  Noticing Newbies
This week: Find Your Outlet Edited by: Sara♥Jean  
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Find Your Outlet
We all need an outlet so our writing is more fluid. Learning to relax is key to thinking more clearly.
There was a time in my life when I had forgotten how to relax. I dug so deeply into work, and to-do lists, and everything that I felt just had to get done, that I forgot that taking time to relax was a necessity to keep me healthy, happy, and productive. I felt that if I took the time to relax, things wouldn't get done, and I just didn't have time for things to not get done. I completely forgot that, by taking time to relax, I would be able to do all of those things I needed to do more efficiently, therefore giving me more time in the long run.
It's not much different with writing. We need to be relaxed to let our best ideas flow from the tip of our pens onto our pape..., er... from the tips of our fingers onto our keyboards.
So, knowing this fact, even though I sometimes struggle to practice it myself, begs me to ask you the following: what do you do to "get in the zone" and make sure you are fully relaxed and ready to write? Yes, I know forcing your way through is definitely one way to do it, but how often do you have to go back and heavily edit those scenes you had to muscle through? I absolutely  those go-with-the-flow scenes that seem to just write themselves, and those happen most often when I am just relaxed.
So, what's your preference? Tell us!
 Bubble bath?
First person shooter game?
Endless Tetris?
Brownies and a glass of... uhm... soda?
Heavy metal music?
On the opposite spectrum, classical music?
A strict hour of mind numbing television?
Journaling/Blogging?
Something else?
Well, you get the idea. It doesn't have to be writing that calms you down - it can be anything. Anything to make you relax. Though, it could be writing. Many people use that to relax themselves, also.
Me? I do some writing, I do some gaming, I sometimes do the bubble bath thing... it all depends on the day and where my life is headed at the moment. I have learned to relax, but it took me years to master it. |
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Here's some feedback from my last Newsletter, "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (June 6, 2018)" :
writers_cramp said, "Bingo. Hit the nail on the head. Good advice. I almost always give a very detailed review and offer suggestions and explanations. As I tell the writer, it is not my intent to tear down but to help make them a better writer."
I'm so glad you found it useful! ~SJ
James Heyward  said, "I know a review is REALLY worth reading when it hurts just a little. The thing to remember is that your readers aren't going to be more generous than your reviewers. If a reviewer finds something the story that turns them off or doesn't seem right, they'll spend a few paragraphs telling you why. But a reader is more likely to put your story down and forget you. I find that much worse.
This isn't to say that there aren't jerks out there. There are. But some of your readers will be jerks too. You just have to let your skin get a bit thicker. A selection of reviews is going to be like a rose. There are going to be thorns, it's still worth it to pick it up and have a sniff.  "
I think that is excellent advice, and not just for reviews. Several things in life sting, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth doing. ~SJ
Tileira said, "I had a review once which was the opposite of a fluff review: rather than being positive with no real feedback, the feedback included suggestions on the exact problems and where to find examples to read... but only detailed the review's dislike of the style and how to rewrite it in the style of narrative the reviewer preferred. The review didn't address anything else or acknowledge that the "problem" was a difference in stylistic preference.
It just struck me as such a strange thing to do; similar to instructing a writer to change a story's genre or an artist to change medium because you don't like watercolour. In the end I sent a simple "thank you" response and deleted the review. I don't think it would have bothered me as much if it had been couched as a suggestion, but the review was set of instructions on how to "fix" my voice and what was "wrong" with it."
I'm very glad you wrote in. This is the perfect example of one of those reviews where I don't think the reviewer necessarily intended to be negative or hurtful, but they weren't necessarily helpful to you. I believe that your reaction was perfect. You thanked them, and then chose not to implement their suggestions. They weren't doing it on purpose, I think they meant to help - they just weren't suggestions that you agreed with. You had no intention of changing your voice, nor did you think there was anything wrong with it. And that is perfectly alright. ~ SJ
Don't forget to tell me what you do to relax and prepare for writing. I'll be sure to include it in my next newsletter! |
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Noticing Newbies: July 04, 2018 Issue [#8992]
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