Writing Advice - Distract Yourself

I have a great many things that distract me away from writing, but ironically it is also those things that fuel my imagination. Netflix, Tumblr, Hulu, Youtube, Pinterest...I can get lost on any of these sites for HOURS. I'll think it's only been 20 minutes, 30 tops, and I look at the clock and gasp in horror as I realize 2 or 3 hours have gone by. I used to beat myself up over the amount of time I spent distracted on my computer instead of spending those hours working on my next book, but I don't do that anymore. Over the years I've learned a very valuable truth about myself - I need to be distracted. It actually HELPS my writing process. About a year ago I tried taking my laptop and going to places with no wifi and attempting to write there. It was awful. I would sit and stare at the screen or glance around at my surroundings, completely uninspired. Now, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, when I'm feeling in the mood, nature or remote locations can fuel my creative juices, but not when forced. So I gave up the idea that I needed to focus 100% of my time on the computer writing and let myself get distracted. I would spend an hour on Tumblr scrolling through blogs, some with content or advice that had me biting at the bit to get back to writing. I would marathon a show on Netflix and then find my imagination completely re-inspired. My point is, don't beat yourself up for doing something that's unrelated to writing. Sometimes it turns out to be an invaluable writing tool. Sometimes it turns out to be nothing but a distraction...but also a lot of times a much needed one.

Writing Advice From Me to You - Pick a Tune

On this blog I want to share with you all some writing tips and tricks that work for me. Everyone is different. Everyone's writing process is different, and we all have different ways of perservering and smashing through that awful confidence crusher - WRITERS BLOCK!!! Dun...dun...dun. I'm gonna share some of my tips and if they help anyone then it was worth taking the time to write them down.

One of my favorite go-to outside "tools" for setting the writing mood and setting the tone for my imagination to roam where it needs to and not over imagining how awesome the new Chicken Parm Breadstick Sandwich from Olive Garden is going to be - is MUSIC. I'll just put my headphones in, drowning out all other sounds and let the melody stir up my creative juices. It sets a tone AND clears out other sounds. I have different songs for different scenes. Obviously Enya isn't going to work when I have my main characters kicking troll ass, but I'm going to include a list of some of my all time favorite fallbacks. For me, 9 times out of 10 these songs work. Maybe one of them will work for you. Maybe you have your own song or song list that gets you through some long scenes. Either way keep writing and never give up!!

Paige's All Time Favorite Writing Starter Songs (Ugh, that's a long title. That's too long of title...I need to change that title.) - 

1. On the Nature of Daylight

by Max Richter

2. Grow Till Tall

by Jonsi

3. Dead Island Trailer Theme

by Giles Lamb

4. Signs

by Bloc Party

5. Intro

by The XX

Writing Advice Time - Do Not Give Up!

"If I waited till I felt like writing, I'd never write at all."

-Anne Tyler

For me this is true and it isn't. There are moments where I'm just itching to write. I can almost feel the words trying to claw their way out of my brain. It's one of the reasons why I always make sure to carry around a small notebook and pen with me. I learned my lesson the hard way. There's nothing worse than being stuck on a beautiful beach with the sound of the waves acting as the background music to the most epic new story springing forth in your mind and have absolutely NOTHING to write these ideas down in (not even a phone because you decided to be free and one with nature without any restraints from the outside world - NEVER AGAIN - I'll enjoy the ocean with my iphone in my back pocket).

But then there are also times when I just do not feel like writing, at all. Sometimes just the thought of having to write makes me feel like my body is breaking out in rebellious hives. That's when I'll Netflix binge or hang out with friends or while away hours on Tumblr, anything to keep my mind off of the fact that I should be writing but I'm not. My advice for those moments is DO NOT GIVE UP. Binge on Netflix, hang out with friends, spend way too much time on Tumblr, but then sit back down at your computer or in front of your notebook and write...write anything. Start with a grocery list or a letter to a friend and go from there. Some of the best scenes I've ever written have come from moments where I was simply writing nonsense just so that I was writing something. 

Just because you may not feel like writing doesn't mean wonderful, engaging, informative work can't be done. You may surprise yourself.

Writing is hard - Tip #2 to make it a little easier

Writing is hard. It's frustrating. And sometimes we feel like we really just can't do it. We might as well give up because obviously we're never going to finish. That is an awful feeling. So, I'm here to continue sharing the tips that help me keep writing; keep cranking out my books even after my of "I can't do it!" doubt.

My tip for today is - Have Your Own Writing Space

• Have a space that's designated as just yours and just for writing. A place where your comfortable and relaxed. A space where your brain can be free to simply focus on your work. Years ago I started writing The Protectors Saga in my parents house, in a little nook with a desk, a light and bookshelf where I could tuck myself away and tap on my computer. I made it mine. Decorated it and added things to make me comfortable. To this day, that is the spot where I go back to in order to write my Protectors Saga. I'm there so much that my parents decided to keep my bedroom as it was instead of turning it into the mini gym my mother had longed for once I moved out. I've also been blessed with a two bedroom apartment and an understanding boyfriend who let me turn our small walk-in closet into my own personal tiny writing space. He only threatened to move all his kicks back in there on the few occasions he walked in and caught me watching Netflix instead of working on my books. The closet is small, but that's all I really need. I can shut the door to my tiny hideaway and let my mind and imagination wander to the places I need it to. Carve out a place of your own. Even if it's no bigger than a closet, it's yours. 

Writing is hard - Tips to make it a little easier

Once again a Supernatural gif perfectly sums up my life. Writing is hard. It's hella hard. There are days when I'll literally be sitting at the computer for 5 hours straight and only a sentence will get written. Those days are terrible; they defeat you a little bit. Still, I've somehow managed to write six books in just under four years. I still feel like I could do better. That I could do more. I imagine all writers feel that way, but I'm still proud of my accomplishments.
There are some tips and tricks I've picked up along the way that have helped me keep going; to shake off the doubt and the ever looming writer's block. Some I've discovered on my own. Some I've borrowed from other writers. Now I want to share them with you. Just because I know how difficult in can be to be stuck in your book. It feels like you're pounding your head against a brick wall. So if some of what works for me can work for you...I am more than happy to share. I'll share a tip a day. I actually don't have that many so this won't last much past April.

My tip of the day is - JOIN A CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

• Seriously, I held off joining one for a long time. I had a terrible experience with Creative Writing classes in college. They just weren't for me. I took every little criticism to heart. It ended up changing my writing style so much that I felt like I didn't even know who I was as a writer anymore. But I had a lot of writer friends who swore my Creative Writing groups. So I decided to go on to Meetup. I'm sure most of you know what it is, but if you don't it's a site where people of similar interests in your area can form groups and then meet up in person. I joined Meetup and found a Creative Writing group that actually seemed pretty cool. And wouldn't you know it, my friends were right. It's a group of people you can discuss ideas with, bounce storylines off of, see if something is working or if maybe you really should scrap it. Most importantly, I've found that people in these Creative Writing groups give each other support. They know the troubles and hardships of being a writer. They know how passionately you feel about your work. They're going to encourage you to keep going even when you're beating your skull against that proverbial brick wall.

If you have any tips or tricks you use I'd love to hear about them :)

Dance Away the Writer's Block

We all hit little road blocks while writing. They happen to me all the time. Sometimes it seems like I can't get through an hour of straight writing without doubting myself or second guessing a scene. If I go more than 5 minutes without being able to move on I simply step away from the computer put on a song I can shake my little ass to and dance...just dance. It clears my mind, gives me a nice boost of endorphins and gets me out of my head. Then after the song, or perhaps two, ends...I sit back down at my computer with a usually clearer head and clearer path.

Here's one of the tunes I've been using to help with writer's block lately -