This month’s writing tip is to get into the habit of writing every day. When I first developed an interest in creative writing I found this hard to do but having read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and Walking in this World, I go into the habit of writing ‘morning pages.’ To find the time to do this I had to set the alarm for an hour earlier each day but it was worth the effort. Below are some of the notebooks which I have filled with flow writing and since been able to mine for poetry and stories .
If you are not into flow writing you can adapt this idea by committing a certain amount of time to getting into the habit of writing words to develop your personal writing project every day. Treat writing as a job, set aside time and space to commit to it on a daily basis and you will soon be rewarded.
Should you hit a block at any stage either keep on writing whatever comes to mind to discipline yourself to keep the words appearing on the page or design a version of the pink box in the photograph. This is a themed ideas box. I change the contents according to the course that I am delivering or the project that I am writing but essentially it is full of words or sentences to spark further writing.
Those on the theme of family stories include:
At New Year …
My favourite place …
The best birthday present I ever had …
A first date or first romantic moment …
Different ways I have spent Christmas …
A happy occasion in my life …
On holiday …
Stuck for something to write? Choose one of the above and write down what comes to mind. And don’t forget to keep the pen or computer keys going! Have fun!!!