We hope that the following article (which was extracted from a lesson on our Online Creative Writing Course) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. You have permission to publish this article (formatted to 60 characters, approx) electronically or in print. If it helps others “out there” […]
Written on September 30th, 2006
Read more articles on Become a writer.
We hope that the following article (which was extracted from a lesson on our Online Creative Writing Course) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. You have permission to publish this article (formatted to 60 characters, approx) electronically or in print. If it helps others “out there” in any way, then we’re happy.
If you’d like to check out Craig’s other articles (writing, internet
marketing, self help and money management) drop by at:
http://www.bridgeniche.com/ebooks/Ebooks.htm
Please feel free to use them in your ezine or web site.
“We share what we know, so that others may grow.”
HOW SUCCESSFUL WRITERS GET THINGS DONE (VERSION ONE: “STRAIGHT”*)
by Craig Lock
* * straight, as an arrow (is that a simile, or metaphor, BTW?)
I’ve mentioned those ‘D’ words before: DESIRE, DEDICATION and DISCIPLINE.
Successful writers set goals and work away steadily and unobtrusively (nice long word, like ‘earthmoving-contractor’) each day.
It may be writing a page or an article, or 500 words a day. I just write and stop when I feel like it - either when I get tired* or bored. * I could have used the word ‘fatigued’, but ‘tired’ was simpler.
Just put in the effort.
You’ve heard the term WRITER’S BLOCK?
It’s when your mind goes blank and you can’t get going, no matter how hard you try for words of inspiration..
You stare at a blank sheet of paper for hours on end waiting for inspiration… but nothing comes… except the cat with muddy paws walks all over your blank masterpiece. That’s just happened to me!
You then resort to pulling your hair out (is that why most writers are bald?)
*
HOW TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK?
Stress and adverse personal circumstances (like financial worries or relationship difficulties - an occupational difficulty of being a
writer!) can easily stifle your creative imagination.
My advice:
Take a break (not from the relationship!) and relax (for as long as it takes - perhaps even a few months).
Inspiration will come to you some day. If it doesn’t eventually return, then you will know you didn’t have the dedication to become a writer.
However, if writing is your job, like mine, I make sure I’m inspired at 7am (or 6am) every morning. Inspiration comes from SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Then, when the words eventually come, you run outside naked shouting,’ Eureka, Eureka!’… and you should see the looks on the neighbours faces. That “rather weird and serious arty-farty writer-type” next door. Why doesn’t he get a “proper job” ( = “just on broke”)
* What’s the difference between a writer and a family pizza?
The family pizza can feed a rather hungry family of three … or ONE starving writer writing away in his garret munching on a carrot!
What’s the definition of an aspiring author? A waiter!
I hope that you have enjoyed my “funny, warped and zany” sense of humour with a few chuckles along the way reading this short article. And* hope this information may be helpful to you in your creative writing.
Happy writing and have great fun in doing it… as I’ve done in this article.
Craig Lock
* * Can I begin a sentence with the conjunctive (now that’s an impressive word - hope I’ve used it correctly), “And”.
Yes you can, Craig!
In reply to the question posed at the beginning of this article, in my opinion, I think the answer is simile (although simile is usually preceded by the word, ‘like’)
*
P.S:
“My writing mission is through my words to inform, illuminate, entertain, uplift, delight, as well as hopefully even inspiring people. I aim to do this by sharing my knowledge and life experiences.I hope to have achieved this aim in the above article.
“If a man has talent and cannot use it, he has failed. If he has a talent and uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he has a
talent and learns somehow to use the whole of it, he has gloriously succeeded and has a satisfaction and a triumph few men ever know.”
– Thomas Wolfe
“Everyone has a talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.” — Erica Jong
About the author:
Craig Lock has had six books published on various subjects with another 12 manuscripts being published and marketed on the internet. He started the “original” online creative writing course.
http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html
Craig’s various books are available at: http://www.bridgeniche.com/CLOCK/zaniestbooks.htm http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html and
http://www.novelty-gift.com/ebooks.html
* Hard copies and e-books: Fiction and non-fiction, novels travel, humour, inspiration, self help and money books
THIS ARTICLE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED
Written on September 30th, 2006
Read more articles on Become a writer.