We all have our methods for generating ideas. Whether by creating inspiration boards, scrawling notes on scrap paper, leveraging writing prompts, using AI generators, or other methods, writers get through stories. I, myself, draw tarot cards to awaken the gray matter.
One piece is done? Onto the next one. Working hard is part of any success journey, and avoiding complacency — continuing to push forward, hitting goals for project after project — is key.
I like to have a few writing ideas lined up, a few options to choose from, for when I’m ready to start a new piece. But pushing forward in this way doesn’t always come easy; it takes but one slow day to miss that flow state.
This week’s writing advice included two pieces about finding inspiration using things you already have (or have access to) at home: reading and music.
Kim Bullock for Writer Unboxed writes, The Reading-Writing Connection: How Mixing It Up Can Supercharge Your Work. This article will be especially helpful if reading for inspiration or discovering comp titles has become more of a chore than a leisure activity.
Like many writers, I’ve also had periods of reading burnout, and the best way to renew my interest is in variation, which also helps me keep a steady tap of ideas. As a literary omnivore, I frequently bounce between fiction, nonfiction, and memoir — even text books — to refresh my book palate and keep things interesting. And I’ve brought home books from the library that my five-year-old picked for me. So if you’re in a reading rut, switch it up, see what burbles to the surface.
If not reading, maybe you’re wondering how to include rhythm and movement into your process. I like practicing with a drum pad. Matt Frick, too, likes tunes in How I Use Soundtracks To Help Me Write When I’m Not Writing for A Writer’s Path. Using tunes can help in finding the shape and pace of stories and other pieces, can help a writer string together a cohesive and meaningful plotline. Which makes sense, given that music is one of the oldest forms of communication and storytelling.
Now, I love a good short story. And this week, Mark Desvaux invited Karen Storey for a talk on How To Become A Short Story Superstar for The Bestseller Experiment. Karen has found a way to churn out an awe-inspiring word count on a regular basis with great success. Listen in to hear about her process and what keeps her moving day after day.
If you’re waiting for the day you achieve success in your writing, check out The 3 Best Writing Tips I’ve Gotten From Masters, And The 4 Best Writing Tips I’ve Given by Peter Blauner for Writer’s Digest. The article has a little craft, a little process, a little motivation, and some social support. So, make sure you’re giving yourself the tools you need for success.
One of the first choices you’ll make when starting a story is perspective. When writing a deep and immersive point of view, sensory details help ground the reader. Making The Most Of Sensory Detail In Deep POV by Lisa Hall-Wilson is worth a read if you’re writing in a deep point of view with a unique perspective. Getting the character involved in and experiencing their world allows the reader do the same.
When you’re examining scenes and looking for those key sensory details your character would notice, remember that deep POV means your character is the storyteller. What do they see? How do they respond? What happens?
At one point in my writerly life, I didn’t know when “done” was. This obviously caused some issues with project completion, and I ruined a few stories by over-working them. Thankfully, those days have passed. This week, I received a hard copy proof of my coming booklet on point of view. If you’re struggling to define “done” so you can move past a piece, check out How Does A Writer Really Know When Their Manuscript Is Ready? by Mary Kole for Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
And, of course, when one piece of writing is done, it’s time to move onto the next one. So, grab your tarot deck, writing prompt of the day, or whatever method you use, and get back to it.
Until next week,
Happy writing!
Maria collects more advice links each week than I can possibly share in a single writing advice article, so be sure to check out the overflow if you need something I didn’t include.
What was your favorite piece of advice for this week? Leave a comment below.
More productivity advice for the week
- 10 Common Challenges Many New Novelists Face by Suzanne Lieurance for Writers On The Move
- 5 Reasons To Make Sleep A Top Priority by Ann Gomez for Publication Coach
- A Practice Is Not A Means To An End by Steven Pressfield for Steven Pressfield
- Accountability Allies: Navigating Effective Partnerships For Writers by Leigh Shulman for Leigh Shulman
- Video: Eight Years As A Full-Time Writer – Lessons Learned by Rachael Herron for Rachael Herron YouTube channel
- Fake It ‘Til Make It by Jodi Webb for WOW! Women On Writing Blog
- How I Use Soundtracks To Help Me Write When I’m Not Writing by Matt Frick for A Writer’s Path
- Mindset — Emotional Intelligence Of Writers by Sue Coletta for Story Empire
- Pay Attention To The Obsessive Workings Of Your Mind by Lynn Schmeidler for Jane Friedman
- Set Up A Writing Date by AR Huelsenbeck for A Writer’s Path
- The Muse Has A Thousand Faces: Listening To Your Subconscious by Ruth Harris for Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris
- The Reading-Writing Connection: How Mixing It Up Can Supercharge Your Work by Kim Bullock for Writer Unboxed
- The Two Kinds Of Artistic Doubt by Mark Cecil for Writer’s Digest
- Time Anxiety And The Writer by S. Foster for A Writer’s Path
- What You Can Learn From A Broken Treadmill by Daphne Gray-Grant for Publication Coach
More craft advice for the week
- From Lead To Gold: The Alchemy Of Character Arc With Carl Jung by K. M. Weiland for Helping Writers Become Authors
- Tips For Writing A Multi-Author Series by D. Wallace Peach for Story Empire
- Books For Fantasy Authors XL: Growing Great Characters From The Ground Up by Philip Athans for Fantasy Author’s Handbook
- Write Like A Magician: Creating The Illusion Of An Unseen Character by Marissa Graff for Writers Helping Writers
- Metaphysics & Matter: Should Elves Have Atoms? by Austin Conrad for SFWA
- The Difference Between A Plot Turn And A Plot Twist by September C. Fawkes for September C. Fawkes
- I Found My Voice By Blogging To An Audience Of Two by Meg Dowell for A Writer’s Path
- How Does A Writer Find Stories by Ane Mulligan for The Write Conversation
- How To Create A Skeleton Outline To Write Your Book Faster by Barrie Davenport for Authority Pub
- How To Write A Gripping Inciting Incident That Captivates From The Start by Angie Andriot for Written Word Media
- How Does A Writer Really Know When Their Manuscript Is Ready? by Mary Kole for Insecure Writer’s Support Group
- Alina Khawaja: On Understanding The Genre You’re Writing In by Robert Lee Brewer for Writer’s Digest
- What Would You Do With The Romulus Supernova? by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
- Top 8 Best Scrivener Alternatives For Writers (+ The Only One That Matters) by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
- Scrivener Vs. Ulysses: Which Writing Tool Should You Buy? by Jason Hamilton for Kindlepreneur
- Scrivener Coupons And Discount Codes by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
- The Art Of Writing Flat Characters by Arja Salafranca for Now Novel
- How To Add Humor To Your Novel by Alessandra Torre for Authors A.I.
- Podcast: Mastering Point Of View And Voice: Expert Tips From Gabriela Pereira by Savannah Gilbo for Fiction Writing Tips
- Podcast: A Career Born In Fairy Tales With Bram Stoker Award-Winning ‘Quiet Horror’ Author, Cynthia Pelayo by JD Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown and Kevin Tumlinson for Writers, Ink.
- Podcast: One Line Writing Secret You Need To Know by Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill for Story Nerd
- Video: Let’s Write Dialogue: More Conflict, More Character, More Energy! by Nicole Wilbur for Nicole Wilbur
- Video: The Two Things Jane Austen Did To Write Books That Readers Love For Centuries by Tim Grahl for Story Grid
- Video: How To Craft Unforgettable Factions In Fantasy Realms by Marie Mullany for Just In Time Worlds
- Video: Economic Worldbuilding: Create A World Without Farms by Marie Mullany for Just In Time Worlds
- Video: Outlining Not For You? Maybe You’re A Discovery Writer! by Trudi Jaye, Cheryl Phipps, Wendy Vella and KimBoo York for Self Publishing Info with the SPA Girls
- Podcast: Karen Storey: How To Become A Short Story Superstar by Mark Desvaux for The Bestseller Experiment
- Video: From Lead To Gold: The Alchemy Of Character Arc With Carl Jung by K.M. Weiland for K.M. Weiland
- The Name Game: Tips For Naming Your Characters by Eldred “Bob” Bird for Writers In The Storm
- Get What’s In Your Head Onto The Page by Janice Hardy for Fiction University
- Writing The Perfect Flashback by DiAnn Mills for The Write Conversation
- Planning A Novel Series: Interview With YA Fantasy Author V. Romas Burton by Donna Jo Stone for Almost An Author
- How Do You Know What Backstory To Include? by Tiffany Yates Martin for Jane Friedman
- Do You Need A Prologue? Take The Test by Julie Artz for Writers Helping Writers
- Making The Most Of Sensory Detail In Deep POV by Lisa Hall-Wilson for Lisa Hall-Wilson
- ‘Just Right’ Emotional Appeal 2.0: Goldilocks And The Three Unbearables by Kristin Hacken South for Writer Unboxed
- The 3 Best Writing Tips I’ve Gotten From Masters, And The 4 Best Writing Tips I’ve Given by Peter Blauner for Writer’s Digest
- How Backstory Creates Story by Tiffany Yates Martin for FoxPrint Editorial
- Video: 17 Words You Should Cut From Your Novel by Claire Fraise for Write with Claire Fraise
- Video: Master World Building In Fantasy by Brenden Pugh for Writing Quest
- Video: Write A Bestselling Book With The 3 Secrets Pros Use To Write Better by Shirley Jump for Write Better Fiction with Shirley Jump
- Video: Overused Actions That Can Ruin Your Characters by Michael Jaymes for Michael Jaymes
- How To Build Romantic Tension In A Romantic Thriller Scene by Karen Rose for Writer’s Digest
- How To Write Barbs And Banter That Aren’t Mean by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
- Video: How To Write Nonlinear Stories by Brandon McNulty for Writer Brandon McNulty
- Video: How To Write Fantasy And Science Fiction by Tim Grahl for Story Grid
- Video: What Is Your Writing Process? by Stephen Aryan for Stephen Aryan
- Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Jock by Becca Puglisi for Writers Helping Writers
- How To Make An Old Plot New by Andrea Lundgren for A Writer’s Path
- Why Nothing Good Ever Happens In An Interlude by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
- Self-Editing: Will It Ever Get Done? by Linda Wilson for Writers On The Move
- Video: Brilliant Writers Use Comedy To Parody Crime – You Can, Too by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
- Comparing 5 Top Editing Tools For Authors by JD Lasica for Authors A.I.
- Podcast: Learning Advanced Point Of View, Romantic Tension & Betrayal From A New Body-Swapping Novel by Julie Kingsley and Jessica Sinsheimer for Manuscript Academy
- Video: How To Write A Zero Draft by Shaelin Bishop for Reedsy
- Podcast: Giving Protagonists A Way To Contribute by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Bunny for Mythcreants
- Vonnegut’s Rules For Writers by James Scott Bell for Killzoneblog.com
More business advice for the week
- Department Of Justice Launches Antitrust Suit Against Apple Alleging Anti-Consumer Manipulation Of Its Market Dominance by Dan Holloway for Self Publishing Advice
- 9 Key Reasons Why Your Book Is Not Selling by Laurence O’Bryan for #PublishingReinvented
- Tips For Selling And Marketing Direct Using Meta Ads With Matthew J Holmes by Joanna Penn for The Creative Penn
- How Writers Should Handle Bad Reviews by Lev Raphael for A Writer’s Path
- Why I’m An Independent Publisher by Wendy Adair for Elizabeth Spann Craig
- Why Book Publication Dates Get Delayed by Bryn Donovan for Bryn Donovan
- Writer Fuel: Why You Should Use Story Marketing In Your Author Platform by Gabriela Pereira for DIY MFA
- What To Do After Receiving An Offer Of Representation: A Comprehensive Action Plan by Kasey LeBlanc for Writer Unboxed
- What To Do Pre-Launch To Get Your Book Noticed by Estelle Erasmus for Writer’s Digest
- Building Visually Compelling Book Series Covers: 8 Design Strategies by Shannon Clark for The Book Designer
- Video: Reinventing Your Book Cover by S.D. Huston for S.D. Huston
- Podcast: Creativity, Business, And Publishing With Aurora Winter by Sacha Black for Sacha Black
- Podcast: Direct Selling Survey & 10 Years Of SMBS With Kirsten Oliphant by Bryan Cohen for Sell More Books Show
- Video: All Things Audiobook FAQ’s by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
- Podcast: Pros And Cons Of Pre-Orders by Thomas Umstattd Jr. for Author Media
- Video: Never Use The Free ISBN From Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Or Any Other Platform by M.K. Williams for M.K. Williams
- Font Copyright Laws For Books: Your Print Book Could Be In Violation by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
- 84 Calls For Submissions In April 2024 – Paying Markets by Erica Verrillo for Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity
- Video: Get More Readers: How To Host Giveaways by Jenna Moreci for Writing with Jenna Moreci
- Book Cover Design: Why Strong Imagery Is Crucial by Shannon Clark for The Book Designer
- Book Award Update For Indie Authors: Avoiding Common Pitfalls by Hannah Jacobson for Self Publishing Advice
- Amazon And Apple Face Lawsuits Alleging Anti-Consumer Activity by Dan Holloway for Self Publishing Advice
- Video: Warning About Amazon Publishing Services Scam – It’s Not Amazon by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
- Video: General Accounting For Indie Authors by Jim Azevedo, DeAnna Hart, and Mark Leslie Lefebvre for Draft2Digital
- Is Social Media A Wise Investment For Writers? by Edie Melson for The Write Conversation
- The Growth Of Romantasy Marked By Inclusion At Goodreads Awards by Dan Holloway for Self Publishing Advice
- Video: KDP Select Earnings: What You Did Not Know by Dale L. Roberts for Self-Publishing with Dale
- How To Attract An Agent: From Query To Career by Andrea Somberg for Writer’s Digest
- Video: How To Design A Book Cover On A Budget by Mandi Lynn for Mandi Lynn
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Fallon Clark is the book pal who helps you tell your story in your words and voice using editorial, coaching, writing, and project management expertise for revision assistance, one-on-one guidance, and ghostwriting for development. Her writing has been published in Flash Fiction Magazine. Check out her website, FallonClark.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn or Substack.