Finding Writing Focus After a Distracted Year

by Lynn H Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

It’s a new year and if you’re anything like me, what worked in 2014 and 2015 did not work so well in 2016. You’d love to be more productive in 2017.

I know for myself, I have to find a better way to do things or I’m going to be in really big trouble. This realization has been growing for a few months and it hit hard during the holidays.

So I did what I usually do when I want to learn something.

I went to the library.

Thursday Review—The One Thing

by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I’m a task-oriented person. It’s how I’m wired.

You’d think with that kind of wiring, I’d be churning out books by the dozens.

Not so much.

In fact, I’ve been struggling to figure out how to get this whole writing thing squeezed into my day.

Thursday Review—Writer's Police Academy

by Lynn H Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I attended the Writers’ Police Academy in September. This year it was held in Greensboro, North Carolina, which made it an easy drive for me, but this is a conference I would gladly travel for.

Thursday Review—A Book to Help Creatives with Productivity

by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I have a soft spot for anything that will help me improve my productivity. As a task-oriented nerd, productivity books warm my geeky heart. You may not feel the same way. I understand that. (Sort of).

But this book might change your mind. (A little).

A book blogger I follow recommended Manage Your Day-to-Day: BuildYour Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind edited by Jocelyn K. Glei and I was intrigued.

A productivity book specifically for creatives?

Thursday Review—Story Trumps Structure—A Writing Book for Everyone

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

If you’ve been writing for any length of time, you’ve probably been asked the ever popular question, “What kind of writer are you?” What they want to know is are you an outliner or a pantster. Do you plan every scene in advance, or do you write organically and discover what happens along with your characters?

If you’re an outliner, you can find a plethora of books that will help you on your journey.

If you’re an organic writer? Not so much.

If you aren’t sure, join the club.

Thursday Review—Observations about Writing on a Deadline

by Lynn H. Blackburn @lynnhblackburn

I’m on a deadline y’all, so this is going to be brief.

I’ve never been on a real deadline before, but I entered a contest and next thing I know, BOOM! Full manuscript due June 9th. Which is awesome. Or it would have been if I hadn’t had to rewrite pretty much the whole novel.

I’ve been churning out 2K words a day for weeks and I’ve made a few, let’s call them “observations,” regarding writing to a deadline.

Thursday Review—Write Your Novel From the Middle

by Lynn H Blackburn

I’m not a big fan of starting in the middle.

I refuse to read a series out of order, I won’t start a TV show on Netflix if I can’t watch from Episode 1, and please, please, please do not ask me to slide into a movie ten minutes after it’s started.

So why on earth would I be interested in a book that suggests I start writing from the middle?

A couple of reasons.

Thursday Review—The Art You Were Meant to Live

by Lynn H. Blackburn

I just finished re-reading A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman. I’ve dog-eared and highlighted half of the book. The last lines brought me to tears. Again.

A Million Little Ways isn’t a book on the craft. It isn’t even specifically a book for writers. It is, as the subtitle says, a book that seeks to help you “uncover the art you were made to live.” I have recommended this book to friends whose art varies from baking to decorating and from music to mothering. But if you have even the slightest inkling that your art is writing, you are going to see yourself in every chapter. Maybe on every page.

Thursday Review—Comprehensive List of Resources for Writers

by Lynn H. Blackburn

I’ve had the privilege of guest posting here for 3 ½ years. I’ve written about everything from NaNoWriMo to how to keep your word count up during the holidays. But most of the time, I review books about writing. Short books and long books. Easy reads and deep dives into craft. Books that cover specific topics in depth and books that touch on almost everything a writer might encounter in their career.

Sometimes we need something to remind of us why we write. Sometimes we need something to help us through a sagging middle or a pesky re-write. Sometimes we just need something that makes us laugh. And sometimes, we know we’ve read a review, but we can’t remember where or when. So to make things a touch easier, I’ve compiled a handy reference. This is by no means a comprehensive list of books on writing, but it is a list of my reviews here at The Write Conversation.

Thursday Review—Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins

A review by Lynn H. Blackburn

I’m going to tell y’all something that I don’t make a habit of sharing. I wouldn’t even tell you, except, well, you’re writers.

So, I’m hoping you’ll get this.

Sometimes…

I stand in front of my mirror and act out my scenes.

Does anyone else do this? Anyone?

Thursday Review—The Emotion Thesaurus

by Lynn H. Blackburn

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the phrase Show Don’t Tell I could afford to take all of us to a writers conference. Where we would, again, be reminded to…

Show Don’t Tell!

Telling is so easy though. If I say, “Caroline was so angry when they fired her” you know she’s mad.

Unfortunately, telling is also lazy writing. It takes a lot more of our creative juices to say, “Caroline turned toward the window and took a slow breath. Then another. Heat coursed through her limbs as she considered her options. If they thought she would be willing to go quietly, they had underestimated her. Again. She drove her heels into the floor to stop her legs from shaking…”

You get the idea.

Thursday Review—The Dance of Character and Plot

by Lynn H. Blackburn

Plenty of people know that DiAnn Mills is a fantastic novelist, but they may not realize that she is also a wonderful mentor to new writers.

I’ve had the privilege of attending her classes at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, sitting in on webinars she’s taught through the Christian Writers Guild, and having her critique my writing.

So when I learned that she had taken time from her fiction schedule to write a book on the craft of writing, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Reading TheDance of Character and Plot is like having DiAnn in your home for a writing seminar.

Thursday Review—Write Every Day

by Lynn H. Blackburn

So how much writing did you get done this summer?

Every time someone asks me this, I have to fight an intense desire to slink away in shame. Instead, I mumble something about being busy with the kids and vacation because I hate to tell them the truth.

How much did I write this summer? Not much.

Now I know some of you are going to try to tell me that it’s okay. I have young children. I’m not going to get much writing done during the summer. But the truth is, I wasn’t getting much writing done before summer started.

Thursday Review—The First 50 Pages

by Lynn H Blackburn

I want to write a book that keeps people up at night. Before that can happen, I’ve got to write a book that will keep an agent, and then an editor, turning pages…and then ask for more.

If you’ve read any books on the craft of writing, or attended any type of conference, you know how critical those first 40-50 pages can be. Those are the pages you submit to contests, the pages you include in proposals, the pages that must—not should be, not need to be, not ought to be—MUST sparkle and shine so brightly that when your dream agent reaches the end, they are distraught to discover that they’ll have to request the rest of the book to find out what happens next.

So, no pressure. None at all.

Right.

Thursday Review—I Want a Magic Bullet

by Lynn H. Blackburn

I want a magic bullet.

Somewhere there’s a book, a routine, maybe a diet, or even an outfit. Somewhere, there’s one thing I’m missing and when I find it, my publishing dreams will come true!

Right?

In my quest for the elixir of publishing success, I had a rare opportunity to do some extensive research. I got to hang out with four published authors as they wrote, brainstormed, and it must be said, consumed copious amounts of coffee and loaded grits.

Thursday Review—How to Find out Anything

by Lynn H Blackburn

One of these days, there’s going to be a knock on my door.

I’ll see a couple of people in dark suits and sunglasses.

They won’t be smiling.

When I open the door, one of them will flip open a badge.

I’m not sure which agency it will be. My guess is Homeland Security (do they have badges?) or the FBI.

They’ll ask to come in. Tell me they have “some questions.”

Thursday Review—Acceptable Words, Prayers for the Writer

by Lynn H Blackburn

Do you ever glare at the blank screen and wonder what to say?

Do you ever stare at pages filled with words you wrote and wonder how on earth you’ll ever know what to keep and what to delete?

Do you ever glance at the “Send” key and wonder if it’s time?

Writers across the centuries have struggled with these same questions.

Thursday Review—It’s National Poetry Month, so Let’s Talk Poetry!

by Lynn H. Blackburn

Hey—I saw you reach for the mouse. Don’t you dare skip this post because you don’t like poetry. Stay with me.

I’m not a poet. I don’t play one on TV. I haven’t studied poetry since I aced my British Lit class in 1993. (I’ll do the math for you. It’s been 20 years. 20 years? Please excuse me while I hyperventilate . . . )

Thursday Review—April Holidays, Special Days & Downright Crazy Days

Last month I did a post listing all the crazy special days in the month of March. 

Many of you contacted me and requested I make it a regular part of the blog. I thought it would be a fun addition, so I'm adding it to the regular schedule. I'll be posting the next month's special days on the last Thursday of the month.

If you missed my last post, here's a link to the Holidays & Special Days in March. Using the calendar for blog post or even article ideas is a great way to jumpstart your creativity. It's also a fun writing prompt idea. 

Calendar days are also great conversation starters for social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday Review—Writing Advice You Should ALWAYS Follow

Several weeks ago I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about Writing Advice You Should NEVER Follow. Today I want to share writing advice you should always follow. Now, like ninety-nine percent of publishing rules, take these with a grain of salt. Writing is rarely a one-size-fits-all proposition.