Vision Boarding your Book

I've met many people at different stages of writing endeavours. They could be writing a book, or a collection of poetry; they could have a regular weekly column that they need subject matter for, or like a friend of mine,  writing on topics that interest her for no one other than herself. Whatever we write about or whatever the reason we write, we all need ideas. So when I'm sitting in front of my laptop with my mind a fresh, clean slate, where does the inspiration come from?

I go through phases of carrying around a small notebook to make notes of interesting things when I see them. But its such a performance for me to rummage around in my handbag (the size of  a wheelie bin), to find the notebook and pen. Without glasses I can't see to write  so I generally have to find them, put them on, and all the while balance the wheelie bin on one shoulder, adopting a Kwasimodo pose. Not practical! I had this romantic notion of myself seated at a side-walk cafe (in summer of course, on a sunny day...in London? I hear you ask!), but it rarely works out like that, I found. Usually I'm hurrying somewhere amongst a thousand strong throng of people, and stopping to retrieve said notebook is tantamount to stopping dead in your tracks during the running of the bulls in Pamplona! Unwise at the very least....

Then I found Pinterest, and whilst I didn't cotton on to this at the very beginning, the thought started to take form in my head. What if I created a board where I could dump all the images that fascinated me, or sparked something within for my writing in one place? A picture is worth a thousand words.... so they say. When I was in the middle of a scene in my book and I needed inspiration, I could just tap into my Pinterest board and get the ideas flowing again. So that's what I've started to do. I've set up a board and I've called it 'What If'.
When I'm sitting anywhere pinning stuff, if something jumps out as 'could be part of my book' or 'resonates with the theme or genre that I'm working on', it gets pinned to my What If board.

I do this whilst the idea of the book is seeding itself in my head; I do it when I'm writing the outline, and whilst I'm putting the meat on the bones, thereafter. I use it at any and all stages, and regularly add images to my board.
At first I don't know where all the bits fit in, I just know that they are part of the story.
It helps me to see my story in vibrant colour, and to immerse myself in it completely.

Try it; what have you got to lose.....

Gabi

3 Ways to get past Writer's Block

If (like me over the last few months) you procrastinate about flowing your stories/ideas/thoughts onto a page... its called Writer's Block. If, every single other thing/action has to have priority over your writing... that's Writer's Block. If, you promise yourself you'll schedule to do it when everything else is done, and you can only 'relax' when there is nothing else to cloud your mind...you have a case of Writer's Block.

It's not about getting everything ticked off your to do list before you put pen to paper ... nor is it about being in a position to to relax before you can be creative. You may be naturally gifted at writing or like 99,9% of us, you need to develop the skill.Anyone can develop a skill, its just takes perseverance. However for it to elevate it to an art form, you need to add passion.

So, if you have a yearning to write, love writing, can't live without writing, feel like your life is lacking something if you don't write.... then you have the passion and you can become a superb writer. Just stick with it.

Here are 3 simple ways to get past writer's block:

1. Schedule 10 minutes a day where you write freehand about anything that comes to your mind. For those ten minutes, do nothing else but write.

2. Carry with you a small book to capture ideas. As writer's, our brains are constantly firing with ideas. Jot them down in your little book.
3.  Breaks your story/book into baby steps. Create a broad outline of what happens where and when and to whom for the whole book. Then break this into sections. Then focus on the sections.  Now its not such an overwhelming task. See Larry Brooks site for tips.

Most important though, when I write, I feel great, I lose time, I am totally immersed in what I am doing. That's passion. Remember it, because it feels good.