I write stuff for kids...and muse on writing, children's books, and the publishing industry in general

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Quiet lets your imagination flourish


Something I’ve found so true ever since I started writing: take a moment of quiet, and let your imagination flourish.

By this I don’t mean sitting in a silent room with no music, though by all means do that if it helps. More than that, I mean stilling your doubts and thoughts and worries about other matters, shoving aside that shiny new idea that keeps tempting you away, and concentrating solely on the sentence/paragraph/scene/manuscript before you. It’s amazing the creativity (and productivity) that flows from this simple action.

How about you: Do you find this helps when you write? 


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a few days to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:
  • you're scared and hungry
  • it's dusk
  • you think someone is following you
  • and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.
Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

14 comments:

Grandpa said...

I like quiet quiet Rach. I think I can think and write only when it's quiet. I listen to music too, but then I'll just be intently listening, not doing anything else.

Grandpa
Life on The Farm

Unknown said...

I agree with calming the negative thoughts, but I can't stand quiet. I absolutely can't write if I don't have music or something playing in the background... my thoughts do have a tendency to take over.

Nofretiri said...

I described one technique that workes for me on B for Blockade. It also starts in a quiet, comfortable place and ends hopefully with a sparkling idea/thought! :-)

Karin @ Nofretiris Dream Of Writing

Cally Jackson said...

I have a bad habit of doing other things while writing, like checking Twitter updates, talking to friends on msn, remembering something I meant to google... It's all just distraction from the hard task of coming up with sentence after sentence! I've tried to reduce the amount of distractions I have while writing, but sometimes I'm better at it than others!

Also - I realised something this afternoon. I'm leaving at sparrow's fart on Friday morning to get a good camping spot over Easter and your linky link may not be up before I leave. If I autoschedule my blog post and email you (what will be) the direct link, could you pretty please include it in the linky link for me? :-D

Kerri Cuev said...

I might be opposite. I get the best ideas when it's loud. But I could be zoning out the loud and thinking about the current MS. So, I guess loud is my quiet if that makes sense lol.

Natasha Hanova said...

Crazy as it sounds, listen to music helps me find my quiet.

Anonymous said...

I like to write to music. It tends to energize me...my mind wanders too much when it's too quiet, LOL!

M.J. Fifield said...

Quiet is the reason why I tend to pull all nighters. That's when the rest of the living creatures in my household are sound asleep and I can devote my attentions to the story.

Ann said...

Quieting my mind of doubt is often needed.

Luana Krause said...

I need quiet to write. A little classical or jazz in the background is okay, too.

Theresa Milstein said...

I find that I'm fresh and can tune everyone out (it helps if nobody is home) right after breakfast. Those few hours can be writing bliss.

These crusade challenges have been fun to read. I see another crusade is coming soon. You'll probably be inundated with bloggers signing up!

Ghenet Myrthil said...

This is a great tip! I need to do this more often.

Adina West said...

Completely agree. I have to be 'in the zone' to get anything done, and it can take a fair bit of time wasting before I find my 'quiet'.

aisyahputrisetiawan said...


Banned complain !! Complaining only causes life and mind become more severe. Enjoy the rhythm of the problems faced. No matter ga life, not a problem not learn, so enjoy it :)

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