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Archive for the ‘Writing Exercise’ Category
Friday, January 27th, 2012
© 2012 Rose Muenker
The writing process rarely flows smoothly from start to finish. Despite best intentions, big and small obstacles block your way. Some obstacles, such as procrastination, are self-imposed. Other obstacles, such as your computer going kaput, are beyond your control. Regardless of the cause of the obstacle, you can either let it bring your writing to a screeching halt or you can navigate around it with this key writing process technique—know your purpose.
Benefits of Knowing Your Purpose
When you know your purpose, you have a clear vision of why you have taken on this writing project. That well-defined reason guides you, inspires you and restores your resolve when problems occur. Knowing your purpose is essential regardless of the length or type of writing. It applies whether you are writing an article, how-to book, ezine, novel, daily journal, family history, special report or series of blog posts.
What is the purpose of your writing project? To provide solutions to help others live happier lives? Guide you through self-discovery? Enhance your professional credibility? Document your family history? Keep in touch with your clients? Chronicle your travel adventures?
How to Use the Know Your Purpose Writing Process Technique
At the start of each writing project, ask the question, Why am I writing this? Then write down your reason and keep it in sight as a constant reminder.
To reinforce this writing process technique, say your reason out loud each time you sit down to write. When an obstacle pops up before or during your writing session, restate your reason for doing this writing project. This helps push you through the stops and starts of writing a first draft. It gets you to your desk when you would rather take a nap. It shakes you out of doubts about being good enough or smart enough or knowledgeable enough.
Make Your Purpose Compelling
The more compelling your reason, the more it will inspire you to keep charging forward. This becomes especially important when a major obstacle, such as a financial setback, veers you off course. If you find that your reason is not strong enough, start peeling back the layers to find the why beneath the why.
For example, if documenting your family history is your writing project, your reason for writing it might be that the research intrigues and entertains you. That why, or reason, keeps you skirting around and leaping over most obstacles. But when a huge problem blocks your path, you need to dig deep and uncover the why beneath the why. In this case, the why beneath the why might be to leave a legacy for your grandchildren and future generations. This reason is more compelling. It takes on greater purpose.
Conclusion
When you know the purpose of your writing project – your compelling reason – before you start and keep reminding yourself what it is, your writing will flow, skirt hurdles, and climb over any big obstacles that block your way.
Tags: know your purpose, writing process technique, writing techniques, writing tips
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Sunday, December 5th, 2010
General verbs like see, walk and run have their place in preschool books. But after that, they lose their effectiveness.
When you write, use verbs that describe the specific action that is happening. General verbs like walk require each reader to interpret what the action looks like. In contrast, specific action verbs help your readers envision the action that you—the writer—want them to see. You create and control the mood, tone, pulse and rhythm of your writing simply with the verbs you choose.
For example, read through the following sentences:
Mary skipped into the store.
Mary shuffled into the store.
Mary strutted into the store.
Each sentence evokes a different image. By changing only one word—the verb—the action dramatically changes. Your prose comes alive! When Mary skips, your readers see her skipping. As a result, you exert more control over your reader’s experience. And your reader finds the writing more engaging.
Here are some simple steps to help you ensure you use specific action verbs.
1. As you read through your draft, circle each verb.
2. Read your draft out loud and when you come to a verb, envision the action you intended.
3. Ask yourself, does this verb show what I, the writer, see in my mind’s eye?
4. If it does, great. If not, ask yourself, what verbs could I use? Then make a list of the best ones.
5. Read the sentence using each of the verbs. Which verb most closely portrays what you see in your mind’s eye?
6. When you have selected a verb, read the sentence using this verb and ask yourself, is this the best verb I can choose?
7. Continue this process until you feel you’ve made a great choice.
Remember, this is not about perfection. If you search for the “perfect” verb, your writing will never make it into the world. However, when you go through this simple exercise, you will spice up your writing and increase your reader’s appreciation of what you have written.
Tags: action verb, action verb writing exercise, writing exercise
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Friday, November 19th, 2010
What do you call the power within you? I use the all-encompassing word “Source” — hence the name for the writing process I use to tap into it, Writing from Source.
During the inaugural day of the Writing from Source free teleseminar series (November 16), participants shared what they call their power and where they “feel” that power in their bodies.
Some of those names were Instinct, Inner Guide and Strength. Not everyone had a clear sense of where their power resides in their body. But several people felt their power in their heart area. Where is your power located in your body?
Would you like to tap into your power for guidance and solutions? Come join the Survive the Holidays free Writing from Source teleseminar series every Tuesday. The sessions are complimentary. All you need to do is REGISTER.
Tags: writing exercise, writing from source
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Saturday, November 13th, 2010
A power rests within each of us. When we tap into this power, answers to our questions and solutions to our problems become revealed. I use writing to tap into this power.
Through my years of journaling, I have called this power by different names. Intuition. Muse. Inner Voice. Inner Guide The Universe. Spirit. God. Creative Genius. You may call your power by yet another name.
The word that I find all-encompassing is Source. When I am tapping into the power within me through writing, I call that process Writing from Source. And it’s amazing!
While writing from source, I use a variety of approaches. Sometimes I converse with Source. Other times I follow prescribed exercises to reveal insights that lead to guidance, understanding and solutions. Whatever the approach, Writing from Source always brings me peace of mind.
During this holiday season, I am sharing Writing from Source with all who care to discover its benefits through a free teleseminar series. This is a time of year when so many of us face challenging situations around money, loss, melancholy, relationships and obligations. You can get guidance on how to move through these issues through Writing from Source.
Come join me on Tuesdays November 16 through December 28 and Survive the Angst, Stress and Sadness of the Holiday Season with the Guidance and Solutions Revealed When Writing from Source. Attend all the Tuesdays you can.
Tags: benefits of coaching, holiday season, holiday stress, survive holiday season, writing exercise
Posted in Coaching, Life Coaching, Writing Exercise, Writing from Source, Writing Process | Comments Off
Monday, November 8th, 2010
Writers have bemoaned writer’s block for decades. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines writer’s block as “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.”
I say writer’s block is cop-out. It is simply an excuse for resisting the creative process at hand. Yes, we can stall out. Yes, our creative juices can run dry. Yes, fears and thoughts of “not being good enough” can stop us dead in our tracks. But we can choose whether we give into these obstacles or take action to move beyond them.
The key is to move! Go for a walk. Do a puzzle. Play some music. Dance. Motion shakes things up, stirs new thoughts, taps into other perspectives. It gives your creativity a chance to play.
Then sit back down and write! Write everything and anything that pops into your head. Eventually the words will lead back to the writing you were engaged in. And your creativity will flow once again.
You can wallow in the victim’s role of writer’s block. Or you can embrace writing fears and obstacles as messages to take a break, let your creativity play and then get back into writing.
Tags: writer's block, writing tip
Posted in Writing Coaching, Writing Exercise, Writing Tip | Comments Off
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