15 Habits of Great Writers: Start

All creation comes from chaos. All works of art begin as splotches of paint on a canvas. It’s never beautiful at first. Before your work can reach its potential, it will first have to be bad. ~ Jeff Goins


Start.  That is today's Habit to put into practice. 

But Jeff Goins takes this one step further and challenges us all to start ugly.

I know when I first started writing, I expected each manuscript to be fully formed with perfect grammar and spelling right from the beginning.  I didn't even want to move onto another manuscript until the one I was currently working on was "finished".  What can I say?  I am a perfectionist! 

However, now I am drowning in a lot of half-baked WIPs!  I have felt extremely pressured because I am participating in the 12x12in'12 Challenge and although I am rising to the challenge and creating a manuscript each month, I don't always have the time to edit them, revise them, or even make them good!  In fact, some of these manuscripts are quite ugly.

Jeff urges us to just start and don't be afraid of the ugly. 

Because, as he states in his blog, "when we choose to start with ugly, we do the following:

1. We actually create something (instead of continuing to dream about it).
2. We grow. We learn what works and what doesn’t.
3. We get the chance to make it better."

Its really quite free-ing!  In fact, today I already drafted up the outline for this month's manuscript...and I will definitely be making it quite ugly before the end of the week!  But it will be a start.

15 Habits of Great Writers: Steal

Good artists copy. Great artists steal.—Picasso

Today Jeff Goins reminds us that "great artists borrow from other artists. They meld together pieces of the chaotic mess we all call life, and they end up with a whole new creation.

When a reporter asked Bono how U2 got their unique sound, he replied (to paraphrase), 'We were just trying to copy everyone else, but we weren’t good enough. This is what came out.'"

I have gotten inspiration from many different places...very few of them original.  I have been inspired by actual events and NPR news stories that I then put my own personal spin on.  Sometimes another writer's title gives me an idea.  In fact, I even admit to sitting down with a favorite picture book and stealing the format page by page. 

The key is to get the inspiration and then abandon the very thing that inspired you.  Let your own voice take over.

On Jeff Goins' blog today, he gives the following challenge:

Find a quote or a painting or some form of inspiration — and steal it. Make it your own. Attribute it — give credit where it’s due — but don’t be afraid to use it. Let someone else’s work springboard you into your own.

Give up on your pursuit of originality and genius and just find something that inspires you. Borrow from your friends and heroes and mash it all up into something that looks, feels, and sounds like you.

Who knows? You may find a style all of your own. You may even find — as Bono did — that a whole group of people end up copying you… as you copy someone else.

Happy Writing...and stealing!  :)

15 Habits of Great Writers: Prepare

"Understand, I had absolutely no interest in writing; I wanted to be a Writer."  ~ Kate DiCamillo

Attending conferences helps me realize that I am not alone in my craft or my thinking.  This past weekend at the NJ SCBWI conference in Princeton, NJ was no different. 

Kate DiCamillo gave the Closing Address and perhaps resonated the most with me.

"My favorite quote about writing comes from Dorothy Parker:

'I hate writing. I love having written.'

Every morning I wake up and think, 'the last thing I want to do today is write.'
And then I turn on the computer and write.
I write two pages a day. Usually, those two pages stink pretty bad.
I rewrite.
And rewrite.
And rewrite.
And rewrite.
And rewrite.
And each time I rewrite, the pages get a little better."

If I am going to call myself a writer, it needs to be more than in just name! Its time to prepare...which is today's habit!

How can I  practice the habit of preparing?  Jeff Goins shares the following 4 steps on his blog today.

1. Ship something.  Basically, just get anything "out there".  Not necessarily through the postal service.  For example, this past weekend I had the opportunity to pitch my story ideas to others in the community (although only through informal conversation, never formally to an agent or editor).  It was so gratifying and helpful to see someone's initial reaction to my pursuits.  I need to remember to practice this more often.
2. Get feedback.  I do this through Critique Groups.  I have a monthly Crit Group in my city.  I also participate in manuscript swaps with friends off and on.  It is so important to get feedback and to have fresh eyes look at the work.
3. Make it better. Revision is a HUGE part of writing.  I take all of the critiques I receive on a particular manuscript and then sit down and rewrite.  However, I am very careful to weigh every suggestion against my own gut and instinct.  Never compromise the story YOU want to write for someone else! 
4. Repeat until the project is finished. 

What can you do today?  I'm off to revise!

Happy Writing!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Practice

"Real writers practice. They show up, every day, without excuse or complaint (okay maybe some complaint). This is the work of a professional.

I’m not talking about rehearsal. I’m talking about doing what musicians and boxers and lion tamers all do in order to get ready for their work. To become awesome at their crafts.

They practice in public

In other words, they perform. They go to work. Get stuff done. They stop stalling and playing around and actually do the stuff."  ~ Jeff Goins

So into the lion's den I go!  This weekend I am attending the New Jersey SCBWI conference in Princeton, NJ.  I guess its time to "practice in public".

How do I plan to "practice" at the conference?

One of the awesome "perks" of the NJ conference is that we get a chance to sit with agents and editors during lunch and therefore are given the opportunity to actually pitch our work. 

Up until right at this moment, I was thinking that I would simply chat with the agents and editors but not actively pitch anything.  I guess I was thinking that none of my stuff is truly ready to be pitched. 

BUT...

I am going to practice in public.

Ugh....now to brush up on how to successfully write a pitch.  I wonder why my hands just starting shaking...

Anyway, pointers on pitching would be great!

How are you going to "practice in public" this weekend?  Share your comments...and advice for me below! 

Happy Writing!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Initiate

To initiate means to "take the first step".  It is included in the "15 Habits" because this is something that needs to be done daily, not just once.  Writers need to take the first step every single day.

When I think of this concept of "taking the first step daily", I think of my marathon training.

Can I run 26.2 miles today?  No.  But I followed my training schedule and ran for 30 minutes at an easy pace.  Tomorrow I will run the scheduled 40-50 minutes.  And I know that if I follow my training schedule daily, on November 4th I will run 26.2 miles.  However, focusing on doing a little bit each day helps me not get discouraged and overwhelmed.

As for my writing today, I commit to blogging about "15 Habits of Great Writers" and to spend at least one hour this afternoon working on one of my manuscripts. 

Today I encourage everyone to take that first step.  Don't get overwhelmed.  Do what you can with what you have today.  And then tomorrow, do the same.  Promise yourself to do what you can each day in regards to your writing. 

Happy Writing!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Believe

"Some will win, some will lose.  Some were born to sing the blues.  Oh, the movie never ends.  It goes on and on and on and on!"

~ Journey

How appropriate that such a song about believing in yourself was written and performed by a group called Journey.  It is a journey.  And it does require "scary hope" (as referenced in Jeff Goins' blog today).

On my personal journey as a writer I often have to remind myself of why I started this journey to begin with. 

For years, perhaps even decades, I had often felt strongly that there was a book in me...or two or three.  I would fantasize about book signings and opening up a box of books that I had written.  The problem was that I was not quite sure what that book would be about or what genre I was supposed to write.  But there was a deep longing inside me to be a writer.

In fact, I had many people come up to me throughout my life and say, "You should write a book!"  And my reaction was always, "About what?"  It was frustrating...but not to be ignored.

The point is, I was not a writer, yet...but I believed that I was supposed to be!  I held on to this dream inside me, knowing that someday I would know what to do if I continued to seek.  I had to trust myself...

It was this belief in myself and my desire that finally propelled me into the children's picture book world!  One night, a manuscript just happened.  Suddenly all of the pieces made sense.  The final piece of the puzzle was in place.

 It was time to put the belief into action and strat the journey.

Now somedays I falter and I question my dream.  But when I reconnect with that initial desire, longing and belief, I have what I need to move on.

"Don't stop believin'!  Hold on to that feeling!"

Happy Writing!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Declare

Back in September, I set up this blog to coincide with the school year.  I gave myself the 10 months of the traditional school calendar to start new habits and routines and better myself as a writer.  So...if September was the beginning, June marks Finals Time!!

Therefore, I am participating in yet another online challenge as a Final Exam of sorts.

Writer Jeff Goins is running a special series on his website for the next 15 days (Mon-Fri) which focuses on the 15 habits of Great Writers.  As my Final Exam I will be participating in this challenge AND blog about it each day!  Want to join in on the fun?  Follow the link and share your challenge in the comments.

Today's Habit:  DECLARE

I am a writer.  I am a writer.  I AM a writer.

I often don't feel like a writer.  But I am. 

I am a writer because...

1. I write.
2. I have folders and folders of stories that I wrote...and some aren't that bad.  :)
3. Ideas pop into my head that beg to be written.
4. I enjoy telling stories.
5. I feel guilty/empty/like something is missing when I don't write.
6. I proofread everything that I see...especially signs on the street and subway.
7. If I lost any of the stories on my computer I would be devastated.  (Backing up is soooo important!)
8. I am on a constant quest for inspiration.
9. I have fantasies about book signings, school visits, etc.
10. I love getting critiques of my work, in the hopes that it will help me improve!

What about you?  Are you a writer?  How do you know?  Share your comments below and come back tomorrow for the next habit.