Charlottesville Words

Via Practicing Writing:

52 Projects has a quick list of Simple Things You Can Do Right Now To Jumpstart Your Writing Efforts.

Ones that work for me:

• Stop talking about your novel or short story ideas and start writing. This is a good reminder for me. Talking’s easy; writing’s hard.
• Join or form a writing group. Can’t stress this enough. When you’re stuck or going down the wrong road, two or five or seven heads are better than one.
• Start submitting your stories to literary journals and magazines (both online and print). I need to finish and polish some more stories, but I have a couple I’ve been sending out. Gives you something to shoot for.
• Keep track of which stories have been rejected by which journals. I do this with Duotrope. A spreadsheet works, too.
• Always carry a pen and a journal around with you. Duh!
• Read constantly. I’m bad about not carving out time for reading. Durned Internet!
• Look for writer resources online. Mais oui!
• Enroll in writing courses. This can be expensive but it really works for me. I need the deadlines and outside evaluation. I’m a classroom kind of gal, and I have to guard against staying in the classroom and not getting out into real life enough.

These don’t work for me:

• Enter contests. I’m tired of sending my money and entry out (and the fees really add up) and getting nothing, not even an encouraging comment, back. I like 52 Project’s idea of setting a budget for the year, though. Just decide you will spend $100 or whatever on contests, and when you reach the limit, stop. No regrets.
• Take part in online writing prompt projects. Prompts have never appealed to me, unless it’s in a classroom setting, where I’m eager to please Teacher. Isn’t that pathetic?
• Getting some writing done during your lunch break at work. Whether at home or at work, if I even get a break for lunch, it’s for lunch, period.

There’s gobs more at the 52 Project site. Dig around, you’ll find something good.