September News & Announcements

Writing Forward Celebrates One Year Anniversary

On this day one year ago, Writing Forward launched. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how this blog would change my life. Nor could I ever dream of the gifts it would bring.

The greatest of those gifts have been the dedicated bloggers and passionate writers that I’ve connected with over the past twelve months. I feel lucky and proud to call them my friends.

Originally, this blog was called Writing for Writers and even though that’s still what it’s about, it has evolved into so much more. I started it as a way to promote and support my freelance writing business, which, by the way, is also one year old today. At the time, I thought that having a blog about writing would impress my clients and demonstrate my professionalism. I thought it would bring me ‘net cred, and it has.

What I didn’t know is that it would be the doorway that would lead me into this incredible writing community or that it would move me to want to inspire and encourage other writers to hold fast to their ambitions and stay true to their dreams.

For Writing Forward’s birthday, I decided to give my blog the best gift I could think of: a redesign. Read more

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How to Master the Writing Process

What steps do you take to get a writing project done?

photo credit: mandykoh

Method to Madness

One day, many years ago, I was working in an office. The executives were having a meeting to discuss implementing some new procedures. It was a hot day and the conference room was small and crowded, so the door was open. As I passed by on my way to the filing room, I overheard my boss saying “Melissa can handle that. She’s very methodical.”

Methodical. I tried it on and decided yes, it fit. “I am methodical,” I declared, and went about my business.

And it was true, too. I was organized to a fault, always looking for systems and processes that would streamline the workflow and make business more efficient and therefore easier. Hell, my closet was organized by season, length, and color. I didn’t have to flip through my hangers to find an article of clothing. Everything was neatly filed in its place.

Selling the Method

Writing gurus and mentors often want us to believe that there is one true process to writing. It usually goes something like this:

1. Brainstorm (and/or mind map)
2. Outline
3. Rough draft
4. Revise (repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat)
5. Edit, proof, and polish

This is a good system and it works. But does it work for everyone?

Considering the Process

I’ve been thinking a lot about the writing process because NaNoWriMo is coming up in about two months and I’m determined to get to the finish line and write 50,000 words of fiction in 30 days. How will I tackle this beast of a project?

In preparing for the word count marathon that is NaNo, I’ve thought about the steps I take with my own writing and realized that my process varies from project to project and depends on the level of difficulty, the length, and even my state of mind. If I’m feeling super creative, a blog post or an article with come flying out of my head. If I’m tired, hungry, or unmotivated, it’s a struggle. Brainstorming and outlining can help. A lot.

It occurred to me that I don’t have one writing process. I have lots. And I always use the one that’s best suited for a particular project.

You Might Not Hear My Drummer

One of my favorite sayings has to do with marching to the beat of your own drums. I like that saying because that’s how I walk. To my own rhythm. If I didn’t, then I probably would have never started my own business, or believed that I could make it as a writer. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be a writer at all.

Some writers can sit down and pound out an article, a short story, or even a novel without ever planning or outlining. Some only revise once, and take care of the editing during revision. Others have to follow the five-step process or they get lost and confused, tangled up in their own words.

But we all start with an idea and hope to finish with a completely riveting piece of writing.

So Listen to Your Own

Like I said, that day when I overheard my boss saying that I’m methodical was many years ago. Since then, I’ve loosened up my methods. Oh, I can still whip up a streamlined procedure and implement it. I have to do that for my own business all the time, whether it involves maintaining my client contact list or managing my quotes and invoices. Having a system for that stuff is good.

But my closet no longer looks like it’s maintained by Martha Stewart. Sure, it’s still pretty organized, but not by color and season. It helps to know when a system works and when it doesn’t.

Writing processes are good. The reason that our mentors developed these processes was to help us be more productive and produce better writing. A lot of the techniques and strategies they share with us are beneficial. But it’s our responsibility to know what works for us as individuals and as creative (and sometimes crazy) people and to know what will have us spinning our wheels all the livelong day.

I Showed You Mine

…now you show me yours.

What’s your writing process? Do you have one? Do you ever get stuck in the methods? How do you get out?

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August News and Announcements

photo credit: knottyboy

Everyone keeps saying it’s almost fall and I’m like, “Summer JUST started!” The truth is we’re not even halfway through the summer season even though school’s about to begin in just a few days. I think that’s why some folks are confused. There was a time when the new school year coincided with the beginning of fall but these days, kids are back in the classroom long before summer’s end.

Welcome to Writing Forward

There have been a lot of new faces in the comments sections the past few weeks and I’ve also noticed a spike in subscribers, so I just want to jump up and down, wave, and welcome all the newcomers. If only we could meet in person, I’d give you all a proper aloha by kissing your cheeks and giving you a good lei.

photo credit: JPhilipson

Get Ready to Slam

Slam poetry is the perfect topic for this month because we are going to roll through a hectic August into a very busy September. If all goes well, I should be enrolled in a dance class within a week. I’m getting a little old for dancing on tables and bars, so I think it’s best I get myself into a studio. I’m also working on the relaunch for my writing services site and before September’s end, I will be an aunt, which is most exciting of all.

The fast pace and heightened emotions of slam poetry fit well with all the craziness. We’ll look at a few super talented slam artists and get to know the history of slam poetry, plus I’ll tell you about some killer resources so you can keep on slammin’ long after August is over.

Be Hot

Enjoy the heat everyone because believe me, before we know it, we’ll all be grumbling about the cold. You won’t catch me complaining; this summer hasn’t been anywhere near as hot as I like (at least not so far). I’m a big fan of warm summer nights and those have been few and far between this year. Maybe things will heat up in August — in a good way of course.

photo credit: dsjeffries

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