Time to Write

Could writing more slowly increase the quality of what you write?

A study suggests that typing more slowly increases the quality of your writing. Study participants who typed with only one hand produced essays of a higher quality than when they used both hands.

The study is published in the British Journal of Psychology under the sexy title, "Effects of Disfluency in Writing."

The study's authors suggest that slowing done your writing makes it less likely that you'll go with the first word that occurs to you. Instead, you have time to consider alternatives and use the best one.

Some writers have found the same effect when they do their first draft in handwriting. I've found it to be true when I've used long airplane trips for writing something by hand.

Especially if you find it difficult to reconsider your word choice when doing a second draft, slowing down when you write the first one could be useful.

In any event, it's a useful reminder that faster is not always better.

How to win writing contests

The best way to win writing contests is to write better than everybody else, but there are a few additional tips I can offer.

First, look for contests with narrow qualifying criteria. These can be geographic--for example, in the U.S. there are quite a few contests open only to the residents of individual states. Sometimes there are age limits as well. Here's an example:

The Next Chapter Award
will support an emerging Scottish writer aged over 40 who is yet to publish a full-length work. The selected writer will be offered nine months of mentoring to be arranged by Scottish Book Trust, four weeks on retreat at Moniack Mhor and a £1000 bursary. Applications close 16 May.

and another:

The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition
features a brand new Under 21 Prize, and an increased total prize fund of £5000 now on offer.  Both competitions are open to all writers born in or currently living in Wales. Entries close 16 May.

By way of contrast, here's one with almost no limits :

The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is open to writers from around the world and is known to award top prizes to virtual unknowns and never-been-published writers.There's a first prize of $1500 for stories under 6000 words. The deadline for entries is May 15.

This may well be worth entering, but as they take entries from around the world and there are no age or other restrictions, most likely you'd be up against a large number of competitors.

2. Ask how many entries they usually have. Not many contests list this in their promotional material but some of them will tell you if you ask. 

3. Take the entry fee into account. A high fee limits the number of entries especially if the money prize is low. Normally that's a good reason to avoid entering, but if there is another benefit (e.g. a residency, meetings with agents, etc.) and you feel you have a strong entry it may be worth going for it. 

4. Read and follow the rules carefully. This sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many people don't adhere to the required word count, for example.  

5. Consider contests which require entries on a particular theme or mentioning a location, etc., like this:

Tell It Strange Essay & Story Contest
is for entries up to 1000 words written in response to one of three selected Annie Proulx quotes. First prize is US$1000, publication in The Writer magazine and a creative writing workshop in New York City or online by Gotham Writers Workshop. Entries close 31 May.

For more generic contests, people will dig up something they've already written. Responding to a more specific topic or style usually means sitting down and writing something new, and fewer people will put in that effort. 

Good luck!

 

 

Writers' (and others') success factors: 2 - stop procrastinating

We all do it, right--procrastinate? I'm writing this blog post when probably I should be working on my tax return right now. I tell myself that at least I'm doing something useful in place of the most important thing, that's better than watching TV, right?

Well, up to a point. But when we do that for too long it catches up with us. When the most important thing we could be doing isn't getting most of our attention, we suffer the consequences. 

I've written lots of posts about how to overcome procrastination and a fair share of the time I'm able to do it myself, but there's plenty of room for improvement. Here's what I've found that works:

1. Chunking down the big tasks into small pieces and committing to doing at least one small piece per day. Sometimes that results in momentum that carries you past your commitment. For instance, deciding you'll write at least 500 words in a session may get you into the flow enough that you end up writing two or three times that many.

2. Making a commitment to somebody to whom it would embarrass you if you had to admit failing to do the task. Right now the members of my Massive Action Day group and I have entered into a pact to choose one thing every day that we have been avoiding and do it--and tell each other about it (or about not doing it, if that's the case). I'm only on Day 4, but so far so good. (If you want to find out more about Massive Action Days and our group, see www.MassiveActionDay.com--if you sign up for the annual plan you also get 24/7 access to our group chat room 365 days a year.)

3. Keeping track of your success.

4. If you fail on one day, starting over again the next day. 

That's it, there's no magic and the temptation to put off what is dificult, boring, or risky will never go away--but you can overcome it every day and reap the rewards.

(This article was inspired by a lifehack post. You'll find many creative ways to manage your time better in my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done." It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)

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Writers' (and others') success factors: 1 - take responsibility

I was impressed by a blog post at Lifehack.org called 13 Reasons Why You Will Not be Successful.

I understand that it was phrased that way to capture attention but I prefer to turn them around to the positive and to relate them specifically to writing or other creative endeavors. 

1. YOU ACCEPT RESPONSIBLITY

I don't think I'm a whiner but when I pay attention to what I say I do hear myself complaining more than I want to. Recently an online venture went wrong. It's easy and not entirely incorrect to blame it on my partner on that project, but it's not the most productive thing to do. There's a great saying I forgot:

"Don't expect. Inspect."

In other words, don't assume that others will do what they are supposed to do or even what they have said they will do.

In this instance when I ask myself what I could have done that would have prevented the problem, I can't honestly say 'nothing.' I could have confirmed and checked and insisted, and I didn't. 

Looking at this in the context of writing, if we are not successful it's easy to blame the economy, agents or publishers, the poor taste of readers, and on and on. But ultimately it's up to us to find a way to write that gets people excited, without giving up our integrity. If we can't do that we are lacking an essential skill and we have to take responsibility for acquiring it...or finding something else to do with our creative drive.

When I take a hard look at various aspects of my life I can find a number of things for which I haven't accepted full responsibility...how about you?

ps: Maybe "You are willing to take a hard look at your life," should actually be the first reason that you will succeed. 

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You can't fail, unless you do this. (Last in a series of ten)

This is the tenth and final post in a series of ideas about creative success. The good news is that there's only one way to fail:

10: THE ONLY WAY TO  FAIL

You can fail only if you stop.

If on the last day of your life you still aren’t on the N. Y. Times best-seller list or your blog has only 99 passionate followers, or you never quite got the hang of rhyme scheme, so what?

If you believed in what you were doing, you probably had a hell of a ride.

That’s what it’s all about.

Isn't it?

I welcome your comments about this or any of the other ideas in this series.

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

 

Failing is not fun. But it (usually) won't kill you.(9th in a series)

This is the penultimate of ten facts about the creative process that I think are worth knowing. This one is about failing:

9: FAILING FEELS CRAPPY

Motivational speakers make it sound like failing is noble.

It sure doesn’t FEEL noble.

They claim Edison said something like, ‘I didn’t fail 1000 times to find a workable light bulb filament, I just eliminated 1000 ways not to do it so that I could find the one that worked.’

That quote worked only after he'd found the way that did work. I bet around the 700^th try he threw that bulb to the ground, stomped on it, took a stiff drink and yelled at his wife.

Yes, we have to deal with disappointing results and rejection, but we won’t like it.

On the other hand, most of the time it won't kill us (experimenting with explosives might be an exception). 

Knowing that failing sucks is good. It still won't be any fun but at least it won't be a surprise that you don't feel noble. 

You may feel like retreating to your bed for an extended period of time. A man I knew did that for six months. No kidding. His wife took him his meals but he didn't talk to her. One day he got up and made his own breakfast and started talking again. The next day he went back to work. 

My version used to be to start planning to move to a Greek island. Ideally a sparsely-populated Greek island. I'd plan to be a hermit.

By the time my plans were coming together I'd start to feel better. Eventually I'd feel ready to think about whether I could do something different to try to achieve whaterver it was I'd failed to do.

So far I haven't moved to a cave. Probably you won't have to, either.

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

If at first you don't succeed with your writing, don't try, try again! (8th in a series)

This is the eighth in a series of ten ideas about how to bring your creativity into the world. What if your first attempt doesn't work out? That's OK but forget about the old "try, try again" adage. Here's why:

8: IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, DON’T TRY, TRY AGAIN

At least don’t try the same thing again and again.

Hit yourself on the head with a hammer (you may imagine this instead of doing it if you prefer).

How did it feel?

Do you think it will feel any different if you do it again?

If you do, go ahead. How about now?

If at first you don’t succeed, try something different.

Continue until you find the method that gives you the results you really want.

Hey, it's  a formula for success that really works!

Why don't more people do this? Probably because whatever we've done before is familiar. It's easier than trying something new. Sure, it doesn't work but we know how to do it, so let's try it again. You never know.

Except that you do.

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

Want to write a book or create something? The 2nd best time to start. (7th in a series)

This is the 7th in a series of ten important (in my opinion) principles about doing creative work. Today's is short and semi-sweet, designed to stir you to action if the previous post didn't:

THE SECOND BEST TIME TO START

The best time to start doing your creative project is ten years ago.

Look at the clock.

What time is it?

That’s right, the second-best time to start.

If you don't know where to start, check the previous post. It mentioned what a writer could do to start. A painter could draw some thumbnail sketches. A musician could jot or record some sounds.

You know what you could do, don't you? Well, now you also know the (second) best time to start!

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

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Your creative project: Is it the right time? (6th in a series)

This is the sixth in a series of ten things about creativity that I think are of crucial importance. This one is about being ready to start your creative project. 

6: READY, FIRE, AIM

Many creative people are waiting for the right time to get started on their book or their painting or their whatever. They want to be sure they have all the resources they need. 

The bad news first: It may never be exactly the right time, and you may  never feel you have all the resources you need. 

The bad news: It doesn't matter. Get started, see what happens, adjust, persist.

The first step? Anything. 

For instance, let's say you're a nurse and you have a vague idea of writing a book about a nurse but you're not sure that you have the time, or that you know enough to write a novel, or that anybody would want to read it. Here are a few things you could do (if you don't want to write about a nurse, adjust these as necessary):

* Come up with a name for your main character.

* Take notes. Lots of notes. Jot down any ideas that come to mind, even fragments. Interesting patients, problems at work, conflicts that come up (conflicts are good, at least for a writer). Don't rush into trying to figure out your plot.

* Think about what conflicts this nurse experiences that could be interesting for a reader. For instance, could it be about a nurse who is overruled by a doctor but gets blamed when the patient dies? Or could it be about a nurse who suspects a doctor or another nurse of being responsible for a series of deaths at their hospital? Or a nurse who falls in love with a patient and marries him, only to find that he no longer wants her to follow her profession? Each one of these automatically suggests new characters.

* When you have a general idea of a story, try writing short scenes. Don't wait until you have a big block of time, just start. You will find that soon new ideas start being attracted to you. The more ideas you have, the more will show up. 

* Don't think you have to start at the beginning. If you have a scene in mind for the middle or the end, write that one. Then work backward or forward.

* Don't worry if it's not perfect. First drafts are supposed to be bad. Keep going. Later you can get feedback and rewrite, for now just get on with it. Tell your inner critic to shut up.

Pretty soon you will find that although it's not the perfect time to write, you're writing. Congratulations!

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

Want creative success? Crazy is the first step! (5th in a series)

In this series I'm sharing what I consider to be ten essential truths about creativity (taken from my Creativity Manifesto, published in the book, Creativity Now). Today: you've had an idea...it's crazy but it might just work!

5: CRAZY IS THE FIRST STEP

Every breakthrough is considered a crackpot idea at first.

Of course, some ARE crackpot ideas.

You can’t tell the difference until you transform the idea into something real. 

Just about every breakthrough idea seemed impractical or even crazy at first. Usually it was the perseverence of one person that brought the idea to life and, in some cases, changed the world.

Of course there is the possibility that your idea will indeed turn out to be unworkable. It may be ahead of its time. Or behind its time. Or something that will never have a time. That risk comes with being a creative person--or, rather, a creative person who takes action instead of just thinking.

Thinking without action is fun. It's called daydreaming. For most people, that's as far as they go. Then,when somebody else actualiy creates something similar, they enjoy telling their friends they had that same idea. Quite likely they did. What they didn't have is the drive and the willingness to take a risk and work hard to put that idea into action. That's why the person who did gets the attention, praise, and (sometimes) fortune, and they don't. 

If you believe your idea is worthwhile, don't let it be just a daydream. Make it happen. It might be crazy or it might be crazy good.

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

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Find one person who believes in you (4th in a series)

In this series I'm sharing what I consider ten key things about creativity. You've probably heard the saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, getting a following of people who appreciate (and perhaps buy) what you create beings equally modestly.

4: FIND AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN YOU

It helps to have a champion, somebody who believes in you.

Your belief in yourself generates 1 unit of self-confidence. You plus a champion generate 100. (Psychology math is different.)

When I started out as a TV and film writer it was my now dear friend Rose Berman who did that for me. A little later it was an old-time, mostly retired producer named George Bilson. My best friend since college days, Bob Cochran, has always believed in me (and vice-versa). Going back farther, a teacher named Mrs Drake made me feel worthwhile at a time when I really needed it.

You probably have a few people like that in your life--at least I hope you do. Sometimes as we get older we lose those champions, or we get involved in a new arena and feel insecure about whether we can succeed. 

I suggest you thank your old champions and find one or two new ones. They make the journey a lot more enjoyable. Of course you can also play that role for others; I try to do it with this blog and with my books, as well as for a few people I know, and it's very rewarding when I hear it's made a difference.

(My book, Creativity Now, helps you develop a mindset that favors creativity, shows you methods for generating more ideas, gives you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspires you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

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What if not everybody likes what you write? (They won't!) - 3rd in a series

In this series of posts I'm sharing what I consider ten truths about creativity. It's a common fear that a lot of people may not like what we create. Guess what? It doesn't matter if 99% of potential customers hate it, as long as 1% love it.

FEWER THAN 1% OF PEOPLE HAVE TO BUY WHAT YOU DO

Not everybody wants to profit financially from their creative activity, but if you do, one person out of a hundred buys what you offer you’ll have more than 3 million sales.

In Great Britain that would be about 600,000.

If you happen to live in China, you’re really in luck. 

The internet makes it easy for the haters to express their dislike of what you create. Fortunately it also makes it easy for those with more discerning tastes to find your product and buy it.

It's natural for creative people to focus on the negative. I've taught large classes and if I had 99 compliments and one complaint I'd focus on the latter. Now I consider any complaints, see whether I can learn something from them or remedy them, and then put them out of my mind. 

From now on, put your attention on finding that one percent, or half-percent or .01 percent who will love what you do. You'll make them happy and yourself happier as well.

(My book, Creativity Now, can help you develop a mindset that favors creativity, show you methods for generating more ideas, give you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspire you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

 

 

How long does it take to be a successful writer? (2nd in a series)

In the previous post I suggested that you create your own definition of success, but if by success we mean getting published or finding an audience for your creative outlet, especially a paying audience, how long does it take?

2. COMMERCIAL SUCCESS CAN TAKE ONE YEAR OR ONE HUNDRED YEARS

J. K. Rowling got there fast.

Van Gogh didn’t.

Even finding one hundred passionate followers can take time.

Don’t define the journey only by the outcome. Also consider what you are learning about your craft, about yourself, and about the world. 

You can't force yourself not to think about commercial success, but by looking at the process in a larger context you can stop yourself from obsessing about it. And, as we know, often it's when you're no longer desperate for something that it appears.

(My book, Creativity Now, can help you develop a mindset that favors creativity, show you methods for generating more ideas, give you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspire you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

 

 

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What's your definition of writing success? (Here's a weird idea...first in a series)

Starting with this post and over the next nine I'm sharing with you 10 essential truths (as I see them) about creative success. They form the Creativity Manifesto I included in my book, Creativity Now.

1. SUCCESS IS WHAT YOU SAY IT IS.

If getting to number one on the N. Y. Times best-seller list makes you happy, great.

If writing a blog that 100 people follow passionately makes you happy, or writing one poem a night that nobody else ever sees, that’s what success is for you.

It’s your brain, your heart, your life—don’t let anybody hijack it with their definition of success.

(Creativity Now can help you develop a mindset that favors creativity, show you methods for generating more ideas, give you tools for translating your ideas into action, and inspire you with case studies of how others have achieved their creative goals. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

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52 Tips for Writing Success: don't stay stuck!

If you get stuck in the middle of writing your book or screenplay, don’t give up and don’t be tempted by the lure of starting a different story. That one will also have a difficult middle. Instead, use the first two methods below to get into a constructive state of mind, and the third to solve your story problems. 

Go back to the basics

Remember what you wanted this project to be, what would make it special for readers, what you would enjoy about writing it. It’s easy to lose sight of these when you’ve been writing for a while and encountering obstacles. Reconnecting with your initial drive will revive your enthusiasm for the project and give you new energy for solving the problems. (There's more about these questions here.)

Feed your head

Take a short break and read or re-read works by the writers you admire most. Revive your love for the written word.

Write or rewrite an outline

If you didn’t write an outline because you wanted the freedom to write the story as it occurred to you, now may be the time to re-think that. Spontaneity may have taken you as far as it can, and now it’s time for a bit of left-brain analysis. 

Start with the big picture: write one sentence about the beginning, two or three about the middle, and one about the end. Then expand those to a paragraph for the start and end and two to three about the middle. Develop the outline as far as you think will help you the most. 

If you did write an outline, it’s possible that writing the story to its middle has revealed some flaws or weaknesses in the structure. Rather than fiddling with the existing outline, follow the same process described in the previous paragraph. Don’t be bound by what you’ve already written, be led by what works best.

(If Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Robert Louis Stevenson and many other classic and modern writers were able to give you writing advice, would you be interested? You'll find it in my newest book, "Your Creative Writing Masterclass." It's published by Nicholas Brealey and you can get it now from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)

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