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

Wed Oct 26 19:21:53 UTC 2016

Jackie, that is also very good advice.
We all have times of feeling overwhelmed, and then we just have to focus on 
one thing and begin to work on it - disregard everything else, and just 
begin.
It works. Lynda

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jackie Williams via stylist
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 12:38 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Jackie Williams
Subject: Re: [stylist] Does Anyone Write Daily as a Routine No Matter What's 
Going On?

Bridgit, Lynda,
Such good comments.
AS my son tells me whenever I am overwhelmed-
"How do you eat an elephant?"
"One bite at a time."

Jackie Lee

Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 9:29 AM
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?

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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