What's in a day? Exactly 1,440 minutes, just 24 hours. All with the absolute certainty of never again returning or being available to you or anyone else. Poof! Gone! You can't lend or borrow a minute. You can't carry them over from yesterday or borrow any from tomorrow.
If you're a writer, how do you make the best use of the time allotted to you? How can you be most deliberate in your use of those precious and fleeting minutes so you won't finish too many days with, "Ya know what I wish I had done?"
Here are a few writers who have found what works best for them:
J.D. Salinger, after arising at dawn, retreats to a concrete bunker near his home and then types for as long as 16 hours.
Mary Higgins Clark starts at 5 a.m. and may go on until midnight, a habit that continues from her child-rearing years.
Patricia Cornwell interrupts her 14-hour writing days only long enough to eat cottage cheese from the container.
You can read about other writers who are deliberate in how they use their 1,440 minutes in our book Writer's Nudge.
But how about you? How do you arrange your days to make the best use of the time allotted to you? Care to share?
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: Phone (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
How Some Writers Got Their Start
Ever stop to wonder how writing careers get started? Here are a few examples from our book Writer's Nudge:
From yours truly, Bob and Mary Busha, Bob, now a major commercial nonfiction writer, started as a contributing editor for Country Living magazine. Mary, who is now a writer's coach and book editor, got her start in family owned weekely newspapers, doing almost everything from editing to office and print-shop cleanup.
Focus on the Family magazine editor Jesse Florea and novelists Jan Karon and Bodie Thoene also got their start in news print, as did Jerry Jenkins, perhaps most noted for the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye, even though his first love was baseball.
Mystery writer Dick Francis galloped in from being a jockey for the Queen of England to writing newspaper columns about horsey stuff. Then he ventured into novels involving horse racing.
John Grisham was an attorney and a member of the state house of representatives before he began to pen his first book, and then he peddled it himself to bookstores around the region.
Path-breaker for Christian fiction Janette Oke, though untrained, simply began writing the kind of books she wanted to read.
Also going directly into books, Francine Rivers was a journalism and English major, but she put her writing on hold to marry and raise children. Addicted to romance novels, Francine told her husband that she could do better than what she was reading. She had 13 award-winning romance novels before her faith was refocused and her writing changed. Since 1991, her books are now award-winning Christian novels.
How will you answer the question when someone asks, "How did you get your start in writing?"
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: Phone (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
From yours truly, Bob and Mary Busha, Bob, now a major commercial nonfiction writer, started as a contributing editor for Country Living magazine. Mary, who is now a writer's coach and book editor, got her start in family owned weekely newspapers, doing almost everything from editing to office and print-shop cleanup.
Focus on the Family magazine editor Jesse Florea and novelists Jan Karon and Bodie Thoene also got their start in news print, as did Jerry Jenkins, perhaps most noted for the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye, even though his first love was baseball.
Mystery writer Dick Francis galloped in from being a jockey for the Queen of England to writing newspaper columns about horsey stuff. Then he ventured into novels involving horse racing.
John Grisham was an attorney and a member of the state house of representatives before he began to pen his first book, and then he peddled it himself to bookstores around the region.
Path-breaker for Christian fiction Janette Oke, though untrained, simply began writing the kind of books she wanted to read.
Also going directly into books, Francine Rivers was a journalism and English major, but she put her writing on hold to marry and raise children. Addicted to romance novels, Francine told her husband that she could do better than what she was reading. She had 13 award-winning romance novels before her faith was refocused and her writing changed. Since 1991, her books are now award-winning Christian novels.
How will you answer the question when someone asks, "How did you get your start in writing?"
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: Phone (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Write a Little Something Every Day
On your road to publication, try one or more of these 10 ways to keep your writing fresh, and in the process bless another person along the way:
Affirm Everyone, at one time or another, needs words of affirmation. Write to someone today and tell them how special they are to you.
Apologize Try sending your apologies in writing. It gives the receiver time and space to consider your thoughtful words.
Appreciate The variety of ways you can say thanks in writing is endless: notes, cards, letters, e-mails, telegrams, newspaper ads, and the list goes on. Make it a challenge today to show in writing how much you appreciate someone.
Encourage Send words of encouragement to someone you know. Try sending a note of encouragement to a total stranger. Lift someone's spirits today.
Extend sympathy In person, extending your condolences can be difficut. On paper, it's still not easy, but sending your thoughts in writing does not demand an immediate (if ever) response from the reader. And printed words can be reread and relived.
Love Once, before leaving on a trip, I put sticky notes everywhere, reminding my husband of my love. He found them on the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, milk carton, and cereal box. He found them inside the book he was reading, his underwear drawer, and, yes, even inside the toilet seat. I think he got the message. Give it a try yourself. Who in your life needs to be reminded of your love?
Memorialize The words you write in memory of someone can become treasures in the hands of those who have lost someone dear.
Motivate It's quite possible that the words you write to your children or someone of influence will encourage them to even greater accomplishments.
Praise On a recent visit to a young haircutter, I saw my note of thanks and praise taped to her mirror. I've even sent letters to business managers letting them know how well I was served by one of their employees. Be watchful today of who you can praise.
Tell a story Whether or not your work gets published, your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews will love the stories you put in writing and share with them.
(Adapted from the article For the Joy of It by Mary Busha, Writers Digest Magazine, July 2001)
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Affirm Everyone, at one time or another, needs words of affirmation. Write to someone today and tell them how special they are to you.
Apologize Try sending your apologies in writing. It gives the receiver time and space to consider your thoughtful words.
Appreciate The variety of ways you can say thanks in writing is endless: notes, cards, letters, e-mails, telegrams, newspaper ads, and the list goes on. Make it a challenge today to show in writing how much you appreciate someone.
Encourage Send words of encouragement to someone you know. Try sending a note of encouragement to a total stranger. Lift someone's spirits today.
Extend sympathy In person, extending your condolences can be difficut. On paper, it's still not easy, but sending your thoughts in writing does not demand an immediate (if ever) response from the reader. And printed words can be reread and relived.
Love Once, before leaving on a trip, I put sticky notes everywhere, reminding my husband of my love. He found them on the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, milk carton, and cereal box. He found them inside the book he was reading, his underwear drawer, and, yes, even inside the toilet seat. I think he got the message. Give it a try yourself. Who in your life needs to be reminded of your love?
Memorialize The words you write in memory of someone can become treasures in the hands of those who have lost someone dear.
Motivate It's quite possible that the words you write to your children or someone of influence will encourage them to even greater accomplishments.
Praise On a recent visit to a young haircutter, I saw my note of thanks and praise taped to her mirror. I've even sent letters to business managers letting them know how well I was served by one of their employees. Be watchful today of who you can praise.
Tell a story Whether or not your work gets published, your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews will love the stories you put in writing and share with them.
(Adapted from the article For the Joy of It by Mary Busha, Writers Digest Magazine, July 2001)
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Initial Steps for Every Emerging Writer
Have you felt the nudge to write, but you're drawing a blank on where to find the starting line? Does it all seem daunting and impossible? Take heart! You're not the first person to hesitantly edge toward the beginning of the writing world. And you won't be the last.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you take steps to being that writer you've dreamed you could be:
STEP ONE: Read it! Its routinely said that really good writers have one thing in common: They are readers. Many are voracious consumers of the written word...and in many forms. You should be a reader too.
STEP TWO: Study it! You wouldn't build a house without knowing how. You wouldn't sew a jacket before getting some know how. You wouldn't do anything that takes a certain number of skills without finding out how to do it first. Writing isn't any different. Get familiar with how-to books, magazines, and websites for writers. Won't take you long to find some online, in your local bookstore or on the shelves of friends who are writers. Good writers study their craft. Become of student of the written word.
STEP THREE: Write it! Following your reading and some studying, the very best way to actually develop writing skills is to just jump into the writing pool. The deep end! If it doesn't make any difference if you get paid or not, write anything. (In our next post, we're going to offer several ways to get experience writing just for the joy of writing and for the practice of putting words on paper.)
Be bold, dear writer. If you are seriously feeling the nudge to write, take those first two steps, no matter how tentative they may feel. Then take step three and don't stop!
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you take steps to being that writer you've dreamed you could be:
STEP ONE: Read it! Its routinely said that really good writers have one thing in common: They are readers. Many are voracious consumers of the written word...and in many forms. You should be a reader too.
STEP TWO: Study it! You wouldn't build a house without knowing how. You wouldn't sew a jacket before getting some know how. You wouldn't do anything that takes a certain number of skills without finding out how to do it first. Writing isn't any different. Get familiar with how-to books, magazines, and websites for writers. Won't take you long to find some online, in your local bookstore or on the shelves of friends who are writers. Good writers study their craft. Become of student of the written word.
STEP THREE: Write it! Following your reading and some studying, the very best way to actually develop writing skills is to just jump into the writing pool. The deep end! If it doesn't make any difference if you get paid or not, write anything. (In our next post, we're going to offer several ways to get experience writing just for the joy of writing and for the practice of putting words on paper.)
Be bold, dear writer. If you are seriously feeling the nudge to write, take those first two steps, no matter how tentative they may feel. Then take step three and don't stop!
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Pre-Writing Right!
Here are several questions, adapted from our book Writer's Nudge: Encouraging Words for Emerging Authors, to consider before beginning your writing projects.
Readers: To whom are you speaking? In other words, what kinds of folks will most appreciate your writing? Who's in your reading audience?
Direction: What do you want the audience to do once they've read your article or book? Are they supposed to take action or just sit back and reflect?
Action: How will your readers know they have to make a decision? What are their choices? When they reach the last word in the last paragraph, will they know it's time to do something?
Research: What do you need to know so your readers will know what they need to know? Will you need to read more or conduct interviews?
Quality: What's the best way to achieve your writing goal for each of your projects? How many options do you have? What reputation will you have when you're finished?
Review: What process and people do you have ready to determine if you're on track towards your writing goals and objectives? Who will give you honest, beneficial feedback?
Preparation: Have you done all you need to do in order to advance on your literary journey, or should you invest more at this stage so you won't be stalled along the way or have to backtrack?
Motivation: Why are you doing what you're doing? What's the core purpose for your writing journey?
Timing: How's your schedule? Do you have the actual openings in your average day to do what you intend to do with your project?
Satisfaction: At the end of a writing day, whether it's been minutes or hours, when you turn off your bedside lamp, will you be happy with your experience as a writer, regardless if you penned a word or not?
However you answer all of these important pre-writing questions, we hope you have fun with your writing!
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Readers: To whom are you speaking? In other words, what kinds of folks will most appreciate your writing? Who's in your reading audience?
Direction: What do you want the audience to do once they've read your article or book? Are they supposed to take action or just sit back and reflect?
Action: How will your readers know they have to make a decision? What are their choices? When they reach the last word in the last paragraph, will they know it's time to do something?
Research: What do you need to know so your readers will know what they need to know? Will you need to read more or conduct interviews?
Quality: What's the best way to achieve your writing goal for each of your projects? How many options do you have? What reputation will you have when you're finished?
Review: What process and people do you have ready to determine if you're on track towards your writing goals and objectives? Who will give you honest, beneficial feedback?
Preparation: Have you done all you need to do in order to advance on your literary journey, or should you invest more at this stage so you won't be stalled along the way or have to backtrack?
Motivation: Why are you doing what you're doing? What's the core purpose for your writing journey?
Timing: How's your schedule? Do you have the actual openings in your average day to do what you intend to do with your project?
Satisfaction: At the end of a writing day, whether it's been minutes or hours, when you turn off your bedside lamp, will you be happy with your experience as a writer, regardless if you penned a word or not?
However you answer all of these important pre-writing questions, we hope you have fun with your writing!
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Friday, May 22, 2009
It's All About Loading Up Your Brain
Would you like to boost your productivity when you actually have your PC or laptop in front of you? Try this tip from our book Writer's Nudge: Encouraging Words for Emerging Authors.
Give your subconscious, your creative self, a problem or challenge before you get there, to your writer's starting point, that is. Say, you're planning to click the cursor on the "Start" button early Saturday. You want that big day to be as fruitful as it can be, right?
As soon as you can, early in the week if possible, direct your conscious thoughts to load your subconscious with the writing challenges you'd like to take on as soon as you roll out of bed Saturday morning. Say to yourself, "Saturday, I want to write chapter 3." Then, let your brain do what it's designed to do, solve problems.
Your creative juices will be working while your brain is busy with our day job demands, while running your kids to school, as well as while you sleep. All week! Then, see what flows out of your brain and through your fingers on Saturday morning. Go ahead, give it a try.
Most importantly, look for positive ways to augment your actual writing with support work during the week. Keep track of how much more you can accomplish with your head pointed at progress instead of fussing about not getting enough concentrated writing time.
Are you familiar with famed Agatha Christie's character, the dapper Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot? He regularly pauses, deep in thought. When questioned, he refers to his "leettle gray cells," while processing information and clues about crimes. Try using your own "leettle gray cells" to their fullest. Then, drop us a line and let us know how it's worked for you.
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Give your subconscious, your creative self, a problem or challenge before you get there, to your writer's starting point, that is. Say, you're planning to click the cursor on the "Start" button early Saturday. You want that big day to be as fruitful as it can be, right?
As soon as you can, early in the week if possible, direct your conscious thoughts to load your subconscious with the writing challenges you'd like to take on as soon as you roll out of bed Saturday morning. Say to yourself, "Saturday, I want to write chapter 3." Then, let your brain do what it's designed to do, solve problems.
Your creative juices will be working while your brain is busy with our day job demands, while running your kids to school, as well as while you sleep. All week! Then, see what flows out of your brain and through your fingers on Saturday morning. Go ahead, give it a try.
Most importantly, look for positive ways to augment your actual writing with support work during the week. Keep track of how much more you can accomplish with your head pointed at progress instead of fussing about not getting enough concentrated writing time.
Are you familiar with famed Agatha Christie's character, the dapper Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot? He regularly pauses, deep in thought. When questioned, he refers to his "leettle gray cells," while processing information and clues about crimes. Try using your own "leettle gray cells" to their fullest. Then, drop us a line and let us know how it's worked for you.
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Need a Writing Idea or New Character?
They’re everywhere, ideas and characters for your books and articles, that is. The next time you’re at the airport, take a good look around. What do you hear? What do you see? If you find yourself in a dead-stop line of traffic, observe the people in the other cars. Take in the sounds as well. There’s a match-up writing opportunity in each of these kinds of places, and more, that you may not have noticed before. These are just a couple of the ideas for idea and character mining we discuss in our book Writer's Nudge: Encouraging Words for Emerging Authors.
Here are a couple more. Waiting for jury duty selection to begin? Great! Use that time to listen to conversations around you. Accents, phrasing, diction, and situation sharing may be recalled sometime for use in an article or as a trigger for a fictional scene. How about what you see and hear waiting to pick up your kids from practice or watching your grandkids' little league game? Any possible characters or ideas there?
If you have time to wait at your favorite big-box store, sit on one of the benches near the checkout lanes and inventory the unique and sometimes crazy way people dress and conduct themselves. See any characters for your book?
You may find a person you can employ later in a scene or hear about a need that would make a great magazine article. Bob has been known to use times like these to observe how people walk, how they dress, and how they treat their kids and spouses. There are a bazillion places to check out hairdos, hats, T-shirt copy, and the color combinations of casual attire.
Characters and ideas, they're all around! You just need to take the time to observe.
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
Here are a couple more. Waiting for jury duty selection to begin? Great! Use that time to listen to conversations around you. Accents, phrasing, diction, and situation sharing may be recalled sometime for use in an article or as a trigger for a fictional scene. How about what you see and hear waiting to pick up your kids from practice or watching your grandkids' little league game? Any possible characters or ideas there?
If you have time to wait at your favorite big-box store, sit on one of the benches near the checkout lanes and inventory the unique and sometimes crazy way people dress and conduct themselves. See any characters for your book?
You may find a person you can employ later in a scene or hear about a need that would make a great magazine article. Bob has been known to use times like these to observe how people walk, how they dress, and how they treat their kids and spouses. There are a bazillion places to check out hairdos, hats, T-shirt copy, and the color combinations of casual attire.
Characters and ideas, they're all around! You just need to take the time to observe.
Need a nudge? Contact Bob and Mary today to see how they can nudge your book-writing career: (810) 653-4218 or email Mary: marybusha@writersnudge.com.
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