Try Something New

Oft times in the life of a writer the dreaded condition of writer's block will arise in various forms of severity. From a mild "I don't know what happens next in the plot" kind of writers block to a complete "I can't write" author shut down.
It's my opinion that when we get stuck in repetitive patterns our minds are no longer stimulated, thus creativity diminishes. This can lead to writer's block, or perhaps to sub-par writing.
Routine is important, without it we would never get anything done! I'm not dissing routine here. What I am advising though is to go out of your comfort zone once in a while. Switch things up a little. If your usual hangout over weekends is the sofa at home, then take the time to meet some people in a park, club, bar, book launch, movies...the list is endless. Try experiencing new things and new sensations. If you have never been on a roller-coaster, now is the time to try it!
The change in routine and the stimulus of new experiences will definitely spark your creative side that leads to better writing.

Odd Starts

The best stories starts from the oddest things at times. Today I was frantically searching for the TV remote. My brother noted that we are so used to a remote that we could walk by the TV several times and not change the channel manually. This got me thinking about our dependence on technology...and...
 BAM!
...its a story in the making.

The point of that little drabble is that as writers we need to be aware. Even the most mundane things (like a lost TV remote) can spark a story.

Writers have the dubious task of constantly being aware and "spying" on the world around us. It is a privilege and a skill that needs to be developed, those little nuances leaks through in your work making it much more compelling.

Well, thats my two cents for now.

Steve Harvey-- Jump

A little motivation for all you writers out there! Your parachute will open, but you have to jump first like Mr Harvey said.

Zimbell House Publising

Zimbell House publishing offers anthologies leaning more to the novella and novellette categories. Entry is free and selected submissions receive payment. They welcome international authors, but require submissions to be in English.
These guys are perfect to try out if you are itching to write a longer story (but don't feel like a full-blown novel).

Click HERE to view their current anthologies open for submission. The link is as always on the right hand pane as well.

Coffin Tree Hill

Coffin Tree Hill is a blogging site that offers a treasure chest of info regarding anthologies and ongoing submissions. This site is a MUST to bookmark if you want to get your writing game on. All the anthology submissions I spotted offered some form of payment (whether it be token payment, or part of the royalties) which is great motivation if you are starting out.

Click HERE to go to their site. The link is also on the panel to the right.

The Blessing of Dropbox

Any writer's worst nightmare is having your laptop/computer crash and taking all your hard work with it! You know your hard drive is on its way out when your run a disk check and the screen displays the infamous "bad sectors". Not a nice feeling.
Running a disc check buys you some time as it helps to stabilise a failing hard drive, but ultimately it will go. In a previous post I discussed various methods you can use to back up your work, but for those of us who wants to keep writing on the go, despite hard drive failures, Dropbox is a blessing. It allows you to edit your work directly and from anywhere. So, if push comes to shove, you can even continue working on that novel or gripping short by typing away furiously on your phone. Your work is safe!
This option is a bit data-intensive.  Dropbox requires a continuous Internet connection and this is a double-edged sword. It means your latest editing and writing is being backed up automatically, but it also means a constant data leak.

The link to download Dropbox is below and on the panel to the right under "Interesting Links".
Dropbox

Horrors of proofreading....

The prodigal blogger hath returned! YAY....don't get too excited now...

Working as a freelance proofreader (I mentioned in an earlier post that proofreading can help improve your grammar and language skills) I had the misfortune of proofreading a rather horrendous manuscript. No, I shall not divulge who this mutilator of words is, for I am bound by honour ( and a non-disclosure agreement).

I can, however, say that this particular aspiring author was full of it. The interesting aspect about proofreading is that one gains insight into the author's way of thinking (especially if said author wrote a self-help book and elevated himself above the status of "mere man"). Arrogant and very self-absorbed this author managed to disgust me to such an extent that I sent back the manuscript after proofreading it halfway. I simply could not subject my brain to further torture. Poor brain was huddled in a corner like a junkie pleading for me to "make it stop, make it go away..."

Much to my horror the author quoted himself frequently in the manuscript. Said author had no evidence or citations to prove his points. All his points carried the validity of "I believe," and "I recommend." Every single one of them. People, if you are going to write a psychology-based self-help book, then you best have references and citations to validate your argument. What you think and believe does not carry weight, unless it is validated by a credible source in this case.

I still shudder at the memory...absolute horror.