9 Activities to Reboot Your Muse for #NaNoWriMo (And All Year!)

Don't throw rocks at me for that title. I know I said I'm not big on #NaNoWriMo's 50,000-word race, but I also understand that there are a ton of people who find it helpful and are hot on the keyboard this month. Whether it gets you to actually sit down and write or it pushes you to think outside of the box and write something different, plenty of people enjoy the experience. I'm not here to say any method of writing is wrong; I just know what works for me! With that in mind, those of you participating this year might get stuck. Maybe you'll read this six months from now when you've hit a brick wall. Who knows? Either way, there's no reason to sit staring at the blinking cursor on your screen. Let's try to kick that muse into high gear!

Merriam-webster defines muse as:

1. Any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences
2. A source of inspiration; especially: a guiding genius
3. Poet

Take a few moments to reflect on your writing process. What is your muse?

I find inspiration in all sorts of things: what I read, what I watch, people I observe, conversations I have, news, history, science, nature...the world around me! The world is an amazing place that can trigger ideas at any moment. For this reason, my phone is my mobile notebook. Anytime I'm struck, I take note. I dictate a note to my phone when I'm in the car. I type out a few sentences, a word, a description, or a piece of dialogue standing in line at the store. You can find inspiration everywhere, but the fact is that sometimes it's simply just hard to get started writing. It's like your mind goes blank when it's time to get it all down and set those ideas free. So how do we fight that? By writing, of course!

The next time you're fighting that dreaded writer's block, try these 9 writing activities:

1. Write a set of 10 haiku poems. These may seem easy, but they'll get you thinking!
2. Try my 30 First Lines Challenge by writing the first line of a story for 30 days.
3. Be a set designer. Write about a room from a character's point of view that's not the owner of the room. Show things that might tell something important about the character. It's great to do this about characters of a work you're stuck on!
4. Write a poem or short story that describes the aftermath of a significant event in the life of a couple or family. 
5. Use a simple tool to generate a writing prompt, including first lines, general subjects, or traditional writing prompts.
6. Pick a random YouTube video and write a story or poem inspired by it. You could get the goat dressed as Elsa or Charlie Bit My Finger. 
7. We all love funny memes. Search for random memes and pick something funny or interesting to write about. 
   
8. Use a random quote. Grab a book from your shelf, open to a random page, and blindly point at a line. You can also use a random quote generator. Use it to start or end a short story.
9. Go to Pinterest! Search for writing prompts and pictures, then use them for inspiration.

With the availability of the internet, there are so many different ways to find things to write about. Tons of funny and inspiring things flow through our Facebook or Twitter feeds every day, and there's no reason we shouldn't take advantage of that to find something to punch through that wall! I even suggest gathering these things for when you need inspiration or a push to write again. Create a private Pinterest board or keep a bookmarks folder of things you come across that might be useful later. Based on my personal experience, I believe the biggest reason we hit writer's block is because we aren't in the mood to write. The best way to combat that is to take a break and write about something new or unusual. Don't be afraid to reboot! Your writing will prove even stronger for it.

Exercise: Writing in Second Person

It's rare to see an author tackle a story in second person point of view. In other words, to write a story where "you" are in it. Take, for example, this excerpt from my attempt titled "Escaping the Horde":

As you pass a large SUV, something suddenly yanks your shirt, pulling you backwards toward a rotten stench. It's moan sends a shiver up your spine, and the front of your collar digs into your throat sending nausea and fear to your gut. The sound of its clicking teeth echoes in your ear as you struggle to pull forward from its grasp. Your left hand pulls against your shirt to give you leverage against its firm grip while your right hand reaches for the cool steel stored against your hip. Just as your pistol comes free, a loud bang rings throughout the landscape and the pressure instantly releases from your neck. A quick look reveals the wasting woman at your feet, her dirty nurses uniform more evidence of her actions while dead than any living act of heroism. You turn toward Mike and give a quick thumbs up before sprinting toward the RV.

Instead of writing that "she" passed an SUV and "she" got yanked by a living corpse, I've put you in the story. Does it make a big difference in how the reader relates to the story? Possibly. With second person point of view, you are focusing on your reader and putting them in the action. While this tactic is more useful in advertising, never dismiss it from your writing toolbox.

In my example from above, this is actually a different perspective from a short story I wrote that eventually turned into inspiration for the novel I am writing. I took the original short story, shifted to a different person that was vital to the action, and put my reader right in the crossfire. This exercise really made me think of how I describe everything in my writing because I had to make sure I could put you there and that you could see the surroundings, smell the smells, and hear the echoes of the dead, explosions, or gunshots.

Here's my proposed exercise: choose a short story you wrote in the past and pick a character that is important to the plot but doesn't get much face time. Tell the story from that person's point of view but write it in second person point of view to put the reader in the story. You might be surprised where it takes you.

40 Ways to Strengthen Your Writing and Avoid a "Very" Weak Word

Writer's often hear a simple, yet vitally important, piece of advice:

Never use the word, ‘very.’ It is the weakest word in the English language; doesn’t mean anything. If you feel the urge of ‘very’ coming on, just write the word, ‘damn,’ in the place of ‘very.’ The editor will strike out the word, ‘damn,’ and you will have a good sentence.

- William Allen White

"Very" often serves as a go-to word for many, but it simply leaves writing flat. Good writing draws the reader in and creates the writer's world in the reader's imagination. People imagine things with various differences, but when an author really paints a perfect picture, it helps readers to better "see" what the author "saw" when drafting the novel or poem. Compare the following three descriptions of the same scene:

Some rights reserved by Nick Kenrick.

1. Vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges blew very slowly across the sidewalk.

2. Vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges blew lazily across the sidewalk.

In this example, the idea is the same, but the presentation stands stronger because the word is stronger. As an intensifier, very is a modifier that provides no real meaning except to enhance or add force to the words that it modifies. Simply put, it's lazy filler. Admit it: it's easier to say something is very tall instead of thinking of a more descriptive word (such as towering) or thinking creatively (maybe using a metaphor or simile?). Shortcuts don't always breed success, however, and a good writer understands that readers desire substance, thought, and ingenuity.

The next time you find yourself writing that damn word very, sit back and reconsider. The English language overflows with synonyms for the simple word you chose. That's what makes writing so wonderful: the only limit is your imagination. Be creative! If you find yourself stuck, try one of the 50 very good  excellent replacements below.

very	bad	Awful	Atrocious
very	cold	Frigid	Freezing
very	wet	Drenched	Soggy
very	expensive	Costly	Pricey
very	sad	Depressed	Melancholy
very	fun	Entertaining	Delightful
very	happy	Ecstatic	Pleased
very	cute	Adorable	Precious
very	hot	Sizzling	Suffocating
very	painful	Agonizing	Excruiciating
very	tired	Exhausted	Pooped
very	comfortable	Cozy	Snug
very	boring	Monotonous	Tiresome
very	bright	Radiant	Vivid
very	dull	Dim	Witless
very	dark	Murky	Somber
very	clean	Immaculate	Unblemished
very	deep	Profound	Fathomless
very	young	Youthful	Juvenile
very	late	Belated	Delayed
very	tall	Lanky	Towering
very	short	Condensed	Abbreviated
very	small	Minuscule	Petite
very	big	Gigantic	Substantial
very	hairy	Fuzzy	Bewhiskered
very	shiny	Sparkling	Lustrous
very	calm	Harmonious	Serene
very	angry	Furious	Enraged
very	dry	Arid	Parched
very	long	Elongated	Stretched
very	gentle	Amiable	Tame
very	harsh	Bitter	Coarse
very	loud	Roaring	Boisterous
very	quiet	Muted	Hushed
very	nasty	Noxious	Vulgar
very	good	Favorable	Pleasing
very	smelly	Fetid	Rancid
very	bloody	Grisly	Crimson
very	thirsty	Parched	Droughty
very	hungry	Ravenous	Starved

10 Common Literary Devices (With Examples)

There are certain literary devices that I use often in my writing because they are simple and seem to make it flow. I never bothered to intentionally use them when I wrote in the past, but now I find that they just add that extra something. A literary device has to do with the sound, repetition, meaning, and description of words or phrases. Used wisely, these devices can really enhance your work and create a deeper level of meaning that readers will enjoy decoding. Try some of these in your next poem or story.

(Mini Magnum by hobvias sudoneighm via CC)

1. Alliteration. This is one of the easiest go-to devices to use. Alliteration involves the quick repetition of the first letters, and therefore the first sounds, of words. 
• The white witch wanted to write a new spell.
• New aunt Anita aimed to avoid annoying her tired sister.
2. Personification. Giving inanimate objects and other phenomena human traits.
• The leaves danced in the wind, twirling round and round before bowing out and resting on the cold ground.
3. Simile. Comparing two unrelated things to creating new understanding and meaning. They are marked by the use of "like," "as,"or "such as."
• She ran like the wind.
• His eyes were as blue as the sky.
4. Foreshadowing. Words, phrases, or events that hint or suggest to the reader what's going to happen in the story.
• In To Kill a Mockingbird, finding the presents in the oak tree foreshadows the truth about Boo Radley.
• Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" foreshadows the narrator's actions from the start of the story: I can't say how the idea first entered my brain, but once it was there, it haunted me day and night. There wasn't any reason for it. I liked the old man.
5.  Satire. Using humor, wit, or sarcasm to expose human vice or folly.
• In television, the creators of South Park have built their success on satire.
• My favorite example is Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal."
6. Symbolism. Using objects or action to mean something more than what appears on the surface.
• The dawn of a new day often is used to symbolize a new beginning.
• The albatross in in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" symbolizes a burden: Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks / Had I from old and young ! / Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung
• In daily life, people often associate colors with ideas. Black with death. Red with love. White with purity or peace.
7. Onomatopoeia. Words whose sound mimics natural sounds or sounds of an object. These words help bring the reader into the scene by working on the senses.
• Bang! Flutter. Buzzzzz! Hum.
• The birds tweet in chipper chatter outside the window.
• A loud bang jarred me from sleep.
8. Metaphor. A device that asserts that one object is another, bringing new meaning to the original subject for a fresh understanding.
• A common metaphor: it's raining cats and dogs.
• From Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet": But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
• Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket. - George Orwell
9. Hyperbole. Exaggerating a statement or idea to emphasize a point or emotion.
• If I take another step, my feet will fall off.
• She's so thin she could thread a needle.
• If his teeth were any whiter, I'd be blind.
10.  Oxymoron. A device that puts two contradictory ideas together to create complex meaning. (See top photo)
• Their relationship was an open secret.
• The sight of the living dead shuffling below sent a blazing chill down her spine.
• It's hard to explain that comforting pain to those who don't understand.

What are some of your favorite literary devices? Do you have a favorite example of one of these? Please share in the comments!

7 Ways to Boost Creativity

Ever get stuck in a writing rut? I know there are times when I just cannot get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes it helps to step out and try something different. Next time you need a creativity boost, try some of these on for size.

1. People watch. Go out somewhere in public and just observe those around you. A park, the mall, a coffee shop. It doesn't matter. Find a place you are drawn to and park it. You see so many things when you take a minute to stop and pay attention. Inspiration can be found all around you.
2. Pick up a book. I love to read, and sometimes it helps me to just let go and read someone's work. Choose poetry, short fiction, or even non-fiction and take a break to let your mind stretch and recharge.
3. Listen to music. Put on your favorite tunes and just jam! Research indicates that listening to music makes us happier, which helps improve cognitive performance. I can definitely say that I seem to be much more inspired while I'm listening to music, and I write much more than normal. Give it a shot!
4. Daydream. Studies say it works! Let your mind drift and see where it takes you.
5. Get tired. As I wrote in a previous post, you are much more creative when you're tired. Stay up late, let your mind get fuzzy, then put that pen to paper.
6. Move your eyes bilaterally. According to one study, subjects who moved their eyes bilaterally from left to right were much more creative than those who stared straight ahead. The movement is said to increase communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, thereby increasing creativity. 
7. Write while emotional.  A study in 2007 revealed that creativity receives a significant boost when emotions are running high. Next time you are very happy, angry, sad, etc, try to write and those emotions just might pay off.

What are some ways you boost your creativity?  Feel free to share in the comments!

Set Designer

Using 250-400 words, become the set designer for an invented character.  Describe a space related to the character: office, bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc.  Be detailed.  Are they messy or tidy?  What kind of clothes are in their closet? Do they have an office or cubicle?  Start big and then become more detailed.



Here's the key: the narrator must be someone other than the character in question, and he or she must look at the setting through their own eyes to tell the reader something about the owner of the space.

See mine after the jump!

Read more »

A Surprising Fact About Late Night Creativity

You know those ideas that pop into your head late at night?  Maybe you're trying to sleep and your mind starts wandering with your Midnight Muse.  Perhaps you write best at night or that's when you have the most time.  Your mind races with ideas that you know you need to write down before they're lost.  Why in the world does my writer's block lift when I can't sleep?  Science has an explanation!

According to Business Insider's "10 Surprising Facts About How Our Brains Work," a sleepy brain is more creative:

If you’re tired, your brain is not as good at filtering out distractions and focusing on a particular task. It’s also a lot less efficient at remembering connections between ideas or concepts. These are both good things when it comes to creative work, since this kind of work requires us to make new connections, be open to new ideas and think in new ways. So a tired, fuzzy brain is much more use to us when working on creative projects.

Great news, writers!  Those late nights when you lose sleep to write have a productive purpose.  Next time your spouse questions your midnight dates with written word, don't be afraid to tell them that's when you're at your best... science has your proof.

Three Mistakes Beginning Writers Often Make

Every writer has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some are strong in grammar. Some are guilty of “showing” so much that they don't move the story along. Others don't give enough description. The more you write and get feedback from others, the more you will figure out what you need to work on to become a better writer. Here are three mistakes beginning and even experienced writers often make. I know I catch myself being guilty of these.

1. Spell-check Software vs Editing: Many believe a quick run of spell-check will catch all of their spelling and grammatical errors and quickly polish their piece for reader consumption. Think about this: does spell-check catch the difference between their, there, and they're? Simple mistakes or misspellings are not identified with basic spell-check programs.  You need to edit!  Read your work silently at least three times to identify spelling and grammatical errors.  Read it out loud to identify the flow of your work.  How does it sound to the reader?  You wouldn't believe the difference it makes to hear your work out loud.  Not only is it important to edit for errors, it's important to edit for clarity, flow, and readability.  You'll catch sentences that are full of filler.  You'll catch sentences that stumble through to the end.  Lesson learned: Edit!
2. Using Clichés: As a reader, how many times do you read the same metaphors over and over again?  Be creative with your descriptions, metaphors, etc.  I try to avoid clichés in my work unless I absolutely cannot think of something better.  If you have to, use them initially, but when you go back to edit, change to something more creative.  You'll be amazed at the things you can come up with if you just put in some effort.  Believe me, readers will appreciate it.
3. Wordiness!: When you put too much in a sentence, readers will stray and have a hard time following it.  For my final in my Place & Setting course this semester, we had to revise two of our major creative writing pieces in the class.  When I went back today to revise my very first assignment, I completely agreed with my professor that some of my sentences were over the top.  You can convey the same feelings, descriptions, or ideas in simple ways that do not lose your reader. 

James Scott Bell: "You do that . . . you become what's called a prolific writer"

Bestselling author James Scott Bell shares the best writing advice he knows: set a quota of words to write daily or weekly.



What's your quota? How often do you write?

Photo Prompt: The Falls

Some visual inspiration.

First Lines Challenge: Day 14

As I watched the sun beat down on her shimmering skin, I knew.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 10

It shattered, the broken webs crawling toward the sole keeper that could halt its fragmentation.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 9

A loud screeching slid closer as she shut her eyes and slowly exhaled.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 8

Shivering hands tore into the scarlet letter if only to drown the sound of his fading footsteps.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

Midnight Muse

I toss, I turn
I think, I think
My mind never rests
My thoughts are in sync

If my ears could copy
If my cheek could compose
a room full of pillows
would be inked, prose after prose.

A great idea!
Line, plot, word,
A promising work
this time I'm sure

I wake, I rise
I think, I think
My ideas are gone
My brain needs more ink.

First Lines Challenge: Day 7

I told her I could fly.

(Sometimes simple is best!)


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 6

It couldn't taste pleasant, its grainy white particles coating teeth, tongue, and cheek, lingering in the throat and staining each swallow, yet she stands grinning as though it's a permanent fixture to her diet.

(Inspired By)


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 5

Deep, darkening circles told of her endlessly sleepless night-pondering and pacing, anger and confusion, fear and pain-of memories pulling her back in time and pushing me into the unknown, a stranger in my own home with similar tired, sad eyes.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

First Lines Challenge: Day 4

The secretive darkness beyond the light's reach stalked her, black eyes blazing in the stillness of the night, breath drifting over sense-heightened flesh, body ready to pounce the moment she gained the courage to turn and run.


Practice the power of opening lines. Take the 30 Day First Lines Challenge.

The Writing Journal: Practice, Practice, Practice!

When teaching and developing literacy in children, the most important tool at a teacher's or parent's disposal is practice.  PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  The more students practice writing, the better their writing becomes because they learn what works and what doesn't through hands-on assignments, especially with the proper guidance.  Journaling provides vital practice to young students, and it should become apart of your daily routine as well.  

The best tool at an aspiring writer's disposal is a journal.  Electronic or paper, whatever.  Write about your day, express your feelings, complain about the jerk who cut you off in traffic.  Write down ideas as they come, brainstorm for something you're currently writing, create simple poetry.  Write short stories, complete writing exercises, describe that character or scene you just can't get out of your head.  It doesn't matter what you write, just that you write.  Pick a certain time of the day and write as little or as much as you like but make sure that you write consistently.


I have a notebook at work and at home, but I also use features on my iPhone when I don't have a pen or have a thought I'd like to remember later.  My tendency to think of things when lying in bed at night has made this essential; after all, I can't write very legibly without a light (especially if it's long), so my phone is the perfect solution.  I cannot begin to count the number of ideas, sentences, characters, etc, that were lost due to the dark midnight hour.  What can I say? My muse is a night owl!

When you get to the point that you're writing creatively on a daily basis, I suggest "upgrading" to a writer's journal.  While there's no requirement to completely abandon the original journal, a writer's journal is important because it focuses on what you're writing.  Specifically, it provides a special place to document your journey and keep ideas, notes, and research that you can refer to as long as you write.  Explore thoughts and feelings related to characters, scenes, or plots.  React to your own work.  Flesh out histories, settings, or descriptions.  Create a journal entry as the character you're working on.  Make notes on where to pick up tomorrow.  Ultimately, the way you use your writing journal is up to you.  Use it to the fullest extent because you never know when something old might complement and infuse energy into something new.