Find the Write Mind

There are times when life just gets in the way. It could be a major illness, a sudden move, or making too many commitments. Whatever the case, one day you realize it’s been days since you put words to paper…and that’s when the discouragement kicks into overdrive.

When I fall off my schedule, there’s always the thought that maybe I should stay off schedule and find another way to use my time. The answer I’ve found is extremely simple.

I just pick up where I left off.

I’ve recently had one of those pauses in writing, mainly due to being swamped with class assignments. But tomorrow is the last day of this course and everything will be turned in. So Sunday I’ll get back into my routine, allotting time each morning to my writing.

It’ll just be a matter of sitting down with the thought, ‘Now, where was I…?’

- Kirk

Tags: by Ellis Kirk
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I’ve been using this little tip when I get stuck.

Often I have characters and a situation but I get lost in the middle, wondering where I’m going. The plot threads unravel and the infinite number of possibilities is overwhelming.

So I’ve found it useful to jump ahead to the desired outcome. I tend to have beginning and end pieces in my head when I write so it’s great to set out where I know the characters are going to finish. Then I can work backward, asking myself, “Ok, they’ve just managed to blow up the base and save the day. How did they blow up the base? How did they get to the base?”

Just those two bits alone can propel me back onto the story’s path and push me past the resistance. Maybe it can help you too.

- Kirk

Tags: by Ellis Kirk
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