Are You on The Right Track?

Step back and evaluate your current path. Are you happy with it? Is it bringing you closer to where you want to be?

Just because you were on the right road twenty minutes ago doesn't mean that you didn't take a turn that takes you further away from your goal. Think about that: Is there something in your life that is keeping you from going after your goal?
Maybe you write articles for free for your local newsletter. That's great but if it's taking you away from the path that you want to travel (let's say your goal is "get paid for my writing"), then you need to let it go.

I see too many writers today, dabbling in other forms of writing that ultimately move them further from their goals. If you want to write articles for free, don't let me stop you but if it's not moving you toward your goal, then you're losing your most valuable resource - time.

If you're going down a path that doesn't bring you where you want to go, then you will end up frustrated. You will end up angry at yourself and you'll resent writing instead of enjoying it. So stop and evaluate your path today. If you're on the right track, congratulations.

If you're on the wrong one, what will it take to change that? Do you need to let go of a few responsibilities? Do you need to hire someone else to watch your children for a few hours this week?

Today your challenge is to do whatever you need to do to get back on the right track. Just do it. Seriously. Then let us know about it in the comments section. We're all here to cheer you on...

Quote: There's Nothing to Writing...

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley Smith


Photo Credit: Ben Earwicker of Garrison Photography

Writing the First Draft

Can I tell you a secret? I hate writing the first draft. It never lives up to my vision. I doubt myself through the entire draft, battling thoughts like 'not talented', 'get a real job', and my least favorite 'this is boring'.

But if it weren't for my willingness to face the intimidating first draft, I wouldn't have written a novel or countless business articles or even this article that you're reading.

What is it about writing the first draft that stops so many writers in their tracks?

In a word: fear. As readers, we're use to reading the final draft. We rarely see the writer's hideous first draft. We buy into this belief that the writer must have turned out brilliant prose one night at two am, sent it off to a publisher the moment the post office opened and received a contract later that afternoon. That never happens.

Writing Prompt #3: The Mystery in the Castle

Today create two characters that have conflicting goals and put them into an old abandoned castle on a rainy day. Before they are allowed to leave the castle, they must work together to find a stolen gem.

Photo Credit: Filipe Samora

YA Is Red Hot!

Another writer forwarded me this great post on why YA is red hot. If you know someone else who writes YA, be sure to pass this post along.

New Feature: Writing Prompt Wednesday

Starting this Wednesday, Novelist's Cafe is bringing back the writing prompts...with a twist. Each Wednesday, I'll post a writing prompt. It could be a single word or a scene setter or even a story starter. You can freewrite for ten minutes, write the word into your work in progress, or use it as a jumping off point to get you through your block. It should be fun so stop in on Wednesdays!

Daily Writing Prompts

Recently, I found The Write Prompts.com and thought I'd share the link with all of my blogging buddies. This is a great site filled with fun, offbeat pictures and prompts to get you writing. Use them to warm up your writing muscles or to get through a tough spot in your manuscript.