Tag Archives: writing-tips

Jan15

From Ideas to Action: Your Writing Revival Checklist

Posted on by
Standard

Semper deinceps! (SEM-purr dee-IN-keps) That’s Latin for “Ever forward.” It means you continuously strive for progress. You experience growth through consistent effort. But what if instead of “semper deinceps,” you/I feel more like “whimper deinceps”? If you/I want to stomp away from stagnation to gain ground, it will require a smidge of strategy. (Not to worry. It’s simple. Sorta.)

Let’s hatch a plan

It helps to have something to look forward to, so let’s whip up a plan. It doesn’t need to be fancy-schmancy, but the more curlicues (as in details) you can add, the more “ever forward” you’re going to feel.

You’re making a list & checking it thrice

How about this? On your phone, or better yet, using a pen and a piece of actual paper (because you know what’ll happen if you pick up that phone), make a list of three things. (You know how writers like things in threes.)

Photo by Vicky Lorencen

Fair enough, my little shiny yellow No. 2 pencils, I’ll start:

  1. “Audit” my old writing files in search of stories worthy of resuscitation.
  2. Go on a weekend-long spring writing retreat with friends for feedback on my revived stories.
  3. Spend three Saturdays in a row at my favorite branch of my local library with my most beloved, yet most neglected writing project. (I don’t know how they feel, but I miss my characters!)

No longer feeling list-less

Looking at my list, I must say, I already feel less schlumpy. The idea of sifting through my old stuff sounds fun. For one thing, it will (gosh, I sure hope) prove to me that I’ve made progress. And for another, who knows what germs of ideas or gems of inspiration may be tucked in there? Spending time with writer friends is always good for the soul and encourages accountability. And devoting time to a novel that is nearest to my heart will feel like a family reunion (and I won’t have to bring potato salad!)

To be fair, jotting down a list isn’t technically progress. BUT devising a detailed plan to move “ever forward” is a start. In the coming days, I will embellish my list with curlicues like adding specific names, blocking calendar dates and collecting files. Dare I admit it? I feel some semper simmering!

Did you make a new plan, Stan?

How about you, my little fountain pen of creativity? Care to share what’s on your list? I’d love to see it and cheer you on. Together, we WILL move ever forward. Semper deinceps!

You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence. ~  Octavia E. Butler

Jun7

Time to quit your publishing pursuits? 12 questions to ponder

Posted on by
Standard

In 2007, Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Dillard told NPR listeners, “I’m here to tell you that I’m retiring. I woke up one morning, went to my desk, and realized I’ve done everything I set out to do as a writer, and the writer label does not define me, and I have more life to live, but I am done because I did my work on my terms.”

Does Dillard’s declaration stir something in you? Inspiration? Exhilaration like a zing of electricity? A soul-satisfying exhale?

Maybe it’s time to quit.

And by “quit,” I mean . . .

Before we move on, my little lemon drops, let me define “quit.” I’m talking about letting go of your pursuit of publication. No more queries. No more proposals. No more stalking agents. No more pouring over every issue of PW. (And no, I’m not talking about never writing again. Yikes. Writers, by definition, have to write. It’s a given you won’t give that up.)

Queries about quitting. (You can be totally honest. You’ll be grading your own paper.)

  1. Has my passion to be published–needing validation from the publishing industry, reviewers, readers–changed/diminished since I first began my pursuit?
  2. Do I neeeed to be published to be happy?
  3. Am I persisting in my pursuit solely because it pleases someone else or out of fear of displeasing them?
  4. Does the thought of setting my pursuit aside make me feel lighter, maybe even a little excited? (If it makes you feel full-on giddy, go ahead and quit already!)
  5. Can I be satisfied with writing for my own pleasure and/or with helping others improve their writing?
  6. Is my pursuit of publication keeping me from a new passion?
  7. Do I want to invest my creative energies doing something wholly apart from writing? What might that be?
  8. Would I see my decision as a liberation rather than a resignation?
  9. How about a 6-month or 12-month “hiatus” from my publishing pursuits versus a full stop retirement?
  10. Am I comfortable with not knowing what might have been?
  11. What will my new dream be? How and when will I begin?
  12. How will I see myself on the other side of my decision to quit?

Next steps

  • Take your time and ponder. Seep into a head-to-toe mull.
  • Journal over your responses to the 12 questions.
  • Reach out to a friend who can listen while you deliberate. And remember, I’m always here too.

The purpose of my post is not to discourage you from pursuing publishing. Honest. No one’s pushing you. (Go ahead. Look behind you. See?) I’m offering you the freedom to let go, if that’s what you really want to do. And, you should know I (and many others, I’m sure) will never quit admiring you and valuing you. Heck, some will even envy you.

Success does not lie in sticking to things. It lies in picking the right thing to stick to and quitting the rest. ~ Annie Duke, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away