When you’re writing a book, you always want to keep your ideal reader in mind, from first draft to self-editing phase. But the focus on the reader is slightly different between those two stages, and you need both.
Continue reading “Writing for Your Reader Happens Twice”Writing Prompt: A Favorite Summer Memory
When you’re writing about memories, it’s often easier to remember events or life moments associated with a particular season. If someone says “childhood summer,” certain images or events may come to mind. Or key words about summer may prompt a memory: school vacation, travel, recreation, friends.
Sometimes memories are good, sometimes not. Even good memories may feel fuzzy at first, where you can only recall a few details. Other memories might be as vivid as if they happened yesterday.
Whether or not your current writing project includes memories, seasonal memories make great free writing exercises.
Continue reading “Writing Prompt: A Favorite Summer Memory”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.
Continue reading “When You Only Have Five Minutes to Write”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.
Continue reading “Writing Prompt: The Place that Felt Like Summer”15 Minutes Is Enough to Keep Your Book Moving
Summer is a busy season. Different schedules, new activities, vacations, kids home from school. It’s often hard to find time to write, especially if you’re working on a book.
But you can make consistent summer progress by just writing 15 minutes at a time.
Continue reading “15 Minutes Is Enough to Keep Your Book Moving”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.
Continue reading “Summer Is More than Sunshine: Bringing a Season to Life in Your Writing”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.
Continue reading “Writing Prompt: When Everything Went Crazy”Questions Can Prompt Life Story Memories
Writing about your memories is such a blessing for your family and future generations. Whether you’re writing a memoir, life story, annotated photo essays, or a blog, your stories will be meaningful. But where do you start? How do you capture highlights of a life in 100 or so book pages or blog posts?
Continue reading “Questions Can Prompt Life Story Memories”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.
Continue reading “Yes, People Will Love to Read Your Legacy Writing”Writing Prompt: What Do You Love about Spring?
Freewriting 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.
Continue reading “Writing Prompt: What Do You Love about Spring?”
