Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm

One of the most important elements to being able to write regularly, deeply, and consistently as a creative writer is to be able to find your own unique creative writing rhythm.

If we don't learn to listen to, and tune in to, the unique creative rhythm that each of us have, we'll find it a constant battle to remain motivated and productive in our creative writing projects.

Professional athletes and sports players talk about being "in the zone", where they're performing at a peak level and everything flows. We can apply the same principle to writing.

Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm

So how do we know when we're not "in the zone", when we're out of sync with our natural creative rhythm?

Some of the tell tale signs are:

Writing inconsistent amounts - 10 pages flow freely one day, but the day after you struggle to string together 10 words.

Being obsessive about tiny details - you spend hours re-writing a single difficult line 30 times, and eventually go back to the first version you came up with.

Sticky Shoes Syndrome - you just can't get going, writing feels about as easy as wading through treacle in concrete boots. With an elephant on your back.

Losing objectivity - struggling to see the bigger vision in the project you're writing. It's like trying to view a mountain range from ground level, instead of flying above in a helicopter to get the overall view of the landscape.

Feeling out of control - you're aware that sometimes your creative writing flows like Niagara Falls and other days it's barely as fruitful as a dripping tap. But you have no idea why and you don't feel in control.

So what's the secret to overcoming some of these struggles and finding YOUR unique creative rhythm?

Put simply: experimenting and testing.

If you keep doing the same things over and over - the same things that aren't working - then of course they're going to continue to not work. And you'll continue to be inconsistent, erratic and frustrated in your creative writing.

Now I'm not suggesting you have to become an emotionless robot, churning out perfect page after perfect page of creative writing.

Not at all.

There are natural peaks and lulls in our minds and bodies, in our moods and in our personal circumstances. They're part of being a human being.

But if we learn to recognise these patterns, learn to find when we're naturally at our best, at our peaks, we can begin to find our creative rhythm.

And when we do that, we reduce the kind of tell tale signs like those above we feel when we're struggling to create.

So we're able to create more consistently, more abundantly and more deeply than ever before.

How do you experiment then to help you find your natural creative rhythm?

Here are some of the factors to play around with and see what works best for you:

- The time of day when you write.

- How long you write for.

- How you cope with or eliminate distractions.

- The materials you use to write with.

- Where you write.

- What breaks you have, how long and how often.

- What you do (if anything) to prepare yourself to write.

- Whether you use background music or sounds, or silence.

- How you have your writing space set up physically.

- How you decide when your writing time is over for that session.

Experiment with just one of these variables at a time or you won't be able to track the changes effectively.

Once you've found the best way of working with that particular factor, keep that fixed and move on and adjust the next one.

Follow these guidelines and you'll be well on your way to finding your own unique creative rhythm. You'll begin too to see your creative writing reach new levels.

Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm
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Want to find out how more about how to unlock your creative writing potential? Get your FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not using their creative talents as well as they could be. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes

Many of the novels produced today have fight scenes which must be described in detail. If you are writing a suspense or horror story, chances are someone will throw a few punches. Depending on the type of fight you are writing about, you will need to think through each fight scene and decide exactly how you want to tell it.

Fight scenes are much easier to perform on television than to write in a manuscript. On the screen, you can see the fight happening and you aren't worried about what anyone is thinking. You don't have to tell the audience how each move is executed because it is right there in front of your face. In a novel, however, the way you write a fight scene will determine whether or not your reader can follow.

One of the most difficult aspect of writing fight scenes is the tendency to slip into monotony: He kicked her. She kicked him. He punched her. She bit him. In order to keep your reader interested, you have to find creative ways to tell the reader what is happening.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes

When writing fight scenes, focus not only on the characters who are engaged in the fight, but also various aspects of the scenery. In most cases, you will be "in the mind" of one specific character, which means that the fight is explained from his or her point of view. Even as your character is kicking ass and taking names, he or she should be cognizant of the world around them.

There is a fine line, however, between creating enough description and creating so much that it takes away from the pace. Fights are fast, furious and often over within minutes; if you drag it out too long, your reader will get bored. Keep the pace flowing by intermixing your description with the mechanics of the fight.

For example:

"Caleb was momentarily distracted by the shouts that emanated from the rapidly growing crowd in the parking lot. Catcalls were followed by cheers of encouragement so loud that his attention was momentarily called away from the fight. Joshua's leg swept out in a wide, graceful art, connecting with Caleb's ankles, throwing him off balance. Without even realizing what exactly was happening, Caleb found himself flat on his back, sucking in deep breaths of air that seemed devoid of oxygen, wincing as tiny pebbles from the asphalt dug painfully into his back. The subsequent tunnel vision that threatened to take away his sight cleared with just enough time to roll away from a kick to the ribs."

The above is an excerpt from a suspense novel I wrote several years ago, and displays an example of complementing action with description. We know what is going on with the fight, but we also understand what has happened to Caleb.

Once you have finished writing a fight scene, read it over aloud. Listen to the words from an objective point of view and determine if you can see the fight happening in your mind. If you don't feel that you can maintain objectivity, read it to a friend or family member.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes
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Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at [http://www.laurajcollege.com]

Why Writing an Outline is Important

Your creative juices have kicked in, and you are comfortable with your topic and your point of view. Your mind is running a mile a minute. Ideas are starting to come. Right now, you need to take a deep breath and write an outline.

Exactly What is an Outline?
An outline is a road map of your book or paper. It organizes your thoughts, the points and the ideas you want to make. There is a specific structure to an outline. It's even been standardized in some word processing packages.

The best way to start your outline is to put down your main points. The standard here is to use Roman numerals. Points you want to make that support your main points are sub points. These points are noted by using capital letters. The process continues until all the sub points have found a home and all major points have sub points supporting them.

Why Writing an Outline is Important

If you follow this blueprint, your ideas will flow smoothly.

Writing an Outline
Short works do not necessarily need an extensive outline. However, the longer your work, the more complex and complete your outline needs to be. Once you're into writing an outline, the process becomes easier as you go along. The more complete your outline is, the easier it is to write the sentences that weave your ideas together.

Importance of Research
Do you do your research before or after your do your outline? It depends! You should have enough research done to know what direction your work will take. You still can change or adjust that direction as you do additional research. It is important, though, to have some research done. As you develop your outline, you can leave blanks for the results of research work yet to be done. On the other hand, if you work to complete all of your research before you begin the outline, you may find yourself stuck in the paralysis of analysis.

Organize Your Thoughts
Once you have started your outline and have stated your thesis, it is time to organize your thoughts. Decide on your audience. That will influence your decisions on voice and style. You are ready to make decisions about what you will include and what you won't. (Do not throw any unused notes away, though, you never know when you will be able to use them in the future.)

Importance of Structure
No matter what the purpose of your writing, the structure of your outline should be consistent throughout the project. Maintaining consistency helps you determine if your points are put in logical and easy-to-follow order. Once your outline is complete, writing the paper consists primarily of filling in the blanks and tying your points together. It also helps when you review your outline to make sure you have put in everything you intended to.

Writing and using an outline is important. Using index cards and sticky notes that can be moved around can help you as you polish your outline. They can help you keep track of facts in an essay or non-fiction book. If it is a novel, you can use them to track characters throughout the story line. The more you use outlines, the easier it will become.

Why Writing an Outline is Important
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Tiffany Byrd ~ Experienced management professional writer with award-winning achievements and background in marketing, integrated communications, and public relations. She has written just about everything, from magazine articles to books and press releases. Contact Tiffany at http://www.freelancewritingdesk.com

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel

When I was in the eleventh grade, I took a creative writing elective with one of the most brilliant teachers I've ever met. She was brutal, honest and highly creative; I don't know why she hadn't graduated to teaching college courses. In any event, she gave me the best writing advice I have ever gotten:

"The worst way to start your story is with a 'dark and stormy night'. It's been done. Other than that, the sky's the limit."

I took her advice to heart, and the stories I wrote for her class had the most creative beginnings I've ever written.

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel

Most beginning (and even veteran) writers struggle with how to open their novels. Dialogue? Action? Witty prose? How you start your novel with decide how many people buy it off bookstore shelves. Captivating your reader should be the first priority, but how do you know if it's exciting enough?

How to Start Your Novel with Dialogue

I rarely start novels with dialogue, mostly because I can never think of anything important enough to say. However, sometimes dialogue is the best way to get your novel off to a running start. If your characters are in the middle of a fight or if there's something you want to get right out in the open, dialogue can thrust your reader right into the opening scene of the novel.

That said, you have to be careful. Resist the urge to start your novel with dialogue like, "How are you feeling today?" If you plan to open with dialogue, it must be intelligent and important and captivating.

My only real advice for starting your novel with dialogue is to have only one line of speech before you insert some explanations. Even if the characters are in the middle of a conversation, don't confuse your reader by failing to give details.

How to Start Your Novel with Action

Obviously, action is the most popular way to start a novel. It's exciting, intriguing, and it lures your readers into the story before they even know what hit them.

This is especially true with mystery and suspense stories. In those genres, readers expect to be hooked from the get-go, and they want to be shocked from paragraph one.

How to Start Your Novel with Prose

In this case, "prose" really refers to description. Some of the most powerful novels of all time have begun with languid and lyrical description:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

"A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories..."

- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

Description is my favorite way to start a novel because it eases the reader into the storyline. There are no expectations, no assumptions; your reader becomes immersed in the fictional world that you have created, and at your own pace; no one else's.

The only problem with this method is that you must find a unique way to describe the opening scene. My advice is to think about the characters and the setting and to pick out a remote object on which to comment. This takes your reader from a very specified place - the object - and into a more complex scene - your opening. For example, one of the books that I ghosted several years ago began like this:

"In a room filled with beautiful antique furniture and ancient artifacts from Egypt and Rome, the digital clock radio stuck out like a sore thumb. It's flashing green digits called attention to the clock as if to say, I may be new, but I'm still important. It struck me as odd that someone as refined and as old-world as Cunningham Thompson III would rely on such a technological timepiece." By drawing your readers' attention to something mundane, they will be twice as captivated when you get on with the plot.

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel
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Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at [http://www.laurajcollege.com]

Creative Writing, Fictional Works and Tools that Writers Can Use

There are many creative writing tools and software for today's serious writers. Creative writing, writing novels and excellent works of fiction are not easy in the least. Most people who write choose a robust word processing program and the most common is Microsoft Word 2007.

I recommend Microsoft Word 2007 for its many features, of course there are a few folks who recommend Word Perfect or Linux's word processing program. Generally these folks are anti-Microsoft and will not admit Microsoft is better. There are some special writer software programs out there and you can find them by searching Microsoft Live Search, Yahoo or Google, the ones I have found are:

A Writer's SoftwareCopyWriteCorrect Copy WritersWorksDramatica ProFinalDraftHypnoticWritingWizardNoteBookOmni OutlinerQuilSoftStyleWriterWhiteSmokeWrite-On-TimeWritersBlockWriteRightNow Many of these have cool features, but the most robust program is Microsoft Word 2007 and sure you might save a little money, but realize that you need Microsoft Word 2007 if you are a serious writer. If you are cheater type, you might use some organizational writing software to assist you, but whereas this might help a little, the templates available for Microsoft Word are incredible.

Creative Writing, Fictional Works and Tools that Writers Can Use

Why should my testimonial be any better than anyone else? Well, I have co-authored one book in print, have 10-eBooks under my name and have authored 11,111 articles online and Microsoft Word 2007 has helped me in more ways than I can list in this short article. In fact, today I am presently the all-time most prolific author on the Internet; I thank a good part of my success on great writing tools and my Microsoft 2007 Word Processing Program.

Creative Writing, Fictional Works and Tools that Writers Can Use
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"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Book Writing - Page Count and Chapter Length

Regardless of genre, there is no hard and fast rule about how many pages or words each chapter should contain or how many chapters should be in a book. However, there are some general guidelines in this article that may help you determine the page count and chapter length needed for your book.

Pages in a Chapter:

Many people read in spurts, at lunch time, or on the subway to work, readers enjoy chapters that can be finished in ten to fifteen minutes.

Book Writing - Page Count and Chapter Length

I try to set my chapter lengths by how long it takes me to read the material. If it goes past fifteen minutes, I may decide to divide a chapter in half and make two chapters out of it. Take into consideration that I write mostly non-fiction.

As you probably know, there's a difference in the way fiction and non-fiction are handled. In a fiction book, writers use shorter chapters. Some are only one page if that is all it takes to catch the reader up on the action of other characters in other scenes. When writing non-fiction, your chapter content needs to be specific to your chapter's heading or title.

Twenty pages per chapter is a good rule of thumb, but the most important thing is to include everything that relates to a particular topic in one chapter. For example, if your book is about fishing, you want to include the bulk of your information about fly casting in one chapter. All your info about bait and lure would be in another chapter.

Chapters/Pages in a Book:

These guidelines should give you a general idea of how to determine the length of your chapters and your book.

If your book is titled "The Accuracy of the US Census" you may have 52 chapters (one on each state). If your book is titled "Ten Tips for Marketing" you may have only ten chapters. There's no rule about how many chapters a book can or must have.

In order to be considered a book rather than a pamphlet or booklet, a book needs to be at least 10,000 words. If your book has more than 475 pages, you might want to consider producing it in two volumes.

Because you will submit your manuscript as an 8.5" x 11" word-processing document, you cannot be certain of its final length until after your publisher formats it for print. I have found that 250-300 words will approximate one page of 12-point font text in a standard size (5.5"x8" or 6"x9") perfect-bound book.

Book Writing - Page Count and Chapter Length
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Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist you with writing and editing for books, eBooks, Web text, business documents, resumes, bios, articles, and media releases. For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, or to sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter, please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing.

Writing A Book For The First Time - Easy Habits To Help You Finish That Book

If you're either thinking of writing a book for the first time, or you are in the early stages of writing, remember, it's not going to write itself. Maybe you've always dreamed of writing a book. It's important to realize that you're the only one that will make that dream come true. You can write a book more easily by starting to implement some habits into your life. If you're serious about writing a book, here are some easy writing habits you need to begin using on a regular basis.

Habit #1 - Establish A Daily Writing Time

First, if you're writing a book for the first time, it's important that you establish a daily writing time. Get into the habit of writing on a regular basis. Even if you don't write much, it's important to develop this habit. Some days will be more difficult than others, but you have to at least dedicate some time to write. While you may write at other times, come up with a specific time frame when you write every day. Usually it's best to start out with 30 minutes and then work your way up to a couple hours.

Writing A Book For The First Time - Easy Habits To Help You Finish That Book

Habit #2 - Take Time To Brainstorm

While writing daily is an important habit, you also need to take time to brainstorm. No doubt, you're engrossed in your book, but you need to have dedicated time in your schedule to think about your story and brainstorm new ideas for your book. Dedicate some time to brainstorming. It's fine to do this while engaging in other tasks that don't require thinking, such as while walking, cleaning, washing dishes, or even exercising.

Habit #3 - Write Down Ideas

It's so easy to come up with great ideas, only to lose them because you didn't write them down, this is especially true when writing and it can even happen to seasoned authors. Wherever you go, have a notebook with you so you can write down the ideas as they come to you. Maybe you think of a plot twist or hear some dialog from people around you that spurs off a brilliant idea. Don't miss out on great ideas - write them down.

Habit #4 - Just Get Started

There will be plenty of days when you won't feel like writing. Sometimes you may deal with writer's block. You may have no idea what to write, but you still need to get started. Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis or procrastination. Just start writing and often this will get you past blocks in writing. Simply starting to type can help you get going and you'll find that the writing comes easier from there.

Unfortunately, most people who are interested in writing a book for the first time don't realize that it takes real discipline. While writing comes easier at some times than at others, it's always going to require some hard work and discipline on your part. However, if you can develop some good writing habits, it can make the process easier for you. Start out by adding these habits to your daily life and you'll find that writing becomes easier as you go along.

Writing A Book For The First Time - Easy Habits To Help You Finish That Book
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Want to know more about writing a book for the first time?

To discover unique, comprehensive information and secrets that you can use for creative writing to become a top selling children's author and learn all that you need for a successful writing career, go here NOW!

http://www.creative-writing-prompts.com

Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography

A professional biography or overview, showcasing your background, experience and expertise, is a necessity for every business owner. This often overlooked marketing tool is an excellent way to introduce you and your business to potential clients and possible strategic business partners. Potentially, it might open up opportunities for speaking engagements, radio or television interviews, or a feature print article. While any information about you and your business is helpful, information that is presented in a professional, well-polished manner can make all the difference in how others perceive you. Consider these important points as you craft your own professional biography.

1. One page wonder.

Your professional biography should be a few paragraphs and kept to one page or less. One page is perfect for copying on the reverse side of a handout or flyer. Several paragraphs, left justified make it easier to read and skim.

Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography

2. First, second, or third person?

Always write your biography in the third person. That is, refer to yourself by your name or she/he as appropriate. It sounds more professional as it appears that a third party wrote the text. For example, "Alexandra has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and Time magazines."

3. Business in brief.

Not only do readers want to know what you do, but also they want to know who you work with - because they might want to work with you! A professional biography should include a sentence or two about your business niche (or niches) as well as the types of clients you serve. A modified version of your 30-second elevator pitch might be perfect.

4. And the winner is....

Make sure that you include a list of awards that you have received. Readers are interested in knowing about your talents and the organizations that recognize you for them.

5. Organizations.

Include names of the organizations, clubs, or associations to which you belong. A reader's interest might be highlighted at seeing that you belong to the same alumni association or professional business group. Again, these connections might possibly lead to some interesting and exciting business opportunities.

6. Certifications and designations.

Include any professional certifications or designations you hold. Make sure you write out their names in full, rather than use abbreviations. Not everyone might know that CMA stands for Certified Management Accountant. And, perhaps, in a different discipline, it might represent something else - like a Certified Materials Analyst. If you no longer hold a particular designation, but it has played a major role in who you are and what you do, don't hesitate to make a reference to it. For example, "Ann is a former Certified Data Processor and spent the last decade as an adjunct faculty member teaching higher mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder." Don't include abbreviations of college degrees, like MBAs as it looks unprofessional. The only exception to this would be for a Ph.D. designation.

7. Published?

Have you written any articles, books, e-courses or e-books? Self-published or not, your works add to your level of professionalism and credibility. Showcase them in your biography and you might earn additional royalties in terms of new clients or other opportunities.

8. Did I mention the media?

Have you been a guest on talk radio or television? Were you or your business featured or even mentioned in a newspaper article? If so, readers want to know. Again, these types of "mentions" add to your credibility and presence.

9. Call me any time.

People who want to know about you will read your biography for just that reason. And, if its compelling, rich, and includes the information they're interested, in, they'll want to contact you. Include complete contact information like your title (if any), name, address, telephone, fax, email, and website address. Make it easy to find this information by including it in the last paragraph of your professional overview.

10. Write, rewrite, and do it again.

After you have written your biography, edit, edit, and edit again. You may need to do a dozen or so revisions before you get it just right. Eliminate extra words, use descriptive words, keep the sentences short but varied in length, and write in the third person. Ask some friends to provide input as well. Make sure to revise your biography regularly to keep it up-to-date and refreshed.

Copyright 2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.

Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography
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Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is a business consultant, writer, speaker, Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and producer/host of Michigan Entrepreneur Television. Drawing on over 15 years of corporate experience, she coaches executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs on business and lifestyle issues and has been featured in print, radio and television. Her websites include http://www.virtualleverage.com, http://www.tarakachaturoff.com, and http://www.michiganentrepreneurtv.com

Writing Contests for Teens - Something to Do With a Boring Summer!

Somewhere between standardized testing, number 2 pencils, and bubble in the circle...children lose their love for learning. With the loss of funding in most schools, and in some places so much so that there is not enough money to supply even text books, the fine arts programs take a back seat to math, science and language.

Learning stopped being fun for kids somewhere around the time that the music programs were slashed, fine arts and art classes were removed or made extracurricular, and school libraries have to make do with what they can get through grants and donations.

All children need a way to escape, to be transported to magical times and places, faraway lands they may never visit in real life, or take a trip through history. Video games have become the way of the future, but there's not a lot to be learned from a video game. So how can children learn while also enjoying the experience? By reading!

Writing Contests for Teens - Something to Do With a Boring Summer!

The problem is, reading isn't as exciting to children as it once was. Computers, video games, internet, and other such modern marvels have taken the place of a good book in many youngster's lives. There is nothing wrong with these kids loving the internet, and there is much that can be gained by using the internet. In fact, a lot of these children use blogs as a creative expression and outlet, so they are writing. So why not take that writing these kids are doing and put it to some creative use?

There is a way. Several small publishers have opened up writing and illustration contests to young readers. These contests allow children to use their creative talents while also having a chance to be published in books or periodicals sold all over the country and even receive royalty contracts or scholarships.

One such publisher, who has created contests for kids this summer, and they also plan to keep contests running for children all year round, is Koboca Publishing. I recently spoke with Bo Savino, the author of Reggie & Ryssa, and the Summer Camp of Faery, one of the books used for facilitating this contest through Koboca Publishing, and here is what she had to say about the children's contests:

"I am very excited about the contests... [They are] going to be a great thing to energize kids...I love that most of all."

While most traditional writing and illustration contests have entry fees, Koboca Publishing's contests for kids don't have any entry fees at all. When I asked why Koboca Publishing decided not to charge an entry fee, here is what they had to say:

"No entry fees.... and [we] could probably make some money from entry fees...but [we] want it available for all kids...and some won't be able to do it with entry fees."

There are other small publishers and magazine publications / periodicals that offer writing and illustration contests for children too. Some of these charge small entry fees, some charge no entry fees, but they all offer a child a way to see their name and their art or work in print, while at the same time bringing back a love for literature and the arts. To find these contests, simply use your favorite search engine and search for children's literature or writing contests. Be sure to always check the authenticity of the contests before entering or allowing your child to enter into the contest.

These contests can help foster a love for the fine arts again, by getting kids involved in the literary and illustrative process, making them a part of something bigger, along with some noteriaty that all kids crave. Why not pick up a few copies of some interesting books for your kids today and get them started on a journey into the unknown that reading can bring? After a few books, help your kids get involved in writing or illustrating for publishing companies that hold these contests for the types of books they enjoy. Not only will this help bring a love of the written word back to your child, but it just might keep them busy during those long summer months and you will no longer hear, "Mom, I'm sooo bored. There's nothing to do!"

Good luck to all who choose to enter contests this year!

Writing Contests for Teens - Something to Do With a Boring Summer!
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Michelle L Devon is a professional writer and professional freelance editor, providing editing and writing services through her company, Accentuate Services. For more information and additional hints and tips about writing and grammar, and to network and connect with other writers, please visit her FREE writer's forum at [http://www.writersforum.info].

Creative Writing: How Increasing Self Belief Can Improve Your Creative Writing

There are two main ways this can be done.

The first way to improve your creative writing is simply to practice writing in as many different creative ways as you can.

Start with all the ways and types you already know, then add to this range one technique at a time.

Creative Writing: How Increasing Self Belief Can Improve Your Creative Writing

There are many different sources of creative writing exercises and prompts available that can give you the starting point and that initial kick of inspiration needed to head off in a new undiscovered direction with your writing.

The other way to improve your creative writing is less obvious. But in fact over the long term it's the one that is most powerful.

Without it, you're writing will always have a glass ceiling, a limit to how sophisticated, rewarding, inspiring and wonderful it can be.

Now sometimes a few limitations can be good when we create, it gives us something to push against, a boundary to stretch, a fence to leap over...

But in this case we want to smash through that glass ceiling. Then we can really start to soar...

The key to what sets your limitations, and what literally decides how high (or low) that glass ceiling will be is simply how good a creative writer you BELIEVE you are.

Or, taking this a little wider in scope, HOW CREATIVE YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE.

It doesn't take long to realise that someone who's riddled with self-doubt, whose confidence is shot to pieces and wonders if they can ever write their name again, let alone a poem, story, or novel, is not in the best shape to create.

Most of us have been in this position and it's not a pleasant place to be.

There's no guarantee too that we'll never return there. But if you invest some regular significant time and energy into building your creative self-belief, your times of doubt will be less severe and less often.

One of the best techniques to increase your self-belief in your own creativity is to take time each day to write out and speak out loud some affirmations.

An affirmation is simply a positive statement that, said often enough, and regularly enough, can help us reprogram our thinking, away from negative and destructive patterns of thought, to more positive, uplifting and powerful ones.

A good tip for writing affirmations is to use the three Ps:

Positive: Make sure your affirmation is written in a positive way. For example: If you feel you lack self-confidence when creating, then turn this around and write "I have all the confidence I need."

Personal: Make your affirmation personal, always start it with "I". Just saying positive words may help in some way, but associating them with yourself is far more powerful and beneficial.

Present Tense: Your affirmation should be in the present tense, as if you already have the positive quality. So even if you don't have loads of self-belief right now, don't say "I'd like to believe in myself more." Instead use the present tense: "I strongly believe in my creative writing ability."

This is just one way to increase your self-belief and therefore improve your creative writing.

Practice affirmations at least twice a day for 14 days and notice the difference it makes to your creative writing.

Creative Writing: How Increasing Self Belief Can Improve Your Creative Writing
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Discover more about how you can improve your creative writing, and sign up for your FREE 5 part creative writing taster ecourse right away at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not making the best of their unique creative abilities. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com