Author: Janet Eriksson

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When You Only Have Five Minutes to Write

When you tell someone you’re writing a book, they might picture you spending hours at your computer, ideally in a comfy chair with a great view. That is certainly the ideal of the writing life. 

But it’s not often reality. 

Many of us do not live in that ideal writing world. We live with busy schedules and interruptions, being pulled in several directions at once. That doesn’t leave much time to work on the book we’re trying to write.

Lately, I’ve been trying to work on my writing five minutes at a time. I keep a paragraph, idea, or rough section on my phone notes. When I have a few minutes, I open that note and flesh out that section. After that section is completed in rough draft form, I can paste it back into my manuscript on my computer.

It’s not ideal. I would much rather sit at my computer with the full document open and work on it for an hour at a time. But with my schedule right now, that’s not likely to happen. By making the most of those five-minute windows on my phone notes, I’m still making progress on my writing project.

With phone notes and five minutes, you can make progress on your writing project. Photo by Benjaminrobyn Jespersen at Unsplash

With this strategy:

  • I make the most of short windows of time. 
  • My project stays fresh in mind, which means I’m likely to think about it even when I’m not writing. 
  • Those notes are a place to collect my ideas as they come to mind. 
  • I create momentum, which is helpful for any large writing project. 

Focused writing sessions are still important for moving a project along. I try to schedule those as I’m able. But this five-minute strategy helps me keep momentum during busy times.

When you’re working on a long writing project like a book, every bit of writing counts. Bits and pieces expand into chapters over time. It’s great to see that small note expand and finally end up pasted back into the manuscript, a whole paragraph or section done. 

If your life is as busy as mine, your writing time might not seem ideal right now. But you can still make progress, five minutes at a time. 

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Writing Prompt: The Place that Felt Like Summer

Seasonal writing prompts are a helpful way to practice writing and creativity. Sometimes they’re a way to get in touch with potential scenes for your book too. Not every book has seasonal material. But recalling descriptive details has a way of bringing to mind memories, lessons, wisdom, and experiences that may shape a writing project in some way. If not, it’s still great practice that helps stir creativity. 

For this month’s writing prompt, let’s think about summer. It’s all around us, so it’s a natural time to capture those descriptions and feelings.

Your writing prompt is this: Describe a place that has always represented summer to you. 

Maybe it’s a backyard, campground, kitchen, porch, park. Maybe it has to do with friends, family, summer travel, recreation. Whatever that place is, this is your chance to write about it. 

Spend some time writing about a place that felt like summer. Photo by Aleksandr Eremin at Unsplash

Free writing is simply a writing exercise where you start with a prompt and write whatever you want. No grammar, no pressure, no high school English teacher sitting on your shoulder. Just write freely. 

You set a timer for 15 minutes and just keep writing the whole time, whether the words make sense or not, whether they go in a straight line, a circle, or a zigzag. 

For our summer prompt, you can start by thinking of that place that reminds you of summer. List five sensory details describing that place: you can write individual words, sentences, phrases, a list, whatever way you choose to write it. Then keep writing about that place and see where it leads. 

Enjoy the creativity. Enjoy the free time to explore with words and descriptions. Enjoy revisiting the place that felt like summer. 

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Summer Is More than Sunshine: Bringing a Season to Life in Your Writing

We all have summer memories. Some might be good, some bad, some in between. But generally, summer brings memories to the surface because it’s a very distinct time of year. A time of warmth (depending on your hemisphere), a time of freedom (depending on your age and circumstances), a time of exploration, a change of pace, a new way of seeing things.

Summer is more than just months on a calendar. It’s more than a time of year. Summer is a feeling. It’s emotion. Vivid memories. Sounds, sights, textures, scents, tastes. Your readers connect with those sensory emotions. They take your summer experience and weave it into their own memories. They connect around those feelings.

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Writing Prompt: When Everything Went Crazy

You’ve probably had one of those days when it seemed like everything went crazy.

Maybe you were trying to get something done and nothing went right.

Perhaps unusual things were popping up left and right.

Or you just felt surrounded by chaos.

Maybe it was a hard time, or it might have felt comical.

Even in the craziest days, we sometimes find peace, wisdom, direction, or a new outlook.

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Yes, People Will Love to Read Your Legacy Writing

If you’re writing a family history, life story, memoir, or any kind of legacy writing, you might wonder, Will anyone want to read this? I have asked that question too.

But I also know the answer is a resounding yes. How can I be so sure? Because I would love to read anything written by my ancestors. I wish technology had made it possible for them to record their thoughts and insights into their daily lives.

Whenever I find any glimpse into their lives, I am so grateful. Recently, I was delighted to find a newspaper article from March 1924. This article was a gift in so many ways, and I’m so glad the story was preserved.

The news story described a wedding in which many of my family members participated. My grandmother, 25 at the time, played the opening and closing wedding marches on the piano and sang two solos. That alone was amazing to me. I knew she played piano (in silent movie theaters, in a band, and in church), but I never knew she sang. The article shared the names of the pieces she sang and played in the wedding.

I knew my grandmother played piano but, despite growing up with her, I never knew she sang. Photo by Johannes Plenio at Unsplash

As if that weren’t enough of a treasure, the article had more discoveries waiting for me. One of the bridesmaids and the host of the bridal shower was my great aunt Orilla. I never met Orilla, but through Ancestry research, I’ve learned we have a lot in common, including overseas travel for missions.

It amazed me to see that Orilla, who I never met, attended a wedding with my grandmother. They interacted with each other. Knew each other well. That might seem obvious, considering that two months after this wedding, my grandmother would marry Orilla’s brother. But it brought a new kind of awareness for me. When I was a child, my grandmother never told me about that side of the family. Would my grandmother have imagined I would turn out to be so much like Orilla?

The article went on to say that my soon-to-be grandfather and his parents were there—parents of whom I have portrait photos but nothing more. And his nephew, four years old, rode his toy car at the bridal shower, pulling a box of gifts. I could picture this little boy, probably grinning from ear to ear, making his entrance at the bridal shower. Until now, that little boy had just been a name in my Ancestry family tree.

The best was yet to come. I was surprised to read in the article that the eight-year-old usher and ring bearer was my great uncle Ruehl. He was very involved in our family life during my growing-up years. So I remember him as a witty, friendly, older man who was always very kind to me. To picture him as a little ring bearer and usher gave me a glimpse into his childhood.

It was amazing to picture my great uncle as an eight-year-old ring bearer. Photo by Kelly Sikkema at Unsplash

The entire news story changed the people I knew from old to young. And the people I never met changed from names on a family tree into real people living their life together.

I loved finding and reading that news story. I was so grateful for that gift of getting a glimpse into their lives. To see how they knew each other and interacted together. What a blessing.

When you write a family history, life story, memoir, or any kind of legacy writing, that’s exactly the kind of blessing you’re creating for future family members. They will love reading what you share. They will feel a great sense of belonging and family history. And they will feel like they know you a little better, even if they’ve never met you.

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Writing Prompt: What Do You Love about Spring?

Free writing is a great way to practice writing from your heart. It’s a way to keep your inner editor quiet. To enjoy the creativity of writing.

Free writing is just putting pen to paper and writing whatever is on your heart, without hindering yourself. You can go in circles, shift gears, change directions. No restrictions. Just write.

Spring is a great time for free writing. Whether you’re sitting outdoors or observing through a window, you’ll find lots of inspiration in the beauty of spring.

Spring is filled with inspiration for your free writing. Photo by Patrick Shaun at Unsplash

You can describe colors, feelings, textures, sounds, memories. Whatever you feel inspired to write. Don’t edit, don’t delete, don’t put pressure on yourself. Just write.

Our writing prompt for this month: What I love most about spring is …

You can start with that prompt, if it helps, or create your own prompt. You can write about spring or something else.

Sights and sounds of spring can be a great starting prompt for free writing. Photo by Mark Olsen at Unsplash

Don’t overthink it. That’s why prompts can be helpful. You start by writing those first words, and then see where it takes you.

When you’re ready, set your timer for 15 minutes. Start by writing, What I love most about spring is … And then just keep writing till the timer goes off.

As a writer, your creativity will benefit by writing from your heart without self-editing. And your inspiration will grow as you spend time focusing on the beauty of spring.

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Does My Book Really Matter?

At some point, every writer struggles with this question: Does my book really matter? Writing a book is a big thing. It takes time, effort, vulnerability, a willingness to share your voice and insights with others. It’s understandable and very common to suddenly wonder: Why am I doing this? Does it even matter?

First, let me assure you, it does matter. Your book matters. Your story matters. You matter. What you’re writing will make a difference for someone at the time when they need it most.

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Your Story Is Allowed to Be Gentle

Folks often hesitate to write a book because they think their story doesn’t have enough trauma. They worry their story will be boring or meaningless without that dramatic hook.

But a gentle or peaceful book can really hit home with readers who experience plenty of trauma in daily life. What a breath of fresh air to have a story that helps them breathe, redirect, find their way to peace.

Not to say that a book about trauma doesn’t lead readers to peace. It can, and it should. But a gentle story can do the same. The key to an engaging book is not dramatic moments. It’s direction. Know where you’re taking your reader, and guide them along that path of discovery.

Continue reading “Your Story Is Allowed to Be Gentle”