I have decided to take my writing to a whole new level - active. Yes, that means that I have not been writing enough on the story front. I do that a lot - I write stories then I write poems but never at the same time. Now I will try to do that.
Starting today I will write 1000 words or more of a story. I will continue this story for at least ten days - I have set these small goals because I do not know how well this project will work so I do not want to commit here to do this if it does not work. (This is known as the Escape clause- always have one).
I will post my 1000 words on another blog - tomorrow I will post that blog name here. But for now I will be content with writing my 1000 words and editing them so that they make some sense. You know adding things like periods, commas, capital letters.
I will still write this blog and my two other blogs and my poem for the day.
Yes, I can do all this in coffee breaks so you can too. Write from the heart and everything is easy - and GOOD.
Of course if something goes wrong, I will blame the computer because it could not be my fault ever. So join if you dare - have fun and keep writing.
P.S. This is not how Stephen King got started.

A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to change the name of my Writing class. I wanted to change it from the generic sounding "Creative Writing" to something I thought more appropriate "Writing From The Heart". At that time people told me that the name sounded too much like therapy. But that is my point, writing from the heart, about topics of the heart is therapy. Nothing could be better for your well being to write about things that you care about - to let your voice out - to say what you want to say. Sometimes it is good to write this way in a journal that no one will read - simply because you want to see what is inside you first before you let the world see it. (That is if you think your words might hurt someone living.)
That is the power of letting your voice out in words - you can edit those words for maximum impact. Beyond raw emotions lies the beauty and wonderful stuff of your heart. The world needs more heartfelt writing and that to me is where the true creative writing comes from - the heart - the emotional center of our being - the place where the genius child inside us lives.
Tap into your heart and I think you will be surprised at what you will find there. I know I am and I know many of my students were pleasantly astounded too.
Keep Writing,
Frank

The other day I got a postcard in the mail - it was from myself. This comes as no surprise - I mailed it to myself ten years ago. The surprise comes as to how long it took to get to me. But that is fodder for another post.
The message I wrote myself was simple:
Dear Frank:
Keep writing.
Your dearest friend,
Frank

I must have written it in my terse period - the days in which I figured less words meant being clearer. Still the message rings true. Keep writing. I have been getting down on myself for not producing the next Ulysses and that being down that is makes me want to quit writing. But if I did quit, I would never get there and at the very least I would never get any better at writing.
So I decided that I would write myself some more postcards (actually letters because postcards are so impersonal and letters can be post dated on the internet. I will start with a letter for next week saying - Glad you are writing again - your work gets better and better. Keep writing.
For next month. I will say something like congrats on your publishing contract !! Can you pay me the money you owe me ? Keep writing.
The month after that will read like - wow, who would have thought you could make it so big ?
Thanks for paying me back but did it have to be in pennies ? Keep writing.
And the month after that - Keep writing, your dog will come back ! Not so sure about your wife, though. I guess moving to Hollywood can do that to a marriage. But congrats on the new house. Love the swimming pool. Keep Writing.

Well you get the idea. Writing to yourself can be a good way to help yourself remember the old you - the you that used to write for the love of writing. And who doesn't like getting positive mail ?
Well I have some letters to mail so bye and keep writing.

Trying on new clothes. That is what I call thinking differently. If you feel that your writing is stale (does it bore even you ?), thenmaybe you need to try on new clothes in a writing sense.
 There are many ways to accomplish this but one of the easiest ways is to change the sex of your hero.
If you find yourself writing about predominately men characters as the hero, try writing with a woman as your heroine.
I find this allows you to create scenes that you could not have concieved of before. No, you probably won't be good at it if you have never written a lead character in anything other than your own gender but it will teach you a few things you might not know.
Take the stereotypical private investigator - this would be a tough guy who drinks a lot.
Now make that character a woman. Does this woman like to fight, hang out at seedy bars, and chase loose . . . men? Perhaps not, but maybe she does.
The reverse could also happen - is your drama about a woman who was cheated on - how about make that character a guy. Now he has to feel depressed and unloved - is it because he is losing his sex appeal ? Has he put on a few too many pounds and are the wrinkles showing up on his face ? Well, you get the idea.
Changing the sex of any character in your story just might make the difference between cliche & trite and bold & quirky (also known as entertaining). And isn't that what you want ? Of course it could also make your story ridiculous so act with good sense and moderation.
Right now my panties are in a bunch and my legs need a shave. Plus I feel bloated and don't get me started on my boyfriend. OMG, Look how late it is - and I have not even started supper - gotta go!

Pick your attitude, then run with it as far as words will take you. This is the secret to writing. I don't care who you are - you cannot write about happiness if you are ready to kick the cat. Nor can you write about madness and anger if you are seeing nothing but rainbows and halos. If you think that I am saying - write what you feel, you are correct.
Writing can shift your attitude - I find that it is better therapy than sitting in a room talking with someone you pay to listen. Many times I sit down at the keyboard seeing red (being mad). If I try to write something nice at that moment I will fail. So I write something nasty, something in your face, and like magic, my mood changes into something else. If I sit at the typewriter and my mood is neutral then I am better able to write whatever style I wish.
However, If I write when I am tired - I will tend to write half-hearted. This makes my work wimpy and inane. Unless I write something I really really want to write - then I become energized. Then I want to write for hours.
So the moral of the story is be aware of your attitude when you sit down to write. The second moral is if you write something right before bed - don't make it something that will energixe you  (You will be up for hours).  

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