I Am Refueled

Last week I had the opportunity of attending a four day writing conference. I had many sleepless nights, had to force myself from not dozing off during sessions, was slap-happy at night, didn't feel out of place and weird, and couldn't contain anymore information by 8 every night. But the experience was so worth it. I learned so much, more than any college English class could probably give me. I received information from published writers, many authors who are in my niche. I discovered my audience and the focus I'm writing to. Not only did I gain encouragement and direction in my writing, I was given an extra source of confidence. During last week I discovered my real interest and that is writing. For awhile I thought it was something else, but last week showed me that my degree will remain in the Fine Arts department, my path is stuck to writing, like it or not, I can't go back. It was incredible to meet so many writers, many with a similar interest as mine and others geared elsewhere. Every day I would sit and eat with someone else. I had the chance to converse with writers who have been writing for 30 plus years and then students who just picked up this avenue.

The conference, Write-to-Publish, was such a great experience. I made friendships with many of the people I met and we ate off of each other's ideas. On Friday I had two appointments with editors. Believe me, it was not easy to convince myself to talk with them. I was nervous and scared they wouldn't like my ideas. A friend I met at the conference had to literally push me in the auditorium to conduct this meeting. Before this interview my focus was different. I aimed for a degree in the health and wellness area. I didn't think I would have much of a chance in the writing avenue. I love writing and would definitely keep it up, but I figured it would be awhile before any editor or publisher would be interested in my work. It took that little shove and then the click in my mind that in order to get out there I need to put myself out there. I was surprise to find a book publisher interested in my book--you might know what I've been up to all week: composing a book proposal! I know this doesn't mean everything, it's just the start. I have one foot in the doorway and the rest will be left to the Lord.

Find your niche. Know what you're doing and if the thing your doing begins to let you down, pick it back up and press on. There is power in waiting and you'll soon see the rewards. I don't know where life is taking me, all I know is that I'm called to write and how dare I run away from that passion. I cannot imagine leaving my characters alone, whatever will they do. To not write is like stabbing myself, a pain so deep and real. Go back to that real calling, the passion that lies within your heart. I encourage you to attend writer's conferences, they are fun and encouraging, but also overwhelming so take it a step at a time. You establish friendships with like-minded people who enjoy what you enjoy. But make sure you are always writing. Keep the fire burning within and don't let it die just because of criticism, rejection, or lost of passion. Perhaps you will just write for fun, for family and friends only. Again, I encourage you to keep it going and never fail in what you're doing. Being a writer is an honorable job. And yes, there may be days were you feel entirely alone because you are alone, or you feel rejected and think this job is incompatible, but I reassure you, if you were called to it, don't ignore it.

If you're feeling down, remember this. Rethink your life and what your goals are. What do you want to do? Chances are, you'll have a much clearer vision after that. I sure did. It took me good darn while to realize I'm a writer so I write. I live in my books and take notes wherever I go--I have it in me. I am now refueled and energized to tackle any project in front of me.

• Read
• Rewrite
• Adapt
• Listen
• Passion
• Dream/Pray
• Revise
• Persistence
• Originality
• Intact

Those eleven points came from the mouth of authors and editors. It is their advice that keeps me going and I pray it'll keep you going as well! 

Stop reading. Go write. 

The Inner-Clock

I had a very unusual week this past week. I was off of work, well kind of. My job was replaced with being home with my siblings and schooling them. Now, I tell you, that is way harder than any kind of job in the world. It requires patience, diligence, more patience, time, brain work, endurance, and hope that the hours will pass quickly! Ha! Okay, so yes my week was a bit out of the loop, not in the usual routine. My writing session was an hour earlier than normal and believe me, I felt it. The first two days I struggled to get the words down. I would think and think but the words wouldn't come. Finally by the third day I was getting used to it and got in my mode. I know, it sounds so strange and almost picky like I can't think otherwise and HAVE to have that time. To be honest, there's some truth to that. Normally I write from 3:30pm-5:30pm every day. For me that time is set in my mind and I don't get out of it. There was only one time in the past month that I skipped that time and that was when I had to pick my parents up at the airport. Again, it's been a very unusual month and life over here. So yes, I was out of the zone. My fingers were set to the keyboard but nothing happened, I literally stared at a blank page for more than twenty minutes and that never happens to me. 

I recommend keeping a stable time to write. It helps to psych yourself and schedule that daily writing time. It'll become a habit before you know it and then when you do happen to skip time, you'll feel very unproductive, almost lost. It wasn't my fault that I had to switch things up, it just happened to be that my parents needed me to be home while they were out of state. At first I panicked when I couldn't get in the writing muse. I nearly lost my mind and felt very useless and helpless. I didn't know what to do to wake up those creative juices. I stood, twirled around, drank water, shook my head, took deep and long breaths, listened to my favorite music, and read old posts and manuscripts, as well as pieces I'm currently working on. Nothing helped. Finally I decided to just write, no matter how crappy or senseless it sounded, I was going to do it. I did. And what I wrote was surprisingly good. So what was all that about? I was out of zone. It wasn't my usual time and I'm sure if I would have changed all of the clocks to 3:30 I would have been convinced it was time to write. I pressed on though. I realized that I needed to be flexible with my writing, just as with life in general. 

Writing and life go hand in hand. If you cannot be flexible in life and adapt to the changes that swing your way, you will not be able of accomplishing very much when things get messy. Writing is the same. Writing is fun. Writing is a dread. Writing is joyous. Writing stinks. Writing is all of the above and more. I highly recommend setting a routine and writing at that time. I also think it's a great idea to write to a certain amount of words or pages, or time, however you like to count it. I write every day in my current project until I reach 1,000 words. Once I reach that many words I either decide to stop or go on--I always carry on for another 200 or so. It's important to set those goals for your day and reach them. A serious writer will set goals and try to reach them. Set attainable goals, goals that you can see reaching in a day, not a lifetime. I'm always pleased when I reach my word quota for the day. 

So what can you gain from all of this? Be flexible. But set a schedule too. It definitely won't hurt you, but be reasonable. If you train your body to write at a certain time of the day it'll do it. I write every morning and every afternoon. I tried writing in the evening last week and I liked it, not as much as the afternoons, but it definitely wasn't a blooper. Try different times and find your time. Perhaps you're one of those writers who can write anytime of the day, if not, that's okay. Honestly, I'm not. I get confused when I'm not in my chair at the same time each day, but if the change happens, accept it and move on. Just write. That's the only help. 

Write because you cannot stop writing. Write because you love it. Write because it's part of your life. 

Writing Regularly

Is it important to establish regularity in the craft of writing? What difference does it make? Is it essential or a waste of time? Is there actually a certain time in the day where your ideas flow easier and faster? And what is the point of setting a certain time in your day to write?

These are questions that most "beginner writers" have asked themselves or others around them. We all know that there area only 24 hours in a day and each one of those hours are very valuable--at least to me. There is hardly enough time in my day to do anything extra so this is why I write a planner every weekend before I start my week. To start with the very first question: Is it important to establish regularity when writing? Yes. I believe so very much. I know that it is important to write at a set time everyday because the mind and body will get used to it and know, "Oh this must be the time that I write!" and believe me, the ideas will flow like never before. I didn't believe it at first, it actually took me a few weeks to realize this but sure enough it was true. The time is up to you and what works for your schedule. I work on the side and I'm in school so I write every day from four o'clock in the afternoon until six o'clock. However, I start my days with writing at seven in the morning for half an hour. It's not very long but it's just enough time for my thoughts to get rolling and steaming. Once I mess with this routine it takes me awhile to think of something. I'm still trying to figure out if this is all psychologically, whatever it is I won't change it. But for you...you need to figure out when that time is JUST right. You may be an early bird writer, a late morning person who writes before noon or one who writes from evening to midnight. Or perhaps you're the writer who wakes up in the middle of the night and grabs the journal to jot down ideas and thoughts. I'm not saying that this hasn't happened to me before because it has. It has occurred far too many times, but I don't ignore the action to write down an idea (which can easily turn into ten ideas). Discovering that perfect time for YOU is a very important element for the life of a writer.

Not only is it a good habit for you, it's a good indication for others. When you set this time family and friends will notice that you are busy and don't need to be bothered right now. Put the phones away, lock your door if you must, and stay away from the temptation of the internet. Write! Write! Write! If you have a dream to write a book you must start now. You need to put aside the thought of later and do what you can now because you may never know when later will arrive. Once you establish this routine you will realize that you can't be without it. It's almost as if you get dependent on that schedule and when you slip a day or two, you feel incomplete. Take the time to write--whether it be five hundred words to start or five thousand words, write. I started out with writing two hundred words a day and now I'm typing out five thousand words a day and counting.You may start out writing for ten minutes a day and eventually excel to thirty minutes, and soon an hour. A good practice is to set a goal before you start writing. Maybe you want to write one page everyday or ten pages in your book, or whatever project you are composing. I write a set amount of words daily and once I reach that, I call it a good day of work. Write every day. Mark it in your calendar to keep you accountable and eventually it will become an unnoticeable pattern that has become a normal manner.

Track your writing progress daily 

You must get your feet out in that writing world in order to have the feeling run through your body. I promise that somehow and in someway you will understand what all of this means. You will acknowledge and your mind will perceive that writing is not only a hobby it's a job, a career. If you want to become professional in this endeavoring task then you must act professional, even if you are working for yourself at first. It all starts somewhere. The best selling authors didn't start with the highest positions and working alongside with editors, they started with an idea and put that idea to action. They implanted a routine, a schedule in their daily lives.

Allow the passion of writing to slowly live within you. Allow it to overflow your soul and compel engaging styles and risks. Let the act of writing conquer the writer within your heart and soon you will become the well-known author.