Friday Speak Out!: Try These Five Fun Writing Prompts

by Rochelle Melander

When my writing feels stale or I get stuck in the middle of a narrative, sometimes an intriguing structure or format will help me approach my story in a new way. I’ve used the following five formats with my Dream Keepers Writing Circles for years—and perhaps they’ll help you get inspired to write now!

1. Life list. For years, coaches and other life management professionals have encouraged people to write their life lists—50 or 100 things they want to do before they die. But that future focus might not be quite right for you. Use my student’s idea and write about the 50 challenges of your life. Or perhaps you’d rather write about strengths—list 50 of your biggest or least known accomplishments. If you’re writing a novel, create a life list for one or more of your characters. 

2. Protest document. Maybe it’s because I grew up Lutheran, but I’ve always been intrigued by Martin Luther’s The 95 theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, his protest document against the church. Luther’s act of posting the 95 Theses on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany ignited the Protestant Reformation. No doubt you or one of your characters has something or someone to protest? Write it, post it—and see what happens next. 

3. Policies and Procedures. Many of my colleagues earn their incomes writing technical documents, like policy and procedure manuals. I’ve often wondered if there are individuals who write policy and procedure manuals for their homes or families. (It sure would save a lot of time if I could answer the questions my children ask with, “Check the manual!”) If you’re not sure what to write next and are itching for some fun, write a policy or procedure document for an event or activity in your life. 

4. Lab Report. I envy scientists, with their experiments and data and formats for reporting the information. It all seems so concrete. Sometimes I fantasize about creating a hypothesis and running an experiment about why my daughter leaves her dirty socks all over the house. What do you need to track in your life? Does one of your characters have a hypothesis they need to test out? Can you or they create an experiment and then write up a lab report? For a lab report template, check online. 

5. Tall Tale. I love tall tales because you can throw in elements that are wildly improbable and exaggerate just about everything, and it all seems to fit. When I am struggling to write a scene, sometimes writing it in a different genre—like a tall tale—can help me discover the essential elements of the scene. Then, I can go back to the beginning and write the scene in the genre I am working in. When I’m thinking about my own life, a tall tale can help me laugh and gain perspective.

Your turn: What writing formats have helped you break through blocks and write more?
* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

2 comments Friday Speak Out, Rochelle Melander, tips for writers, writer inspiration, writing prompts

Friday Speak Out!: Are You Writing at the Wrong Time of Day?

by Rochelle Melander

"The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing."—Joshua Harris

According to scientific research, our bodies peak for physical, social, and intellectual tasks at specific times of day. Researchers offer broad suggestions about when we do best at various activities. For example, many of us do well at intellectual tasks during the late
morning while we excel at creativity in the evening when we are tired and more open to new ideas.

But even scientists admit that peak working times are different for each of us. Though some people can be classified as early birds or night owls, many people don’t fit easily into any category. As a writing coach, I encourage clients to examine their own life in order to discover when they write best. Here’s how:

+For the next two weeks, try working at different times of day. Keep a journal of your work. For each session, note the time, where you are writing, how the writing went, and any important external details. Additional details might include preparing beforehand, working in a quiet house, or trying to meet a deadline. Did you feel engaged? Creative? Did you experience flow or did you encounter blocks?

+Review your writing journal. When did the most productive writing sessions occur? When did your second best writing sessions happen? Did anything besides time of day contribute to your productivity?

Once you know when you write best, schedule your writing during those times of the day. Keep your second-best times as a back up for those gnarly days when your precious time gets taken up by drama or you need the extra hours to complete assignments.

What I learned from my writing journal: I’m a morning writer. I’ve always believed that if I squander those early morning hours, I’m done for the day. But after reading this article in 2012, I played with my schedule. I wrote at different times of day just to see if I could be productive at other times of day. I was surprised and delighted to discover that I enjoyed drafting work in the afternoon and evening. But I also found that I had a hard time polishing work at night—I was too tired. I encourage you to play with your writing schedule, too. You might find enough extra time to finish a new novel this year!

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the 
Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

1 comment Friday Speak Out, morning person, peak times, Rochelle Melander, time of day to write, writing schedule, writing tips

Friday Speak Out!: Sick? Stop Writing and Rest!

by Rochelle Melander

Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day.—Norman Mailer

I’ve read and shared this quote from Norman Mailer multiple times. He gives good advice: real writers work even when they don’t sleep well, the kids get sick, and the basement floods.

But still, sometimes you’re just too sick to write. Instead of beating up on yourself—I should be making progress on the novel, Stephen King would be writing, I’m such a loser—give yourself a break! Instead of writing, try this:

1. Sleep. Rest helps you to recover faster. At least that’s what my mom used to tell me. Plus the dreams you have when you are sick are wacky and fun. Jot down the best dreams and use them for inspiration next time you have writer’s block.

2. Have a Film Fest. I rarely get a chance to lie in bed and watch movies. This week, I plan to work my way through my Netflix queue. Next time you have a free moment, make  list of everything you’d like to watch. Next time you are sick, tired, or just in need of some inspiration, you’ll be prepared! Sit back and enjoy.

3. Read. I’ve always got a stash of books to read, and that’s what I’m planning to do this week. Keep a stack of books you want to read “someday.” Next time you get sick or snowed in, you’ll be prepared!

4. Take notes. Being sick gives you way too much time to think…and worry! Instead of tormenting yourself, take your journal to bed and jot down your writing ideas.

5. Surf the net. I spend so much time on the computer for work, I rarely have time to seek out great blogs, resources, and other tools for myself and my clients. What do you long to know more about? Make a list of all the information you’d research online if only you had the time. Next time you have the time, you’ll know what to search for!

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional 
coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

3 comments Friday Speak Out, illness, Rochelle Melander, writer inspiration, writing tips

Friday Speak Out!: Write What You …, Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

You’ve heard the advice:

Write what you know. —Mark Twain

Write what you don’t know about what you know. —Eudora Welty

Others say, write to discover what you don’t know.

Whatever.

How about this: write what delights you.

Every so often, I come across a book that’s just plain delicious.
I felt that way when I discovered Alan Bradley’s delightful series
of mysteries featuring 11-year-old scientist and sleuth Flavia de Luce.
I loved the character and her adventures. Or Lisa Lutz’s book
The Spellman Files about a dysfunctional family of sleuths.

What about you? What delights you? Who would you love to
spend time writing about? Make a list of novel elements that
delight you. Consider:

Genre

Character

Setting

Time Period

Plot

Point of View

Added Value (This is often the stuff that makes a book rich and
fun for you. It may not fall into the categories above. For example,
I love books that have recipes in them—like the novel Bread Alone.
I may never use them, but it’s fun to imagine.)

Once you make your list, put it away. Let your subconscious think
about the book you will write this year. As ideas show up for you,
take notes.

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

4 comments creative inspiration, Friday Speak Out, Rochelle Melander, what to write

Friday Speak Out!: What Veteran Writers Know, Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

Hold onto your keyboards, people. I’m about to reveal the secrets of veteran writers. Once you know these, you’ll have no more excuses. You will have to write that report or book or article. So, read on at your own risk. Oh, and readers, if reading this article wrecks the calm state of your non-writing life by hauling you out of bed at five every morning to write, well: I don’t want to hear about it. I warned you.

1. You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
—Jack London.

I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every writer who said something like, “I’ve got plans for a big book. I’m just waiting to be inspired to write it.” I only get inspired to eat chocolate and drink wine. I don’t get inspired to write or exercise. NEVER. Inspiration happens when I’m writing. Go and do likewise.

2. Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed.
—Ray Bradbury

A bookseller once said to me, “I don’t think you have an unpublished thought.” He was wrong. I have tons of unpublished thoughts. I also have an attic stacked with boxes of unpublished manuscripts. Writers write a lot. Not everything gets published. Nor should it. But the key to this lesson is this: your writing gets better with practice. So keep at it.

3. Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer.
—Barbara Kingsolver

Many writers are doomed by the fear of what others will think or say about their writing. They don’t want to offend their family, their colleagues or their old English teacher. If you’re going to write anything worth reading, you need to write what you think. Lots of people can write but no one else brings your particular set of experience, education, and imagination. Stop worrying and write what you want to read.

4. The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.
—John Steinbeck

So it’s a beautiful fall day, maybe the last before winter starts, and you’re crouched over your laptop at the local coffee shop writing about the mating behaviors of turtles. You keep your butt in the chair by believing that someone’s life will be bettered by knowing this information, and you are the one to deliver it. Believe me, writers—you need the kind of blind faith and tenacity Steinbeck talks about to finish writing anything. Believe in yourself and what you have to offer the world.

5. I can't write five words but that I change seven.
—Dorothy Parker

Veteran writers rewrite. They take a look at their precious words and their favorite phrases, and they slash the ones that don’t work. If you’re going to write well, you need to learn that the first draft is only the beginning.

Okay, readers. Now it is your turn. Go out and write.

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write fast, get published, establish credibility, and navigate the new world of social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com and sign up to be a member of her Write Now! Mastermind class for professionals at http://www.writenowmastermind.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

4 comments 'Quotes on Writing', Friday Speak Out, Rochelle Melander, writer inspiration

Friday Speak Out!: Approaching Success or Avoiding Failure?, Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

 People with goals succeed because they know where they're going.
—Earl Nightingale

Right before Thanksgiving, I signed up for the Y’s annual Holiday Trimmings Challenge. Members who participate try to maintain their weight over the holidays. When I weighed in, it was clear that the sedentary tasks of writing and marketing my book had taken its toll. Despite exercising regularly, I had gained weight.

I vowed to lose the weight by the New Year weigh in. I knew what I had to do. As I walked and ran on the treadmill, I repeated my goals like a mantra: “Stop drinking wine. Give up sugar and bread. No more chocolate. Give up bread. Lose the afternoon lattes. I should exercise harder to avoid gaining any more weight.”

For the next week, all I could think about was the stuff I’d given up. When I wasn’t thinking about my NaNoWriMo project, I was craving bread, sugar, a latte, chocolate and wine—in any order and a lot of it. Thankfully, I had not cleaned out the cupboards. We still had Halloween candy, and I had a secret stash of NaNo chocolate.

Shortly after National Novel Writing Month ended, my coaching brain woke up and reminded me: avoidance goals rarely work. People who set avoidance goals don’t perform well. In addition, people who set avoidance goals are more anxious and less happy. They experience a decreased self-esteem, personal control, and vitality.

As writers, our avoidance goals tend to be something like these:

*I will sell a book this year so that I can finally get out of my dead-end job.

*I will not participate in social media until I have written three query letters.

*I need to stop watching so much television at night and write more.

All three of the above goals focus on avoiding something. We do better when our goal helps us approach a desirable outcome rather than avoid an undesirable outcome. But do not fret dear writers. Change the wording a bit (Hey! You are good at that!), and create an approach goal. The three goals above become:

*I will work for ten hours a week to sell my book to an agent or publisher so that I can achieve my dream of becoming a full-time writer.

*I write three query letters a day and then reward myself with time on social media.

*I will write for an hour when I get home from work so that I can achieve my goal of finishing my book.

When we phrase our goals as approach goals, we automatically increase our chances of achieving them. When we set an approach goal, we know what steps we need to take to be successful—contact ten agents, write three query letters, write for an hour. Thus, we can more easily manage our work towards achieving the goal. Also, when we work toward achieving an approach goal, we focus on the positive actions we can take versus the negative ones we must avoid. This increases our sense of well-being. In other words, we feel better and do better.

As for me, I’ve revamped my wellness goals. I’m no longer worrying about avoiding wine and chocolate. Instead, I am concentrating on the good treats I can add to my menu: fruits, vegetables and dark chocolate. I’m also working toward some fun fitness goals, which is much more fun that running to avoid gaining weight! As you think about your 2012 writing goals, consider setting approach versus
avoidance goals. You will know where you are going and increase your chances of success. (And have more fun!)

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander teaches professionals how to write faster, get published, establish credibility, and navigate the new world of social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com and sign up to be a member of her Write Now! Mastermind class for professionals at http://www.writenowmastermind.com .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

1 comment Friday Speak Out, Rochelle Melander, set writing goals, setting goals, writer inspiration

Friday Speak Out!: Being a Real Writer!, Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day.
--Norman Mailer

I live in a college neighborhood. On any given night, I can hear the voices of partying college students until into the wee hours of morning. Most days, the neighbors blast their music at a decibel beyond my comfort level. As I write this tip, I have both kids home with me. One is in the back room, just a few feet from my office, watching television while she gets her early morning bolus of Pediasure. My son bops in and out of my office with questions about the day, the week, the universe and rock music. I have five of these tips to write before we leave for vacation. I hope to get at least two done today, despite the noise. No problem. Really.

It used to be that a little noise felled me. Poor sleep and constant interruptions gave me good excuses not to write. Almost any distraction could give me a fresh case of writer's block. No more. This summer, I decided to take a no excuses approach to writing. I write at least twenty minutes a day, five days a week. Whether I write writing tips, scenes for my new novel, or a poem--I write daily. No matter what. This commitment to no-excuses writing has cured writer's block for me. (No kidding!)

Writers write. You do not need the perfect office space, a huge stretch of time, or complete silence. All you need is twenty minutes and the desire to put words to paper no matter what. No excuse is good enough to keep you from writing what is inside you. My challenge to you this week, dear readers: accept no excuses from yourself. Write every day no matter what. Make writing something you do without bother or brouhaha, like brushing your teeth or having breakfast. Once you can manage that, you'll be the "real writer" Mailer talks about.

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander supports people in writing to transform their lives and businesses. If you're ready to establish credibility, make more money, and market your work by writing a book, blog, or Web site, get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"?
Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

4 comments Friday Speak Out, Rochelle Melander, writer inspiration

New Year Dreams, Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

New Year Dreams

by Rochelle Melander

"Not easy to find the balance, for if one does not have wild dreams of achievement, there is no spur even to get the dishes washed. One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being."
—May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude

People who record their dreams and goals are better able to achieve them. They are also happier and healthier. Record your visions, dreams, and goals for the New Year. Sometimes the best way to do this is to complete a sentence repeatedly until you run out of ideas. It may take five minutes (or more) to discover what you really want.

Try completing these sentences:

*In the New Year, I want to give up . . .


*In the New Year, I want to take on . . .


*In the New Year, I will write about . . .


*In the New Year, I will rock my life by . . .


*In the New Year, I will strengthen my body and spirit by . . .


*In the New Year, I will work to change my world by . . .

A word of warning—this kind of dreaming can change your life! Try it and see what happens.

* * *

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander teaches professionals how to write faster, get published, establish credibility, and navigate the new world of social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com/ and sign up to be a member of her Write Now! Mastermind class for professionals at http://www.writenowmastermind.com/.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>> Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read More »

Leave a Comment Friday Speak Out, New Years Resolutions, New Years writing Resolutions, Rochelle Melander