Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

What Are My Writing Habits?

7.What are your writing habits? Week Ten for Welcome to My Reality.

I try to write every day. Not at the same time or in the same place. I like to change it up as far as place is concerned. I often write in coffee shops - Starbucks and Williams are favourites but I like checking out new places.
I also try to write earlier in the day if I can. The later it gets the harder it is to focus.

I write on a site called 750words.com – some days I start my blog there; some days I work on stories or poetry; some days I write book reviews; and some days I just write crap, but at least I showed up at the page. That is the important thing.

This morning I woke up with a gem of an idea - since I had no pen or paper by my bed - well pen, but no paper - I got up so I could write it down. I love those little gifts - I just hope I can work them into a great poem - maybe one that will get me a possible prize. I need to remember to put a pad of paper by my bed for such moments.

Staying open to these moments is important. I wish they came more often, but they come when they come. I find I do not wait for them to come to me, I go to the page each day and let the words flow. Some days they do and some days they stumble, but it is important to show up and listen. Let my pencil move over paper or fingers play over the keyboard and see what comes up.

I like to read writing 'how - to' books. I am currently reading Natalie Goldberg's The True Secret of Writing. I am also reading Mary Anna Evans’s Your Novel: Day by Day. I have many books that give me prompts and ideas to try - things that may get the creative juices flowing.

I read a lot as well. I find some novels really seem to inspire me. Lately, I finished The Paris Wife by Paula McLean. While reading it, I was inspired to return to my Nano novel that I have been putting off. The two have nothing in common, but some thing about that story got me re-inspired. I use what works and don't question it too much.




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