Writing Prompts

Sorry this one’s going up so late at night!

I want to share writing prompts this week.  And judging from Liz’s recent posts, I think this might be helpful for some of you.  In all honesty, when I first started planning to share writing prompts, I wasn’t thinking about writer’s block.  I should have.  Why?  Because taking the pressure off by finding some writing prompt—be it dark and grisly or fun and silly—has often saved a story of my own.

Usually when we talk about writer’s block, it’s actually limited to the story at hand, the current WIP.  True writer’s block, the kind where the creative juices are no longer flowing and the well has practically dried up, is pretty rare.  Yes, it does happen and the poor author in question can’t write anything at all.  But that’s usually not the case…thank heavens!  Usually writer’s block happens in relation to our current work.  It’s an awful feeling, when that fertile valley our imagination used to live in has turned into a barren wasteland.  If you haven’t experienced it yet, just give it time because you likely will at some point.  If you never experience it, count yourself among the very blessed few.

What causes writer’s block?  Well, that varies from writer to writer, and there’s no one definitive cause.  If we knew what caused it, they could likely find a cure or treatment for it to make it go away easily.  Unfortunately, we don’t know.  For some authors, it could simply be the normal stresses that come from life.  Marital or family difficulties, new marriages (whether the author’s or someone else’s who is close to them, especially their children’s), births, deaths, stress over bills…the list could go on and on.  Sometimes it’s doubt in their capabilities of telling the story they want to tell.  Or worrying that there won’t be anyone who will want to read said story when it’s completed.  No matter what the cause, there are various ways to try to break through that wall that’s suddenly sprung up between the author and their work.  Some authors have found relaxation techniques work for them.  For others it might be making hard decisions in their personal lives.  Sometimes the solution is as simple as examining their life, pinpointing a stressor and removing or finding a way to cope with that stressor.  And for some, writing about something else can knock things loose.

Originally, I had just intended these prompts to be fun exercises.  I thought it would be interesting to see what each of you would come up with if you chose to work with the same prompt.  If the response is large enough, I thought about sharing some of those stories in my next week of posting.  I hope you’ll choose to participate, whether you’re facing the dreaded writer’s block or not, and even if you don’t decide to share your story.  Have fun, and get to writing!

If you decide to participate and would like to share your stories with me, please send it in an email to unicornbellsubmissions (at) gmail.com.  Put Unicorn Bell Story Prompt in the subject line and tell me which prompt you used.

Disclaimer:  I found most of these prompts on Pinterest, where I pinned them to my writing board and have them on my computer for my own use.  I have included the information pertaining to where these prompts were found at the end of each prompt.  By sharing these prompts and posting them here, I am in no way claiming a prompt is of my own creation.  Any prompts that are of my own creation will have my name listed after them.

1.  List your five favorite books.  Take the antagonist from the first book, the protagonist from the second, the opening sentence from the third, the setting from the fourth, and the genre from the fifth.  Carry on writing the first two paragraphs of your new book.  -  writers-write-creative-blog.posthaven.com via Pinterest

2.  “What now?”

     

     “I don’t know.  I thought the jump would kill us.”  -  tracinoelle.com via Pinterest

3.  Suzanne has a secret.  Danny has the key.  Sam is bleeding out on the table.  And no one has seen Greg since he left for food four hours ago.  -  promptuarium.wordpress.com via Pinterest

How Not to Keep a Writing Routine

Just for fun I googled about writing routines. And do you know that there are 126,000,000 results about the subject?

Having a routine, if you go by the amount of results, is important. The repetition of a routine helps you maintain your commitment to writing your story. Your typical  novel consists of at least 90,000 words or more. And when looking at it that way, it might seem impossible and overwhelming. But if you break it down, with a writing routine of 250 words a day, you can achieve your goal. That is if you can keep it.

I’ve started and fallen off writing routines more times than I can count. I’ve done writing 500 words a day to keeping it all in my head until I can write it later. And more often than not, I’d forget most of my inspiring ideas before I could get to a notebook or my laptop.

But that’s nothing to be discouraged about. Because as I see it, I’m stumbling around until I find the routine that’s right for me. Like Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

I admit, there are things that we as writers do in excess, myself included, that disrupts our routine. Thus prolonging our goals in writing our novel. And here are several ways I’ve been guilty of in not keeping my writing routine:

1. Binge watching Criminal Minds, Leverage, anime and Asian dramas
2. Binge reading manga and or re-reading some of my favorites
3. Conducting “research” online
4. Social media...enough said

What is your writing routine? What have we done to trip it up?

There’s No Right or Wrong Way to Garrett

Credit image: Pinakothek.de/en/ Source: Carl Spitzweg, “The Poor Poet.” Oil on canvas, 1839

What is a garrett?

The dictionary defines a garrett as a cramp and enclosed space below the roof of a building. But as a writer, the definition of a garrett means so much more. To us, a garrett is our special, happy place that helps us reach our writing zone.

The beauty of it is that the garrett is also our best friend. A support system and environment to help us thrive creatively. A vibe and ambiance that fuels our creative output. Our muse helping to provide our source of inspiration. It is all that and more.

So what is the point of this post? Well, the point is to not underestimate the importance of one. You might not realize it. But as you sit down to write, you’ve probably have set specific things in place. And just the way you like it, before you begin to write.

My garrett is music. When I sit down to write, whether it's on the floor or at my kitchen table. Whether I'm at my desk at work, at the library or in my bed, I listen to music while I write. Always, always I listen to music. For my work in progress romance novel, I listen to the slow jams radio station on Pandora. Other than that, I’m listening to hip hop and reggae. As well as the Imagine Dragons and OneRepublic radio stations. I especially love listening to the 90s hip hop station.

As there’s no right or wrong way to garrett, how do you get to your special, happy place? Is there a specific drink or food you sip or snack on as you write? Is your garrett somewhere like Panera? How do you garrett?

21 Ways to Become A Productive Writer in 21 Days

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July yesterday!

Of course, with all the barbecues, potato salads, cakes and fireworks, probably had us all so stuffed physically and visually to write a thing. I know I haven’t, especially as I’ve written only bits and pieces, here and there while on my blogging break.

But as a balance, I’ve been reading like it’s a zombie apocalypse. And trying to read as many stories as I can before the door busts down by a horde of zombies surging through it and to me. After all, Stephen King said “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

I haven’t been writing a lot but at least I’ve been reading a lot. All I have to figure out now is how to balance the two for the second half of my blogging break and hereafter. And reading a lot happens to be part of today’s post too.

So, you’ve probably heard or been witness to an author who spits out books faster than the Flash or Superman. And you wonder (envy or hate) how they’re able to do that. How are they so productive? And how you can do the same? Sad to say, that not all writers write the same way. And I don’t mean in terms of voice but in how they approach the writing process. Some take longer than others to write and publish a book. It does not mean that they are less productive. We all each have our own pace. And let’s not forget to factor in that most of us have children, work, etc. Then they’re times when our creative wells dry up or tragedy strikes in our lives.

Life happens. And a book is not a race. Again we all have our own pace. But at the end of the day, it’s our perseverance and determination is what’s important.  And to write, rewrite, revise and edit those stories can be done by forming  good habits. Which will then lead to becoming productive writers.

How?

Well take a look at the title of my post? Quite catchy and intriguing  isn’t it? Before, I start in with my list as the post title promises, let me give you fair warning. Contrary to popular belief, an individual cannot form a habit in 21 days. The actual time frame can be anywhere from at least 21 days or a month and up to almost a year. So don’t feel discouraged if you’re unable to do any of these methods everyday. And or for 21 days straight until you’re able to do it without thinking. As long as it enables you to write the required letters, words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters.  However long it takes won’t matter.

So, you want to be a productive writer? Try any one of these 21 methods to get and keep your writing juices flowing:

1. Read. Yes read and read a lot.  It’s both a pleasurable and learning experience.
2. Do word sprints. Write as much as you can without stopping or no hesitation. And within the allotted time you give yourself. It can be 15 minutes, or 20 or 25.
3. Take a walk. Hey, I know they said to sit on your butt and write. But a sedentary life is not good for you health wise. Physically or mentally. So get out and get some fresh air, whether it's for 20 or 30 minutes. It's up to you.
4. Read your genre. Elizabeth Sims, author of You’ve Got a Book In You said it best, in one her chapters, to study the master. If you’re a romance writer, read romance novels/authors who make it on the bestseller list. Same for horror, mystery/thriller, fantasy, etc.  
5. Free write by hand. Take a pen/pencil and just write. Like a diary, write out your heart and soul of your story. It doesn’t matter if any or all of it will make it into the book. Just write to clear the cobwebs or for fun. Just write.
6. Turn off your inner editor. It’s an advice often said during NaNoWriMo. But can be applied daily. It’s not always easy to do but ignore that tiny voice in your head. You can always go back and fix or change something later. That’s what revising and editing is for. Ignore it and bracket, highlight it or use parenthesis and add a note to whatever that tiny voice is trying to lure you to do.
7. Drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday. Your brain needs water. If you’re not drinking enough water, you’re more apt to lose focus more easily.   
8. Start each morning after you wake up with a glass of water. (a continuation of # 7)
9. Read outside your genre. Yes, read outside your genre. Most books are not limited to one specific genre. They’re actually a blend of two or more. And learning the components of what makes a good mystery, for example,  could help strengthen your own story.
10. Create daily to-do lists. Set day to day goals you want to achieve. It can be anything from the number of words you write or to write a blog post. Pick your tasks for the day and check them off.
11. Get plenty of sleep. Let’s face it, a well rested body makes a much focused mind. We all know what time we have to get up in the morning. So we must ensure our bodies get the required 8-9 hours of sleep it needs.
12. Write a poem. Poetry is a form of reflective writing that also provides a depth richness to the written word. Stuck on a scene or setting? Or just plain stuck? Try writing a free poem about it. And maybe you’ll find the words you’re looking for.
13. Do a writing prompt. Prompts are good ways to rejuvenate your mind. Or when you’re in need of plot ideas. Plus it’s fun.  Especially if you need to take a break from your story. Writer’s Digest has a writing prompt every Tuesday. Iauthor uses an image and prompts its Facebook followers for the opening lines to the photo. Or you can use a writing prompt generator.
14. Stop writing. Ernest Hemingway found it more important to stop writing even if you know what’ll happen next in a story. Even when you’re on a roll. So stop, go to bed and let your subconscious mind stew and begin anew and refresh tomorrow.
15. Read a bad book. Yes, I mentioned reading three times already. And now to read a bad book no less? Well, we can learn just as much as from the mediocre as we can from the masters. It’ll help boost our analytical, revision and editing skills. You have no idea how many times I’ve rolled my eyes and started immediately thinking the ways I would’ve wrote/rewritten something I read. It also doubles as a how not to write fiction lesson.
16. Turn off the internet. If you’re not doing this already, then you should start. The internet is a time suck and this I know from experience. That’s why I stay away from sites featuring pictures of animals looking cute or doing cute things. I"m not about to go down that road. So give yourself time, however long is up to you, to turn off distractions.
17. Limit social media. Either give yourself 1 hour a day to do your social media business. Or turn it off. (See #16)
18. Start your day with optimism. How? Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I’m going to write something kickass today.” I know it’s a little self-helpy. But it’s the lack of belief in ourselves  as writers that can halt productivity.
19. Eat healthy. A healthy body means a healthy brain. And let’s face it, the foods we snack on while we’re writing aren’t always healthy. Put down those chips and snack on some healthy sweets like blueberries, grapes and oranges. No more fake sugars or sweeteners and drink more green tea.
20. Read. I can’t stress this enough but read. Either 1 hour a day or 1 chapter a day. Make time to read so that you can gain the tools to write.
21. Write. Write 500 or 1,000 words a day. Just write, however much and whenever you can. Just write.

Have any habits or routines you'd like to add? Any productivity tips you like to share? What are you doing to stay focus on your writing?

Email Newsletter Automations

I'm just now learning about automations for newsletters. It's hard to do when most e-news programs charge for using them, but here's the general idea...

• Send an automatic "Thank you for joining the newsletter!" Because, well, it's nice to be noticed for signing up.
• Send a link to free gifts after readers perform certain tasks--like subscribe, reply, or whatever you want to ask.
• You can create a welcome series that will automatically be sent to new subscribers over whatever period of time and schedule you wish. The idea behind this is so you can provide all the same information without much effort on your part. It also makes it easy to not double up on emails to your subscribers. Who wants to get the same newsletter more than once?
• You can create a separate newsletter series for people who decide to sign up for your street team. This would come after several of the welcome series newsletters. If a reader has stuck with you through 10 welcome newsletters and still opens them, they must be a true fan. They are the ones you'd like to offer specials to and ask them to join your street team.
• If you have a store attached to your mail account, you can send automated thank you's for purchases. 
• You can even send an automated note when someone unsubscribes from your list. What would you say in one of those? "Thanks for hanging out with me, have a great life!"?

All of this could be a moot point though if you don't have newsletter readers. So, how do you get readers?

Let me ask you, when, where, and why have you signed up for newsletters in the past?

Author Newsletters--Yes or No?

Today's topic requires lots of participation. From you!

That's right, whether you're an author trying to figure out how newsletters work or a reader who signs up for newsletters. Especially if you are the latter. I know I have lots of questions, and I'm sure others do as well.

Newsletters have been on my mind for the last month. I started one two years ago when I ran a kickstarter to fund the cost of publishing FADE INTO ME. I think I've sent 5 whole emails since then. I just didn't know what to put in those newsletters. They are supposed to be a good way to communicate with your readers, your fans, but what the heck do you write about?

Recently, another author (Tamara Hart Heiner) opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities. Before I tell you what I learned from her, let me ask you a questions.

Do you have an author newsletter? What do you put in it?

Or

Do you sign up for author's newsletters? Why and what do you hope to see in your inbox?

My approach has always been not to send too many letters. I know I get so many emails that it's hard to keep up. When I do send email letters it's like tossing a paper airplane out the window. There is no response. I'd love to enter into conversations with my readers, find out what they want from me so I can try and accommodate them if possible.

However, here's what I learned from Tamara:

• Send a newsletter every week because you want to weed out the people who aren't really your fans.
• Talk about all kinds of things and only mention your books when something is going on.
• Use it as a way to share YOU with your readers
• Use automations (more on this later)
• Have a book that you can give away to people when they sign up for your newsletter
• Make sure you are sharing exclusives with your newsletter subscribers--make it worth their while

The more she talked about what she was doing, the more excited I got. I sat down and came up with weekly topics that I find fascinating--scientific advances, astronomy lessons, history of space flight, etc. Things that I love to research while writing. Things that others might find just as interesting, and maybe want to talk about. I came up with some personal topics as well--recipe shares and my 50 by 50 goal reports. 

It will require a lot more work and focus on my part, but if it's entertaining for my readers it will be worth it!

So, my next question for you...

Do you really want to get to know your authors this well or not?

Or

What individual topics could you add to your newsletter that reflects you and/or your genre?

We will cover newsletter automation--what it is and why it's cool--Wednesday.

Want to sign up for my newsletter? Click HERE.

NOTE: If you start looking at newsletter apps, look for one that offers free automation or at least really cheap. I signed up for mailchimp before I knew about automation and it's an extra cost with them. 

Thinking about starting a newsletter, but not sure where to start?

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Stuck: Writing It Out

If you've talked about writing on your blogs in the last couple months, you may have gotten a whiny comment from me about how my writing is not going. I may have mentioned chapter 20. Or I may have said something about "if I ever finish..."

I've been stuck. Since around the beginning of April. And now it's time to get unstuck.

As I was sort of sketching out this week of blog posts, I had it in my head that by Friday I'd be able to say that I was once again writing. But, things didn't quite work out that way.

via GIPHY

But such is life, right?

So, maybe this weekend I'll pull out my WBW file and just see what I can do...

What? You don't know what a WBW file is?

WBW stands for Writer's Block Workshop. It's a thing I started years ago for days when I wanted to write, but for one reason or another, I didn't have anything to write. It's where I whine about how I don't know what to do.

I moan about characters. Plot. Things that are not working. Or things I want to be writing. I just write out what I'm thinking and what I'm feeling.

The funny thing is, once I give myself permission to just write about the things that aren't working, they suddenly do.

via GIPHY

It's just a matter of sitting down and starting. Again.

Have you got any good tricks to get you started?

Stuck: Writing from a New POV

If you've talked about writing on your blogs in the last couple months, you may have gotten a whiny comment from me about how my writing is not going. I may have mentioned chapter 20. Or I may have said something about "if I ever finish..."

I've been stuck. Since around the beginning of April. And now it's time to get unstuck.

I think my biggest problem is that I know exactly what needs to happen in chapter 20. You read that right. I do know what I need to do. For some reason, that's more freezing than not knowing what's going to happen next.

I took chapters 18 and 19 to my writing group. They had a few suggestions...

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(This is why I have a writing group. They pointed out things that really didn't make sense. Things that had been in the story since the first draft but that no longer belonged in the story that it had become.)

I rewrote chapters 18 and 19. I completely gutted chapter 19 and started over. Those chapters are now stronger. But that means that chapter 20 has to change. In a good way, but still.

So, I cut chapter 20 and went to restart it completely. And couldn't figure out quite how to write it.

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I knew that my main character had to go and explain to the king that she did something that went against his wishes. Then I get to introduce the MC's cousin, who is going to play a significant role in the rest of the story. And to lead into the chapter 21 I already have, the cousin upsets the MC so much that she gets rotten, stinking drunk.

via GIPHY

But it wasn't happening. The cousin wasn't mean enough.

I finally got around to sketching out a chapter. I rearranged scenes. Realized that one chapter is too short to get the MC that drunk, so I'm going to have to insert a new chapter between the dreaded chapter 20 and the already written chapter 21. Doable.

But the cousin... So, it was time to sit down and write out what's going on from her perspective. Why does she hate the MC so much? What's her damage?

Then I had it! I had her voice. I knew what to do...

(And then I caught a cold and needed a few days of downtime...)

Well, it's progress. Of a sort.

How about you? Making any writing progress? (Or are you with me? Stuck, too?)

Stuck: A Cold

If you've talked about writing on your blogs in the last couple months, you may have gotten a whiny comment from me about how my writing is not going. I may have mentioned chapter 20. Or I may have said something about "if I ever finish..."

I've been stuck. Since around the beginning of April. And now it's time to get unstuck.

And that's what I was going to do on Monday. I was going to sit down and work. It was going to be the perfect day for it. I had installers coming... (Satellite TV. Long story.) ...and since I had no TV and nothing but time...

Then I woke up Monday. With a head cold.

via GIPHY

(Also the reason there was no post on Tuesday.)

Sometimes it feels like the universe is out to get me.

But it isn't. Not really. It may feel like that, and that's perhaps why it happened. Other things have been going on, so the minute I had some down time, my body decided it was going to get its rest first.

And that's okay. Because if I feel like I'm never going to write again, I'm never going to write again. But I know my time is coming. I got back here to write a blog post, didn't I? So, success!

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When it's been a while, and when I feel the world is pushing my away from writing, any little progress is good. An avalanche only needs a little bit to get it going. Just a little start can get me moving again. I know it can.

So, start small. A blog post. A page of some random thoughts. That's all. Just a bit today. A bit more tomorrow. Soon, it'll be flowing again.

Stuck

If you've talked about writing on your blogs in the last couple months, you may have gotten a whiny comment from me about how my writing is not going. I may have mentioned chapter 20. Or I may have said something about "if I ever finish..."

via GIPHY

I've been stuck. Since around the beginning of April. And now it's time to get unstuck.

One of my big problems has been time, or rather, lack of it. I get home from work, and the time I could be writing vanishes before I even realize it, rather like the cookies I'm munching on as I write this. Blogs. Technical issues (I will not bore you with my internet woes). Family favors (my niece needed a bit of help with her algebra--usually at the worst time). I'm sure you're familiar with the story.

via GIPHY

So, what to do? When can I squeeze in time to write?

I could schedule a time to write. A time that is my writing time, kind of like an appointment I make with myself. Block out the world.

I used to be able to do this pretty well. But lately... Life happens. I can learn to be flexible. And forgive myself for not being able to keep these appointments with myself. For now. Things will change again, and my writing appointment time will become easier and easier to do.

I could carve out some extra time, by waking up an hour early or going to bed an hour later. Make that my writing time.

For me, the waking up early never worked out. I'll go so far as to set the alarm, but when it goes off, I convince myself that I don't want to write that badly. I'm more of a stay-up-an-hour-later gal. Which wasn't working out when I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open. Those pages end up getting tossed later due to incoherence.

I could try to find little bits of time to write during the day.

I used to do this all the time. I could find odd down times at work where I could jot a few ideas down. But lately... It just wasn't working out for me.

So, I whine. I know perfectly well that if I really wanted to, I should be able to find a way. But perhaps now isn't the time. And it's time to stop shoulding all over myself. Because the time is coming when I will get back to writing, and this time stuck will be a terrible memory.

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Finding Your Funny Bone and Other Mahem

“I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor.” -Horatio Nelson

“I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor.” - Michael J. Fox

Writing humor isn’t easy. In my opinion, it is one of the most difficult genres there is. I don’t think you can learn it via a self-help book. I think it’s there nestled inside you at birth. It isn’t like buying a car. “I’ll take the Dodge with an upgrade of giggles.”

Books about writing funny (ha ha, not strange) range from known authors to psychiatrists. None of them ever tripped my trigger, but I’d like to know if any of our followers have tried to educate themselves via lessons. To me it seems they try too hard. And that kills the ride.

If I want to learn the funny side of writing, I have my Go To books, the examples that made me LOL. 

Dave Barry. Pick a topic. Any subject and the man will make it a hilarious tale. He has a way of putting the reader on a well-traveled road then jerking you off to roller coast that you never saw coming. 

Erma Bombeck. She’s been gone for a twenty years but boy howdy, she could write. 

Quotes: “If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead.” 

“Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” 

For a bit of specialness, Google When God Created Mothers. *sigh*

James Herriot. His books about the veterinarian practice in England are wonderful. But one of his books, All Things Bright and Beautiful contains his first glimpse of his newborn son. Seriously, thought I’d blow a mental fuse laughing so hard.

Justin Halpern. This author is a bit timelier than the ancients above are. Sh*t My Dad Says makes me laugh just thinking about it. Heavens, the mental images he creates. Read the first chapter and you’ll see.

As with most my writing skills, I depend on the examples of authors who know the ropes and run the trails. They are my inspiration whether writing Fantasy or Humor. Or a mixture of both.

"If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor." - Jennifer Jones

Ho Boy, do I ever agree with Ms. Jones.

Do you try to slip in a little hilarity in your books? Is there a self-help book that you can recommend?

Note to Bloggers: Go to http://www.freeimages.com/ for some mighty fine photos for your blog.

The Evolution of the Elusive, Reclusive Writer

Will they like me? Am I good enough?

Actually, it doesn’t start out that way. It begins with a Thor/Odin god-complex. Making the New York Times Bestseller list. Building a mansion with the proceeds. Flashing lightbulbs and paparazzi.

The success of the previously unknowns sticks in your head. J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, E.L. James.

The ease of achieving fame. Take a movie character, add their manuscript newly printed on a shelf of paper, talk to a publisher, and instantly you are a Published Author making untold riches. Cheaper By the Dozen, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (excellent oldie, btw).

But wait. What about:

• Storyline 
• Grammar
• Research—as in placing Stonehenge to the south and west of London and not east in the English Channel
• Continuity or Flow
• Avoiding Tropes and Clichés
• Formatting
• Critiques, Betas, Editors
• Editing
• And Editing
• And Editing

Also:

• The Query
• The Synopsis
• Agents
• Publishers
• Blogging
• Websites
• Marketing (cursing softly)

But forget all that. Let’s talk about the important stuff a

writer has in their deranged toolbox. Such as:

Writing Material. Post Its, stacks of notebooks—all sizes from dividers to 5 x 7 memo pads—scribbling on a tissue box, and yes, napkins. (thank you Janie Junebug). 

My house has paper sources (or tissue boxes) strewn every five feet in case inspiration strikes.

The Voices. Don’t you hate it when you’re arguing with a character and a family member interrupts? Or a total stranger in the mall? Never mind the wide-eyes and halting questions. I wish they'd stop with the 911 calls.

Alien abduction. A scene or conversation (see above) clarifies in your mind and you want to type it out before forgetting it. The sun is a bare sliver above the horizon when you begin. Then it’s time for lunch and people are whining. You swear it was only seconds ago.

Okay, come clean. If you’re a writer, you’ve dealt with Time Lapse. It happens. Admit it. 

Alien abduction is the only answer.

Exercise. How in the Holy Hades is a person supposed to keep active when the MC is in trouble and my hunky hunk is following the trope trail in need of a re-write? 

Although I swear by my few Fitbit, I could do without the snippy 'tude it assumes.

Just so yanno, writing the next Great American Novel is not on the road map necessarily. Writing, composing, sorting through scenes, beating your head against the wall...it is a dirty, frustrating, embarrassing, gut-wrenching business. 

And a marvelous, creative, exciting adventure that gives me

goosebumps thinking about it.

But just as important, every writer—from Newbie to NYT bestseller—knows this thought will keep them company at every stage:

Will they like me? Am I good enough?