There are no shortcuts to writing, and no such things exist. You will only get better at this by doing it. There can be no other way, dear writer. There just isn’t. With this wisdom in your pocket, let me give you this other deposit.
All you seek to write, you can write. At this point, it’s a matter of if you believe you can.
Hint: You can.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Grant yourself permission to start over. Forgive yourself for the time you think you wasted. You’re here now. You are working now. You are beginning again–now.
Keep going.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Passion is the thing which fuels creativity. Have you found yours?
Have you found the genre you love? A certain POV? A sub genre? Find it. Run after it. Throw both arms around it!
Do not let it go!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Let me remind you of one thing, and I hope that it repeats over and over in your mind.
“Do not write like someone is looking over your shoulder.”
If you write like someone is looking over your shoulder, you will never write! It is essential for you to know the first person you write for is yourself–no one else! The story you want to write needs to be the one you want to write.
This is an essential part of your brainstorming!
There is market for your book! There are people whom are willing to read it! You must be brave enough to write what you want to write regardless of the people around you who may not like what you want to write (Pin in that: We will discuss this in March under theme KEEPING FOCUS).
As you being to construct your story, as you begin your project, remember no one can see inside your head. The image you have for you story you are going to have to develop! You are going to have to write the story you see–so then the world can see what you saw all along.
The book you want to write, may be the one that you must write. It may be the scariest to write. Yet, it may be the most rewarding.
So, I ask you. What are you waiting on? It won’t write itself.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Own your pen.
Let no one take that from you. Let no one doubt your ink, your passion, or your ability to tell a story. Good writing comes from the ability to be bold, believing in what you desire to tell—and the fortitude to keep going.
Again I say: Own your pen.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
The first rule of writing, which will help you forever, is this: your imagination is yours. And only yours. All the things you dream up, want to create all belong to you. Since this powerful tool belongs to you, the power to create (and destroy) belongs to you. And just you.
With this confidence in mind, I want you to remember that what you create–you (and only you) will see first!
Before you start writing, I want you to get accustom to thinking about what you want to write about. And really begin to think about what you want to create. The more comfortable you are with it, the more you will want to write it down.
Here are some tips to help with brainstorming:
1.) If an idea reoccurs more than twice, that’s a queue to write it down.
2.) Think about the time of day that you feel most productive. Try writing at this time, or recording ideas that reoccur at this time.
3.) Isolate some time to think about what you want to write about. That dedicated time will help with creativity.
4.) Remember to be patient with yourself. Writing is a process. It is a marathon and not a sprint.
It’s only month two–we got a while to go. I believe in you. Keep going.
Embrace the fear. Embrace the uncertainty. Embrace not quite knowing where everything is going. Embrace the twists, the turns and even the exhilaration of what will (or won’t) happen next.
Keep writing!
You have an ending to get to.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
“Become comfortable with being uncomfortable.” -Luvvie Ajayi Jones
As a writer, as an author, you will always have to wrestle apprehension. It is definitely wresting, and you will have to reckon with it. Any time, and every time, you start something new, there will be this feeling of unease! Yet, it is just that–a feeling!
No matter how big the problem or feeling is, you are always bigger than the problem!
When dealing with the apprehension that deals with book writing, remember to be gentle with yourself. Remember to celebrate along the way. Give yourself positive affirmations like these:
I am going to do as best I can today.
I am going to write as best I can today.
I am going to make this idea a reality because I can.
My idea is going to be a great book and I am going to write it!
The apprehension is normal. The uncertainty is normal. Even the fear is normal! But what you must know is fear is an emotion that makes you pay attention because you are uncertain–it’s a warning! Accept the warning, pay attention to it. Proceed with caution. How, you ask? Write through it. Subdue it with your pen and imagination.
See you next month!
Chatter. Noise. Criticism.
There are those that aren’t doing anything, but will tell you that you shouldn’t do what you want. In this case, writing.
Get used to those who want you to write while looking over your shoulder. That won’t change. What will change, is how much energy you give to it.
Write anyway.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
