Write Anyway

Wrapping up this week of writing about Independence, I think we’ve made some progress. Monday, we started by free writing on the subject of Independence. Tuesday, explored some of the connotations and synonyms associated with independence. Wednesday, we explored some personal memories using independence as a theme. And Thursday, we considered the price of independence.

This has been a good week of writing. Have a great holiday week next week, and though I’ll technically be on vacation, I’ll write anyway. I hope you will, too.

TGIF, independence, week in review, writing, write anyway

Yesterday, I asked you to dredge up some “independence” themed memory to write about. How’d that go for you? Did you write about picnics in the park or a day at the beach that ended in a fireworks show to end all fireworks shows? Did you write about parades and celebrations with family and friends?

Or did you write about the price of independence? Even though the bumper stickers may seem to trivialize the words, freedom is not free.

Regardless of what you wrote, I hope it is a start of something great. And that’s the point – to just write, even when you think what you are writing will end up trashed– just keep at it and write anyway!

anything goes, independence, price of freedom, writing, write anyway

Let’s get over the mid-week hump with some memory writing about “independence” today. Spend about five minutes shuffling through your memory banks until you happen upon a favorite Forth of July memory, then take another 10 minutes or so and write everything you remember about it. At this point, just write. Don’t go back and edit or worry about spelling or grammar. There is time for that later – just get the memory written. (If you are not one to celebrate Independence Day, pick a memory that has to do with independence. Be creative.)

Once you have written as much as you can remember, put it aside for a few hours. When you have a little block of time, take out your notes and start drafting a more refined piece, knowing that the “final” product may take several revisions and/or directions. But as a writer – you know that is the fun part.

We’ll share our memory writing tomorrow. Have fun with it. And remember to just write anyway.

hump day, independence, memory writing, writing, free writing, write anyway

When I sat down to write my 10-15 minute free write/list on the “independence” topic for this week, I had a tough time separating the word Independence from words like Liberty, Freedom, Autonomy, Free Will, Emancipation, Choice, and Sovereignty. Big words, really – with a lot of connotation, depending on your perspective. I ended up with a long list of synonyms with definitions or examples scribbled behind each.

Independence, as abstract as it is, has personal definitions. Some aspects of independence are hard won, personal battles that define one as a person, as an individual. Other aspects of independence – on a grander, more intricately woven scale – impact a nation and her people as a group and are, if not as personal or individual, just as hard won.

The distillation of my free writing exercise, really, showed me once again – but this time in words – how very precious independence is because of all its connotations and synonyms.

What did you discover in your free writing/list making today?

move me, independence, free writing, lists, connotations, synonyms,

Since next week, Wednesday, July 4, marks Independence Day in the United States, and I happen to live in one of the American states, the writing theme this week will surround independence, freedom, and the personal (or political) meanings those words evoke. If you are reading this and not living in America, independence is still a theme that has merit, regardless of the week. Give it a try.

To get us started – and stretch our writing muscles a bit – try to free write on the word “Independence.” Go anywhere you’d like with it – make a list, write non-stop bouncing from one idea to another, whatever. Just don’t edit yourself at this point. The idea is to get as much on paper or on the screen as possible. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes, shut your door, turn off your phone and just write. Just write anyway.

BitS, independence, Independence Day, writing, free writing, write anyway

I’ve decided to give myself the week off next week. As long as I don’t hear any gnashing of teeth or see any renting of clothes, that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it. Ok? Ok.

We’ve covered a lot of ground this week – again – or at least I have and I’m feeling pretty good about my writing and where it is going (even though I’m exhausted). I hope the same for you.

A quick review:

Monday got us back in the saddle by making a list of reasons why I love blogging. The first on the list, of course, is all the people I’ve had opportunity to meet through this blog over the past few months and through my personal blog which is almost three years old.

Tuesday I wrote about the number two item on my list, which is learning. I’ve learned a lot about websites, blogs – if you must, by jumping in and just trying it. I’ve also had a lot of great examples to learn from, too.

Wednesday got us over the hump by getting back to basics, which for me is the actual writing. And while I struggle with the process sometimes, it does help to have a deadline hanging over my head. It keeps the creativity flowing, at least.

Thursday discussed the virtually endless variety of topics, even within a structured theme blog like this one. On that same line of thinking, I have to say this “theme” stuff makes for a good plan for the week – and if you know me – nothing makes me happier than a good plan.

Thanks again, Jennifer, for the tag – even though a week long series of posts probably wasn’t what you were thinking of when you tagged me, it was therapeutic for me to look closely at what I do and why. I hope you and anyone else out there reading did the same and had a similar experience.

So think, read – and even when it seems impossible or too difficult – remember to write anyway. I’ll be back in the saddle next week with a new theme and some writing ideas that will get you (and me) writing. Have a great weekend.

TGIF, week in review, why blog?, writing, write anyway, tag

Staying with the theme of the week, Why I Love Blogging, brings me to the fourth reason on the list I made Monday: Topics.

If you spend any kind of time online reading the millions (billions?) of blogs out there, it seems no topic is off limits. However, this blog has a theme, and if there is any kind of a readership, they are expecting to read something about writing when they come here. That’s cool – and I know it is important to market to targeted readers.

But blogs in the general sense are all over the place, and I like that. It is inspiring to bounce from blog to blog and read all kinds of posts about a virtually endless myriad of topics. Inspiring – yes. Also a little intimidating. A lot of fantastic writers are out there in www-dot-land howling, virtually, into the void.

But topics – and the unending supply of them – were fourth on my list of why I love blogging. Do you stay with certain topics? Why? If not – also Why?

(Tomorrow: The week in review and one last reason why I love blogging. “See” you then – and remember to write anyway.)

Side note: I’ve been trying to work with a theme this week and also preview the next day’s “topic” by mentioning it at the end of the post. (I’m rather non-committal, thought, because one never knows what will come up in the 24 hours between postings.) How’s that working for you?

anything goes, topics, writing, blogging, write anyway

The theme for this week (why I love blogging) has me thinking about writing in different ways. Writing – even if just for the sake of writing – is always something I’ve believed important. Like breathing.

I read somewhere, and I apologize if this offends readers, that a writer needs to write everyday, just like a person needs to…um…poo everyday, or you tend to ‘back up.’ I’ve never heard a better analogy for how important it is to write every day, no matter what. Having a deadline helps. (For blogging, having regular comments helps too.)

So part of the reason I enjoy blogging may have to do with the people, and learning new things like html, but a huge advantage to having a blogging gig at 451Press is a deadline that I have to meet at least five days a week. It keeps me “regular.” And it helps me warm up for writing in general, which is a big part of what I do beyond blogs.

Do you write under deadline (self imposed or otherwise)? Even if you don’t use a deadline, do you find writing everyday helps keep things “moving” – creatively speaking, of course?

(Tomorrow – “topics,” maybe.)

hump day, writing, write anyway, deadlines, blogging

Going with the theme of the week (why I love blogging), I’d have to say the second reason why I enjoy this medium so much is because there is always something new to learn. When I first started almost three years ago with a personal blog, I had no clue what “html” was or how to use it. It was intimidating at first.

No stranger to wandering out to the deep end without much concern for life or limb, I rolled up my pant legs and waded in; I’m self taught and still learning. I’m also self aware enough to know that I’m NOT an expert, which is why blogging here at 451Press is so easy. I don’t have to think about the codes, or worry about tweaking this or getting that to read right in different browsers. I just write my posts, hit publish, and the people behind the curtain do all the heavy lifting.

Nice, eh? And, of course, I watch to see the improvements they make on the blogs here at 451Press, and learn from them. I can’t lose.

(Tomorrow – the actual writing part of blogging, sorta.)

move me, learning, why blog?, writing, write anyway

Last week, Jennifer tagged me to write a post about five reasons I love blogging (and blogging here at 451Press). I thought that was a fantastic theme for the week, and since themes seem to go over better than just my random randomness, that’s what we are going with this week. Great tag, Jennifer!

So to get Back in the Saddle this morning, I wrote for about 10 minutes on everything I like about blogging. The reason that I kept coming back to was the many people I’ve met through the computer. That may sound a little strange, especially to people who don’t blog, but the people I’ve (virtually) met have made it worth spending time here or at my personal blog for as long as I have.

So now Tag! You’re it! What is the number one reason why you blog?

(Tomorrow – “html” or something like it.)

Remember to write anyway!

BitS, writing, blogging, theme, write anyway

Using the theme of “fathers” this week was a good idea (pats self on back, wrenches arm, curses self). It worked for me, anyway. I hope it worked for you, too.

One of the comments from Thursday’s post (Hi Jennifer!) asked why I write and suggested I post five reasons why I love blogging. Sounds like my theme for next week is “in the can” as they say. Cool!

Have a great weekend, ok? Send some love to your Father - or to a father-esque person in your life. And remember to write anyway!

TGIF, week in review, fathers, comments, writing, write anyway

So I’m writing along, using the prompt from yesterday to write about a difficult time when a father-esque person helped me through a tough time in my life, doing my thing, which includes free writing on a blank doc on my laptop and also list making with a pen and note pad on the side – at the same time – and – if you were watching me – looks like the written equivalent of babbling like a drunken fool, when WHAM! I’m struck with this fantastic idea for a story.

Has that ever happened to you? And if it happens often, I’m going to cry a little (ok – a lot).

If it has happened to you, what ever became of your idea?

anything goes, writing, fathers, ideas, write anyway

To get over this mid-week hump, let’s take the topic of fathers in a different direction. Something that I kept coming back to when I made my list about my Dad on Monday had to do with fun memories I have of him. But I probably should have looked more closely at the difficult times when Dad has helped me with his sage advice or a strong shoulder to cry on; because those are the memories I cherish the most.

So with that in mind, write again about your father (of a father-like person in your life) but write about a time in your life that was difficult. Write about a time where your father – or a father-like figure – tried to help you with some situation or problem and he said or did Just The Right Thing.

Let me know how it goes in the comments.

hump day, fathers, writing, write anyway

So did you write a list about your dad – or a dad-like person in your life? A paragraph? Or did you free write about fatherhood? Remember – at this point in the writing process, just getting ideas down is what counts. I like to think of this as the Jackson Pollock part of the writing process – just splatter it all over the place and when you finally stop, step back and look, you may just see the makings of a masterpiece. But you have to start. There will be time to clean up later.

So take your list, your paragraph, or your free writing and start isolating the ideas that could be developed into something bigger, something greater than the original blob of paint you flung at the canvas. I made a list about my Dad, and when I’m done refining the list, I should have about seven or eight different scenes or starts to short stories that I can further develop into something I can be proud of.

So – how did your writing go?

move me, father, dad, writing, free writing, list making, write, write anyway

Holy Hannah, where did June slip off to? Wasn’t it just Mother’s Day?

I’m not sure why, but Father’s Day carries a different kind of baggage than Mother’s Day. Not better or lighter or easier, just different. So in the spirit of ‘theme’ weeks, which seem to go over better around here, this week will be all about fathers. Let’s get back in the saddle right away with a “favorite memory” of your father – or a father-type person in your life. Make a list. Write a paragraph. Free-write. Whatever. Just try to write for 15 minutes without thinking too much about spelling or grammar or anything. There is always time for that stuff later. Right now, just worry about getting your thoughts written on paper – or typed on the screen.

Ready? Set? Write Anyway!

BitS, Father’s Day, write, writing, write anyway