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Wednesday 1 April 2015

And so it begins ... #AtoZChallenge

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge 2015. If this is something new to you, check out the website here to find out all you need to know.

My topics this year are covering studying and/or writing advice and guidance, to maybe help you as you cope with everything else in life. 



And so it begins ...


So here we are on the first day of the Challenge, and I started off with the usual problem of staring at the blank page wondering what to write. How many times has this happened to you?

Too many ideas are competing for attention in my mind, including non-writing tasks that are demanding to be done, and a lot of time is wasted with wandering thoughts getting further off topic.

All you need to get yourself going is to write something, anything, to push past the confusion. It can be something mulling around in your mind, the tiniest story idea to get it out of your brain and onto the paper/screen. Just write something and it will wake up your mind and your imagination and before you know it you'll be notching up the word count.

I try to start my writing day with a 15 minute free write, just to brush the cobwebs away and get focused into writing mode.

Why not try it yourself if you're feeling stuck?

13 comments:

  1. I distract myself with other tasks - like housework - and allow my mind to wander. That usually gets me running for my notebook.

    Annalisa at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

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    1. Ah, housework. That ever present distraction that keeps me from much of my creativity. I find I can't focus in an untidy house, which isn't the best for my productivity.

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  2. When I was doing the Open University Creative Writing course I got into the habit of writing first thing in the morning every day. I've slacked now but I still make time to write in my journal every evening in bed.

    I usually find if I haven't got any way of writing something down or adding to a story, that's when I'll be hit with inspiration!

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    1. Inspiration does come at the strangest of times, when it does hit. It's usually when I'm driving and I can't get to my notepad and pen!

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  3. I might try the free writing thing.

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    1. Yes, do Sally. It's very useful on those days when you just can't get yourself started. Good luck with it.

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  4. Sometimes sitting in a place like a coffee shot can help streamline the free-writing, which then can jump-start the writing. Snippets of conversations make me wonder about someone's back story or situation, and before I know it, a story is born.
    --Raven Oak (SF/F bestselling author & A-Z Challenge Participant #1247 as of 4/1/15)

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    1. I love people watching, and thinking about what their life is like and where they're heading. It doesn't matter how accurate we are with it of course, the story is all we need.

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  5. Ah, the good old ghastly, brain-sucking bland page. I know it so well. You managed to solve it, though, with the free writing--such a great strategy. I look forward to reading more of your posts!

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    1. Thank you Kern, I hope you enjoy what I have to offer.

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  6. I think that writers have to write-something almost every day. Like artists who need to draw or sketch or paint something often. Just get started which is what free writing does.

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    1. Agreed. Neil Gaiman said it best when he said writers need to write every single day. No excuses. ;)

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    2. I found free writing quite an alien thing to begin with, but since I've found how useful it is, I try and make it part of my daily routine now.

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