Make A Living Writing Romance

As a writer it is easy to become a creature of habit. In fact, many success experts suggest that creating rituals and structure for your day helps you write.

However, you’re a creative person and too much structure can limit you. Imagine if you perform the same tasks every single day. You’d limit yourself, right?

While I absolutely support creating writing rituals, I also think it’s important to find things that bring you joy, inspire you, and make you think. There are many ways to find this joy and inspiration.

You can read – blogs, newspapers, journals, and even social networking posts. Find other writers who challenge you to think differently.

Image via Wikipedia

Visual stimulation – personally I am inspired by images. One good picture can generate an entire daydream in my imagination. Images that are beautiful or funny are of course pleasurable. However, images that offend and disturb can provide value too. Pinterest is a lovely way to spend a few minutes exposing yourself to beauty and inspiration. (take care because it can be a time suck and a distraction too.)

Music – music inspires and brings joy to millions daily. I have a few channels on Pandora that I regularly cycle through including The Ramones and a classical channel.

Spend time each day getting out of your routine and mixing things up. Listen to new music (or music you haven’t listened to in a long time). View image and read material that challenges you. Stepping outside of your routine will undoubtedly inspire new story ideas and creative pathways.

Happy Writing!

Find A Writing Mentor.

Your mentor doesn’t have to be another writer but it could be. You want to find someone who will listen to your ideas and will be honest enough with you to tell you they stink if that’s the case. You need someone who will cheer you on at the same time they’re telling you the character doesn’t work.

It can also help to find another writer who inspires you to write your very best. It doesn’t mean you have to emulate them, however following their career and heeding their advice can help.

I’ve recently finished reading another Ilona Andrews novel. The husband and wife writing duo has one of the most enjoyable writing styles I’ve ever come across. They’re particularly talented with their ability to describe a scene perfectly. Metaphors and vivid imagery help the reader envision the unique worlds the characters live in.

I have a more dialogue heavy style which doesn’t rely on too much description unless it’s part of the dialogue. However, I believe that everyone can benefit from practicing and improving their descriptive skills. Imagine your readers being able to become gracefully enveloped into your story and forget their reality for a short while. That’s what we all want, right?

So here’s a fun way to broaden your descriptive skills and step outside of the sensory box.

http://www.bluecatsandchartreusekittens.com/Blue_Cats_and_Chartreuse_Kittens_Rel.html

Are you familiar with the concept of Synesthesia?

It’s actually a condition where the senses mix up.

According to Synesthete.org  “Synesthesia is a perceptual condition of mixed sensations: a stimulus in one sensory modality (e.g., hearing) involuntarily elicits a sensation/experience in another modality (e.g. vision). Likewise, perception of a form (e.g., a letter) may induce an unusual perception in the same modality (e.g. a color).”

For example, a person may hear a color or taste a sound. Interesting, right?

So here’s the fun exercise:

Write down the colors of the rainbow on a piece of paper. ROYGBIV, right?

Then next to each color write down what the color would taste like? What would it smell like? How would it sound? Have fun with this exercise, let your imagination go with this.

Once you’ve covered the basic colors consider broadening your horizons. Get out one of those 64 boxes of crayons. Pull a crayon out of the box and imagine what the color would sound, feel, smell and taste like.

Your brain is a marvelous organ!

And like the rest of your body, you don’t want to take it for granted. In fact, if you exercise your brain you’ll find that it’s easier to write and to tap into your creative side.

So how do you exercise your brain?

Well there are the common ways. They’re quick, easy, usually fun, and they work. For example, spend some time doing a crossword puzzle or playing word games. If you’re a social person then Words with Friends is fun.

But what about brain exercises beyond basic word games?

The other day I thought I may have broken my hand while at the rock climbing gym. I’m right handed and it was my right hand. It swelled up and hurt tremendously. But I still had work to do, children to pick up and errands to run. Thus, I turned to my always present and frequently underused left hand.

Everything I did for the rest of the day was done with my non-dominant hand. It was a real challenge and extremely slow. But it did exercise my brain. It forced me to think about how I move and use my hands. Try it. Try brushing your teeth, pouring a cup of coffee or writing with your non-dominant hand.

Challenging your senses is another way to strengthen your brain.

Pay attention to what you see, hear, feel and smell. Engage your senses and use them in different ways. Instead of tasting a strawberry, try to hear it or feel it. Instead of listening to music, think about what a song might smell like.

Find different ways to look at the world around you and to experience it.

Yes, word games and puzzles are good ways to strengthen your brain but consider taking it a few steps further. Really challenge your brain to create new associations and connections. You’ll change the way you look at the world and you’ll open up a world of possibilities in your writing.

Be Yourself.

Writers tend to compare themselves to other writers. We compare writing styles, and often try to emulate the greatest writers. We also compare success, and systems. While learning from our contemporaries is always a good thing, remember to have faith in your personal storytelling approach and skills.

You are a unique individual. You have your own path to walk which will take you places your contemporaries can’t or won’t go. Comparing yourself with others is destructive and can undermine your confidence in your own abilities. Remember to be the best you can be and enjoy the experience.