Get to Know a Writing Buddy

Some clichés are true. Take Writing can be a lonely profession. Not only do we work alone, but there just aren't that many people who are genuinely interested in our process. The reasons for that lack of connection vary, but may include one of the following ...

1. Non-writers don't understand much about the creative process, so have no clue about why your frustrations feel so deeply discouraging to you. Sould they get it if you told them - What if I've already written all I'll ever be able to write? What if I'm really used up? Will I ever get another viable book or article idea again? Maybe I can’t get the tone right because the book was a bad idea in the first place!

2. They think you already have the best of all worlds, so they can't work up any sympathy for your whining. Come on admit it - we do whine. Of course it’s always for good reason, but that may not be so obvious to people in other lines of work.

3. They'd far rather talk about the gilded widget problems at their office. What are gilded widgets? Are readers interested in them? Where can I research the history and future of the global widget markets?

4. They're just tired of hearing it. OK, that may be a valid point.

So you go home feeling mildly martyred and vastly underappreciated. And then beat yourself up for feeling that way. Right?

But wait! There's help available. Find a writing buddy with whom you can swap stories of the new project that’s still pecking its way out of the egg, share your questions about styling and formatting a book, and especially proclaim the ecstasy of a great writing session, day or month!

A writing friend with whom you can break bread is the warmest of connections. But finding an email writing buddy can also be hugely rewarding. After conversations, in person or electronic, with these friends, you’ll come away with such writing excitement and joy in your heart, you’ll race to get back to the keyboard.

It’s well worth the effort to find another writer or two, preferably ones who have at least some similar goals and experience to yours, and form that beautiful connection. Attend local writers' groups, sign on to similar interest email groups, or spread the word to all you friends.

I know whereof I speak.

Happy connecting ~

Linda

Coffee, Writing & Longevity

Good news, all you java junkies! A news article from Reuters states that "long-term coffee drinking does not appear to increase a person's risk of early death and may cut a person's chances of dying from heart disease" according to a published study.

Most of us morning writers require an IV or two of full-bodied, dark Columbian brew to grease our mental wheels. Over the years, veiled warmings from the medical community would hint that too much coffee - say, over 6 ounces a day - would gradually work it's evil way on our chances for longevity. Now you can put that worry behind you and enjoy

Still, if your resting pulse rate goes above 125 or so, you might want to cut back by a quart or two.



Happy, wide-awake writing~



Linda

Journaling Quotations

Have you ever read a quotation and thought, “Man, those are words to live by!” You don’t have to be a quote fanatic (like me) to appreciate someone else’s pithy insights. Whether you smile, groan, nod your head or shake it, the good ones resonate. Whether they’re funny or simply speak to our own life experiences, they can brighten our day.

When you run across one of those gems, run-don’t-walk to your journal and write it down. If we immediately react to it, chances are it will grow on us, especially if we can read back over each one in our journals.

Here are a few of my favorites:

a Someday we’ll look back on this moment and plow into a parked car. ~ Evan Davis

a The heroic life is living the individual adventure. ~ Joseph Campbell

a Sometimes the secret of happiness involves breaking things. ~ Venus Veritas from
The Divorce Recovery Journal

a Did you ever consider – maybe the glass isn’t half empty or half full. Maybe it’s just twice
as big as it needs to be. ~ George Carlin (loosely quoted)

Happy journaling!

Linda

New Book Now on Web Site

Hurray! The Many Faces of Journaling, 2nd edition is now available on my web site, PenCentralOnline.com/. When you order a copy from there, I'll be happy to autograph it with whatever brief message you request. Just include that on your order form under "Special Instructions." You can even order it for gift giving, and I'll sign it to the recipient!

Happy reading ~

Linda

Outside Help for Memoir Journaling

You've set your mind to regular journaling, perhaps as a "Year-in-the-Life" memoir, when splat! Life hits you in the face, then the kneecap, then the foot - then you get sick. The best of intentions can leap just so many hurdles at once. That's exactly the point at which so many journaling projects come to a screeching, permanent halt. And really, what's the point? This writing interruptus stuff will just keep popping up over and over.

But wait! There's at least one effective way to deal with project paralysis. Bring in outside help.

#1 ~ World News. If you regularly comment in your writing on news about war, food shortages, financial markets and health breakthroughs, you can copy and paste the hard-hitting breaking news stores about those topics. If you had time, you wouldn't have written your own treatise on the global economy. But in lieu of that, why not let the Associated Press do it for you?

Scan the top news on MSNBC.com and CNN.com for those special stories that seem to make your point. It doesn't make sense to you that the U.S. economy is going to turn around in the next couple of months. And right there is the article is a long quote from a high ranking financial guru on just why the turn around will take far longer - just as you've been saying. Copy a lead paragraph or two to your computer journal or memoir along with the headline and date. Always include author attribution, just in case you want to quote from the material in the future If you have time in a few days or weeks, you can add your own comments.

#2 ~ Personal Updates. Even when we can’t journal, we usually find time to email our friends about the high and low points of our daily lives. Again, copy and paste the account of personal news from your emails to the journaling file.

And Walla! You've had no time to write, but your memoir or journal has continued to blossom. And who knows? Maybe those inserts will add real spice to the final writing.

Happy journaling ~

Linda