Write Anyway

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

Looking back over this week’s writing, I was all over the place. Very. But I did get some good writing done and stretched a bit regarding topics and genres – which I think is all a part of the growing and writing process.

Monday, stimulated by something other than Diet Coke in my cup, had to do with coffee. A quote helped inspire writing on Tuesday. While listening to the radio on the road Wednesday, a piece on poetry took my writing an entirely different way. And Thursday, influenced by the craziness that is my life, I asked about scheduling time for writing. So even if this week was chaotic, it was still productive and can be stamped “good” and filed away for reference.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Remember to Write Anyway, and I’ll be Back in the Saddle bright and early Monday morning.

TGIF, week in review, writing, write anyway

Meeting deadlines is something I pride myself on in my work and in my writing (not always the same thing, usually). However, it is not unusual for me to be up at 4 am putting the finishing touches on a project or paragraph to make an 8 am deadline. And it is not because of procrastination, usually. Sometimes the words just won’t come – or sometimes the words come, but they don’t match what I’m trying communicate.

Inspiration is a fickle muse.

Which brings me to my question: do you schedule time to write, no matter what, or do you write whenever? Tell me in the comments. Inquiring minds want to know!

Anything Goes, scheduling, writing, write anyway

Yesterday, because of work obligations, I spent about six hours in a car driving from here to there and back again. Time and distance on the prairie is something to be considered and overcome. To pass the time, I tapped the “search” button on the car stereo, hoping for something interesting to listen to, and when I do that, invariably, the search ends when I find NPR.

One segment was particularly interesting: You Must Read This. Featured yesterday was the 1996 Nobel Prize winner Wislawa Szymborska, a Polish poet. The feature, written movingly by Adam Gopnik, was inspirational to listen to – so much so that I went searching for it online so I could share it with you. I can’t pretend write it any better, so go there for your inspiration today. I am.

Just remember to Write Anyway, and come back tomorrow for Anything Goes Thursday.

Hump Day, poetry, Wislawa Szymborska, NPR, Adam Gopnik, inspiration

A quote I found recently is by a Russian playwright named Ivan Turgenev:

“If we wait for the moment when everything is ready, we shall never begin.”

Applies to writing, doesn’t it. (And that is not a question.) If we wait for the moment to start, we’ll be waiting a long time – so start that novel, draft that short story, create that character, twist that plot. What are you waiting for? Don’t wait! You may not feel ready, but you are. Write anyway.

Move Me, writing, waiting, inspiration, start writing, Ivan Turgenev, write anyway

Despite a relatively mundane weekend, I’m tired. So tired, in fact, I’m drinking coffee. I know! For someone who takes her caffeine cold and carbonated, that is a sign of desperation!

So let’s wake up this week with a writing prompt, ok? Let’s write a letter to someone we have not talked to in a long time. I’m going to write a letter to an old college roommate. Why? Because the coffee I’m drinking reminds me of him. I’m going to have a little fun with it – and I’m sure I’ll never send it, so it’s all good.

Just remember to write anyway!

BitS, letter, coffee, writing, write anyway

While this week was not as “thematic” as last week, I think we made some good progress, don’t you? Starting Tuesday (since Monday was a holiday) we jumped right in with a prompt and wrote about someplace we’d rather be. Wednesday used a tip from the “choose your own adventure” books. And Thursday, I went begging for comments. (Sorry – just needed some validation.) People out in www land are busy and writing all kinds of great things.

Another good week of writing, all told. I’ll be back in the saddle on Monday. See you then – and remember to write anyway!

TGIF, week in review, writing, write anyway

Umm – can you all hear me back there?

Hi! I’m hunting for comments. Well – not comments just for the sake of comments, but suggestions, ideas – conversation – talk to me, my people! I’m a writer in need of some feedback! Commiserate with me!

Is anyone out there or am I howling into a www vacuum? I’m not much for the ‘strong, silent type’ so c’mon – open up. What are you waiting for? An invitation? Consider yourself cordially invited.

What are you writing?

anything goes, comments, suggestions, conversation, invitation, writing, write anyway

Ever get to the point in a piece of writing where you want to “look ahead” and see how it ends? Like those “choose your own adventure” books that were popular when I was a kid? (Ok – I just dated myself. I’ll get over it.) I’m at that place in a short story I’ve been working on lately and I just can’t seem to make the right decision for my character after the climax. Should he go left? Or right? Stay put? Run wildly down a dark hall, arms flailing and screaming for help?

When I do get to that point in a piece of writing, it is fun to take the story in strange directions. No one ever has to read it if it goes bad (um…delete key, anyone?) – and if I mark my spot, I can go back and “choose a different adventure.”

Try it in your own writing and see where it takes you. Just remember to write anyway!

Get the feed! You know you want to!

hump day, writing, short stories, choose your own adventure books, write anyway