Category:

Writing

Creative Flow: How to Silence Negative Voices and Write

From Bryan: This is a guest post by Josh Irby. Josh is a writer who lives in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina with his wife and four children. For more than a decade he has worked with university students, helping them tell better stories with their lives. If you come to Sarajevo, you will likely find him in the corner of a local café sipping a macchiato and talking with friends. Visit Josh’s blog www.joshirby.com

My children are inquisitive. When I am driving they ask at least one question per minute. Sometimes, their questions come so quickly and loudly I cannot hear my own thoughts.

I feel like my brain is being hijacked.

Often, when I sit down to write, I feel the same way. I try to engage my mind with the world of words but my mind is under new management. I am no longer in control.

Photo Cred: Dreamstime

Creative Flow: There is Magic in Asking Yourself The Right Questions

written by Bryan Hutchinson

The wrong questions will destroy your power to create, but the right questions will fill you with inspiration, encouragement and motivation to create work that will blow you (and others) away!

Am I good enough? Do I suck? Should I give up? Will I ever create work that matters? Why can’t I ____? (Fill in the blank.)

Those are the wrong questions. Do you want to free yourself from doubt and create work that matters? Then you need to ask yourself the right questions.

Photo Cred: Dreamstime

4 Lessons Distance Running Can Teach You About Writing

written by Nicole Gulotta

Does writing ever feel like running a race that you’ll never finish?

Even if you’re not an athlete, writers can learn a lot from the discipline and training methods of distance runners. They train for endurance, not speed, and over the long course of your writing career, you’ll need plenty of perseverance to overcome the challenges you’ll face around each turn.

This doesn’t mean you’ll never win a race. A publication or two will give you energy, and completing a story will inspire you to start the next one, but there will be setbacks. Rejection, lack of motivation, and fear are always lurking on the sidelines.

Photo Cred: Dreamstime

BIGGEST Mistake Some Bloggers Make and Steps to Correct It (or Avoid It)

written by Bryan Hutchinson

This mistake is so huge it can keep someone who should by all rights attract an audience, blog in vain –never attracting the audience he or she would like to have.

You can be a good writer, even a great writer, but if you’re making this mistake, then it doesn’t matter.

The good news is – it’s fixable!

Photo Cred: Dreamstime

Creative Flow: 8 Reasons Why Procrastinating is Better than Working

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Don’t you hate wasting time? You need to get to it and do the work.

But what if forcing yourself to do the work isn’t always the best answer? What if doing so will result in long lasting creative blocks?

On the other hand, procrastination could hold unlimited potential for your sanity, overall well being, and productivity.

Conquering Writing Ruts

written by The Magic Violinist

This post is by Positive Writer contributor The Magic Violinist.

Every writer gets into a rut at some point. You write a book. And another. And another. Pretty soon they all have the same plot, the same kinds of characters, and the same sorts of villain.

How do you conquer this writing rut? By following three simple steps.

Creative Commons by Caterina.Appia

Starting Over is Essential to Your Creativity and Success

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Have you ever been ready to throw your work in the air and give up? Who hasn’t? Hey, maybe starting over isn’t such a bad idea.

Yesterday I was talking with a friend over coffee when he told me he doesn’t get it. “What don’t you get?” I asked him. He explained that every time he starts a creative project, writing a book in this case, he comes to a point where he realizes he must start over because it’s just not good enough or doesn’t make any sense.

As he was explaining his face took on an exhausted and frustrated look. I recognized it instantly, because I’ve seen it so many times… in the mirror…

start-over-writing

How Frustration Can Lead to Breakthrough and Picking Yourself

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Most of us are waiting to be picked.

We are waiting for an agent or publisher to call, or we are waiting to be picked to take the next step up the ladder, or we are just waiting for someone to give us that pat on the back and let us know what we are doing is worthwhile and, well, you know, to “keep-at-it.”

Why?

Pick me.

The Secret of Great Writing

written by Bryan Hutchinson

From Bryan: This is a guest post by Nick Thacker. Nick is a blogger, writer, and self-declared “life hacker” who enjoys writing novels, and has recently finished his first novel, The Golden Crystal, available now. He runs LiveHacked, and has a totally free course called How to Write A Novel.

I recently finished editing my first novel, The Golden Crystal. I’m excited — thrilled even — that it’s finally going to be ready for readers.

But let me back up a bit…

Provided by Dreamstime

Comfort Writing and How To Avoid It

written by Bryan Hutchinson

From Bryan: This is a guest post by James Prescott, he is a writer and author from Sutton, near London, in the UK and blogs regularly at JamesPrescott. He recently released his first e-book, ‘5 Steps to Encouragement: A Manifesto for Changing the World’ which can be obtained free here.

Most of us have heard the term ‘comfort eating’. I know the phrase all too well. A bad day can still occasionally lead to me devouring a couple bars of chocolate or a few donuts.

Comfort eating makes me feel better about myself for a short period of time. It’s taking the easy route. But it’s not healthy, and it’s not valuing myself or my body.

And strangely enough, it’s the same with writing.

Creative Commons by Amy LYah

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