Friday, January 5, 2018

6 Creative Ways to Boost Your Writing in 2018


by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker

“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits.”
Twyla Tharp

Some believe we’re either born with the creative gene or we’re not. Truth is, it’s a moot point. God created us in His image so it seems likely that we all have some measure of creativity pulsing through our veins. The challenge is to transfer the creativity in our veins to paper.

There are, however, specific ways to create good work habits that will awaken creativity.

Consider Your Habits. What daily patterns furthered your goals last year and which ones hindered them? Write each one down. Thinking of the two types of patterns is the first step in moving forward, but writing them down dramatically increases the likelihood doing them.

Maximize Your Minutes. E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web, cuts right to the point: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” Ouch. There’s a plethora of information on the Internet as to how to we can make time for writing but let’s sum this up in four words: Sit down and write.

Define Your Peak Time and Stick to It. Most creative types are early risers. This fact has been documented numerous times but there are others, like Carl Sandburg, who worked late into the evening after everyone had gone to bed. If you’re not sure when your energy level is at its peak, jot down how you’re feeling throughout the day. Do this for a week. By then, you should be able to tell when your energy peaks and plummets on most days. Define it—then do your best to work other responsibilities around those hours.

Remain alert to your surroundings. Breathe deeper. Stare longer. Listen more intently. Take time to touch the weathered bench in the park or the lush feel of a sweater. Henry James wrote, “A writer is someone on whom nothing is lost.”

Build rest into your schedule. This can look different for everyone. Maybe it means writing for thirty minutes and resting for five. Studies show that a twenty-minute nap increases alertness, improves clarity of mind, and well, puts us in a better mood. Not only will our work-in-progress benefit from the rest, but our bodies will too.

And my favorite: Drink more coffee. Recent studies state that coffee improves energy levels, drastically improves physical performance, and may even prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Although caffeine is quickly absorbed, its energy-boosting properties peak between 30-70 minutes after consumption so enjoy a cup of brew approximately one hour before writing.
In celebration of the wonders of coffee, I will randomly select a name from the comments below on Monday, January 8th for a Starbucks gift card!

So, which of the above habits will you try in 2018?

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6 Creative Ways to Boost Your #Writing in 2018 - @CathySBaker on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Pick up some new creative habits & boost your #writing in the process - @CathySBaker (Click to Tweet)

Cathy Baker is an award-winning writer and author of Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Beach as well as Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Mountains. As a twenty-five year veteran Bible instructor, she's led hundreds of studies and workshops. She's also contributed to numerous anthologies and publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, and Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family. In addition, her poetry can be found in several popular anthologies. She and her husband, Brian, live in the foothills of the Carolinas where she one day hopes to have her very own Goldendoodle.

43 comments:

  1. Thanks Cathy for these tips and encouragement. Especially agree with the coffee recommendation and sipping a cup now.

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    1. Thank you, Marilyn. I'm sipping on my second cup! It's the perfect day to be indoors (11 degrees) with a warm cup of coffee and a full day of writing ahead. Have a blessed weekend :)

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    2. Coffee is always a good idea!! I think it has become my habit for writing.

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    3. I couldn't agree more, Erin! :)

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  2. My peak time is early evening. I am not a morning person. I love coffee but hot chocolate also helps, particularly in these cold winter days.
    Power naps help too.
    My daily word count is about 700, 800 words max. I wish I didn't have a day job and other responsibilities.
    Thanks for the advice, Cathy.

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    1. Ingmar, I've never been a nap person but since trying power naps I'm convinced they've helped my energy level. God will take the time you have and bless it - of this I am certain. Thanks so much for taking the time to share!

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    2. Keep cranking out those words. That is 4000 words a week if you write only 5 days a week! So, 40k in 10 weeks is pretty impressive!! Blessings on your writing journey!!

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  3. I need to build more rest in my schedule...

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    1. It's not easy is it, Jennifer? For years I teased my husband about his resting ways because I believed staying busy at all hours was the key to productivity. Boy, did I have a lot to learn. :) I hope you find specific ways to make this happen. Blessings!

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    2. Staying at home was not helpful to me in my writing and coaching business. I got a tiny office in town with less distractions!! Helps so much!!

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  4. I am being more intentionally about creativity this year so your post was perfect timing for me. Thanks for affirming the habits concept.

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    1. And thank you, Jean, for taking the time to share. Keep me posted on your creative journey in 2018! Blessings!

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  6. My problem is I keep waiting for the ideal time required to write. I have created a nice space in one of the bedrooms my now grown sons occupied, with the great window overlooking my barn. However we have a seven-year-old special-needs boy who enjoys lots of noise, and I am homeschooling him. We are together all day. I need to force myself to train him to occupy himself alone for an hour so I can write. So I guess my problem really is discipline. But coffee… I prefer mine a mocha cappuccino half- caf, extra foam, and preferably made with raw sheep or goat milk. From my own animals. :)

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    1. Now that is a cup of coffee I would love to try, Dalyn! I'm beginning to believe there is no such time as ideal. Your space sounds lovely (I can picture it now!) and your season in life is a busy one with your precious son. I'd love to encourage you to rest in that, confident that you are fulfilling your most important role as you love and teach him well. However, this doesn't mean you can't write. It just may mean you do so differently in this season than you will in future ones. Maybe carry a small journal and jot down ideas, sentences, paragraphs -- whatever comes to mind as you go about your day. Those tidbits of time will add up quicker than you think and I believe God will bless the work of your hands. Thank you for sharing some of your story. God bless you!

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    2. Yummy!! This is great advice for me too. I have to ‘shut-er-doen’ At 2:40 everyday to get my kids, but my brain does not shut off! I think of ideas ALL the time! Organizing and storing them for later is my problem. I have so many note books!!

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  7. Wonderful post and great tips, Cathy. Love all the quotes scattered throughout! Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Karen! I'm a quote-lover, too. :) Blessings!!

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  8. Hi, Cathy! I've never been a morning person until a few years ago, and suddenly the 5 o'clock hour started appearing twice in my day. My best writing time is early morning until noonish. But that's only on Saturdays, summer, and snow days. I teach M-F...which brings me to E. B. White's quote about waiting for ideal writing conditions...ouch. I've been toying with the idea of getting up at 5:00 AM. I could get in an 1.5 hours of writing time before work, but then I think, "What can I really accomplish in that short amount of time?" But I need to do it...and since my "one word" for this year is discipline, I really need to try. Thanks for the gentle kick in the pants...much needed! :)

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    1. One and a half hours of writing a day could become a book by the end of the year! I believe we use what time we have, remain faithful to the calling, and then we trust God with the results. But it all begins with trusting that whatever time we have/make available is in fact enough to move us in the right direction. Karen, I'm excited to see what God can accomplish through your discipline in 2018! Thanks for sharing!

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    2. I like the ‘one word’ for the year! I’ve been making them for 3 years now! Discipline is definitely a good one! Mine is BREAKTHROUGH, but I can’t have that without discipline!! Keep at it!!!

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  9. Cathy, your post just gave me permission to enjoy my morning coffee before I write. Yay! Thanks for the tips. I'm working on getting my morning writing routine more refined because I have found that I if I do it first thing in the morning then I will get some writing done for the day. If I wait to write later in the day, I tend to procrastinate more. :)

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    1. I'm cheering you on, Loraine! I started paying attention to the time of day I had the most energy as well as clarity of mind. Mornings won that contest hands down so I write in the mornings and save the mindless to-do's (cleaning/laundry) for late afternoons/evenings. May this be your best writing year yet, Loraine! Blessings!

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  10. these are great tips! And although all of my writing right now is for grad school they still apply wonderfully! I know my peak time is at night so I wait to do the most difficult work then! I do need to build more rest in my schedule though & just sit down and write at times! :)

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    1. Robyn, I'm glad you found these tips helpful. I look forward to reading what you write after grad school! *wink* Thanks for sharing! I love seeing your name here. :)

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  11. I never thought of tracking when my peak time would be. I definitely will try this to see what will work for me! Thank you for these great points!

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  12. Thank you, Cathy, for a reminder of what we could be doing to help get our writing on a consistent track. I'm one of those late owls - however, I've found that I can't write too close to bedtime or I'll be up, my thoughts bouncing around in my head, way into the night. And I LOVE the coffee suggestion! ~ Toni Lepeska tonilepeska@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, Toni! I totally understand. :) Happy Writing in 2018...

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    2. Hey there! I know what you mean about bouncing thoughts. I have a notebook by my bed. When I finally write it down, my thoughts stop and I can sleep!

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  13. Thank you for your post, dear Cathy. Headed me straight to my writing room!

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  14. Emme, thank you for sharing. :) I pray you had a blessed Christmas. I hope you enjoy your writing time!

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  15. All of these are super true! I will make sure to prioritize that last one. 😊 For me, the one that stands out most is figuring out when my peak writing time is. I’ve heard that suggestion before, but I hope to finally try it in 2018. Thanks, Cathy! I always love your posts.

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    1. Thanks so much, Nicki! Figuring out my peak writing time was a game changer in 2017. Praying 2018 will be one of your best in every way!

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  16. Great post Cathy. The one about being more sensitive to my surroundings really hit home and will get my increased attention in 2018. The part about "nothing is lost to a writer" did it for me. A real nugget. Gotta manage my impulsive, restless nature a bit better and just admitting that is progress. Thanks. SO looking forward to your presentation at our guild this summer. Jay Wright; Foothills Writers Guild; Anderson, SC

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    1. It's absolutely progress, Jay! That particular quote stopped me in my tracks as well. It reminded me to be more intentional wherever I go -- to notice the details normally dismissed. Thank you again for the invitation to speak. I look forward to it as well. :) Blessings!

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  17. Great info. Thanks so much for passing it on and clearly communicating all that. The first point (Consider Your Habits) was especially helpful. I hadn't done that before, and it really got me to thinking.

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    1. That's great, David! Intentionality is the first step for us all. May this be your most productive writing year yet! Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Good points to consider. However, I am caffeine-sensitive. I prefer herb tea. Other than that I find your message one I need to incorporate into my daily life.

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    1. I also enjoy tea! It certainly has its healthy benefits too. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  19. Excellent and do-able ideas, Cathy! Thank you for sharing these so well! Onward to that next cup of coffee! :-)

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  20. Congratulations, Marilyn Nutter! You're the winner of the Starbucks gift card!

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