Writer

Learn How Writers Do It

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

A treasured pastime, I’ve been reading since early childhood. My mother belonged to the Book of the Month Club, and each month I couldn’t wait to see what selections she’d ordered.

By the time I was a teenager, my sisters and I were devouring books like candy. Instead of plopping in front of the television after school I raced to my room, grabbed my book, and planted myself belly first on the bed. Anxious to find what happened next, I turned to the page I’d dog-eared that morning before hopping on the school bus. I stayed lost among the characters of another world until mom forced me back to reality for dinner or some other household task.

Growing up in a house full of books, the love of words came early and easy. To me, reading was as natural as eating and sleeping. As soon as I finished one book, I picked up another. This small town Southern girl fell in love more than once with characters on a page. Two years ago, I decided to take a more serious approach to writing. Before long, I’d let studying consume all my time and allowed the pleasure of reading to take a back seat.

I’d forgotten how it felt to get lost in a good book. The descriptions so vivid it seemed as if you were standing on the street in the midst of the story. The scenes and dialog creating such tension you found yourself gripping the book cringing, gasping, sometimes crying, or laughing out loud. You couldn’t wait to turn the next page. Then it dawned on me. This is why writers read.

The many magazines and books I’ve read on the craft of writing have given me a wealth of information. They were instructional, explanatory, more like telling” me “How to write.” On the other hand, picking up a classic, best-selling novel, or even a well-written short story, “Shows me how to write.” 

So, I challenge you. Pick up a book for pleasure. Lose yourself in the story. Use the knowledge you’ve gained from the resources on writing, and take the story apart.  How did the author do it? Look at the descriptions, study the dialog, characters, and the plot. After that one, pick up another one. Reading will make you a better writer.

“I love books. I love that moment when you open one and sink into it. You can escape from the world, into a story that’s way more interesting than yours will ever be.” Elizabeth Scott

I’m reading Sister of Silence by Daleen Berry. What are you reading for pleasure? Leave me a comment.

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When You Can’t Think of a New Idea

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

working handWhen you can’t think of a new idea, and it feels as if your mind is running up against a blank wall,what do you do?

It happens to writers no matter their skill or level. There are a zillion reasons why it happens, but sometimes it’s as simple as life overload. It can be very distressing and if you allow it, take the joy out of writing. However, there are easier ways to find new inspiration and reignite your writing.

1. Sometimes reviewing the basics help me remember things I’d forgotten. After looking back over notes and articles important points about character, settings, or plot are once again fresh in my mind, giving me new ideas. Every Writers Resource is currently offering free online writing courses beginning with the basics. The lessons are brief and the assignments get you back to writing in no time.

2. Utilize prompts.Your choice. It doesn’t have to be a link-up or complicated, just write. I like using Oneword, a 60 second prompt with no link-ups, but there are many other sites where you can share the prompt with other writer’s. 750words.com is another site which encourages you to write by  keeping count of the number of words each day. It is completely private and worth checking out.

3. Join a writer’s group. The support you receive from your peers will be invaluable. Whether it’s a group for instruction, writing prompts, guest speakers, or critiques, the support you receive from one another will make you a better and more informed writer.

So, find a way to inspire yourself. This is your chance to tell your story, one word at a time. Happy writing.

 

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The ABC’S Of Writing

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

November is a huge month. We select a new President and a slew of writers of all levels will take on the challenge of NaNoWriMo. Starting November 1st, participants  all over the country will write a complete 50,000-word novel in one month. Oh, how I would love to sign on for the challenge, but the truth is I don’t have the guts nor the time and I’d have be in the land delusion to even try attempt such a feat.

As much as I strive to have a structured time and place for writing, life happens. Over the last year or so many of you have read my resolutions to write a certain number of words per day and each time I gave it my best shot, but for the most part, I fell short. Things  haven’t happened the way I planned. Why? Simple, life happens. I’m not the only person in my universe.

As I read through some of my favorite blogs the other day, I found a number of them to be on the   same issues: How to overcome writer‘s block, become more inspired or tricks and prompts to keep you writing. I read each one with the intention of using their best advice offered. It didn’t happen, life did.

Instead of being productive, I became frustrated. I couldn’t keep up with all the reading, weekly prompts, tweets and blogs, my own writing, writer’s group and family responsibilities. I needed an attitude adjustment.

Joanna Penn from The Creative Penn gives three tips on how she keeps herself from being distracted.

1. Diary scheduling – days scheduled for nothing else but writing.

2. Working out of the Library

3. Setting a timer for ninety minutes -broken into four sessions, per day.

The first one would take an act of congress, divorce, giving my dogs away, or moving out of the country, but occasionally it happens. The second one works, and I’ve been stealing a couple of hours away from home to cut down on distractions. The third one, I’m trying this week. Emails, twitter, and research have a tendency to suck the hours out of a day and I get lost. The timer will be good for me, as long as I don’t reset it.

Life does happen to all of us. It’s unavoidable. We must learn to roll with the punches. It was easier when I was younger and a great multi-tasker, but that was then.

CJ Lyons in her blog No Rules Just Write, offered the best advice. She said there is no secret recipe to writing a good book or story and no one can tell you the right way to write.  Her own secret was “as simple as ABC: APPLY BUTT TO CHAIR”.

Sounds like good advice.

 

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Are You a Writer?

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 7 Comments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day, and took a moment to say, “Thank you” to our military. Without their sacrifices we may not enjoy the privilege to write so freely.

During my long holiday weekend someone asked me a two questions I thought worth sharing.

1.”Are you a writer?”, and
2. “What makes one a writer?”

Their position was clear. One trained to become a writer, completing an apprenticeship of sorts, and at some point down the road, proved their competency as a writer. I pressed, “How would competency be measured?” They were unable to define how.

“Is it after one publishes his/her first book?” I asked.
“What about articles and stories? How many must be published before one can call themselves a writer?”
“Must one make money or be employed in a regular job writing?”
“What about being the author of blogs? Does that count?”

This isn’t a new topic. If you goggle the question, you will discover any number of discussions and opinions on the subject matter. Even the dictionary and wikipedia  list more than one definition, from one who writes a particular text  to how one writes.

Don’t get me wrong, I agreed with some of arguments presented in our discussion. For example, I believe writing is a learned skill. Therefore, continued opportunities to improve one’s writing through classes, conferences, etc should be utilized by all writer’s.

For me personally, I  use a number of avenues to improve my writing. Critique groups where I seek honest and constructive feedback, classes, and subscriptions to writing resources, books and magazines. Everyday I  learn something new. Writer’s come in all shapes and sizes, some with the ability to move us from word one, while others must work harder.

I am not an aspiring writer, although I aspire to be a better writer, and to have my first novel published. I aspire to do many things in this life.

I am a writer because it is how I see the world. I believe words are powerful. They delight, sadden, provoke, and soothe us. They move the world, and influence people, and when one has the courage to put pen to paper, because they want or must share with others,  I call them by their name, Writer.

Shakespeare reminded us long ago the value of a name.

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would not smell as sweet.”

My name is Sheila and I am a writer. What is your name?