On Writing: What Stephen King can Teach You About Getting Started

I just finished Stephen King's "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft". I have been told many times over the years that this was a must-read, even if I wasn't "into that type of writing." It was an interesting mix of personal story and practical advice (Second Draft = First Draft - 10%). The author of the graphic "Carrie", "The Shining" and "The Dead Zone" saves the best for last, however.

On page 269, as he describes his struggle to begin writing again after a car vs. pedestrian accident where he was the pedestrian, he wrote some of the truest words yet. "The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better."

That is the way it is with writing. It is easy to find a million other things to do than sit down and pound out your deepest secrets. But once you start, it not only gets better, it becomes painful to stop.

He continues: "I feel that buzz of happiness, that sense of having found the right words and put them in a line. It's like lifting off in an airplane: You're on the ground, on the ground, on the ground... and then you're up, riding on a magical cushion of air and prince of all you survey. It's what I was made to do." Let me repeat that last line. "It's what I was made to do."

That is why we write, isn't it? It's not for money or fame or free coffee. It's because it's what we do.

I would like to thank Stephen (he says everyone calls you by your first name during an emergency) for sharing this insight and inspiring a whole new generation of writers in all genres.

Now it's your turn. How do you get off the ground? What gets your writing started?

Yours in Writing,

Promptmaster

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

The Shared Writer Brain

One of the great things about being a writer is that we are all automatically part of a shared mental state. It may seem like we pound away at the keys alone, but we are actually closely aligned with thousands of others out there doing the same thing - some with amazing results.

This happy reality hit home for me today as I prepared to speak at a college journalism class. I jotted a note on Facebook asking if anyone had advice they would like to share.

The results were immediate and abundant.

• Some practical: "Learn how to spell:)" and "Don't use apostrophes for plurals unless you are writing about the Oakland A's."
• Some reflected the changing journalism landscape: "Objectivity and balance continue to be important to ensure readers' trust and loyalty, even in this age of "up-to-the-minute" news."
• Some cautionary: "Major in science instead."
• Some inspiring: "Believe in the profession. While the medium may change, the stories still need to be told and will be read."

Many of you suggested finding a subject you cared about and becoming an expert in that field so your writing would reflect that deeper understanding.

One of my favorites came from a publisher who said: "Journalism is a relationship business. Engage, interact and know that it's now a conversation more than a one-way dialogue. Writing the story is just the beginning, not the end of the process. Be passionate, authentic and empathetic. Seek truth above all else."

Isn't that why we got into this business in the first place? We want to know and share the truth, whatever that means. And aren't you glad there is a whole community of writers who think the same way?

What advice would you give a journalism student?

Yours in Writing

Promptmasters

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

Fall into Writing

It's time to get down to writing. No more excuses. The lazy days of summer are over. The kids are back in school. The weather is cooler. We have celebrated the hours women give during childbirth with a three-day weekend of barbecues and cleaning gutters. It's time to get back behind the computer and start being productive.

Fall is the perfect time to refocus. The end-of-the-year is within keyboard-throwing distance so if you haven't made progress on your resolutions, you might want to kick it into high gear now. Writers tend to be sprinters anyway so having a deadline around the corner may be just the ticket to locking those fingers on the keys.

Do you not remember your resolutions? No worries. Make a new one now. You have a three-month chunk of days that can be filled with emptying the cat litter box or sharing your stories with the world. Your choice.

I know I am looking forward to meeting with my MasterMind Group at Writers Who Wine tonight to pledge devotion to my literary goals. It has been a productive year and I just finished some big deadlines. But I am anxious to end on a high note so I want to take some time to decide which projects are most important to me and point myself in that direction.

I couldn't ask for a better group of people to share this rededication. Two will be celebrating book launches and one just signed a contract for her next piece. I know from experience that all that forward momentum is contagious.

If you aren't in the area, feel free to get in on the word pledge action virtually. What are planning to write in the next three months?

Yours in Writing,

Promptmasters

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

PS: If you need some help focusing, space is still available for Fall Write by the Lake retreats.

In Praise of Writing Small

Try baby steps. You are a writer whether you pen love notes to your husband, blogs for your customers, magazine articles for electrical engineers or novels for young adults. The important thing is to simply write.

I had the pleasure of attending a Capitol City Young Writers' Conference that featured Huntington Sharp II, senior editor of Red Room. This is a wonderful community of diverse authors coming together to celebrate the craft of writing in all its various forms.

His advice for writers? Write. You can research and plan and discuss and think all you want, but in order to be a writer, you have to write. Edit later, but write first and always.

He was, in essence, giving us permission to do what we have always wanted to do, but were afraid to try. That is what writing support networks offer. Permission. What a wonderful gift.

A great way to make the most of that opportunity is to start small. You don't have to write the Great American Novel right out of the gate. Try starting with a 140-character Twitter post or a short story. Write a blog. Guess what, those can later be collected into an article or a book.

A journey starts one step at a time. The good news is that your MasterMind group is there every step of the way.

How do you give yourself permission to write and what keeps your fingers moving?

Yours in Writing,

Promptmasters

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

The More the Writing Business Changes, the More Writers Stay the Same

I attended a Capitol City Young Writers Conference this weekend and am happy to report that the love of telling stories is alive an well in future generations.

The literary gathering in the idyllic setting of the Marin hills brought together some of the most inspirational minds in literature today. Keynote speaker was Peter S. Beagle, who wrote his best-selling "A Fine and Private Place" at the age of 19, followed quickly by the classic "The last Unicorn". He connected with the children and adults in the audience when he shared the storytelling urges that have plagued him as long as he can remember. "My mother wrote down the stories before I was able to write them myself," he said. From the beginning, he knew writing would be his passion. Heads young and old nodded in agreement as he spoke.

My friend and event volunteer Dena Kouremetis shares her inspired take on the day here. I would like to add, however, a few bits of wisdom shared by Writer's Digest Community publisher and editorial director Jane Friedman. While she refused to predict the future of publishing, she counseled young writers to not be attached to the medium. Storytelling doesn't require paper and ink. A literary tale can be delivered through online posts, podcasts or some other format not yet imagined.

The common thread for me was the advice to persevere. Find new ways to connect with your audience and hone your craft. That had me nodding my head.

Yours in Writing,

Promptmasters

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

5 Steps to a Healthy Writing Exercise Routine

I recently shared some of our MasterMind Writing Group publishing secrets with fellow writers at Your Writing Dept. (You can read the post: Endurance Training For Writers here.)

Why spread the word? First of all, the duo that runs Your Writing Dept. Ron Creel and Tom Guarnera, are serious technical writers. They know their stuff, but they also know that writers have to stick together. They are always looking for new gigs to put scribes to work. I like that.

You see, writing is an endurance sport, but it is not a contest. You are challenging yourself and the more people who cross the finish line, the more high fives you get to score.

Like any sport, we improve with practice. So I would like to devote this week's post to exercises that strengthen the muse.

1. Lift a writing friend's day by asking about ongoing projects, challenges, successes.

2. Leverage resources by suggesting sources, similar stories, agents, attorneys who might be able to help.

3. Sit at the computer for some deep writing time.

4. Raise a glass at the July 8 Writers Who Wine Night Out to celebrate all that you have accomplished.

5. Repeat.

It's that easy. The secret is that you have to do all five. You can't just talk about writing, you have to actually sit down and do it. But celebrating your accomplishments with friends is also essential to keep you motivated during those long hours in front of the computer. So put on your work-out clothes and get started.

Yours in Writing

Promptmasters

Jennifer Sander

JT Long

Writing Goal Check-Up

It has been six months since you made your 2010 writing resolutions. Have you allowed your MasterMind Writer's Group to hold you accountable? Have you written those proposals? Consistently blogged? Finished that Great American Novel? Have you celebrated appropriately?

I know life can get in the way. Kids, dogs, editors can be very demanding. But you have to make your self-imposed deadlines a priority if you are going to reach your publishing dreams.

Let's take this summer break as an opportunity to renew your commitment to writing like you have never written before. Answer the following questions honestly and publicly so you will be more inclined to make the answers stick.

• Was my 2010 goal practical?
• What adjustments do I need to make to ensure that I will be successful?
• Am I using all of my network's resources to meet my goal?
• Am I scheduling time in my week to pursue my dreams?
• How will I celebrate when I cross the publishing line?

The good news is that there is still another six months left to reach all of your goals and more. But you will only be successful if you commit to yourself and your support network.