#AuthorToolboxBlogHop: Staying Creative While Sick

Hello All!

Welcome back to the Author Toolbox Blog Hop! I missed last month because of the flu, which unfortunately means that I also missed out on quite a bit of writing. Seriously, those days of just laying around would have been fantastic for working on my story. I know there is a saying, “Write drunk, edit sober,’ but I’m not sure it applies to the delirium of the flu. Let’s just say my story would have went from something supernatural based in reality to something no one would recognize. 

The flu is why this post is dedicated to the art of staying creative while dealing with illness.

1. It is okay to take sick days. I know that typically writers have a routine and sticking to it is important. That being said, sometimes your body breaks down because you need a break from everything other than sleep. So, sleep and let your dreams spark a little inspiration for you.
2. Keep a journal/notebook near you at all times. You know that sleep thing I was just talking about? Any dream you have might become inspiration for you story. If you happen to wake up and remember any of it, write it down in a bedside notebook. Honestly, I recommend keeping a notebook next to your bed for any dream inspiration that may happen. Some of my best ideas and lines of dialog came from my dreams.
3. Too sick to write but can’t sleep? Try reading a book or binge watching something on Netflix/Hulu/Disney+. Stick with the genre or theme that aligns with your story. I think it helps to look at things that are similar because it gives you an idea of what works and what doesn’t. My story is about witches and watching The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has helped me see that it works to write witches in a non-traditional way.
4. Last but not least, just rest. Don’t look for inspiration in dreams while you sleep. Binge watch a guilty pleasure that has absolutely nothing to do with your story. Read a book you’ve been wanting to to read but felt like you couldn’t while you were writing. But seriously, rest. We writers are human after all. You can always write once you are healthy.

Stay healthy fellow bloggers and see you next month!

To continue hopping through other great blogs in the monthly #AuthorToolboxBlogHop or to join, click here.

Change is the Only Constant

Lately it feels like everything in my life is changing. We have recently sold our first home and are moving into a new one, but we haven't closed on the new house yet. I feel like I am in limbo in our temporary shelter, living out of a suitcase and never feeling quite right. I may have somewhere to lay my head but I feel homeless. 

I also got a new job as a Digital Marketing Assistant with a small, woman-ran company. So, I quit my part-time gig and while I should be so happy that I finally got a job that allows me to use my degree, I can't help but miss my co-workers at H&M. Some of those people are like family and it's going to suck not seeing them daily. BUT, I am happy about my new job and I love that I am helping companies reach out to their customers in an organic way (the only downside is my lack of time for writing...)

My sister is getting divorced, making holidays and family get togethers different. America is being ran by a narcissistic psycho, making me fear for the future. The QuikTrip near my work is closing and being moved down the street. In 2018 my driver's license won't be an acceptable form of ID to fly because Missouri is stupid. My kiddo will have to go to a new school district because of the move and he fears he will lose his friends. I miss our first house terribly and makes me regret the decision to move.

I just want something to stay the same in my life, even if just for a minute, but it can't. The only constant in life is change.

And how can I use my feelings about this change in my writing?? 

I'll tell you next week...

(P.S. Thanks for reading my rant about problems that aren't really problems. I don't handle big change well and writing about it helps.

50,000 Words and Counting...

I am going to preface this post by saying that these tips are strictly for NaNoWriMo. Why? Because these tips don't lead to amazing writing, or at least they normally don't. These tips are literally just advice on how to boost your word count and if used, they should be edited out of your novel later. 

50,000 words is a lot to write in 30 days and fluffing up you novel with unnecessary words isn't cheating when it comes to National Novel Writing month. I would only use these tips if you are a little shy of your goal and not throughout the whole process. (Remember, this draft is going to be super rough and you can always edit once November is over.)

Tip 1: Do not use contractions. Won't becomes will not, shouldn't becomes should not, and we'll becomes we will. This is guaranteed to add to your word count.

Tip 2: Use chapter titles (this is one that works even after NaNoWriMo is over because you may grow to like them.) Using chapter titles can add quite a bit to your word count.

Tip 3: Add a dream or flashback (this is also one you might end up keeping during the editing process.) Dreams and flashbacks can add a lot of words and also add a lot to your story.

Tip 4: Become a maximalist! Describe everything down to its last detail. Think Johnathan Franzen. 

Tip 5: Use wordy phrases instead of the shorter alternative. 

• The reason why is that instead of because.
• He is a man who instead of he. 
• A great number of times instead of often.
• At some future date instead of later.
• Despite the fact that instead of although. 
• At the end of the line instead of last.

Tip 6: This one isn't about adding random words or scenes to your novel, this tip can help you throughout the whole writing process. Keep a small notebook with you everywhere you go. You never know when an idea will strike and having something to write it down in will help you immensely. You will not only remember your idea, but it will help add to your word count in the long run.

I hope these tips help you on your NaNoWriMo journey. Tomorrow's post will be a surprise. Have a great day!

Writing Prompts

Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration. These are writing prompts I have collected over the years from classes and friends. Most of the time the prompts are a couple sentences that help to get the creative vibes flowing your way. Some are just suggestions on how to start your story or an idea for a story. I hope these help!

1. A walk through the woods helps me relax and release some tension, the fact that I am dragging a body behind me should be irrelevant.

2. Write a story that starts with a word you pick out of the dictionary at random.

3. His/Her voice brings back memories of dark rooms and broken bones.

4. They sent me because I do not exist.

5. Write about a world where you can purchase bottled emotions.

6. When I said, "Whatever helps you sleep at night... I didn't mean this!"

7. At birth, everyone has the date they will die tattooed on their arms. You were supposed to die yesterday...

8. Write a scene that happens immediately after a tragedy, but never mention the tragedy.

9. I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on glass. I got up and looked out my window, there was no one outside. I heard the knocking again and turned around slowly. The knocking was coming from inside my mirror.

10. In all the time I have lived alone in this house, I swear I have closed more doors than I have opened.

11. "Hey, there is a picture of you sleeping on your phone," he said, handing me my phone. I looked at the picture, my heart dropping into my stomach. "I live alone," I whispered.

12. Write a story that takes place in 60 minutes.

13. This was the night I finally understood why people fear silence.

14. Thirty years ago, you convinced a killer not to murder you because you would "change the world". Now the killer has come back to check your progress.

15. They had been recruited when they were young and desperate.

16. Everyone is forced to wear a warning label, what does your label say?

17. Write an overly descriptive piece about your current surrounding.

18. Sooner or later, everyone leaves.

19. Listen to a song and write a short story about it.

20. "The stars are that way captain," he said, pointing at the empty sky.

I hope these help to give you all some inspiration and get your creative juices flowing!

In my next post I will have some pretty awesome visual prompts!

Let's Get Creative With It!

Sometimes new ideas seem very elusive and creativity seems to be on a vacation but that shouldn't stop you from writing.

Sometimes you just need a boost or kick in the butt!!

So, what can you do??

You could listen to music. I have a soundtrack to everything I write, whether it's a story or an academic paper, I have a set of songs that have inspired me somehow.

You could get away from the computer and write everything by hand. First off, it helps stop distractions (Candy Crush... Twitter...). Secondly, the feeling of physically writing and the smell of a new notebook will help boost your creativity.

You could daydream. I swear, some of my best ideas have came from daydreaming while folding laundry or doing dishes.

You could drink a little alcohol... now, don't go get wasted but being a little tipsy will loosen you up and will help you think outside the box.

You could lie down and maybe even nod off. Sometimes your brain just needs a break.

You could go outside. Fresh air and natural sunlight are great creativity boosters. Being in  natural setting helps to stimulate the imagination.

You could exercise and blow off some steam.  If you exercise your body, you are ultimately exercising your mind. Again, I get some pretty good ideas will on my run.

One thing I do to help boost my creativity down the line is I keep a notebook and I write down the random ideas I get as I get them. See, on a day where nothing is coming to me I look through my notebooks and inspiration typically hits!