Tag: Writing practice

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.

Seven Signs That You’re Sabotaging Your Writing Practice

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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Hi readers, I was about to do a story about self-sabotage. Then I realized I already posted about this topic several years ago. Here’s a repost of that article for those of us who struggle with self-sabotage tendencies. Enjoy.

A writing practice is only as successful as your level of commitment to it. The more committed you are to a regular writing practice, the more consistent your output. Makes sense, right?

But what happens when you get oh-so-close to finishing your manuscript, but never seem to get around to finishing it? What happens when you do finish a story, but never seem to get around to submitting it to editors for possible publication? What if, instead of finishing your manuscript, you suddenly find other more pressing things to do, like clean the garage or spend more time with your mother-in-law? Is it really a matter of changing priorities? Or is something else going on?

I’m certainly guilty of these behaviors as I’m sure many other writers are. Psychology experts suggest that these patterns of behavior – procrastination and self-sabotage – are inbred in us. No one is immune to them. Even the most successful published authors have admitted that they have utilized these sabotage tactics.

It’s tempting to blame your tendency for self-sabotage on external factors, such as a demanding family life or a faulty computer. But unfortunately, blaming outside factors is a waste of time and energy. The only thing that is standing in the way of your own success is you. It’s time to get out of your own way.

From my experience, I’ve noted seven signs that you may be sabotaging your writing practice.

1. You stop writing indefinitely. You could be coasting along with your writing practice, meeting your daily writing goals and making steady progress on your story. You feel confident about your accomplishment. But then you stop writing. Why? What went wrong?

Maybe you got a negative review of your latest work that stops you in your tracks. Maybe you look at your life and question whether anyone else would find stories of your childhood interesting. Maybe you’ve read so much about writing that you feel overwhelmed and feel unsure how to begin your next project.

Giving up on your craft is not the answer. Letting your ideas fade into the distant past and collect dust isn’t the answer either. If you stop writing, but you still want to write, you need to figure out why. Give yourself a deadline of, say three days, to regroup and contemplate why you have stopped writing. Maybe it is a need for a mental break. If so, then when you are sufficiently rested, get back to work. The important thing is to keep writing. Ironically, it may be the very act of writing that breaks you out of your malaise.

2. You focus on the negative. You overanalyze your own writing and decide it’s simply not good enough – You’re not good enough. You constantly look for what’s wrong with your technique than with what’s right. All this focus on the negative qualities of your writing can undermine your confidence. Too much analysis can freeze you in place. The next time this happens, have one or two people review your work and give you positive feedback – something to keep you motivated so you keep writing.

3. You take criticism too personally. It can be disheartening to hear negative feedback about a piece you’ve been working on for weeks. Don’t let it paralyze you. Some critique is necessary. See the feedback as an opportunity to improve your writing. Most important, don’t take it personally.

4. You constantly compare your work with others. So what if other writers have more experience than you do or they’ve had more stories published. You need to remember that they started at the beginning at some point. Stop comparing yourself at the beginning of your career to someone else who is further along. That’s like comparing apples to bananas. You will never get ahead that way. If possible, try to stay in your own lane.

In this situation, you might also need to re-evaluate your goals and expectations. Have you set them too high? Are they unrealistic? It may be time for a rethink of your expectations to make them more manageable.

5. You don’t believe you have anything worthwhile to write about. Everyone has stories to share. Just because you think you don’t have anything interesting to write about doesn’t mean you don’t have anything interesting to write about. It’s all perception. When you feel your work is not worth reading, it can be tempting to stop writing. Again, keep writing until you find a story worth telling others. If needed, ask someone to read your work.

Every experience in life counts for something. Every experience is worth writing about. The story is your perception of events as they unfolded and how they impacted your life. Believe that there’s a story everywhere you look. Believe that you do have something worthwhile to share – then start writing about it.

6. You focus too much on the past. We’ve all suffered failures in our lives. We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all had situations that did not work out. Understandably, we don’t want to repeat those mistakes. Learn from those mistakes, then move on. Just because you made them once before does not mean you will make them again. Stop focusing on the past and stay focused on the present.

7. You focus too much on the future. Perhaps you dream of earning your own byline in a high-profile magazine or you are determined to get your manuscript published. But those goals are meaningless if you haven’t written a single word. It’s easy to get way ahead of ourselves, but just as in point #6 above, it’s imperative to stay in the present moment.

You can’t change the past and you can’t control the future. So you might as well stay in the present and make the most of it – by writing.

Seven Excuses Writers Make to Avoid Calling Themselves a Writer

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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When I first started writing fiction in earnest several years ago, I would call myself an “aspiring writer.” I still occasionally call myself an “aspiring novelist.” Only after hearing a published author suggest dropping the qualifier “aspiring” and simply say “I am a writer” did I feel brave enough to do that. When I did, something funny happened. I felt liberated and empowered, like I had grown wings and could fly whenever I wanted to.

Adding a qualifying term like “aspiring” to your writing title is like riding a bike with training wheels. Those wheels might help you learn to ride the bike, but at some point, you have to take them off and start pedaling.

“Adding ‘aspiring’ may feel small and inconsequential, but it’s not,” writes Lisa Fellinger, author of Write with Confidence: Shatter Self-Limiting Beliefs and Finish Your Book, at the Jane Friedman blog.  “It reinforces the belief that you’re not quite there yet, that you haven’t earned the title. Every time you call yourself an aspiring writer, you’re feeding the imposter syndrome that keeps you stuck.”

It doesn’t matter how much experience you have with writing either. Published authors struggle with this as much as novice writers. For example, at the KillZoneBlog, thriller writer James Scott Bell admits that he struggled to call himself a writer even after he had several published books under his belt. 

So why are so many writers reluctant to call themselves a writer? Fellinger hinted at one reason: imposter syndrome. But I can think of several other possible reasons for this avoidance tactic. 

  1. I haven’t published anything yet.”

    Maybe your current project is a work-in-progress. Never mind that you’ve been working on it for the past five years or longer, and you have nothing published to show for your  hard work. You believe that only published writers are worthy of the title. But the reality is as long as you show up and put in the effort, you’ve already earned the title of writer. So don’t shy away from it.

  2. “I don’t get paid for my writing; it’s volunteer work.”

    Many writers believe that they haven’t truly arrived as a writer until they’ve been paid for their work. Payment legitimizes their writing, and by extension, legitimizes the title of writer. Again, it’s about showing up and making the effort, not the final product or the reward. For many writers, writing is the reward.

  3. “My writing is a hobby, nothing more.”

    Maybe you already have a full-time job that pays the bills, such as accounting, teaching or fixing cars. That’s how you identify yourself. Writing may only be a hobby and you have no desire or expectation of publishing success. Perhaps you write for fun and relaxation. The belief is you can’t truly call yourself a writer if you’re only writing as a hobby. But in life, we wear many hats. Who’s to say that you can’t identify with several personas–a teacher, a mother and a writer? It’s okay to call yourself a writer, even if it is a hobby or side hustle. It’s the effort that matters.

  4. “No one knows I’m writing. This is a secret passion and I haven’t told anyone.”

    If no one knows that you’re writing, then you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone and you don’t have to openly call yourself a writer. Perhaps you believe no one will understand this strange compulsion to write. But the truth is that as long as you’re putting in the work–even in secret–you’re still a writer. What you’re lacking is confidence. If this sounds like you, try this experiment. Stand in front of the mirror and tell yourself, “I am a writer.” Keep saying it until you feel comfortable. Then reach out to your closest friend or family member, someone you know and trust, and speak those words to them too. With repetition and practice, you may eventually believe you are a writer.

  5. “I’m not a very good writer.”

    An inability to call yourself a writer may stem from a belief that your writing isn’t good.  The belief is that only the best writers deserve to be called writers. The truth is that no writer starts out their careers at the top of their game. In fact, many of them aren’t very good at all. But they became successful by working at their craft. Most writers produce really bad first drafts (sometimes even second and third drafts). That doesn’t make them any less of a writer. Through persistent, hard work, their writing improved. So will yours. It’s the effort that counts.

  6. “I’m afraid that once I call myself a writer, I will have to take this writing habit of mine more seriously.”

    Yes, that is likely true. Calling yourself a writer means making a stronger commitment to the writing journey and becoming the best writer you can be. It means doing the things that will improve your craft. Saying “I am a writer” shows confidence in your talents, even if you don’t necessarily feel that way inside. Sometimes you have to fake it to make it. Start calling yourself a writer and see what follows.

  7. “I was told when I was younger that writing is not a suitable, respectable or legitimate career path.”

    Sadly, many writers have heard this criticism. If someone has convinced you that writing  is a waste of time, you’ve got some work to do. Thanks to this brainwashing (because that’s what this is), you’ve avoided calling yourself a writer to prove to critics that you’re toeing the line. Worse, you’ve probably avoided writing at all. But deep down, that urge to write is still strong. I say, write anyway. What matters more is how you feel about writing. So the next time you take a shower, prepare dinner or lie in bed before sleeping, tell yourself “I am a writer.” Keep repeating it like an affirmation. Before long, the words will sink in

Many writers have overcome these mental obstacles to create satisfying, respectable and legitimate writing careers. Think about your own excuses for not calling yourself a writer. What’s holding you back? What can you do to change your mindset and proudly say, “I am a writer?”

Do’s and Don’ts of Maintaining a Writing Practice

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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Starting a writing practice can be difficult to start and maintain. There’s always the potential for distractions, like a child or pet wanting you to play with them. But with every milestone achieved, whether it’s finishing 1000 words or completing the first short story or essay, there is a sense of accomplishment. 

No matter what type of writer you are–or want to be–having a consistent writing practice is key to making progress. Inspired by this article on Writer’s Digest website recently about the do’s and don’ts of writing, I’ve created my own list based on my own experience on this writing journey. Because while writing is a solo activity, we can all learn from each other.

Do’s:

  • Do maintain a consistent practice. Whether that’s 500 words per day for six days or only one morning on the weekend for three hours, the schedule is up to you. The important thing is to be consistent about it. It may not seem like you’re not making much progress with your manuscript, but by the end of several months, you’ll have a completed story.
  • Do read and learn as much as you can about the publishing industry, particularly about the different paths to publication. There are numerous resources, magazines, industry blogs, and workshops that can help you understand what’s at stake. The more you know about the various paths to publication–whether traditional, hybrid or self-publishing–the better prepared you will be to decide which path is right for you.
  • Do read often and widely. Most writers I know are voracious readers. Reading different genres and authors exposes you to various writing styles. It’s just as important to read in your chosen genre so you know what readers are buying in the current marketplace. Reading widely can help you to develop your own narrative writing voice.
  • Do learn about story structure (if you’re writing fiction). When I started writing, I didn’t know anything about story structure, character arcs and creating tension. I know a lot more than I used to, but I’m still learning. I probably will always be learning because I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I want to write the best story I can. So do your homework. Once you understand the rules of story structure, you can break them later.
  • Do develop a professional support system. Surround yourself with people who can provide encouragement and support when you need it, like when you get your first rejection notice or when you feel stuck on your work-in-progress. Other writers can provide insights about your process, and friends who are avid readers can tell you what’s working and what isn’t. You don’t have to go through the writing process alone. Reach out to others when you need a lift.
  • Do keep writing. This is probably the most important to-do of all. There are times when you will feel like quitting, times when the motivation just isn’t there. That’s when it might be tempting to walk away from the desk or give up altogether. If you need to take a day off to clear your head of storylines and characters, that’s okay. But walking away from your writing will feel like you’ve given up on yourself. So even when you’re having a rough day at your desk, do keep writing.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t worry about the first draft (or even the second). It will always be garbage, a jumbled mess of ideas. This is a normal part of the story development process. Think of the first draft as the brainstorming phase in which you throw out all your ideas, no matter if they make sense or not. See which ones stick. The real writing begins with the revision phase.
  • Don’t let the revision process overwhelm you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped my own progress because the revision process overwhelmed me. Was I doing it right? Did I really need that scene? (If you have to ask that question, you probably don’t.) It’s okay to take baby steps with revision, and it’s also okay to ask for insights from a critique partner. Take one chapter at a time and review it to see if it aligns with your overall story. Does the scene push the story forward? Does it align with the story arc? Only you can answer those questions. Revision isn’t a race, more like a rough sludge through mud. But with a slow, consistent pace, you will get to the finish line.
  • Don’t wait for inspiration to strike. If you wait for the lightning bolt of an idea to strike you before writing a word, you may be waiting an awfully long time. Even if you don’t know what to write about, sit down and write anyway. So what if it’s all garbage to start with.  Inspiration will come. It usually does. You sort of have to knock on the door of inspiration first. The door will open and let you in.
  • Don’t deny your creative needs. We go through life taking care of our various needs, such as the physical need for nutrition and proper sleep and the emotional need for connection with others or giving back to the community. Most of us don’t think about the other basic need–the need to express ourselves creatively. Creative needs are as critical to our well-being as proper nutrition and self-care. They’re also as natural as breathing and sleeping. So don’t neglect your creative needs, and find ways to express yourself through your writing or other creative outlet.
  • Don’t be afraid to share your work with others. While you may prefer to keep your writing to yourself or wait until the story is absolutely perfect (guilty as charged), keeping your writing a secret serves no useful purpose. Some things are better when it’s shared. 

You probably have your own list of do’s and don’ts about writing. What’s at the top of your list? Is there anything here you agree or disagree with?

Don’t Let Doomscrolling Interfere with Your Writing

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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These days, it’s a struggle to stay focused on writing. With so much happening in the world, worry and fear can consume our thoughts about what the future will bring – and how it might impact our writing careers and well-being.

While it’s important to know what’s going on, spending time doomscrolling news feeds not only can halt your writing progress, it can affect your mental health.

If you’ve never heard the term, doomscrolling is the act of spending hours reading news sites and social media news feeds that can be negative and make you feel sad, anxious, angry or upset.

Doomscrolling isn’t productive for several reasons:

  • It’s a waste of time and energy.
  • It takes you away from your writing and other constructive activities that you enjoy.
  • Reading other people’s comments can attract negativity into your mindset
  • With a negative mindset, your emotional state is compromised.  When your mental health suffers, you don’t feel like writing.

    But how do you balance the need to understand what’s happening in the world with the need to remain sane and positive?

Fortunately, there are things you can do instead of doomscrolling to help you maintain balance and equilibrium and to minimize the negativity.

Author Bryn Donovan offers her list of 100 activities to do instead of doomscrolling. Inspired by her list, I’ve created my own. It’s not nearly as extensive (only 25 activities) but they promise similar results – maintaining balance at a time when life seems rocky and unpredictable.

  1. Use writing as an outlet for escape. Try journaling or bury yourself in your latest work in progress.
  2. Commune with nature. Go for a walk, do some stargazing, sit by a river and watch the water flow, listen to the birds chirping, or watch squirrels chase one another.
  3. Listen to music. Ideally something soft and calming that will take the edge of your emotions.
  4. Get some exercise. Lift weights, go running, play golf or do some yoga. Staying active can give you peace of mind.
  5. Watch a movie. Fictional worlds can be easier to deal with.
  6. Dance. Put on some happy music and let your feet move.
  7. Call a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while.
  8. Watch sports. Go to a baseball game or watch a match on TV.
  9. Work on a puzzle or play a computer game.
  10. Cuddle or play with your favorite furry friend. They’ll appreciate the love and return it in kind.
  11. Spend an hour at the library or bookstore and browse the shelves.
  12. Spend time in the kitchen. Bake cookies or try out a new recipe.
  13. Read a book. Reading is always a good option to escape the stresses of life.
  14. Draft your next story or poem. Exercise those creative juices.
  15. Do some light housekeeping. Sweep the floors, do laundry or wash dishes.
  16. Take a bath or shower. Wash away those blues.
  17. Start a garden. Grow your own herbs.
  18. Sketch or draw. Or if you’re not artistic, color in an adult coloring book.
  19. Work on a crossword puzzle.
  20. Read the dictionary or thesaurus. Yeah, I know it sounds strange, but imagine how you can grow your vocabulary.
  21. Plan your next vacation. Check out different places you’d like to visit, then make plans to see them in person.
  22. Sign up for an online course. You’d be surprised how many low-cost or free courses are available through Udemy or Coursera.
  23. Read about writing. With so many writing blogs, your choices are endless.
  24. Update your music playlists. Add some new music or create a playlist with songs that make you feel good.
  25. Create something beautiful. Indulge in a craft of some sort, like make a floral arrangement, design a spring-themed wreath, make your own scented candle. Bringing beauty into the world, no matter how imperfect, can make you feel better.

    The next time you’re tempted to indulge in doomscrolling on social media, take a step back. Consider doing something constructive instead. Your writing life and mental well-being will thank you.  

Tips for Creating a Flexible Writing Routine

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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We’ve all heard that well-worn piece of advice to write every day.  This is certainly ideal if you’re starting a writing practice. It doesn’t take into account work schedules, domestic responsibilities and health.

The reality is, sometimes health issues like ADHD, autism, auto-immune disease, even cancer, can wreak havoc on our energy levels, which can affect our productivity. In those situations, it may not be possible to write every day, like the experts suggest. It might feel like you’ll never finish your manuscript.  That you will always have to choose between your personal life and your writing life.

Believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, you can be a writer, and you don’t have to force yourself to write every single day to get there. The key is creating a routine that fits your needs and obligations. You create a process that is flexible so you don’t have to feel guilty if something comes up and you have to skip a day or two of writing.

During a writing summit recently, Amy James, author of A Five-Letter Word for Love, suggested that before starting a writing practice, writers should ask themselves a series of questions about their writing needs. This initial assessment can help you determine how you handle disruptions, noise, social media, and technology. This is especially critical if you have ADHD or other health issues that can interfere with your energy levels and productivity. Once you understand your preferences, you can create a process that is flexible and more in tuned to your personal needs.

Self-assessment questions:

1. When do you feel most productive and creative? Many writers I know love writing first thing in the morning. Others feel more productive in the evening before bedtime. Is there a time when creative inspiration strikes more easily than others?

2. Do you need the Internet shut off in order to write? Are you too tempted by the internet that it interferes with your ability to write? It may be helpful to turn off access to all online platforms while you write. Even better, try handwriting your story in long hand. I use that approach often for my fiction writing, and it helps me to stay focused on the project in front of me.

3. Do you need to avoid social media before you write?  Social media can be emotionally draining and can easily upset our creative process. It might be wise to avoid browsing your social media until after you’ve finished your writing.

4. Do you need to keep your phone in another room or turn it off? Our phones can be useful when we need them. But do you really need it when you write? If you feel it’s too much of a distraction—or worse, a temptation—try turning it off or leave it in another room with the door closed. Trust me, your messages will still be there when you finish you’re working on your creative project.

5. Do you prefer working in a quiet setting, or can you work with some noise or music in the background? Many writers I know need it completely quiet so they can hear themselves think. I’m amazed at the people who can sit and write in a coffee shop with so much activity and conversations nearby. How do they concentrate? I need quiet so I can hear the dialogue of my characters. If you’re having difficulty concentrating, try working in a quiet setting and see if that makes you feel calmer and gives you a clearer head.

6. Are you a discovery writer or do you need to know how the ending will be? Some writers can’t begin to write until they’ve plotted out every scene and chapter through to the end. Others can sketch the first few scenes before digging in to their story. Knowing what kind of writer you are can determine what kind of process you’ll need.  

7. Do you need a writing goal to get you motivated? It could be a word count of, say 500 words per session. It could be a time limit, like a half hour. It can also be an internal goal too, such as that moment when you simply run out of energy.

8. Do you need a break from writing? Perhaps it’s been difficult to return to a routine because you’re overworked already and need a break. Sometimes we stop being in love with our story because we’ve been working on it for too long. Stepping away from it for a few days or weeks can help restore your mental and physical energy and give you a fresh perspective. When you’re ready to get back to work, start slow. Start by rereading what you’ve written and do some light editing to restore your motivation.

9. Can you be patient with yourself during the writing process? And can you be patient with the process itself? Writing a novel or memoir is like running a marathon. It takes time to train yourself and get yourself in proper physical and mental shape. Then it takes time to run the race. Our growth as writers doesn’t happen overnight. If you can be patient with yourself, then you know you can count on yourself to be consistent with your writing practice, even if you’re not writing every day.  

10. Do you need to change your writing process depending on the type of story you’re writing? Only you can answer that since you know your story best. The beauty of having a flexible writing practice is that you’re not locked into it. You can change it as your needs change—and as your story changes.

Writing every day isn’t going to work for everyone. Creating a flexible routine can help you take advantage of those times when you have the most energy and focus, so you feel more productive.

5 Life Lessons Learned from 2024

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
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Happy New Year!

With another year in the books, I like to look back on what I’ve accomplished over the previous 12 months—both in my personal life and in my writing. Like most people, I know there are some things I could have done better, like sticking to my writing practice when events disrupted my flow or spending less time on my phone playing games.

Fortunately, taking time to look back also gives me perspective so I can learn from those miscues and form a plan for the coming year. There are always lessons to be learned from each year. Here are five lessons I learned from 2024.

1. Stay flexible with your writing routine. While it’s important to set goals for your writing practice and establish a routine, recognize that those plans aren’t etched in stone. Allow some flexibility to your routine because you can be sure that life will throw you a curve ball or two, such as a work assignment that needs a rewrite, a sick pet that needs to be taken to the vet, or a weather emergency such as a tornado or flooding.

In my case, it was minor surgery to remove a suspicious mass (it was benign) and my cat’s illness which meant putting him down. I didn’t plan for either of these events, so I had to work through them to keep my practice going. I admit it was a struggle. There were days I didn’t write at all because my head and heart weren’t in the right space. I needed time to mourn and to heal. Once those phases ended, I knew I was ready to recommit to my writing practice.

So stay flexible and recognize when you need to change your writing routine. You can always come back to your writing when the crisis ends.  

2. Decluttering can cleanse the soul as well as your closet. Decluttering was one of my resolutions for 2024. But with my health and pet emergencies, I didn’t get to it until the fall. I managed to fill two large bins to donate to a non-profit group. But looking ahead, I know there’s more work to do in 2025.

The process of decluttering forced me to confront some things I didn’t realize I was holding onto, old dreams I once had. I had to decide whether to keep them or let them go. It’s an emotionally draining process, but a necessary one. It meant removing old memories and old dreams that no longer served me, but might have been holding me back from achieving new goals. Funny thing is, after this first round of decluttering, I was contacted by a potential new client about a writing assignment.  I’ve heard rearranging furniture can have the same effect. So if you’re feeling stuck or want to move forward in a new direction, try decluttering or moving furniture around. It might just help make space for something new to show up in your life.  

3. Practice self-care. No matter how many obligations you have, no matter how many assignments you’re working on, it’s important to practice self-care. It doesn’t require a lot of time either. Go for a short walk, soak in the bathtub, take a nap, exercise, read a book, meditate, or chat with a friend. Any short break away from the heaviness of everyday life and responsibilities can give you a fresh perspective and renewed energy. It will help you be more creative and productive too. So make time to practice self-care. Your writer self will thank you.

4. Be open to unexpected opportunities. Every now and then, the universe provides an unexpected surprise in the form of an opportunity. It could be a writing assignment from a potential new client or a chance to travel. When the sky opens up like that, it seems like fate is intervening. When it happens, I trust in the universe and say yes. You never know where that new opportunity may lead. And when it comes to my writing career, any stroke of luck is welcome.

5. Keep on writing, no matter what life throws at you. Life happens. People get sick, beloved pets die and friends move away—or show up suddenly in our lives. Through all the upheaval, it’s easy to dismiss our writing practice as non-essential, or worse, you’re too distraught to think or to write. On the other hand, writing can provide comfort and stability during those times when life seems uncertain. Even if you spend only ten minutes a day on your writing practice, every little bit takes you toward your writing goal while also helping you heal. So keep on writing, no matter what happens in your life.

What lessons have you learned from 2024? How will these lessons guide you into the New Year and motivate you to achieve your next writing goal?

Conquering the Scariest Fears about Writing

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Happy Halloween! In honor of this occasion, I’m reposting this story from a few years ago. It’s my treat to you.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably made a myriad of excuses for not getting any writing done – lack of time, fear of failure, too busy, no privacy, nothing to write about, etc.

Below are the seven most common excuses I’ve heard from people (and sometimes I’ve used them myself) for not writing. I call them the Seven Deadly Excuses because they can kill a person’s writing practice before it has a chance to blossom. Many of these excuses are influenced by negative messages and assumptions you’ve heard since childhood. By reframing these messages and taking positive action, those fears could diminish over time.

Excuse 1: “I don’t have time to write.”
A lack of time is the most common excuse people make about not writing. If this is your biggest fear, chances are your writing practice has never gotten off the ground, or you write in fits and starts. You always talk about wanting to write, but you never do anything about it.

The problem isn’t that you don’t have time to write, but the expectation of how much time is needed for writing. If you expect a writing practice to take up two, three or four hours every day, that is unrealistic. No one has that kind of time, unless you are a professional full-time writer. With outside jobs, clients to manage, families to care for,  and other important responsibilities, there’s little time left over for writing.

The truth is, you don’t need hours at a time to write. When you’re just starting a writing practice, only ten or fifteen minutes a day will suffice. For example, while working as an attorney, A Time to Kill author John Grisham set a goal of writing one page per day, roughly 200 words. Grisham shows it is possible to fit writing into your schedule.

Excuse #2: “I’m too busy.” 
When people say they’re too busy to write, what they might actually mean is that writing isn’t a top priority compared to other responsibilities. Work, school, taking care of family and a household take up more of your time. Why begin a writing practice when these other priorities compete for your attention?

Perhaps you learned in childhood that school work and household chores came first before you could entertain yourself by reading and writing stories. Naturally, that attitude and habit carried over into adulthood. It’s no wonder writing hasn’t become priority.  

When you make writing a priority, you’ll find it’s easier to begin a regular writing practice. Remember, you only need 15 minutes! If you can make room for 15 minutes in your schedule for writing, that’s time well spent, no matter how busy you are.

Excuse 3: “My writing isn’t good enough.”
From the first moment you put pen to paper, your writing probably won’t be very good.
That’s normal for most beginning writers. But it’s true for experienced ones too. Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale, writes as many as 10 drafts of each novel because she knows the first draft isn’t her best or final work. It’s simply the starting point that she can build on.

If you continually tell yourself that your writing is not good enough, ask yourself why you feel that way. What is your writing not good enough for? Publication? For other people to see?

Instead of berating yourself for not writing well, make a plan to keep improving. Read authors whose work you admire, so you can learn from them. When you write something, ask for feedback. Constructive criticism can help you spot recurring errors. Most important, write, write, write. That’s really the best way to improve your craft.

Excuse 4: “I don’t know what to write about!”
Do you suffer from blank page syndrome – the act of staring at a blank page or computer screen with no idea what to write about?  Or when you do come up with a story ideas, do you dismiss them as uninteresting?

When faced with a blank page, you may be overlooking the best source of story ideas: personal experience. You have plenty of life experience to draw from, so explore those events from your past and turn them into stories, either as narrative non-fiction or as fiction.

One way to access this reservoir of life experience is with writing prompts. You can find hundreds of prompts on sites such as Writer’s Digest.

Excuse 5: “I don’t have a private space to write.”
If you share a home with a spouse, three children, a dog and two cats, it may be difficult to find a quiet, private space to write. Others believe that without ideal circumstances, such as a desk and comfortable chair, their favorite coffee mug and favorite pen, they’re just not able to write.

You need to ask yourself if the problem is an actual lack of space, or the expectation that you need a lot of space to write. I’ve drafted blog posts on breaks at work, on buses and trains or while waiting for doctor appointments. If you wish you had ideal surroundings and your current environment is far from ideal, you may be waiting forever to start writing. The truth is, your environment does not need to be perfect to begin writing. Look around you. I bet you can find a space to call your own that is perfect for creating stories.

Excuse 6:  “I might fail.”
Another common excuse writers make is “What if I fail?“  The answer depends on how you define failure. What does failure look like to you? Not getting published? Not finishing your current work-in-progress? Not having anyone read your work? Not having anyone take your writing as seriously as you do? Everybody has their own definition of failure, but in reality, there is only one true failure: not writing at all.

To remove that fear of failure, it might be helpful to start small and work your way toward bigger projects. Start with 100 words, then increase it to 200 words, and so on. Every week or so, add to your daily word count. When you reach these smaller goals, you gain confidence in yourself and you achieve small successes that you can build on.

Excuse 7: “What if I’m successful?”
While fear of failure is common among writers, others suffer from a different malaise:  fear of success. “How can anyone be afraid to succeed?” you ask. You’d be surprised at how many people fear success, myself included.

Fear of success might manifest as an unfinished project – or two, or three or ten. You have several projects in various stages of completion but never seem to finish any of them. In your mind, finishing one of them means you’ve achieved success. Then you worry about what happens when you finish that project. Perhaps you edit your piece over and over again, never fully satisfied with what you’ve written – a useful delay tactic preventing you from finishing your work.

If you fear success, then you may need to rethink what success means to you. What does it look like? It may look and feel differently to you than to your spouse or your best friend. Are you defining success on your terms or someone else’s?

For some people, success means getting published, while for others, it simply means sitting down for a half hour every day to create stories with no thought of publication. There is no right or wrong answer. Write according to your definition of success, whatever that means to you.

When you manage your expectations to conquer your fears, the writing life won’t seem so scary.


Lost Your Creative Flow? Here’s How to Find It Again–and Keep It Going

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

Photo credit: The Regal Writer

Be sure to visit my website for the latest writing prompt.

We’ve all been there before. Staring at a blank page in a freeze, unsure where or how to start writing. Or you’ve taken a break from your writing and lost momentum in your work-in-progress. Even just starting a routine writing session can feel like a sludge through mud.

In those moments, you realize you’ve lost your creative flow and you wonder if you can ever get it back.

Call it a creative mojo or being in the zone or having a zen moment, creative flow occurs when you enter a state of total immersion, when all outside stimuli fade into the background, and all that’s left is you and your creative work. It’s that moment when you feel most productive and innovative. It’s when you become most in tune with your essence and where you feel most alive.

Like all good things, creative flow can come to a crashing halt. When that happens, you can feel lost, unsure how to get it back.  

When you lose your creative flow, think about why it’s happening. Maybe you’re feeling stressed about the project you’re working on, which can make you feel blocked and unproductive. Do you have too many distractions and interruptions in your daily routine? Then it’s time to do something about them to limit their impact on your creativity.

Whenever I lose that flowing feeling, I try one of the following techniques to find it again. While they may not work for everyone, they’re worth a try.

1. Turn off your electronic devices. Shut off the TV or radio. Close out any apps you use, and put your phone away. Just sit alone with your story idea and let your imagination work with it. Then when you’re ready, begin to write. I prefer writing longhand with a pen and paper because the ideas seem to flow more easily from my brain to my hand and onto the page.

2. Do a brief warm-up exercise. Just like singers warm up their vocal chords before a live performance or an athlete runs sprints or rides a stationary bicycle to loosen their muscles before a game, writers need to warm up their writing muscles too. Writing is a different kind of performance. The page or screen is our stage. Working with a prompt, freewriting one whole page, or writing in your journal are ways to warm up your creative muscles. Once you’re warmed up, you might find your creative energy flowing.

3. Seek a quiet, secluded place to write. To be at my best, I need a quiet place to work, to think and to create. I try to limit distractions as much as possible, though I will answer only the most urgent emails, phone calls or texts. Similarly, I remove any clutter from my desk because I believe a messy desk clutters my creative thinking. If you’re used to working in a busy coffee shop (good for you), but you’re not finding your flow, try writing in a quieter environment and limiting distractions.

4. Write in short bursts. Any people seem to believe that you need several hours to get into your creative flow. But sometimes less is more. When you know you’ve only got 20 free minutes, sometimes you can get more done in that short time than if you had an entire morning. With a longer session of two or three hours, there’s a tendency to stare at the page, take more breaks, answer messages or do research. Sometimes it can seem that you get less done in longer writing sessions because of the constant switching up of tasks. It’s easy to get restless and bored too. Start with a 20-minute session, then if you’re flowing well you can always extend your writing time.

5.  Seek support from fellow writers. Every creative person loses their flow at some point. Just ask any writer, artist or musician. They’ve all figured out how to get it back too. So ask friends and fellow writers how to get back into the creative flow. We can all learn from each other.

6. Read what you’ve written before. The writing could be from your previous session to get you caught up to date, or it could be something you published previously. Reading your work can put you in a success mindset and inspire you to keep writing. Sure, you might be tempted to make some edits in your work-in-progress, but that’s a sign that your brain is kicking into high gear. It’s revving the creative engine. When that happens, you’ll be ready to start writing.

7. Use pen and paper. I’ve mentioned this technique in Tip #1. I find writing longhand with pen and paper to be the fastest, easiest route to connecting with your creative self. When I write on a screen, I’m more tempted to stop to read what I’ve written, to make corrections or to look up some important detail on the internet—all deterrents to creative flow.

Here are a few tips from other writers:

8. From Copy Posse, identify your most creative time of day. When do you feel most productive? Is it early morning? Late afternoon? Before bedtime? We all sense when we feel our best, physically and mentally. If it’s possible for your schedule, block out that creative time of day and put it in your calendar. Then make time during those periods to take advantage of your natural creative flow.

9. From The Young Writer blog, practice self-care. That means getting enough exercise, eating right and getting proper sleep. When you feel well physically, you’re able to tap into your creative flow more quickly because it flows more naturally. You won’t have to work as hard to get it back, and you’re less likely to lose it at all.

10. Also from The Young Writer and perhaps most important of all, have fun. Avoid overthinking your writing. Simply relax and enjoy the process of creating. When it stops being fun, then you need to consider whether it’s time to stop writing (but hopefully, you won’t).

Remember creative flow is an ideal experience that we’d all like to achieve the moment we sit down to write. But truthfully, it’s not realistic to expect it to happen at a moment’s notice. Sometimes you have to work at it, and hopefully, these tips will help you.

Creative flow occurs in fits and starts; that’s the nature of it. When it comes, savor the feeling it gives you and use its energy to your advantage.

Finding Your Creative Writing Niche

~ The Regal Writer ~ 3 Comments
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Editor’s note: I’m tied up with assignments this week, so please enjoy this reposted article from 2021.

When I first embarked on my writing journey, it was a challenge to shift from writing magazine features and website content to creative writing. It was a far cry from the business world, where the criteria was set by employers and clients. I had to shift from writing for business to creating whole new worlds in fiction.

Part of the challenge of being a creative writer is finding a niche. It’s deciding what kind of creative writing I wanted to do and what I was best suited for. Did I want to focus only on novels, or were short stories more my thing? Maybe I was drawn to the soul-baring essence of creative non-fiction, or the challenge of tackling a 100,000-word novel. Or would I be better suited for flash fiction where stories rarely exceed 1000 words? When I first dove into the creative writing pool, I thought I knew what I was doing. After all, I’d already had magazine features published and had received positive feedback about my writing from teachers and editors.

But I quickly realized there was a lot I didn’t understand. It was necessary for me to start from the beginning – to take classes, read up on story telling technique, and most important, to practice, practice, practice. I experimented with different writing styles. I attempted several novels as well as short stories and, more recently, novellas. I’ve submitted essays to competitions and sought feedback from writer’s groups. It’s all been part of a learning, growing process.

I’m still working toward finishing my current novel in the hopes it will one day be published. But I also understand that it takes more than talent to get there. It takes grit and determination and perseverance. It takes a consistent writing practice.

Here’s how you can find your own creative writing niche.

1. It’s important to read a lot, and to read a variety. In his book, On Writing, Stephen King says the best way to learn about writing is to read and to read widely. That’s how you learn how to craft stories, develop plot and character, create suspense and satisfy readers. By reading, you naturally absorb authors’ writing styles and adapt to your own. By reading, you also notice what works well in storytelling, and what doesn’t. Reading other authors’ works is a must to advance your own writing aspirations.

2. Know who you are as a writer and what you stand for. Julie Anne England of the Self-Publishing School says it’s important to assess yourself – your interests, your strengths and weaknesses, and your writing goals. That means understanding what you can tolerate in the world at large and what you can’t. Maybe writing critique groups aren’t your thing. Not everyone is cut out for them. Maybe you feel more inspired by writing in a semi-public place where there are other people nearby so you don’t feel so alone while you write. Or maybe you prefer to write at home alone. England advises writers to “be true to who you are. Trying to be someone you’re not will only impede your progress.”

3. Pay attention to the feedback you receive. Whether you get feedback from a writing buddy, a coach, a boss, or your website audience, pay attention to what they tell you. Do they like the way you describe a scene or the way you draw your characters? Conversely, are they confused by your plot structure or is your protagonist flat, lacking in emotion and personality? Then use their feedback to improve your work.

4. Learn as much as you can about the writing craft. Whether you’re just beginning your writing journey or you’ve traveled this road for some time, it’s important to keep learning. Readers’ tastes and publishers’ needs constantly change, so what was popular a year ago may be obsolete in another year or two. You need to stay on top of the publishing trends. Further, by keeping up with your professional development, you keep your skills fresh and learn new story telling techniques. You show agents and editors that you are willing to do whatever it takes to produce the best story possible.

5. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different genres and writing styles. Maybe you’ve been writing narrative non-fiction, but you’d like to experiment with writing short stories. Don’t be shy about taking a workshop about short story writing. You may decide after completing one or two stories that it just isn’t right for you. That’s okay. At least you tried, and there may be some things you learned about the writing process that can be carried over to your essays. Don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works best for you.

6. Be flexible and open-minded. Don’t get locked into your niche or specialty because it will likely change over time, writes Shaunta Grimes at The Write Brain blog. For example, when I started my blog in 2016, I wrote about a variety of writing and communications topics because that was my professional background. As time went on and I gravitated toward more personal writing and less business communications, my blog reflected that shift. Now I focus almost exclusively on essays about the writing life with some posts about fiction writing thrown in. Allow your personal interests to dictate your path.

If you want to know more about what kind of writer archetype you are, check out this quiz at The Write Brain blog. (Note: You will need to create an account to read the article on Medium.) Find out if you are a Hesitater, a Skipper, a Spiller, a Teacher or an Artist. It will help you learn what you write and why. (Btw, I’m a teacher, which should be obvious from my blog.)

The beauty of creative writing is that there are multiple paths to choose from, and it’s not uncommon for writers to specialize in more than one genre or writing style. Finding that niche, however, depends on knowing who you are and what you have to offer readers.