Kilauea in the News
By Annette Rey
Exciting action scenes capture the interest of readers. Kilauea is currently very active and aside from the human tragedy, as writers you may want to pay attention to this subject and practice writing these real life events. Eventually, you may elaborate upon them and include these pieces in a future work.
You can experiment writing about this from different points of view.
When You’re Stumped, Don’t Quit
By Annette Rey
I believe when writers feel stagnant they are giving up just before the next step they should take. Inventive exercises with words can make the light bulb flash in a writer’s head like a Broadway show neon marquee. Take that next step and see what can happen for you.
Easy-peasy
By Annette Rey
There are lots of writing prompts out there and most are good ideas if you follow up on them. They range from one word, one picture, to a sentence, or a paragraph in length. If you are having trouble getting started, here is a type of hint that gives information without restriction. It should provide you with a bit more wriggle room to begin a story.
Getting Back In the Groove
By Annette Rey
Though I have written a few flash fictions (I find them to be exceptionally easy to create), I have been having trouble with the discipline required to write for this site. My last post explained that my writing wind left my sails (a cliché) since the death of my brother. And though a voice calls me to the computer for daily entries since then, I do not obey.
Today, I cooperated, opened my laptop, and sat without an idea in my head.
Practice Results in Unblocking
By Annette Rey
I tell you writer’s block is an imagination. It’s not real. It has no substance. If you open your mind to such thinking, you will follow advice, go along, and see unblocking results in your own work. I promote doing writing exercises. Once you do them, you will find blocking either goes away in your life or can never exist as long as you keep your pen moving.
In that vein, I am practicing what I preach.
Unblocking Exercise – Word Trains
By Annette Rey
Are you short on ideas? How do you inspire ideas? Try this.
My technique is simple. Pick words. It’s sort of the old psychiatric test, free association. Say the first word that comes to your mind when you hear another word. It is my contention, the human brain cannot stop thinking. One word inspires the birth of another.
Believe. Work. Believe.
By Annette Rey
I believe there is no such thing as writer’s block. Your thoughts can drive you forward or be self-limiting. Whatever you tell yourself, you believe. Think a moment about that statement.
Believing is mental action that energizes, it is a power unto itself. It is the first step to taking physical action. Believe there are no limits. Open your mind.
Environment and Your Mood
By Annette Rey
Have you noticed the emotional effect that varying environments produce on your mood? When I view luscious environments in the background on television shows, I am aware of the feelings those scenes evoke in me.
As a help to enrich your writing, begin to focus on emotional changes inside you related to environment. Think more introspectively about your feelings. Put these feelings into words.
Let’s look at some ways to accomplish this.
Subject Search
By Annette Rey
Are you having trouble finding a subject about which to write? I have found that odd subjects are alluring to many readers. People are curious. Many are seekers. A lot of them are ravenous readers and read package ingredients, posters, and billboards. They are hungry for information and they wish to escape their realities. So don’t think you won’t please an audience if you write on subjects out of the ordinary.
Who doesn’t squirm when a hairy spider is described? Yet, like people who watch ghost stories or sensational news clips, their eyes peer between the fingers covering their face, so as not to miss a thrilling moment.
Let’s talk about roaches.
Periodically do you ask yourself, “Will anyone be interested in this that I am writing?”, “Will this sell?”, “Do I have what it takes?”
Most struggling writers have self-doubts, give up from time to time, or throw in their pen completely until their inner muse draws them back, sometimes almost against their will.
But for those times when you are at the crossroads of doubt, or feel simply out of steam, consider following the next four points.
Writer's Block No More 