Know how I did it?
I think we put ourselves in the imaginary box by negative thinking and building mental blocks around us. We have to climb out of the imaginary box by changing the way we look at our writing. Notice I said imaginary. Our box isn't really a box. It is a mental wall. An obstruction that we built all by our lonesome. We have to look at it that way in order to climb out.
Get those creative abilities flowing again. Toss the negative thinking. Remember why you write. BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO. :)
On that first draft, kick your inner editor in the head. Realize it ain't going to be perfect. It is what it is. A first draft. Revisions are the time to ask your inner editor back into your life.
Learn from your mistakes. When I first started writing, I thought I knew everything there was to know. After all, I'd read three articles on writing. *grin* I was a pro!
Uh, yeah, I was pretty stupid. ;) But I have learned from my mistakes. My first drafts were YUCK. I still have one of them. I read it when I need a good laugh.
Awaken your creativity. Read lots of books in and out of your genre. I read children's books, because I write picture books, chapter books, and MG novels. But I read big people books too. I know I can learn from any book. And I rewrite books too. Books like THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, and CHARLOTTE'S WEB. It's a great way to stir up your creativity. The best writing exercise I can recommend.
So join me outside the imaginary box. It's awesome out here. :)
Please join me on Monday for The Rhythm of Secrets Blog Tour when Patti Lacy answers some questions you've been wanting to know. Visit that wonderful woman at her blog Patti Lacy You'll be glad you did. :) Come out and support this great writer. The blog tour will be HAPPENING all next week. x
You are right! It begins with our thinking; how we think about writing; editing; expectations; and revisions.
ReplyDeleteViva la "thinking outside the imaginary box!"
Great post!
Just the post I needed! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHa! You should read my post today. Great minds really do think alike. It's all about kicking my inner editor. What you've said here is exactly why I want to kick her!
ReplyDeleteMy goal this weekend is to kick my inner editor to the curb and enjoy a good book and finish chapter eight. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteLove this post, Robyn. So true. We'd all benefit from remembering why we started this nutty journey in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'll be joining you outside the box. I'm bringing chocolate.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Karen
Nice blog/post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts/tips! I'm a new author but I guess even the experienced authors could learn a thing or 2 from your posts? I guess one of the things any writer should strive for, if he/she wants to get out of the imaginary box, is to strive to create new creatures, the classical, öld like vampires, elves, dwarfs, wizards with sharp hats, fairies, etc. are too ordinary already? That's why I try some new in some of my books (Tale Of The Rock Pieces, The Opposite Of Magic, Kids'Funny Business, etc (weightless korks, glowing, living balls, Brown faces, fiery men, one-eyeds, night fruit, rock pieces, fish-keepers, etc...), do you think I'm right? Best wishes! Have a great 2011! LET THE WONDERFUL NOISE OF THE SEA ALWAYS SOUNDS IN YOUR EARS! (a greeting of my water dragons' hunters).
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Sometimes you just have to let yourself go. I'm working on that...but admit it is a struggle.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. We do wall ourselves in with doubt and fear. I'm getting out the sledgehammer. No more walls!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think it's human nature to doubt ourselves but we must snap out of it as soon as we can! Thanks for the lovely post and thanks for visiting my blog. I'm now a follower of yours! Take care! :)
ReplyDeleteI have to totally banish my inner editor or I'd never get anything written at all. It's kind of fun to just write and write and not worry about how it sounds. Then I spend far more time revising than it took to write the rough draft in the first place, but I enjoy both processes.
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