Tag: fantasywriting

Being An All or Nothing Writer

~ Brooke F. ~ 6 Comments

One of the many writing struggles I have had to overcome as I write more and more is the issue that I tend to be an “all or nothing” person. And that transcends to nearly everything I do, including to my writing. So what does this look like exactly?

Well, for me personally, it looks like writing 4,000 words in an evening and then not touching the project for 4 months. It looks like powering through the first couple of chapters of a book and then going “alright, I’m not feeling this anymore”, and walking away.

And it sucks.

I have unfinished projects everywhere that include stories and other creative projects alike. I covered this in a similar way in my other blog post “The Struggles of a Project Bouncer”, one of the first Writing Blog posts I posted on this blog. In this post, I focused on this is a broad sense in that I have a bad habit of just jumping from one thing to another and not seeing stuff through to the end. And this seems to be particularly bad when it comes to my writing.

And the solution?

Well, it’s kind of boring, not gonna lie. It’s the answer to like 75% of must problems writer’s have and a lot of people have for that matter (myself included).

Self. Discipline.

Yuck. I don’t like that word. But it really is the answer to this “all or nothing” problem I have. But to get more specific, what does “self discipline” look like when it comes to pacing myself so I actually finish something in less than two years as oppose to typing out three chapters and walking away for 6 months?

Well, for me it looks like a writing schedule. And one that I stick to.

Everyone’s writing schedule looks different. In fact, many people measure it in different ways. Some people set the goal of writing X amount of chapters every week or month and others set their goal in amount of words. This seems to be the most common strategy.

Getting back to my particular solution, my goal tends to be around 5,000 words every week which comes to about 700 words every day which I know is manageable, at least in the summer time (my plan changes when school starts back of course). And even though I don’t stick to it perfectly, I find the pacing helps me see writing a more of a habit and something I do more consistently as oppose to a project I add to when the moon is in the sky just right and I actually feel like writing. Because If I do that, come to find out, I never get it done.

So if you’re an “All or nothing” writer like me, I definitely recommend trying this strategy. Try setting a goal and pacing yourself and resist the urge to spit up 5,000 words in one sitting and then running away.

You can do it! You can finish that story or that book! I believe in you!

Evening Poems: Wonder

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Stars sing a melody we cannot understand.
How rare it is to live as we are.
The planets hum in a language we’ve never known.
We are always compelled to look up.
We used to think that the light touches everything.
But Space is so incredibly big.
The Stars, glittering like a jewel on a quilt.
Objects in an endless, weaving dance
You see, the Magnificence of it all haunts me.
The void gaping above as always.
And there are deep corners we know nothing about.
Forever drags further than we know.
Yet, in odd irony, It all goes by so fast.
Because we are here as only Smoke.
But, We act like this is all unbeknownst to us.

Types of Writer’s Block

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

A comprehensive list I made while ironically having Writer’s block. Hopefully you can relate. But! In the interest of maybe helping you out, I’ve added suggested solutions for each different kind of Writer’s Block. So Enjoy!

Drawing a Blank

Writer’s block where you have one singular aspect of your story planned out the most minute detail but everything else is just a blank. Examples of this include:

“I have a Plot but nothing else.”

“I have Characters but nothing else.”

“I have A World Concept but nothing else.”

Suggested Solution:

Write down what you do have. Write it in the form of a sort of outline as the “skeleton” of your story. Begin focusing on slowly filling in your outline, maybe searching the internet for some inspo to help you out when you get stuck.

No Motivation

Where you have an idea but no actual motivation to put it into works. So it just sits and rots in a notebook or word document as a single plot synopsis that never gets worked on.

Suggested Solution:

Refresh your brain. You can do this a few ways. I find what works best for me is exercising a little or taking a walk. A shower might also help you reset and find your second wind too.

Short on Inspiration

You have the motivation! Yay! But what to actually write…? This is where you don’t lack motivation, but you are drawing an absolute blank on what your next writing project is actually going to be.

Suggested Solution:

The internet is a wonderful source of writing inspiration. Maybe search up a few writing prompts online? You cna also find inspiration from reading other books or maybe even watching a movie?

Maybe Tomorrow….

You sort of want to write but doing everything else besides writing sounds more appealing. You might even make plans to write one day but somehow you just end up watching a few episodes of your favorite show or mindlessly scrolling through social media. Sadly, this is the one that is the most common to me.

Suggested Solution:

Try writing for at least 5 minutes. If by the end of the 5 minute mark you feel like continuing, do so! If not, step away, do something else, and come back and try again.

Slump

You already started your story. You have a plot, characters, and a world. Things were going so well when BAM! you just hit a wall for no rhyme or reason. You probably spend a lot of time staring at a word document, at a loss as to what to do next. You are in a slump

Suggested Solution:

A slump can sometimes be a sign that something in your scene or story isn’t working. So I suggest maybe consider rewriting the chapter before the one where you began your “slump”. Re-review your outline for your story as well and you’ll get back on track in no time!

Evening Poems: Homesick

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

I woke up today with an ache in my chest 

It was so strong, it impeded my rest. 

The feeling and loss of a place I call home, 

As time goes on, I seems to have only grown. 

Darling, I’m homesick for fields so green 

Skies that are bluer than you’ve ever seen. 

Sick for sunflowers in their neat little rows. 

And for bubbling creek that in the forest flows. 

I’m sick for the house that’s sits on the hill. 

Nestled next to trees that the wind does fill. 

Sick for the kitchen, with yellow on its walls. 

With a goldfinch on the sill that continually calls. 

Curtains washed, air and white. 

Cows in a field, just barely in sight. 

Darling, I’m homesick for every little thing. 

The cows, the kitchen, and the birds that sing. 

But most of all I have a desire that can’t be quelled 

For the innocence and love that that place held. 

Writing Prompt: The Clock House

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

A group of teens are trapped in a haunted house. At midnight, the games begin…

Every hour, a new creature or monster is released into the house that the group has to survive and then kill. They win the “game” if they live until morning. A grandfather clock chimes every time an hour passes and announces the arrival of a new challenge.

Recommended Drinks for Writing

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

Admittedly, writing can be hard sometimes and on bad days, a little exhausting. That’s one reason I like to have something to sip on sitting on my desk while I work. It generally helps me focus and takes away an excuse for me to get up and break my writing streak. So, here’s a little list I’ve made of best drinks for writers. Enjoy!

Turmeric Lattes

So, Confession, I really didn’t know what turmeric was until I was searching for good drink options for me to sip on while writing my book. However, upon research, I found that turmeric was a spice, closely related to ginger, that has brain boosting effects. One of the many ways you can consume this spice is by means of a latte which considering how much I love creamy and hot drinks, I’m all for.

Link to a Turmeric Latte Recipe is here

Blue Berry Juice or Blue Berry Smoothies

Second confession, I don’t like blue berries. However, blue berries are filled with polyphenol which is a brain boosting chemical that can aid you when writing. Plus, they’re relatively healthy!

Tea

Specifically ones that help with concentration and focus. This includes Matcha, Peppermint, and Ginger. Or, more broadly, Black and Green Teas.

Coffee

This is a pretty obvious pick considering the nice little caffeine rush coffee offers. Not to mention there’s nothing more comforting than cupping your hands round a warm, steaming mug of coffee as you work on your latest writing project or book.

Chocolate Milk or Hot Chocolate

I really like the science behind this. Did you know that it has been shown that chocolate increase blood flow to your brain? I think this is a very fun fact, especially considering I’m going to be eating and drinking chocolate regardless of whether or not its beneficial to my focus.

Lemonade

Another great option! Lemons have been shown to boost your brain function and lemonade can also help hydrate you much better than say a soft drink or coffee.

Tips on maintaining Writing Motivation

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Just a little list to help you keep that writer’s block at bay. Enjoy!

READ

Read, read, read and read some more until you are completely swollen with words that have no choice but to spill out. This will get you into a “wordy” frame of mind where you think in terms of language as oppose to pictures which you THEN have to transfer to words and then put them on the page.

BROADEN YOUR INTERESTS

Try to vary your media consumption form music, to movies, to what you choose to read. This will fill your brain up with new and different ideas that will show through your work. Plus, the more different pools of inspiration you have, the more interesting ideas you can come up with. (Think of it in terms of a river being fed by a bunch of smaller “streams” or water sources. It becomes more powerful the more sources of inspiration you have).


DON’T BE PARALYZED BY THE FEAR OF NOT BEING ORIGINAL

There are lots of ideas out there. So much so that sometimes you can be frustrated by the thought that nearly anything you come up with has been done before. And yeah. maybe it has. But not by you. Try and by yourself and that will show in your writing style but also don’t stress so much over doing everything so uniquely that you struggle to write anything.

OUTLINE PROJECTS

This bone structure is vital. It helps you stick to a consistent theme that will show through your work. This is so you don’t lose the “soul” of your story or writing during the process of creating it.

TAKE A BREAK EVERY NOW AND THEN

I recommend stepping away from writing every now and then, especially when you feel like you’re going stale. Go do something mindless to rest your brain a little.

LET YOUR MIND WANDER SOMETIMES

Sometimes you just need not focus on something. Some of the best ideas come when you’re not really doing anything specific. Give yourself this mental freedom.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Your brain is a part of your body. Drink lots of water, sleep well, and move around a little bit. You’ll get more done if you take care of yourself physically.