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| | When I was 19, between my freshman and sophomore year at UC Berkeley, I had a summer job on campus at one of the libraries.
On purpose, I'd get there at least 20-30 minutes early and sit on a bench outside of the library and write. (The Business and Social Sciences Library in Stephens Hall, to date me, for my Cal Bears friends. Go Bears!)
I wrote whatever came to mind. I wrote my frustrations and my questions. Not many answers at that age yet.
Even though I poured my angst and doubt into my journal, I knew one thing.
I knew I wanted to be a writer and that writers write. It didn't matter that I didn't have anything to say yet. It'd come. It had to come.
I desperately wanted to be a writer.
From my list below, I had numbers 1 and 2 of my power tools down pat, and there I stayed for a few more years.
I share this with you because I instinctively knew that I needed to write, even if I didn't quite yet know what to say.
Now I know with certainty in my early 50s (Wait! What? How did that happen?) that what matters is that you exercise your power as a writer and use the tools you have on hand to write.
As you read this list, ask yourself: - What do I need?
- How can I use the tools on hand?
- How can I bring in the tools I need?
10 Power Tools for Writers
- Timed writing.
My go-to activity to get started. Yes, even 15 books in.
I love setting my timer for 20 minutes and then going to it.
- Journaling / free writing.
Use with timed writing, this is a powerful tool to move forward in tiny steady increments. A client told me recently how he started using this tool and was amazed at his progress.
Timed writing is the fastest way to go from wishing and wanting to doing and accomplishing.
- Creativity tools like dice or cards (Mythulu cards all the way! https://mythulu.com/product-category/core/)
- Accountability buddies, like a critique group, a coach, teacher, editor, early readers, or mentor. Or all of these.
We need a village to be successful writers. Success as defined by YOU.
I have a writing buddy -- thank you, sweetie [ :) ] -- and a critique group, early readers, writing buddies, brainstorming buddies, fans, and supporters. Yes, please and thank you!
- Good tech tools for writing that you love and make the writing feel seamless.
I'm a huge fan of a portable keyboard and writing into Scrivener on my iPhone, or writing with my favorite pen -- a blue Pilot G-2 -- in my Moleskine notebook.
- Software like Scrivener, Word, etc. (Newest find: FadeIn for script writing.)
- Perfect writing environment for you.
I need music and coffee or water and an uncluttered table. Diners and cafes work great for this, or my patio table, or a clean desk in my little office.
What's your perfect writing environment?
- Clarity.
I always sit down with a goal in mind, even if that goal is to free write for 20 minutes.
Or to write 500 words on the next part of the scene.
Or to edit the opening scene of my next Janey McCallister novel coming this fall. (It's on my mind and next in my writing schedule!)
- Belief in myself that my words matter.
Your words matter.
The time you spend on your book is worth it.
The time you invest in cultivating your writer's stance is worth it.
You are worth it because you are you.
- Humility.
We do not know where our ideas come from.
We do not know where life comes from.
I bow my head under the stars of the universe.
I am little to the vastness of it all and grateful I can be a channel to bring my perspective out into the world.
♥
What else? What are your power tools for being a writer? Make your own list. Share some with me. Thanks!
I am grateful to you for showing up here and for showing up for your creative work.
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Have a happy and creative week!
All my best,
Beth
P.S. Speaking of power tools for writers, check out this incredible bundle of writing, publishing, and book marketing tools in the limited-time-only offer: here. Over $6K value for $49. Wow. |
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| | | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Now in its 15th year, this newsletter is a service of my coaching and consulting business, helping genre fiction writers write, market, and publish their books through courses, coaching & consulting, NLP sessions, a 12-month group program, and books to the delight of their readers.
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
c. 2006-2021 Beth Barany, Creativity Coach for Writers, www.BethBarany.com
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| ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, I teach alongside with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
Uncover her Henrietta series here (YA Fantasy) and her Touchstone series here (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance). And her new Sci-fi Mystery here.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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