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101 Tips and Ideas for Writing on the Runwww.WritingOnTheRun.com 76. Find the In-Between Times. Write a log of your typical day activities. Include when you get up and go to bed. What activities do you usually do in the morning, afternoon, and evening? When and how long are your meal times? Look for the in-between times when you might find 5 minutes to an hour or two that you could spend writing. 77. What IS Writing? Broaden your idea of what it means to be writing. The typical writing project requires ?think-time," researching, gathering words, phrases, and language, devising imagery, and organizing, planning, structuring the raw material, and looking for markets if you want to publish. Of course, you have to spend solid time actually writing your first draft and revising it but you may be doing more writing than you realized when you accomplish all the tasks that are associated with a writing project. 78. Animal Writing Coach. Is there are pet or animal in nature who brings out the writer in you? Can this animal be your writing "coach," reminding you to take time for reflection and creativity? Our cat Cuddles sits on top of the computer, stretches her body along the length of the monitor, and stares at whoever is writing. It is as if she's saying, "Time to write now. You're not alone. I'll be with you." 79. From the Mouths of Babes. Assistant teach or volunteer in a writing class at your local high school. Listen to what the students are writing. What are their concerns? How do they express themselves? 80. E-Mail Your First Draft of a Dilemma. E-mail your way through life's crises and challenges. Have one or more e-mail writing buddies. Keep the letters you and your friends exchange as you go through the situation. These letters can become the raw material for you to write more about the experience later, if you wish. 81. Great Writers Learn from Great Authors. Listen on an audiocassette tape to the writing of good authors while you are doing mindless activities such as running on the treadmill. 82. E-Mail Writing Buddies. Ask questions via e-mail to other writers about specific plot, character, structure, or marketing issues. 83. One-Page Wake-Up Calls. Write one page each morning as soon as you wake up. 84. One-Page Goodnight Kisses. Write one page each evening prior to going to sleep.? Make it a habit. 85. One-Page Midday Messages. Write one page each lunch break during the workweek. 86. Sundays in the Afternoon with Yourself. Write five pages each Sunday. 87. Out with the Old. In with the Renew. Reduce clutter from your writing area. Add plants and flowers, if these make you feel fresh and energetic. 88. Throw the Bums Out. Eliminate distractions from your writing area such as television, radio, or e-mail access. 89. Discover?Buried Writing Spaces. Reduce clutter throughout your home. Look for additional quality spaces where you could write and/or store writing materials so they are handy all the time. 90. Sacred Writing Spaces. Make a sacred writing space in your home where you can get yourself into a writing mood by lighting candles or listening to calming music. 91. Sensory Deprivation. If you distract easily, use earphones or earplugs. Close the blinds. Type blindfolded. 92. Color Me a Writer. Use different color pens to match your mood or for changing themes or characters. Colored pens are also useful when you write and edit manuscripts longhand. 93. Get Mugged. Place mugs or other containers around your home and work with your favorite pens and pencils. 94. Somewhere in Time. At least once in his or her life, every writer should write with a fountain pen, preferably by candlelight. This transports you into some past, archetypal place and time when writing was revered. 95. Does This Excuse Make Sense? Complete the following sentence: "I don't have time to write because ____________." Read your answers to a spouse or friend. Ask for help in overcoming the time obstacles you believe are preventing you from writing. 96. Law of Vibration. Notice when the people around you are reacting negatively to your desire to write and to the fact that you are getting serious about achieving your writing goals. Talk with them honestly and listen to their concerns about how they are "vibrating" because you (at the center of the universe) are changing. 97. Law of Resistance. Notice the people who are sabotaging your writing. Are there friends or family members who consistently call and deliberately interrupt your scheduled writing time? Who makes snide remarks about or ridicules your writing goals? Have honest discussions about why they are doing this. In some cases, these friends may be experiencing jealousy that you are doing something meaningful and they are not. This may mean that you reevaluate your relationship with envious friends or spend less time with them. 98. Establishing Writing Rituals. Have writing rituals. Put on a certain piece of jewelry or a scarf -- something that signifies that you are now into writing time and space. 99. Switch Gears. Keep your balance and mental and physical health by going for walks, getting fresh air, and exercising. Keep a notebook in the pocket of your workout clothes so you can catch those cloudbursts of creativity you get when you've cleared your mind, switched gears, and aren't pushing so hard for just the right words or ideas. 100. Writing As If. If publication is your goal, start thinking and acting like a published writer. Get your teeth whitened for those television interviews. Start spiffing up your wardrobe. Practice reading your work out loud as you will in bookstore events. Keep a journal about HOW you wrote this book so you can answer questions writers ask of other writers. 101. Pay It Forward. Help other writers. It's really true that you learn what you teach. Consider submitting your own 100-word idea with a 25-word bio about yourself for publication in the "Writing on the Run Tip of the Week" and possible publication in the Anderson's upcoming "Writing on the Run" book. (See Share Your Ideas for details.) Note from Larry James: Read my review of the movie, "Pay it Forward," for a glimpse of my philosophy about "Helping Others Help Themselves!" Click here.
Copyright © - Allen and Linda Anderson. - Reprinted with permission. Allen and Linda Anderson are authors and inspirational speakers who have been married since 1983. For a free subscription to "Writing on the Run" eZINE offering one quick, practical, inspiring, and creative idea each week to help professional and aspiring writers make time and space for writing, send an e-mail to writingontherun-on@mail-list.com or visit their Website: www.WritingOnTheRun.com. If you would like to talk one-on-one with Larry James about issues related to this article, you are invited to arrange for a private coaching session by telephone. Go to Author & Speaker Coaching for specific details and fees.
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