find?

24. Someone without baking skills reluctantly joins a baking contest.

25. A college professor finds a mysterious package on their desk.

Halloween and Thanksgiving Themes

26. A young girl meets a friendly ghost in her new home.

27. A PTA meeting or dance takes place at a haunted high school.

28. A character watches a horror film for the first time.

29. A group of friends or a family tell ghost stories around the campfire.

30. A character wakes up one morning and finds a real skeleton in their closet.

31. A scarecrow in a corn field comes to life after dark.

32. Instead of leaves changing bright colors, they turn purple or black. Why did this happen?

33. Two rival families compete for the town’s annual Halloween decorating contest.

34. College students car pool home for Halloween weekend. What happens when their car breaks down or they make a wrong turn?

35. A child wakes up one morning and discovers he/she has magical powers.

36. A character experiences Halloween or Thanksgiving for the first time.

37. Something goes terribly wrong at the Thanksgiving Day parade.

38. An unexpected and unwelcome guest arrives for Thanksgiving dinner.

39. A character is forced to share a ride home for Thanksgiving with someone they don’t like.

40. Children find something unusual inside their Trick or Treat bag of goodies.