{"id":8712,"date":"2019-11-25T01:00:08","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T08:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/?p=8712"},"modified":"2019-11-25T14:14:19","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T21:14:19","slug":"8712","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/8712\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips To Unlock The Book Only You Can Write"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Guest Blogger Jenn Gott writes about 3 Inspiring Ways to Unlock the Book Inside You<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this sound familiar: You\u2019ve always been drawn to writing and have a mind brimming with ideas. You\u2019ve always loved the idea of holding a book you have written \u2014 but somehow, despite all your best intentions and New Year\u2019s Resolutions, it just hasn\u2019t happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or maybe you\u2019re a writer who has started a thousand writing projects, only to abandon them all within a few pages. Perhaps you\u2019re not even sure if you want to be a writer, but you\u2019ve always wanted to write a children\u2019s book<\/a> for your kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you\u2019re a poet, or a copywriter, or a journalist,\nand there\u2019s a book you know you could write, if you just find the right words inside\nyou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe, maybe, maybe. One day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trouble with \u201cone day\u201d is that it doesn\u2019t exist \u2014 each day, there\u2019s only today. Which is why I\u2019m bringing you the three best practices that I\u2019ve found to unlock and supercharge creativity. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re a beginner who has always wanted to tell your story, or a seasoned pro who\u2019s gotten mired in delays, worries<\/a>, and self-doubt. Either way, these habits will have words flowing in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Find your community<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

From National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo<\/a>) participants to your local writer\u2019s group to authortube<\/a>, it\u2019s important to find your people wherever you can. Support is everything on your journey toward finishing a book, and it will inspire you more than anything else. To start, identify what kind of groups appeal most to you. Would you prefer to interact online,where you can hang out in your pajamas and reply at your leisure? Or would getting out of the house and seeing people face-to-face reinvigorate you? Are you interested in a classroom setting, a critique circle, or just some supportive friends who will provide lively discussion? Do you want to learn from people who are much more experienced than you, or strive together with peers at your skill level?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t feel you need to limit yourself to only one group.\nThere\u2019s nothing to keep you from making writer-friends on Twitter, and in\nperson at bookish events, and through workshops. In fact, the more avenues you\nexplore, the more likely you\u2019ll find \u201cyour people.\u201d Consider going to\nconferences, book signings, and events at your local library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your community doesn\u2019t need to be all writers. While it\u2019s important to know some \u2014 to understand exactly what you\u2019re going through, and bounce ideas off each other \u2014 a supportive and understanding friend or partner can go a long way. As you seek out connections, make sure to you surround yourself with people who believe in you. Remember, helpful and constructive criticism is good \u2014 how else can you learn the skills you\u2019ll need to edit your book to perfection<\/a>? But ragging on you and your work is toxic for everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Fill your creative well<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the reason we\u2019re not writing is simply that\nwe\u2019re emotionally tapped out. There are many factors that can cause creativity\nto dry up \u2014 everything from stress to poor mental health, to overwork, fatigue\nor illness, and creative burnout. And while it may feel silly to take time off\nto recharge if you haven\u2019t been writing lately, sometimes that\u2019s exactly what\nyou need to do. Think of it like an arrow: pulling back first, in order to\nshoot forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re recharging the\nright way, though. Scrolling through social media may be satisfying, but is it\nreally going to inspire you to sit down at your laptop and write? Or would that\ntime be better spent going for a walk, seeing a play, or reading an exquisitely\nwritten book?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re having trouble writing, take a minute to sit\ndown and make a list of the things that energize you \u2014 physically, mentally,\nand creatively. Maybe plays aren\u2019t your thing, but poetry is. Maybe a walk\nexhausts you, but yoga centers your mind. It really doesn\u2019t matter what it is (truth\nbe told, sometimes a movie or a video game inspires me). You just need to walk\naway from it refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle your big creative\nproject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, be careful not to let this turn into further\nprocrastination. Remember, the point of these activities is to inspire you, not\nconsume you. Always take a few minutes afterward to reflect on which parts of\nthe experience spoke to you, and how you might use similar themes, moods, or ideas\nand blend them into your own work \u2014 or which mistakes you\u2019ll want to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Create your own writing retreat. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we\u2019d all love to go to a week-long retreat at a fancy cabin in the woods, but for many of us that simply isn\u2019t an option. Luckily, there are ways to recreate the retreat feeling without venturing far from home or taking a lot of time out of your busy schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, start by identifying any and all locations near\nyou that might offer some peace and solitude. This can be as simple as locking\nyour bedroom door, or as elaborate as a nice hotel nearby where you can book a\nroom for a night or a weekend. Coffee shops, parks, or trains, and subways can\ndo the trick, especially with a good pair of headphones! The point is to find\nsomeplace where you can block out thoughts of the outside world, including all\nyour daily responsibilities. If you\u2019re lucky enough to have a home office or a\n\u201croom of one\u2019s own,\u201d try to find someplace else for your retreat \u2014 someplace\nyou don\u2019t <\/em>work in every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, consider what approach would best make that\nspace feel more \u201cwriterly.\u201d Would music help you, and if so, what kind? Would\nyou feel more soothed with a soft blanket, a hot water bottle, or a big glass\nof wine? Candles, fairy lights, or other mood lighting can also help set the stage\nof your imagination. Remember, the point of this is to feel pampered, so don\u2019t\nskimp on the creature comforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve identified where you\u2019re going to take your\n\u201cretreat\u201d and how you\u2019re going to cozy it up, the final step will be\nscheduling. This is, admittedly, the hardest part of your task, but with a bit\nof effort you can make it work. Try to block out a whole day, although even a\nfew hours will be a huge boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For magically productive people, just showing up might\nbe enough to get the words flowing. For the rest of us, it might take a little\nmore work, and a few handy tips and tricks. If you find yourself frozen at the\nprospect of getting started, consider freewriting as a warm up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still unsure what to write about? Writing prompts <\/a>might just be the kick your brain needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you do, don\u2019t stress out if your first\n\u201cretreat\u201d isn\u2019t as fruitful as you\u2019d imagined. Any progress is still progress,\nand the more often you repeat the writing habit \u2014 in any environment\u2014 the\nfaster your creativity will kick into gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above all, remember: only you can tell your story. So,\nwhat are you waiting for? Get out there and tell your story. Today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Jenn Gott is an indie author and a writer with Reedsy<\/a>, so she basically spends all her time either writing books, or helping people learn how to write books. She firmly believes there is no writing skill you cannot learn with practice and the right guidance. When she\u2019s not working, she enjoys keeping up with the latest superhero movies, reading, and swimming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guest Blogger Jenn Gott writes about 3 Inspiring Ways to Unlock the Book Inside You. Does this sound familiar: You\u2019ve always been drawn to writing and have a mind brimming with ideas. You\u2019ve always loved the idea of holding a book you have written \u2014 but somehow, despite all your best intentions and New Year\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[104],"tags":[1281,1278,25,24,11],"class_list":["post-8712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-bloggers","tag-authortube","tag-jenn-gott","tag-nanowrimo","tag-national-novel-writing-month","tag-writing-prompts"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s43Dj8-8712","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8712"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8731,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712\/revisions\/8731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}