writing time

Encouragement Pages-11/13/2019

What would you need for writing to be perfect?

What would you need to maintain the writing and its perfection?

Now that you have that hot and fresh in your mind–scratch it and burn it.

Why? Here is why.

Writing time, schedules and circumstances may never be perfect. Ever. If there were, there would be more writers! There are even certain books of the Christian Bible that are/were written under times of war, panic and duress!

There may never be a perfect time to write, but you have to make the time you have perfect. Trust me, it’s possible.

Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-10/28/2019

Let’s talk about why you stare at the pages or screens.

This is done for two reasons:

1.) You don’t know what to say.

2.) You are scared of what you might say.

As a writer, some things are inevitable. Criticism and second guessing and deconstruction are some of them. Yet, write anyway. Good writing, bold writing is a little scary. You are pulling something out of the creative ether and bringing it to reality–that alone is scary.

But do it any way.

Don’t allow a screen or a blank page to stop what you want to create. You are your first audience.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-10/11/2019-Holy Word Boldness

The English language has 26 letters.

At present, there are over 170,000 words.

Over. 170,000 words.

This means that you have the chance to say everything that you needed to say. Everything that you want to say, need to have other folk hear, and for the world to be aware of.

Never, ever say that you have nothing to say.

I’m sure there’s a word for it. If it ain’t, make it up?

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-9/30/2019: Watch The Snakes

There is a certain Caduceus with writing. There are 2 snakes which will always be with you.

These are self-doubt and self-rejection.

Self-doubt will always say what you cannot do.

Self-rejection will always say what you create will never be read because it’s not good enough.

This dynamic duo work together to choke the life out of any project, platform or collaboration.

If left unchecked, they will snuff your talent!

So? Want to know how you kill them?

Create in spite of.

Be more afraid of not doing, of not creating.

Be more afraid of not filling the rooms or spaces you were graced to be in—than content to have never been invited to them.

Don’t die with all you have.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-09/13/2019: Inside The Story Machine

*Note: This concept will be discussed on The Writers’ Block podcast on 9/26. This podcast can be found wherever you get your podcasts, see the end of the post to get all info!

I had an English professor, Dr. Karen Kalenevitch, who gave us a trick to combat the hell that is writers’ block. She told us about something she called the story machine.

Now, what is this you ask? I’ll tell you.

You take an empty bag and write random phrases, places, date or names on it and throw them in the bag. You shake it up, and pull out 3 slips of paper. From those pieces of paper, you can construct a story. Perhaps from there, a free write. From there, a draft. From that draft, a revision. From revisions, to stories.

Try it.

You may never know what you come up with.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

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Encouragement Pages-09/09/2019: Chase The Story

I want you to know that you have so many stories. You have so many stories on the inside of you. I want you to be brave enough to look for them. This week, during the second week of Back To Writing Month, I want you to find what is brewing in your mind and go after it.

I want you to seek it out.

Don’t shy from it.

Get at the story. Chase it. Don’t let it get away this time.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris