Articles with the freewriting Tag

Writing a compelling story involves putting your characters into difficult situations, known as conflict, and showing how they work their way out of them. While we have all faced our share of conflict in our own lives, our heroes can get into more trouble than we ever thought possible! Sometimes, they want to wander far afield from the problems we thought they would encounter, and trip over new sources of conflict we never considered before.

If you find yourself writing about a trouble making protagonist who thrives on conflict, you may wonder how exactly she’s going to get out of it. As your plot progresses, the encounters will only get more intense, and more critical to the character’s primary goals. The heroine has to find her way out, but if she and the writer have painted themselves into a corner with conflict, the story will fizzle out.

The Primer Coat: Review the Plot

The first layer of paint to explore is the plot up to the point of this apparently insurmountable conflict. You’re not looking for a way out of this conflict, even though that is very tempting at this point. The more intense the problem is, the more excited your readers will be, so stick with it! What you are looking for, are hidden tools and clues to paint your way through the conflict, with your protagonist victorious.

For example, your hero cannot think of a way to disable the machine that is threatening to destroy his hometown. However, when you look back at the scene where the antagonist built it, you realize that the key component is susceptible to water damage. If there are cooling pipes filled with water attached to the machine, your hero could use that water to stop the machine and save the day.

The Color Coat: Character Reactions

If your hero is drawing a blank when faced with the biggest conflict of his life, remove him from the story for just a few minutes. Present the problem to him, and freewrite his response. While under pressure, he may buckle, but with some space to breathe and think, he may be able to come to his own solution. Then you can figure out how to make him realize that solution within the story, by having either an internal or external trigger prompt him into action.

Your hero may not have the answer though, which means it is time to look at other characters. Pretend that they are the main character instead. What would the antagonist do if he were in the same predicament? Would the hero’s girlfriend have the same reaction? Write through a couple of imaginary situations, and see if they present alternate scenarios to victory.

The Top Coat: Give Friendly Advice

When you’re absolutely sure you have firmly painted your conflict into the corner, don’t give up hope! Instead, sit with your character over a cup of coffee like you would your best friend. Listen to her problems, and then offer up the best advice you would give.

Your heroine may have to cut ties with her ex-boyfriend once and for all, but doesn’t know how to approach him. Have a mental or written conversation back and forth with her, where she explains everything that is going on, as well as her hopes and fears about the encounter. You can then let her know what you would do if you were in that situation yourself. Whether she listens or not is another matter, but she will be more prepared to face her final conflict, and you will be prepared to wrap up that critical scene in your story.

How have you painted your story conflict into a corner? Did you make your way out, or have to backtrack and start over? What are your techniques for dealing with insurmountable plot twists?

Photo Credit: Wendy Harman (wharman)

I’ve been in danger lately of getting overwhelmed with blogging work. I have all my ideas on my editorial calendar, but with so many topics in so many niches, I often sit down to write and still don’t know where to start.

Which blog? They’re all priority. Which idea? Each one tugs at my attention, begging to be released onto the page. Which client? They all pay well and on time — no favoritism here.

I decided to take a unique approach last evening, almost like freewriting with purpose. I couldn’t find paper or pen so I grabbed my calendar and a blue, fine point Sharpie. (So blame any grammatical errors on the fumes please… and the fact that I often have trouble reading my handwriting the next day.)

I started writing. I had no topics or even a particular blog in mind. I let the words come, in the messy, haphazard way I write hand-written first drafts on the rare occasions I choose to.

First,  I wrote a post about types of blog posts for business owners. One Long Island Exchange column done.

Then I decided to blog about the entire experience here at WRA. In an odd way, the juxtaposition of the Sharpie, the calendar, sitting in my daughter’s room as she played for a bit before bed, took all pressure off me as a “professional writer with too much work.” (Is there such a thing as too much work?)

I completed my first post in record time. It is only now that I stop to think about what I’m writing, and, at this point the magic, the flurry, begins to vanish. The moment is gone.

Now I’m wondering about word count, graphics, linkback opportunities. (I know Rebecca and some of WRA’s other contributors have written about freewriting in the past.) I’m no longer writing. I’m “working” again.

And that’s not a bad thing. After all, those of us who love what we do everyday hesitate to even call it work. I am grateful every day to be blessed with this career path.

But for a brief time, it was nice to immerse myself in that “zone” — a writer, a pen (of sorts), paper… it’s cozy. It reminded me of a time when I thought of all writing as a hobby, not a vocation.

Writers, what do you do when you want to get back to basics — either to beat writer’s block, jumpstart a project or to simply begin enjoying the act of writing again and forget that you do it for a living?

There is nothing more dreadful to a writer than staring at a blank page on the computer. There is a sense of stage fright that hangs in the shadows, taunting your every attempt to begin writing the grand novel or article that has inspired your soul. The number of words looking to take that blank page to a completed piece scream in your mind as your heart begins to race. You are there, facing the firing squad in your mind. You are a writer. WHY CAN’T YOU WRITE?

First, take a deep breath. It’s only letters placed in such a manner as to form a word. That word will begin the sentence. The sentence will begin the paragraph and the paragraph starts a chapter. Beginning the chapter means you’ve officially begun the work you’ve set your sights upon. Congratulations!

Recently I had the privilege of chatting with a few writer friends online. As the conversation turned to beginnings, I chuckled at how I had begun writing this very piece, though unfinished. I had begun, something one writer was struggling with on her own. I mentioned at that point I was working an article tailored specifically to beginnings – and she couldn’t wait to read it for herself.

Having an idea is only one part to writing. To be a writer you must write.

Beginnings can be quite ugly. Especially if you have ignored that calling to sit down and write for any amount of time. It doesn’t matter what you do to start, what matters is that you’ve placed a word on a page and began expanding upon it to form a sentence; there go, writing.

What is incredible about writing – whether by pen or through typing – is the opportunity to edit that ugly beginning once the middle and end are complete. As a writer, you might produce one brilliant piece in your lifetime. That doesn’t mean that the rest of what you write is garbage. It just means the editor in you has to come out, but not until after you’ve written.

Taking the time to journal or freewrite about the subject you desire to write about will help break the silence that sends you into a near anxiety attack. Journaling and freewriting also reduce the stress you feel by the editor that nestles inside. It is only when we are writing an article or a large work of art that the editor likes to cause a disruption.

Next time you are looking to begin an article, short story, or novel; begin first by writing in your journal and transfer that writing to your blank page to reduce your anxiety. After all, it matters not how you begin, but that you do.

Do you ever struggle with the blank page? What do you do to get past the anxiety and begin?

Freelancing can be a tough profession. No matter if it is artwork, Web design, or writing, each comes with an ebb and flow to financial security. Even veteran freelancers can have a rough month or two each year. The lifestyle we choose to live can be exciting or discouraging depending on the month. Showing children the passion behind the profession can encourage of love of work and yield unexpected results, if you allow.

Being a full-time parent has been mentally and oftentimes physically exhausting. Knowing that each day will bring challenges and celebrations once made it difficult for me to truly enjoy the freelancing world that is my own. With a little ingenuity (and direction from my oldest son) we found the opportunity to encourage proper work ethics in my home.

My husband was laid off work in November. Although he was able to draw on unemployment benefits, there was a mass amount of financial stress through our home. It was through a series of events and taking time to truly examine what it is that I want from my life and career that all began unfolding quickly…

I announced to my family,

“I am going to work a FOURTY HOUR work week.“

Dumbfound looks shot across the face of my husband and oldest. That is when my son candidly asked, “How are you going to work Mom? You don’t really have a job.”

Step 1: Explain Your Work

So I sat that dear sweet child down and showed him various projects I had, assignments I needed to write and companies that paid me for my time, experience, and words. After about fifteen minutes, he said, “So you do work.” To my son, yes, I do work…

Step 2: To Work From Home?

And I work from home. I work out of the little room in the basement that has my dry erase boards upon the walls and a desk for my computer. That is my office. While I don’t go to a different building to work, I still work. As much as I would love to just sit at the computer and play games, there are bills that need to be paid – and what I do in that space helps.

Step 3: Answer the question, “Why do you just work in your office?”

And that was difficult. My son is quite a smart lad for five. He sees the world through a much different lens than myself. So I pondered…

It isn’t necessary to work in my office. I can work from the kitchen table or the front porch, weather permitting. And I have. My son has had the opportunity to see me flip from book to website as I research and back into Word as I type, cite, and proof an article. Yes, it took longer to work that way. No, I don’t regret it.

Step 4: Encourage Brainstorming WITH Your Child(ren)

Some might consider that stealing intellectual property of a child, but truly, it’s great! As an adult, we tend to move from the carefree way of thought. A child loves to think. Telling stories about a dinosaur or asking for a story, tailored to a character they love is all brainstorming. It might not be exactly what you are looking for by means of what a client is requesting, but it does add a new sense of unity – even when it is just your name on an article.

TIP: Ask your children to create a character for a story. Spend an hour a day free writing that story for your children. When you have it complete, read it to them.

Step 5: Family Goals

Using effective communication with children that are just beginning to understand your working process is crucial in this step. Sit down, after a good family dinner, and ask what your children would like to do during the year. Let their imaginations run wild. While your daughter might not be able to visit Betsy Ross as she died many years ago, you might be able to afford a trip to a museum where Betsy Ross is showcased. Explain that the time you spend working will help attain that goal as you can set aside $10 a week to pay for that trip.

As your children begin to understand how finances are tied to working, a strong and stable desire to work becomes present. Through our own conversations with our son, we are planning on a couple short trips this year. And for the record, I got a kiss on the cheek this morning and told to enjoy my day working by that same five-year-old who thought I didn’t have a job.

Enjoy your career and lifestyle as a freelancer. Share those joys with the ones closest to you, so they can be encouragement when you find yourself in a freelancing slump.

It has happened to me hundreds of times.  My schedule is clear, children are occupied, housework is caught up, and suddenly my writing time flops because I don’t know how to start.  Starting is necessary to reach a finished article, short story, poem or novel. In order to write, you must practice writing on a regular basis. Inspiring writing comes with routine, innovation, and determination.

• Writing Bursts

  Ban together with fellow writers and have a writing burst.  Twenty to thirty minutes of free writing will loosen the words – and your fingers – while building the creative juices.

• Musical Melodies

  Playing a music selection during your writing time will help train your body to write during those same melodies.  Music will also create a white noise, blending all the distracting sounds.  A particular music selection can also bring back the inspiration of a particular story if you stop the tract when it becomes necessary to move onto other scheduled items.

• Lists

  Writing out your lists for the day, including to-do’s, shopping, bills, and chores will allow you the opportunity to clear your mind of those tasks and focus on what you have set down to do during your writing time.

• Scheduling

  It is not only important, but vital to a writer’s life to schedule your day around the time you write, not the other way around.  If you are trying to take care of life first and fail to nurture the writer within you, the writer within you will fail to perform when time comes.

• Taking the phone off the hook

  Yes, I absolutely mean that.  The phone can be a major distraction.  Friends and family call when they feel the need to share a funny story or complain about the clerk at the store forgetting to give change.  There is no use in telling anyone to call you x many times in a row if it is an emergency.  There will always be one person who believes the clogged sink is worth interrupting you.  Unless you are a plumber and are able to snake a drain, it is NOT important.

A Guest Post By Kimberlee Ferrell.
Enjoying small town life and her two daughters, Kimberlee Ferrell still carves out time to write. Her blog, Freedom Writing, explores writing, parenting, and anything that flows out of her pen. Stop by to investigate the inner workings of her mind, and to learn more about her copywriting, proofreading, and editing expertise. Strong coffee and walnut brownies will be provided.

The blank page stares me in the face again. I am trying to write this post, but the lack of words on the screen paralyzes me. It causes the greatest writers among us to freeze up, and decide to wash the dishes, walk the dog, or do anything else but stare back at the empty canvas.

As writers, we face this on a daily basis. With each new article, blog post, or short story, we come full circle, to give birth to a new idea, to share our words with others. We turn to a fresh page in our notebooks or turn on our processing program, then stop. The glaring white page is empty, and our minds fill with doubts. “Where should I begin?” “What should I write about?” “Does anyone care about what I have to say?” “Are there really any original ideas?”

These thoughts and doubts can instantly send your muse to a vacation in the Bahamas, without you. There is a way to rekindle your writing: the free write. Many writers have used this technique to work past their writer’s block, and write no matter how they feel. I first discovered this exercise in Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in free writing, or just looking for an excellent read. She illustrates how to free write without expectations, and how to mine your first draft for those golden nuggets of exposition.

There are many ways to free write, and there is no one right way. There are two key techniques that I use when free writing. I set a timer in my head or on my desk, to give myself an immediate deadline. I also never stop writing for any reason. Do not be tempted to fix your spelling or grammar, save it for the editing phase. Choose one of these free writes the next time your fingers refuse to hit the keyboard.

Write the thoughts running through your head. When your inner editor casts doubts on everything from your lack of vocabulary to what you ate for breakfast, get it out on paper. Write whatever is bothering you at this moment. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and just keep writing every random thought that enters your head, whether it is related to writing or not. Let your mind dump its cluttered thoughts onto the page, and then set it aside. Your mind can relax, knowing you have addressed whatever was bothering you. Plus, you have written a few hundred words. Keep the momentum going, and dive into your writing project.

Write anything about your chosen topic. Sometimes you don’t know where to begin. Give yourself permission to dive headfirst into your topic, and write anything about it. Don’t worry about writing a captivating lead, or placing your thoughts into logical order. Cover the length and breadth of your topic, as the ideas come to you. You can always organize it later. This technique unearths new ideas I hadn’t considered before, adding depth to the final draft.

Write down topic ideas. This free write can be written traditionally, or in list form. Brainstorm a list of anything you want to write about. You can write a list of article titles, blog ideas, or conflicts for your main character. Once you have exhausted your list of ideas, go back over each and write a few sentences to flesh out your idea in more detail. This technique generates a lot of new leads over a short period of time.

Write something completely different. When your current project is wholly uninspiring, try writing something in a different topic, genre, or format. For example, if you are having trouble writing another SEO article, write a few pages of your novel instead. Once you’ve given your brain some free time, you can switch back to your project and get to work.

These are just a few of the possible ways you can use free writing to rejuvenate your writing juices. Once you start to write, the words come quick and easy.

The key is to sit down, and just write.

How have you incorporated free writes into your writing life? Do you have any other types of free writes to share? Leave a comment to let everyone know what works for you when you encounter the blank page.

It’s obviously important to Aim High and Shoot Low when setting goals, but how do you set goals you know will take you where you want to be? How do you follow through to accomplish your goals and discover what you really are capable of achieving?Setting a resolution, like those that abound in the early days of January, simply isn’t enough to give you a focal point to work towards in your every day life. As a freelance writer, my primary goal and resolution for 2008 is to transform my writing hobby into a fulltime career with a fulltime income.

Two writing techniques, “Seat of the Pants” and “Planning”, expose writers to a wealth of opportunities depending on what works best for their individual preferences. As with all methods, there are advantages and disadvantages. One system will work for a particular writer but may not work for another. Finding a way to write (that works for you) involves a great deal of trial and error but finding your method and developing it, is the key toward successful productivity and an enjoyable writing experience.

“Seat of the Pants” AKA The Pantser
One technique some writers prefer is thought of writing from the seat of the pants. These writers start with a character or rough story concept and leap into the writing. Most of the time, these writers focus on the linear creation of their novel, from page one through to ‘the end’ but others find their creativity focused in random scenes which they put together like a jigsaw puzzle.

“Planning” AKA The Planner
These writers tend to spend time planning long before they begin to write. They get to know their characters, brainstorm about them, and become familiar with what they expect from their protagonists. Planners usually outline their story. They know their theme and story-worthy problem. They know how the book will end and they know at least the major steps on the path to getting there.

1. The Freedom to Just Write
   • Pantser Pro: Writing from the seat of the pants gives writers the freedom to let there imagination roam.
   • Pantser Con: The uncertainty and lack of direction can lead to writer’s block.
   • Planner Pro: Planners proceed with more confidence because they know where they’re going and they know what steps to take to get there.
   • Planner Con: These writers need time to focus on where they are and what each scene needs to accomplish to tie into the scenes around it.
2. The Adventure of Discovery
   • Pantser Pro: Writers enjoy the journey of discovery, watching the story, plot and characters reveal themselves as they write.
   • Pantser Con: The plot can meander without purpose, be virtually non-existent, or not contain enough conflict, emotion and connection to be story-worthy.
   • Planner Pro: Planners have a story outline and include intricate details long before they begin writing. They have the opportunity to weave vital clues and connectivity into the plot from the first page of the first draft.
   • Planner Con: Already knowing the significant details can sometimes lead to a sense of boredom.
3. The Ebb and Flow of Creativity
   • Pantser Pro: Writers can often experience extended periods of creativity that lead to pages of finished writing in a single sitting.
   • Pantser Con: These bursts are usually followed by inaction and stagnation.
   • Planner Pro: These writers often find it easier to find their flow. They tend to schedule time to write and get into a grove, developing the habit which allows them to write what they need to write when they choose to do so.
   • Planner Con: The structure and routine developed with careful planning can become repetitive or restrictive giving writers pressure to perform which often leads to writer’s block.
4. Linear or Random Method
   • Pantser Pro: Seat of the pants writing lends itself well to both linear and ‘out of order’ creation that gives writers flexibility in both time and scene focus.
   • Pantser Con: Stories can feel piece-meal or disjointed if not carefully rewritten and well edited after the first draft.
   • Planner Pro: With their outline in hand, writers can choose which scene to write when and have the knowledge of the scenes that will eventually surround it to weave it into the story.
   • Planner Con: Planning can feel rigid. Planners may avoid following an instinctive urge to deviate from the outline and feel obligated to write a specific scene, even when it is not flowing for them.
5. The Creation of Real Character
   • Pantser Pro: Seat of the pants writers enjoy discovering their characters as they develop slowly through the story and run less risk of revealing too much too soon or too little that readers never grow close to the primary characters.
   • Pantser Con: Sometimes, not knowing your characters can leave them without the depth needed to keep readers interested.
   • Planner Pro: Planning writers are familiar with their characters, know them deeply and predict their responses to situations. They often feel like dear friends and can develop a strong connection.
   • Planner Con: These writers run the risk of revealing too much or too little of the characters to readers, are so close to their characters that it becomes hard to “do what needs to be done” if the plot calls for their demise or even become candid, taking their character for granted or simply get tired of them.
6. Structure and Discipline
   • Pantser Pro: This method allows writers to write when they feel inspired which often makes the process of writing much more enjoyable.
   • Pantser Con: Lack of structure and discipline can lead to an inability to plan ahead for deadlines or focus on other writing projects.
   • Planner Pro: Planning writers often feel a great deal of confidence. They know before they begin dedicating weeks to writing the first draft that they have a solid, worthy story to write. They also tend to be the sort of people who can structure their time and discipline themselves for regular writing.
   • Planner Con: Rigid structure and a logical approach may stifle creativity.

Do you know other pros and cons of the two techniques? What have you found works for you and what doesn’t? How do you deal with the disadvantages of your technique?

• Six Part Series: Street Signs and Plot Humps
1. Are You A Pantser Or A Planner? (Part One)
2. Seat of the Pants vs. Planning (Part Two)
3. Street Signs For ‘Seat of the Pants’ Writers (Part Three)
4. When Wrong Turns Go Right (Part Four)
5. Plot Humps For Planners (Part Five)
6. Mr. Random Messenger Meets Suspend-able Disbelief (Part Six)