tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post7784374023772062308..comments2023-10-15T06:31:49.268-07:00Comments on JUST THE WRITE CHARISMA: Fiction Writing Tips Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064541432630743730noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-53291107972792745352013-12-20T14:51:31.111-08:002013-12-20T14:51:31.111-08:00Wow! Thank you so much for your great tips, Bruce!...Wow! Thank you so much for your great tips, Bruce! Debby Maynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04593507686779363321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-60042690324572355262013-12-20T07:53:04.783-08:002013-12-20T07:53:04.783-08:00Wonderful tips. Especially stay healthy. I’m suffe...Wonderful tips. Especially stay healthy. I’m suffering from a herniated disc in my neck and it has severely limited my time at the keyboard! And, I’m not that good at writing through dictation! But, here are some additional tips that have helped me:<br /><br />You don’t FIND time to write — you MAKE time to write. Carve out very specific time out each day/week to write. And then, WRITE! Don’t check email or edit or update social media or make phone calls. Fill up that big white page in front of you.<br /><br />Set deadlines (which most of us have hopefully mastered) for initial drafts, editing time, research, etc.<br /><br />Set aside an area for your writing that is yours and YOURS alone and then surround yourself with creative cues — items or sayings or posters that spark your creativity. I call it my creative cocoon.<br /><br />Use a timer to take a break during your long writing sessions. I use an old fashion kitchen timer and when I have a day long writing/editing session I make sure I take a ten minute break out of every hour — NO MATTER how well the creative juices are flowing. Get up, walk around, go outside, MOVE!<br /><br />And, as I am learning the hard way, pay attention to ergonomics and take care of your hands, wrists, eyes, and, your neck! As a radiologist, I interpret dozens of MRIs every day. We are seeing an epidemic of herniate discs in the neck in younger and younger people because of constantly shifting our attention from the keyboard to the screen.<br /><br />Thanks for the tips and I look forward to seeing some tips from the other authors! Great stuff! Have a MERRY (MIGHTY) CHRISTMAS. (See Ace Collins’ excellent book on the source of Christmas songs and traditions and read about ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ — necessary reading for any writer!)Bruce Henniganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04990734267362201108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-21890599255651041232013-12-17T17:59:39.639-08:002013-12-17T17:59:39.639-08:00Excellent tip, Darrel! Excellent tip, Darrel! Debby Maynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04593507686779363321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-15677058427677042302013-12-17T17:12:34.425-08:002013-12-17T17:12:34.425-08:00One additional writing tip that I find helpful is ...One additional writing tip that I find helpful is to have a trusted sounding board--someone you can get feedback regarding your ideas and writing. In my case, my sounding board is my wife. I never commit anything to final form until I get her take on it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Darrel Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06515362617604903826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-80020058248398965582013-12-17T07:08:05.978-08:002013-12-17T07:08:05.978-08:00Great suggestion, Diane! Any writer who is serious...Great suggestion, Diane! Any writer who is serious about a career should join a professional organization, and ACFW is the best!Debby Maynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04593507686779363321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-85366627059542806312013-12-17T06:28:58.471-08:002013-12-17T06:28:58.471-08:00Love those pictures. Y'all are just as beautif...Love those pictures. Y'all are just as beautiful on the outside and you are on the inside. Can't wait to see you in St. Louis.<br /><br />Thanks for that great list of tips. My favorite tip is to join ACFW. Meeting other authors, the editors and agents is invigorating and a step forward in the process of becoming a published author.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!Dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231013327697203209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-40702476686171008302013-12-16T21:31:54.937-08:002013-12-16T21:31:54.937-08:00Thank you, Martha. That was a very pivotal meeting...Thank you, Martha. That was a very pivotal meeting for me, too. You've made a positive impact on my writing life as well as being a good friend.Lena Nelson Dooleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060055435235263556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-4590116710801807862013-12-16T18:30:25.129-08:002013-12-16T18:30:25.129-08:00By the way, after DiAnne Mills and Kathleen Y'...By the way, after DiAnne Mills and Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena was one of the first authors I got to know. We picked her up at the airport for the first ACFW area conference back in the early 2000's. She's been a great encouragement ever since.Martha W. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02415972499923372153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-34586794077712143822013-12-16T18:28:16.503-08:002013-12-16T18:28:16.503-08:00Great tips, Debbie. Ones I need to use. You are on...Great tips, Debbie. Ones I need to use. You are one of my favorite people. Just seeing your smile when we meet brings joy to my heart. I love your books,too. :)<br />Martha W. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02415972499923372153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-58920608974565921642013-12-16T17:27:40.211-08:002013-12-16T17:27:40.211-08:00Fun pictures! Plus, I loved #4 on the list. Good t...Fun pictures! Plus, I loved #4 on the list. Good tips!Cherie Burbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13058441644533308364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-24860741485224020892013-12-16T17:21:35.948-08:002013-12-16T17:21:35.948-08:00Lena, you always glow! And yes, we had a blast!Lena, you always glow! And yes, we had a blast!Debby Maynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04593507686779363321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-44635663945922576102013-12-16T14:40:21.770-08:002013-12-16T14:40:21.770-08:00What fun pictures. We cleaned up really well, didn...What fun pictures. We cleaned up really well, didn't we?<br /><br />And we had so much fun.Lena Nelson Dooleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060055435235263556noreply@blogger.com