Should you take part in NaNoWriMo this year? Should you attend that conference or take that class? Should you buy that new writing craft book?
Here’s a process to get you started figuring out whether or not you’re looking at a shiny object or a shiny opportunity.
Links:
This week on the podcast, I interviewed Seumas MacDonald about the importance of culture in the development of language, and about ConLangs (or constructed languages) in fiction.
Write a story where two or more characters come from different cultures and have difficulties understanding each other
It can be hard to write endings (So many logistics! So tired from writing the whole story!), but the ending is the thing that sends your reader off into the world feeling good about your story…or deflated because you let them down.
In this week’s episode I talk about the importance of endings, and a powerful way for you to think about them so you can delight your reader.
Also: I talk about StoryADay’s writing prompts for November and my impressions of the 2019 edition of the Best American Short Stories anthology, edited by Anthony Doerr.
LINKS:
Penny For The Guy Writing Prompt
A writing prompts about openings & endings
Happy January!
This month’s theme has been ‘Practice’ (as in setting up and maintaining a healthy writing practice).
Here’s what you might have missed:
The January 2017 episodes covered:
Listen to me and Gabriela Pereira of DIYMFA run through all the tips, tricks and really great reasons to give it a shot.
Her podcast, DIYMFA Radio is a great listen. If you’re not subscribed yet, you should!
To create a regular writing habit (and stick to it), try scheduling it immediately after something you already do regularly…
There is a very helpful technique for creating new habits, known as ‘anchoring'[1. I didn’t make this up. It’s being studied by Dr BJ Fogg, a human-behaviour scientist at Stanford University].
The idea is this: you don’t think about brushing your teeth before you go to bed at night, or showering when you get up. It’s just something you do.
If you want to create a new habit (and stick to it), try doing it immediately after something you already do by rote.
So, if you want to remember to floss your teeth, say you’ll do it after your morning tooth scrub. If you want to brainstorm ideas for stories, say you’ll do it as soon as you’ve poured your first cup of coffee.
Your anchor has to be something that works for you, specifically. Continue reading “Anchoring Habits For A More Productive Writing Life”
A 6-part journey through the short story.
Starts July 28, 2023
