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Sometimes, you have to leave your comfortable home office setup and head to a coworking space to get into the right headspace for writing.

I've been having trouble getting into the mood to write in my current writing space. I've been assessing what is causing the problem - too comfortable, too quiet? Do I need to consider repurposing or purchasing a new table for my home office specifically for writing? What is preventing me from churning out quality pages?

I used to be very productive while writing in cafes and coffee shops due to the white noise of the barista crafting a coffee drink and the people talking around me. I loved visiting a local college library to take advantage of spaces created to support hours of studying. For the last few years, it was hard to find a space to write since so many spaces cut down their indoor seating.

One option for a new writing space is to consider joining a local coworking space that is open in the evening and on the weekends. There are so many in my area that I'm considering purchasing day passes for upcoming days off to explore these spaces. All I need for my writing is my laptop and headphones so can easily hang out in a nearby coworking space. I might start a tour of local coworking spaces over the next few months to find one that fits my vibe and wallet.

If you find yourself getting stuck on a writing project, consider a new location to write. Sometimes, just moving to a different room or even outside might help crack through your block. Don't forget there are many free options for writing spaces: local library, local park. Just be safe and think outside the walls of your current writing space.

Happy writing!

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Easter eggs. I'm not talking about the pastel plastic eggs that many children will discover next week during Easter weekend, but hidden messages that you can leave in your stories to see if your readers figure it out by the end of your book.

I'm including easter eggs in my current fantasy novel writing project. I plan to leave just enough info so a reader might be able to identify the creature featured in a story. I will be including reference pages to share info on creatures featured in my stories. I thought it only fair since I am looking at less common creatures to fill the pages of my book. I have been exploring the expansive mythologies from around the world to find interesting characters to travel to my small town. How would these creatures support their families in a modern world?

Why not consider laying a few easter eggs in your own writing project? Why not leave clues to a hidden message scattered throughout your pages? Have some fun teasing your readers to keep reading until the end when you reveal a hidden message. Just make it worth their anticipation!

Happy Writing!

For more about Easter Eggs in media, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_(media) 

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Okay, everyone's talking about what happened at the Academy Awards. I have to admit, usually, I expect the drama to be on the screen and not showing up from the live audience. No matter whom you support in that fight, let's talk about how this event could show up in your writing. 

I am a big believer in creating a "Witness Protection Program" so that family, friends, or significant others are not afraid that every moment will end up in the pages of your writing project. Now, it is okay if these moments "inspire" you, but don't share them like you were taking notes. While you may enjoy sharing your private experiences with readers, the people in your life have the right to their privacy. 

Will the fight at the Academy Awards show up in my writing projects? I really don't know... But, if I have a scenario where 2 characters are getting into a fight in public, I expect that it will be inspired by this very public moment. Like in life, there can be 2 sides to a fight, as a writer, you have the luxury to explore the right and wrong sides to a fight or argument. However, the fight or argument should be appropriate to your story or characters. Don't be a lazy writer and copy the moment: word for word, action for action. Let it inspire you to craft a more realistic fight or argument.

Happy writing!

writinginspiration #writingcommunity #writing

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I managed to write this week - almost 750 words! It felt so good to actually work on my writing project instead of just talking about it or thinking about it. The words flowed as my character started a journey to visit family in the United States. A trip that involved immigration agents and ancient peace treaties between mythological creatures. I look forward to exploring this travel adventure...

Like many of you, my writing projects are scattered across hard drives, cloud drives, or external drives. Maybe parts of it were written down on paper - perhaps it's time to convert those pages to a digital format. Now is the best time to start dusting off those writing projects by doing a little spring cleaning. I am creating new folders to store all the content that I am finding on my laptop or cloud drive. This content is often located in folders that hold other content that it's almost like the junk drawer we all seem to have in our homes.

My goal over the next few weeks is to find all parts of my fantasy writing project and store everything in a single clearly labeled folder. I then want to start reviewing what I have now and what I need to add to this [particular project. One key item is what is the current word count. My aim is approximately 100,000 words. I'm also pulling together the list of references that I used to identify the creatures that inhabit my little town. It is only fair to give credit to the sources that proved useful on my writing journey.

I invite you to join me in decluttering and reorganizing our writing projects. You never know what treasures are hidden in your junk drawer that might spark your creativity to revisit an old writing project or ideas for a new writing project.

Happy writing!

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I don't know about you, but I am constantly fighting the influence of frenemies in my life. These are "friends" who are sometimes our worst enemies in terms of supporting our dreams. They just don't or won't get why we write...

Whether that annoying inner voice that highlights my fears of failing as a writer or so-called "friends" and family members who just don't understand why I'm trying to fulfill my dream of becoming a published writer. Perhaps they are afraid to fulfill their dreams or just cannot be happy for anyone else who attempts to achieve their dreams. 

It is time for us to tell these voices of despair, voices that suggest we give up our dreams, to "SHUT UP!" This is our time to try to fulfill our dreams without fear of failure. Because what is the use of having a dream that you never make an honest attempt at making come true? Maybe we fail, but maybe we find some sort of success. You will never know unless you start working on that writing project.

Life is short. Why not make this the year that you finally publish that writing project. I feel confident that we are not the worst writers in the world. We may not be the best, but we are probably okay. And sometimes, it is okay to finish in the middle of the pack because sitting on the sidelines is not giving our dream a chance at becoming reality. Grab a notebook or tech device and start writing...

Happy writing!

frenemy #writingcommunity #writers #writinginspiration

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My favorite vacations are DIY Writing Retreats. If I am lucky, then I am able to go away for a long weekend and just focus on my writing.

I've always wanted to attend a Writers Retreat, but my budget just wouldn't allow it. So, I reviewed their schedules and came up with my own version. Many retreats start the day with light exercise and a delicious breakfast. Then you spend the rest of the day attending guided writing sessions with time to write in private. The evenings are spent enjoying a group dinner and then talking with fellow writers.

Whenever I can take a long weekend out of town for a short DIY Writing Retreat, I love to wake up early to take a short walk before spending the rest of the day at a local coffee shop working on my writing projects. I love to walk around looking at shops and grabbing a bite at wherever the locals like to eat - just enjoying the here and now while soaking in the atmosphere.

You don't have to take a vacation to have your own DIY Writing Retreat. If able, why not take an hour or 2 at a local coffee shop, park, or library. The idea is to carve out some time from your very busy schedule to focus on your writing. I love scheduling a quiet hour each day whenever on vacation with family. Everyone grabs a book or device plus headphones for 1 hour to recharge before the next event. Why not use that time to focus on your writing?

You take care of everyone, you need to remember to find time to take care of yourself. Writing is our passion. We have earned the right to spend some quality time on our writing projects. Review your schedule on that next vacation or free morning/afternoon to carve out some time when everyone is occupied and you can write...

Happy writing!

writing #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writingretreats #diywritingretreats

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Fellow writers, these are troubled times around the world...

I don't know about you, but I am struggling these days to process my fears and emotions as I read the news or scroll through social media. Sometimes, I welcome the opportunity to slip into the sanctuary of the realities that I have created in my writing projects. But, like you all, we don't write in isolation. Real-world events impact our writing as our characters start to deal with similar situations as the events of the day. 

I believe it can be helpful to have my characters process the fears and emotions that I experience since it can help me find some objectivity or a new perspective on a situation. "What if" is something we all wonder about in the real world so why not have it show up in our writing projects.

Watching the situation in Ukraine has been stressful even from my place of safety. I can only watch and imagine what folks there are experiencing as they try to send their families off to safety in another country while preparing to fight in the streets for their country. I can only hope that Ukraine will know peace sooner than later...

If you want to make a donation, then please contact your favorite charity to find out how they are helping the people of Ukraine.

standwithukraine #peace #writing #writinginspiration #inspiration #creativity #creatingrealities #worldbuilding

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I don't know about you, but I've been suffering from writer's block for over 2 years. Since 2020, I haven't felt any inspiration to write on my 2 major writing projects: a cozy murder mystery and fantasy novel. I decided that 2022 was the year to work towards chipping away at whatever was blocking my writing.

Last night, I had a breakthrough...a small crack developed in that block.

I was getting ready for bed when, for the first time in forever, ideas came out of the blue on a chapter in my fantasy novel. Ideas about characters, scenes, dialogs, and endings. I scrambled to grab my phone and use a notes app to take down details so I could review later when I was more awake. I spent some time today researching the perfect creature among folklore from around the world. It felt wonderful to be so inspired to actually want to write! I felt like the crack was widening as I thought about this new chapter today.

I hope that after listening to this week's podcast you are inspired and maybe will start to see some cracks in your own writer's block. Here are some tips:

1. Always have a notebook or notes app handy to take down any sparks of inspiration whenever it hits you. And don't forget to include some details so you understand what you meant when you scribbled a great idea that hits you when sleepy.
2. When completely stuck on a project, I suggest working on another writing project that is completely different from the one that is causing you problems. I switch between my cozy murder mystery and fantasy novels because the research and plots don't overlap so I can escape and completely ignore the problem book.

Writing can bring us joy and angst. It is so hard to share your thoughts and part of your soul with your readers, but I believe it will be worth it in the end when I finally publish my books.

Feeling joy today that I finally feel like sitting down in front of my laptop and writing...

Happy writing!

writing #writinginspiration #writersblock #inspiration #creativity #spark

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It's time to take a good look at the tools of the trade inside your toolset. If you like pen and paper, maybe it is time to check out a digital option to help get you out of your writer's block. If you're into tech, why not try going "old school" by using pen and paper?

Do you need to upgrade or expand your tools? Why not try a new pen or journal? Why not try a digital pen and tablet? Why not try a BlueTooth keyboard with your cell phone? No matter your preferences, try an upgrade or something different and just get writing. 

Time to choose the direction of your writing...

writingtips #writingcommunity #writertools

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I was inspired to talk about what it means to share My Story vs my story based on recent controversies about who said what, how they said it, and when they said it. How can we as writers avoid getting caught up in the same sort of problems with our characters or plots? 

It is important to be authentic in how you present your story to readers. Do not imply a story represents your life if it is not true. Don't claim experiences that are not your experiences. In today's world, everyone has a digital footprint so it is easier to find out you are lying about your past. Readers may then judge you as a liar instead of a writer who crafted a good story. It is okay to tell the reader that this is a fictional biography to help give voice to those unable to share their story. It is okay to indicate that you were inspired by actual events or people. One of my fantasy writing projects was inspired by recent stories on immigration. 

How do we ensure the accuracy of our representation of characters or events when we do not share common backgrounds or experiences? We may have to ask for technical editors to help us in creating multi-dimensional characters who would realistically say, do, or experience whatever we write in our story. Don't be a lazy writer, try to be a little realistic with your plot and characters. It can save you some heartache and headache once you publish your book...

Happy writing!

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I want you to remember the worst movie, book, pr tv show that you've seen in the past few years. Now, I want you to remember that someone thought that each was worth the time, money, and resources to make available to the public. 

Let the worse book inspire you to keep writing. If that book with terrible writing made it, then why not your book? Many authors have managed to find financial success with that special "hook", that unique plot twist that grabs the attention and distracts the reader from the bad writing. 

So grab a beverage of choice and some popcorn and let's check out some bad writing and see how it can positively inspire your writing. Let's see if we can also make the bestseller lists!

Happy writing!

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The real world is going to try to pressure us to find some way to impact our writing. How best can we use that pressure to our advantage, to improve our writing?

The real world can help you include more realism into your story. It can inspire an interesting plot twist that helps get your book onto more bookshelves. Is there a favorite cause that you could incorporate into your writing? 

It is up to you to find the positive out of the negative - you know the real world prefers to use a sledgehammer to make its point, I recommend a lighter touch. Advocate for a cause, add more dimension to a character or plot. My advice, use elements from the real world, but keep it just real enough to satisfy the fact-checkers. 

Choose the next direction for your writing project!

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How do you define success? I think it's important, to be honest about your definition of success to avoid being disheartened when your book doesn't become that next viral hit on the bestseller lists. The idea is not to set the bar low but to ensure you feel inspired to keep writing. 

For me, the fact that a stranger listened to this podcast or read my book means SUCCESS! Yes, I'd still love to be a viral hit and discuss the movie adaptation of my book, but having 1 person who I don't know, my family doesn't know, or my friends don't know would be a treasured experience. 

Dream big! Aim high! But, don't let the lack of instant success cause you to lose your love of writing...

Choose your path in 2022!

writing #success #writingtips #writingcommunity #writers

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Setting the mood is very important to help spark your creativity when you have little time to write on a busy day or week. By appealing to your 5 senses, you may be able to get into the mood faster and make it easier to transfer those clever scenes from your head to the page...

Here are some examples of how to trick your senses when it's time to write! Sadly, not sponsored by these companies.

1. Sight: Fall Coffee Shop Bookstore Ambience with Relaxing Jazz Music & Rain Sounds and here is an example of the extended mouse pad on my desk
2. Sound: Pick the perfect soundtrack for your scene
3. Taste: favorite drink or using favorite mug - London Fog tea recipe
4. Smell: So many options - so time to follow your nose and wax warmers
5. Touch: comfy clothes so you can focus on the words on the page and not how itchy is your sweater

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Are you still trying to figure out how to find the time to write? You are not alone - I'm spending this week trying to figure out a new writing schedule for 2022.

In this week's episode, we discuss how to find the time to write in our busy lives. A helpful tip is to write down everything that you have to do on a daily basis over the entire week: Monday - Sunday. For example: write down approximate times for sleeping, eating, working, school, family and errands. Maybe you can get up earlier: 30 mins to 1 hour to free up time later in day when you are the most creative. This is one of the changes that I'm considering to free up more time in my schedule for writing.

My goal is to free up 30 mins from my lunch hour during work week to write. I will be happy if I can carve out 2 - 3 writing sessions per week.

Here are some of my favorite events, tools, processes for writers mentioned in this week's episode - sadly, they don't sponsor me.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development - can this method help you break down your book into easier to write segments?
• https://nanowrimo.org/ - I recommend that all writers participate in this annual event held worldwide every November. A great opportunity to meet writers: local and worldwide.
• https://evernote.com/ - take advantage of modern tools to jot down ideas while waiting in line or on your daily commute.

Happy Writing!

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This is the best time to choose a new direction for your story in 2022! So let's take this opportunity to share the joys and hardships of trying to write our stories in the margins of a very busy life.

It is never too late to start on the path to publishing your story!

I invite you to join me on the journey with the weekly Pathfinder Writing podcast starting in Jan 2022!