[stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter What's Going On?

Tue Oct 25 19:18:27 UTC 2016

I think for the story I am trying to work on, I am going to create an outline.
I have always understood why others needed outlines, but used to just like to get  right to it. If I do an outline that  would still be writing, and maybe it would give me some ideas of what I'm going to do with my characters.
Vejas 

> On Oct 25, 2016, at 09:28, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Lynda,
> 
> Really great advice. I particularly like the description of focus on what
> you need to accomplish, step-by-step, to make certain intentions come to
> fruition. I find setting a mental but also tangible, physical goal helps me
> to not become overwhelmed and just work. For example, the thought of
> finishing a thesis for my MFA seems so daunting, but when I think about
> writing 40 pages every 4 weeks, it seems more realistic to creating an
> entire book-length manuscript. I can handle 40 pages in a 4 week time frame,
> helping me to just focus on writing and not get anxious. It keeps me
> grounded to the present, able to keep working.
> 
> Bridgit
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
> via stylist
> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 7:58 AM
> To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Lynda Lambert <llambert at zoominternet.net>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter What's
> Going On?
> 
> Yes, I write every day. But I am a workaholic and Type A personality - so it
> would not even be a possibility that I would not be writing every day and/or
> working in my studio on new art projects for exhibitions.I divide my days
> between writing and making art - I do not do both in a single day, but each
> day I focus on ONE genre.  I also set aside certain days to send work out to
> publishers or editors so that I always have a few pieces "out there."  I
> always say, "If you have not sent out any ships, how can you expect your
> ship to come in?"
> 
> I'll list a 4 activities  that help me stay focused and maybe it might help
> someone here.
> 
> 1.) I use Grammarly as my editor so at the end of every week I get a report
> that tells me how many words I wrote that week,  gives a comparison to the
> amount of words I wrote compared to other writers that week. It also gives
> me the percentage of unique words I used compared to other writers. Another
> point they give is to give the amount of errors and along with that,  it
> gives me the problems and the solutions.  I love this program as it edits my
> work as I go as well.  This is free unless you choose the premium one that
> has a monthly fee. I use the free one. This kind of a program let s you know
> where you stand among other writers who are using Grammarly. I like to know
> where I am and how I am doing. This gives me some insight and an evaluation
> for my progress.
> 
> 2.) I set  INTENTIONS (not goals, intentions are quite different than goals)
> for the year at the end of the previous year. I write them down, and I send
> them out as a prayer.  This is also called "The Dreaming Prayer," which I
> first learned about in the mid-70s when I read the book, "Beyond Ourselves,"
> 
> by Catherine Marshall. (Chapter 11).  So, this became my way of life to set
> my intentions to follow my heart's desire - I just wrote a blog post about
> this recently.
> Doing this set my life on a path that has taken me far beyond my heart's
> desires as I expressed it back then.  Make sure that you set your intention
> for possibilities that you have no way of achieving on your own. Make them
> bigger than you can dream.  Give your heart's desire a voice and wings. See
> what happens.
> 
> 3.) If you are a college or university student, look for every course on the
> schedule that is"writing intensive."  Make sure you take at least one
> writing intensive course every semester. This will force you to be writing
> every day and it will become a habit.
> This is your ticket into grad school if you can show such courses on your
> transcripts - it sets a pattern that you will follow for the rest of your
> life.
> Example: When I applied to grad school for English,  the director of the
> program looked at my transcripts for my BFA in painting and saw that I had
> taken many writing intensive courses in both English and Art History (which
> is totally writing) , and in one moment I was told I was IN the MA program
> due to my intensive writing experience of the 4 previous years. It was my
> ticked into grad school for my MA degree.
> 
> A similar experience  happened when I went on for the MFA (this is a
> terminal degree, not a masters degree) - I was given a full scholarship and
> a large stipend to entice me to come to WVU for the MFA program. I snapped
> it up and turned down the other universities what had accepted me but had
> not offered me the MONEY.  I had set my intention to only go to the school
> that would offer me a scholarship and stipend.
> 
> 
> 4.) Envision your finished product often.  What do you dream about doing in
> your life? Is it to be a writer who is getting published consistently? Is it
> to be at the top of your game in another field? Whatever you want, if you
> set you intentions, you will have it and lots more. Instead of making
> excuses for lack of motivation, turn things around by taking a positive step
> forward into your successful life dreams.  Speak only positive words. We
> will become exactly what we say we are - so make it over the top for that is
> where you want to be. Right?  Do not settle for anything that is not your
> heart's desire.  How can you do this?
> 
> Before you sit down to write anything, take a little bit of quiet time, be
> still, and close your eyes and envision yourself in a future place. Where do
> you want to be?  Example: I  envision my book coming out. I see the cover of
> the book in my mind. I see me holding it and leafing through the pages of my
> newest book. I envision me sharing my stories and poems with others who are
> interested in the aspects of life that interest me. I see myself at book
> signing events. I envision the sign that pictures my book, there at the
> event. Etc. You get what I mean - you have to begin to SEE your stories or
> whatever you want to share, come to life in your mind. What you can
> envision, you will see will take place in your life.
> 
> Example: When I made my first trip to Europe one summer to study art for a
> month, I saw two elderly ladies sitting on the patio of the hotel where I
> was a guest. I inquired about them and learned that they were sisters who
> came to Austria every summer together. They were having a delightful
> afternoon sitting in the warmth of the summer sunshine, and it was clear
> they were living a beautiful life.  At that moment, I set my intention to
> also live this life. I said, inside my head, "I will order my life in such a
> way so that I will also be here every summer, too." And at that moment my
> intention was set. From that moment forward, I thought about that intention
> day and night and I made sure that I did nothing that would interfere with
> my intention. I went on to finish 3 degrees in the areas that I wanted to
> spend my life working in - art and literature.  I resolved that I would
> never do anything that would prevent me having such a life - and within a
> few years, I was in Europe every summer, working as a professor and I was
> writing every day and making art in my studio in Austria.  My point is to
> set your intention on what you think is impossible, then do not allow
> anything to come into your life that will not take you to your dream.
> 
> Example: Last year, I set my intentions for the next few years. One
> intention was to get my book written and ready for publication by the end of
> this year. I outlined what I would have to do every month of the year to get
> to this place. And, right now, my newest book is at the editors and will be
> published before the year ends. I have two more books in the hopper for
> publication next year, and one is even started for publication in 2018.  I
> do the same kind of mind work for my art. I just returned from Kentucky
> where I was recognized  and received an award for my art at the "InSights
> 2016"  exhibition by the American Printing House for the Blind." This was my
> 2nd time to receive recognition there in the past 3 years.
> 
> It is not LUCK, it is intentions. Go for it. Lynda www.lyndalambert.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2016 10:05 PM
> To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter What's
> Going On?
> 
> Writing is about work though. I think we think it's all about inspiration,
> and it is in part, but at some point, you have to just sit and write and
> work things out through the process. It really does take a lot of work. I've
> heard a lot of writers, even published ones, say they don't like the process
> of writing because it is hard work.
> 
> That beginning of Hannah and Emily at the carnival, and one works the
> cakewalk and one spills soda, that's the beginning of something. Just sit
> and work out different scenarios out with Hannah and Emily. Fill out the
> scenes within that idea. That's something you can sit and do daily.
> 
> But again, writing daily doesn't mean you're creating full stories, or even
> working on projects you intend to publish. It simply means you write,
> whatever it may be, whatever it might look like. Try new things, revisit old
> things, but just write.
> 
> Bridgit
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vejas
> Vasiliauskas via stylist
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2016 8:59 PM
> To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter What's
> Going On?
> 
> Barbara,
> Same here. I  typically cannot just open a document and write, I need a
> little nudge with at least some words, but I admire these  who do. It's
> funny but, just like you, I am great at having ideas but it's hard for me to
> always put them into words. They can be very elaborate ideas such as, "Anna
> and Emily are going to go to their school carnival. Anna will be working on
> the cake walk, and Emily is going to spill Coke all over herself." If all of
> writing was just ideas, haha.
> Vejas
> 
>> On Oct 24, 2016, at 17:22, Barbara HAMMEL via stylist 
>> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I don't understand what you mean by open a document and just start 
>> writing. For you that may be easy but I cannot do that. I just sit 
>> there and stare at the blank file and my head stays blank. I have four 
>> stories going and for a while I would write bits in each of them but 
>> lately absolutely zero. I even have a file for ideas, a file for 
>> drafts and a file for finished pieces. (I should say those are folders 
>> with files in them.) Barbara Hammel
>> 
>>> On Oct 24, 2016, at 18:27, Osman Koroma via stylist 
>>> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello all,
>>> First of all, there is no such thing call writer's block!  There is
> always something to write. I write every day except for Sundays. I don't
> always write what Im working on but I write. If your goal is to write every
> day then I suggest you start with a small goal. For example set a goal to
> write 100 word a day and you'll be surprise how much you go over 100. Set a
> time to write each and every day and just open a word document or what ever
> you use and start writing without thinking. U be surprise what comes out.
> Hope this helps.
>>> Please excuse any typos
>>> Osman Koroma
>>> www.osmankoroma.com
>>> www.twitter.com/osmankoroma
>>> www.facebook.com/osmankoromaauthor
>>> 
>>>> On Oct 24, 2016, at 18:49, Miss Thea via stylist 
>>>> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi, Vejas
>>>> I'd like to know this answer too.
>>>> I don't write every day, and I do have some health issues that 
>>>> prevent
> me from being the lean, mean writing machine I'd like to be.
>>>> But I do find that when I start writing, the ideas come.
>>>> I don't know if you were around when I was workshopping my "Lucy and
> Lithe" novel, but I haven't been writing in it for some time.
>>>> Then, my interest revived, I started writing, and re-thought the 
>>>> whole
> concept, even changing the title.
>>>> Now it's going to be a  series. I think I'm working on the prequel.
>>>> It's now called "She's For Andorpha", at least that's my working title.
>>>> For now.
>>>> I also have borderline personality, and sometimes that gets in the way.
> But it can also be useful, because when my interest revives, I write like a
> house on fire.
>>>> Born completely blind, I lack the knowledge of color, landscape and
> other sensory information important to readers. So, I've learned to write
> what I know, and hope if my work reaches the editor stage, that I'll get
> someone who can help me fill in the details.
>>>> Ok, I went way off topic. I don't write every day. I often feel I 
>>>> need a
> break, due to health problems and writer's block.
>>>> But I'm very interested in what daily writers have to say.
>>>> Thea
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Vejas Vasiliauskas via stylist
>>>> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2016 6:34 PM
>>>> To: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
>>>> Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas
>>>> Subject: [stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter 
>>>> What's
> Going On?
>>>> 
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> A friend of mine who likes to write  makes it a habit to do so daily.
>>>> I would really like to do this. I did not write much as an LCB 
>>>> student but have definitely done some more writing  in the past few 
>>>> months, although not as much as I would like to. The problem is that 
>>>> I don't always  know what I would want to write on a given day. For 
>>>> example, for a story I'm working on about 2 friends lives during and 
>>>> after spending time together in a training center, I may not have 
>>>> ideas every single day on what I want to happen. I would just like 
>>>> to know how these of you who write daily keep it up consistently 
>>>> despite writers block Thanks, Vejas 
>>>> _______________________________________________
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