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By Eamon Storer

Dopamine and Writing: A Productivity Boost for Creative Minds

By Eamon on

If you’ve ever had any satisfaction, motivation, or pleasure in your writing it’s because of dopamine.

Dopamine, a chemical substance, is responsible for motivation and reward.

Whether you understand it or not your life satisfaction is largely due to this chemical.

Thus, when writers like yourself are looking for ways to boost productivity in their writing you need look no further than the natural process occurring in your body.

To harness the power of dopamine is similar to teaching an ape to use a chainsaw; things start getting done quickly.

The Science of Dopamine

Dopamine’s role in the body is to motivate you toward achieving a goal and reward you with feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.

The best way to describe the dopamine reward system is to think about using a slot machine.

Unfortunately, dopamine can result in addictive behaviors.

The use of a slot machine is so addictive because it releases a substantial amount of dopamine in the process.

When you press the button on a slot machine your brain fires on all cylinders with the potential of gaining a reward for not much effort. It’s important to note that dopamine’s presence is large at this point.

Pressing the button results in receiving a reward, which triggers an increase in dopamine. However, the potential for additional rewards and more dopamine compels you to press that button.

This vicious cycle has people all around the world sitting at slot machines for hours on hours every day.

That’s how powerful and dangerous the dopamine reward system is.

When you have large amounts of dopamine, your mental screen for ideas is lowered, allowing more creative ideas to flow.

This is why getting in the zone or the flow state is so creatively freeing because of the amount of dopamine released.

Just as easily as you can benefit from dopamine you can also be consumed by it.

Addictive tendencies such as gambling or more relevantly scrolling social media become a real problem.

You’re fighting against an enemy you don’t understand.

Know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never be in peril

-Sun Tzu

Creating a Dopamine Friendly Environment

Now we understand what we are optimizing for we can control it.

We want to create an environment where writing is an incredibly satisfying procedure.

Step 1. Eliminate Distractions

Your environment shapes your mental state. Where you are is who you are.

If you have a space full of distractions your brain will default to the activity that releases the most dopamine, social media.

Social media is specifically designed to be engaging for the longest period eliciting dopamine release in your brain.

Anything with such high levels of dopamine IS defaulted to.

The easiest thing to do is remove your phone, video games, books, and other activities that distract you from doing the writing you actually want to be doing.

Step 2. Make the Writing Process Incredibly Enjoyable

This is the fun step.

Step two is based on aesthetics really. You want to be infatuated with your writing space.

If you don’t enjoy sitting down to write you’ll NEVER default to sitting down to write.

So put on some music, decorate your space, clean it up a bit, and do whatever makes you excited to sit down and write.

Both these steps take dopamine into consideration for your writing habit to grow.

Creating a Distraction-Free Writing Space: Boosting Focus and Productivity

Goals and Dopamine Release

It’s important to have a goal, in life in general but specifically each time you write.

Dopamine is associated with making progress toward a meaningful goal.

Your aim is to have a goal for each time you sit down to write. If you have a goal for each session, specifically a measurable one you can see yourself make progress towards it.

You NEED to be aware of the progress you make. Knowing you are 25%, 50%, and 100% complete in terms of your goal will contribute massively to the satisfaction you feel in your time writing.

Celebrating Progress

As dopamine is triggered when you achieve something, a benefit it’s important you take time to celebrate your wins.

Taking time to acknowledge when you have achieved some sort of goal will create great satisfaction in the habit of writing because you can see yourself making progress.

It’s too easy to fall into the trap of single-minded goals, where you only celebrate when the big goal is done.

Say you want to write a novel.

Your goal is ‘I want to write an 80,000-word novel’.

If you only celebrate when you get to your 80,000-word manuscript you will have hours and hours where you aren’t motivated, you’re burnt out, and don’t see any value in your writing.

Celebrate sparingly but regularly and motivation WILL flow.

Motivation in the Journey: Celebrate the Small Wins!

Balance Dopamine Release

While dopamine serves as a powerful ally in boosting motivation, an overreliance on its effects can lead to burnout.

If you rely on the feeling you get from dopamine you will search for more and more of it until eventually nothing you do will ever be good enough because it just doesn’t give you the same feeling.

Understanding the subtle cues of overstimulation and impending burnout is pivotal. We’ll discuss how constant high-intensity writing sessions may lead to diminishing returns and the importance of staying attuned to mental and emotional signals that signify the need for a break.

Constant high-intensity writing sessions may lead to diminishing returns.

You must stay in touch with your mental and emotional signals that signify the need for a break.

Unless you are treading water in the middle of the ocean if your body tells you to stop you should listen. This is not to say to not push yourself but too much pushing can do more harm than good.

To counterbalance the dynamic productivity spurred by dopamine, intentional rest becomes a crucial component.

Remember to rest.

In Conclusion . . .

In our quest to harness the potential of dopamine, we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of strategies.

Whether through goal setting, celebrating progress, or infusing novelty into our writing routines, these strategies form the foundation for a more productive and engaging creative process.

Understanding the alchemy of dopamine isn’t just a tool; it’s the magic wand that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary.

By delving into its nuances, we’ve opened a gateway to a realm where creativity flourishes, motivation becomes a constant companion, and the writing process evolves into a dynamic and fulfilling endeavor.

So, fellow writers, armed with the knowledge of dopamine’s secrets, venture forth into your creative landscapes.

May your words flow effortlessly, your goals be met with joy, and your writing journey be a tapestry woven with the transformative threads of dopamine wisdom.

Happy writing, and may every stroke of your pen be a celebration of creativity!

I post writing tips every day. Here’s my most recent post if you enjoyed this one;

The Easiest Way to 3x Your Word Count: Writing Sprints

The Easiest Way to 3x Your Word Count: Writing Sprints

By Eamon on

You don’t need to spend more time writing, you need to spend less time writing more.

Having been in the midst of writer’s block for fiction writing, writing sprints have been THE MOST impactful way around that.

Writing sprints are when you set a timer for say 25 minutes and you are to write as many words as possible without judgement in that time followed by a rest period.

Much similar to the Pomodoro technique writing sprints add a constriction and an endpoint for your writing process both of which trigger the flow state in ways unheard of.

Writing for short bursts with high intensity has had an incredibly transformative impact on my focus on the craft.

Unleashing Flow: The Science Behind Writing Sprints

Flow, the flowstate otherwise known as ‘the zone’ first coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is the region of peak human performance with the minimalist amount of energy needed.

Being in the flow state feels like being ‘locked in’ you’re completely focused on the task at hand.

You’re not thinking of what you’re having for dinner or what you should be doing, it’s complete relaxation.

There are various ways to get into the flow state, the most effective of which is having a clear goal and balancing challenge with skill.

Writing sprints have both of these tactics built into them.

At the end of a writing sprint, your goal is to have written for the entire timeframe.

Similarly, this will often force you to write more words in less amount of time which balances challenge with capability.

Therefore, writing sprints puts you into the flow state where you are at peak performance.

Regularly visiting this zone builds up your ‘writing muscle’ which allows you to write more and better.

Unlocking Flow: How to Achieve Creative Productivity

Quality and Quantity: How Writing Sprints Improve Your Craft

There is a misconception people have about restricting your writing to a time frame, which is that the more writing you produce the lower the quality of the writing.

This is false.

Not only does writing more IMPROVE what you write it also improves how much you write.

Working on one of these helps the other proportioinatly.

The focus and intensity of writing sprints leads to more refined and polished prose.

More refined and polished prose leads to more writing.

The cycle continues.

Breaking Procrastination: Overcoming the Blank Page

Ah yes the dreaded blank page.

Being a short story writer I face the blank page more often then I would like.

However, doing so has made me create strategies to overcome it.

Recently I’ve been stuck. No matter how long I sit at my laptop I won’t write anything.

This is because I keep coming to my time to write without a plan and end up doing something else because I got ditracted.

Forcing yourself to write, to write even if you have nothing to say flicks a switch in your brain that forces you to come up with something.

When you force yourself to write in a timed period all expectations and opinions about your writing are deleted all there is is you and the page.

Procrastination and writer’s block most often are a problem of the mind.

You think you have nothing to say so you don’t.

You believe you’re stuck so you are.

Writing sprints takes away the yapping going on in your head. There’s no right, no wrong, only the words on the page.

In Conclusion . . .

In the span of a focused sprint, we’ve witnessed the alchemy of creativity, seen productivity soar to new heights, and felt the very essence of our writing experiences transform.

From breaking through procrastination to refining our craft, writing sprints have proven to be the catalysts for change, unlocking doors to a realm of untapped potential.

So, fellow wordsmiths, let the transformative power of writing sprints be the wind beneath your creative wings.

Embrace the rhythm, relish the journey, and watch as your words take flight.

May your writing be swift, your creativity boundless, and your literary adventures truly transformative.

Happy sprinting!

I post writing tips everyday here’s my most recent post;

The Art of Constructive Feedback: Nurturing Growth as Writers

The Art of Constructive Feedback: Nurturing Growth as Writers

By Eamon on

There is a thin line between constructively criticizing someone’s work and ripping it to shreds, this line is mainly defined by your approach to feedback.

This skill is so important to foster as constructive criticism fosters a thriving writing community where writers are encouraged and motivated to contribute to modern literature without fear of critique.

That’s why it’s so terrifying for new writers to share their writing because they know it’s not expert level and it WILL be critiqued but if we can understand how to give feedback that’s ACTUALLY useful we can avoid that pain.

The Role of Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is best defined as a form of feedback that focuses on delivering critique and negative feedback constructively and positively to aid the writer in bettering their writing.

The type of critique is THE MOST valuable thing you can give an author as a reader.

If you tell them what worked for you and what didn’t you are giving them pieces of information that they can identify a trend if one appears.

The key difference between criticism and constructive criticism is the intent of the advice giver.

Constructive criticism comes from a well-meaning person who actually wants to help the writer whereas regular criticism is intended to point out everything that’s wrong with someone’s story without care for improvement.

Benefits of Constructive Criticism

Ultimately, your constructive criticism aims to show the author their strengths and weaknesses in a productive and useful environment.

The well-placed critique will make the writer reflect on their approach and change their actions moving forward.

The more constructive criticism there is the better the writing becomes.

That’s a utopia I want to be a part of.

Giving Effective Feedback

There’s a quote I want you to keep in mind when giving a writer feedback;

When people tell you something is wrong, they’re usually right. When they tell you how to fix it, they’re usually wrong.

-Bill Hader

Our goal in giving helpful feedback is not to tell the writer how to fix their story but merely what you found didn’t work FOR YOU.

Ultimately, the fact is you can’t change a person’s mind about their work.

If you’re telling someone who loves their book that it’s terrible they won’t believe you and that’s fine.

You just have to understand that all you can do is give your feedback in a way that tells your experience and it’s up to the writer to take that feedback on.

Focus on Specifics

There’s a massive difference between specificity and broadness in your feedback.

For exmaple,

The character was terrible– Broad

vs

I didn’t find the characters very believable in their actions- Specific

It’s easy to fall into the trap of broad feedback but the broader your feedback is the harder it is to fix the problem.

When given the feedback that your central character was terrible you could go about fixing it in so many ways.

For instance;

Problem: The character is terrible

Solutions: Character backstory, voice, image, personality, relationships, motives, actions, or ways of thinking.

This is not ideal because so many options to choose from that impact one another set you up for failure.

Whereas,

Problem: Characters actions weren’t believable

Solutions: Motives, thought processes or reactions.

A specific problem elicits a specific solution, this is what we want.

Receiving and Utilising Feedback

Another skill you need as a writer yourself is being able to take and apply feedback.

You want to approach feedback with an open mind and a growth-oriented mindset.

Believe that the other person has your best intentions at heart even if they don’t.

The best way to adopt this mind frame is to separate yourself from your writing. You need to separate your personal attachment to your work to maximize the learning potential.

What I’ve noticed about the highest-performing individuals in every field is that they are relentlessly receiving feedback and constantly working on themselves.

Follow these high achievers and be relentless with your development.

In Conclusion . . .

We’ve delved into the heart of constructive criticism, uncovering its transformative power within the writing community.

From defining its purpose to exploring the benefits it brings, we’ve laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of how critique can elevate our craft.

Constructive criticism isn’t just a tool for refining prose; it’s the cornerstone of a robust and resilient writing community.

It’s the force that forges bonds among writers, promoting an environment where collective growth becomes the heartbeat of our shared passion.

In celebrating each other’s strengths and supporting areas that need nurturing, we lay the groundwork for a community that stands united, bound by the common goal of becoming better storytellers.

So, fellow scribes, let’s carry the torch of constructive criticism forward.

Seek feedback with an open heart, offer it with a generous spirit, and watch as our community transforms into a sanctuary of growth and inspiration.

Together, let’s elevate not just our individual narratives but the very fabric of the writing world we collectively weave.

Happy critiquing, and may your pens flourish in the nurturing soil of constructive feedback!

I post writing tips every day. Here’s my most recent post;

The 3 Elements of a Great Plot Twist

The 3 Elements of a Great Plot Twist

By Eamon on

There’s nothing quite like a great plot twist. Movies like Shudder Island, Fight Club, and Se7en are incredible staples of cinematography largely because of their plot twists.

Plot twists are incredibly interesting as a consumer a well-set-up movie hints at the coming plot twist so it’s possible to guess the twist but in no way gives it away directly.

A well-executed twist leaves a massive mark on your reader’s experience, they WILL remember your story if there is a well-done plot twist.

Not all stories work well with plot twists but if your story is looking for a plot twist here’s how to go about it.

The Psychology of Surprise

Ever wondered why a well-crafted plot twist feels like a literary rollercoaster for readers?

It’s more than just a narrative curveball; it’s a psychological jolt.

The best plot twists will flip the entire story on its head, where you as the reader don’t know what’s true or not.

There are a few elements that make a plot twist surprising and memorable;

  1. Anticipation
  2. Revelation
  3. Reader Satisfaction

A balance must be struck between these three factors.

Anticipation: Foreshadowing for Maximum Impact

Anticipation describes the lead-up to the ending, the way you’ve foreshadowed and hinted at your plot twist.

The best way to increase anticipation is to add odd things or untied ends to your story that linger in your readers’ minds as they wait for answers to them.

In other words, foreshadowing.

Foreshadowing will be your key to a plot twist that readers anticipate.

Placing symbols or other things throughout your story will on a subconscious level prepare readers for a twist.

To do this well you need to subtly introduce clues without giving away the surprise.

This could be an out-of-place comment, a weird spectacle, or a dismissed thought.

Adding in little indicators of your plot twist will both raise anticipation but also satisfy the reader on another read through your book.

Revelation: Creating Emotional Resonance

As I said before a great plot twist is a psychological jolt.

Just the same way as laughing at a joke is a physical response to some trickery, an emotionally resonant plot twist is a result of expectations being subverted.

However, a good twist never strays far from the characters and themes of the story.

Thus, your twist needs to be connected to character development and overarching themes throughout your story.

This works especially well when your story doesn’t make much sense without the twist.

For example, there is a movie I recently watched called “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” based on a novel of the same name.

This movie is about a young couple who go on a trip to see their boyfriend’s parents when things go a bit strange.

The movie does have a twist but not one that isn’t expected.

As you watch everything is just slightly wrong, characters act weird, and the story doesn’t progress logically until you get to the twist.

***SPOILER WARNING***

The whole story is actually about an older gentleman with dementia/Alzheimer’s who is contemplating suicide.

When this twist is realized the whole movie is tied together neatly.

Not only does it wrap the film up emotionally I was shattered as I realised that this fantasy this gentleman had was so fragmented and terrifying because his mind is quite physically deteriorating.

The payoff of this film is so great because I was so invested in how the film would come together that when I was able to empathize with an individual I actually cried because of how sad the whole story was.

That’s what you are aiming for, emotional resonance through audience engagement.

Reader Satisfaction: Avoiding Disappointment

There are not many things worse than a bad ending to a story.

No matter how good the story was up to that point when it ends in an unsatisfying way it shatters the whole experience.

Plot twists are no different.

You NEED to invest time into making your twist satisfying rather than jarring.

To avoid disappointment for your reader steer clear from used and worn clichès.

Things such as ‘It was all a dream’ these endings are tried and tested when a reader is faced with one it is almost comical how terrible the ending is.

You want to understand common twists in your genre and twist the twists.

If your readers are expecting a twist in your fantasy novel then hit them with a psychological thriller-type twist.

Mixing and matching ideas and genres is a great way to create fresh and unique twists that don’t disappoint your audience.

In Conclusion . . .

As we’ve explored plot twists, we’ve uncovered the importance of anticipation, the psychology of surprise, and the delicate dance between reader expectation and revelation.

Remember, a compelling twist is not merely a shock factor; it’s a well-woven narrative thread that enriches the whole of your story.

Crafting plot twists is an art—a dance that requires finesse, timing, and a deep understanding of the reader’s psyche.

It’s about more than surprising for the sake of surprise; it’s about sculpting an experience that resonates with your audience.

So, fellow storytellers, go forth with newfound knowledge and a dash of daring.

Experiment, surprise, and most importantly, enjoy the process of keeping your readers delightfully and deliciously guessing.

Happy crafting!

I post writing tips every day consider following if you enjoy that sort of stuff. Here’s my most recent post;

The Art of Pacing: Keeping Readers Hooked from Start to Finish

The Art of Pacing: Keeping Readers Hooked from Start to Finish

By Eamon on

The pacing at which you tell your story is a large factor in your reader’s engagement throughout their read.

You have to do tricks with pacing, alternate long sentences with short, to keep it vital and alive…. Virtually every page is a cliffhanger–you’ve got to force them to turn it.

Dr Suess

The art of pacing is such an important skill because when done right you end up with a thrilling page-turner.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Understanding Pacing in Storytelling

Pacing is the rate at which you reveal information to your audience.

If you withhold information about your story for many pages you have a slowly paced book and vice versa.

Your pacing is closely related to the flow and rhythm of your story.

Controlling pacing is a dance.

Knowing when to slow down and speed up for the reader’s enjoyment allows your reader’s emotions and expectations to be closely tethered to your narrative.

The Elements of Effective Pacing

For effective pacing to be achieved there needs to be a balance between tension and release.

Different parts of your story have varying ‘beats’.

A beat of a story describes a piece of information being shown.

When you have two characters yelling at each other about everything under the sun would be an incredibly fast-beat scene.

Fast-beat scenes have greater speed pacing.

Slow-beat scenes are the opposite.

The thing you need to be concerned with however is that you are aware of the beat of your scene.

Understanding the beats of your story and balancing it with the correct amounts of tension and release creates a well-paced intriguing reading experience.

Controlling Pacing

Pacing is, in many ways, a symphony of sentences.

Varying the length and structure of your sentences can orchestrate the ebb and flow of your story.

Short, punchy sentences quicken the tempo, infusing urgency into action scenes. Meanwhile, longer, more descriptive sentences slow the pace, allowing readers to savor moments of reflection or intricate details.

Experiment with this musicality to strike the perfect pacing chord.

Dialogue Pacing

Dialogue is the heartbeat of your narrative, influencing its pace in profound ways.

Rapid-fire exchanges can propel your story forward, injecting energy and immediacy.

On the other hand, carefully crafted dialogue with pauses and nuance can lend weight to critical moments.

Consider the strategic placement of dialogue to control the rhythm, ensuring it aligns with the emotional beats of your narrative.

Scene Pacing

Navigating from one scene to another is akin to sailing through the narrative sea.

Scene transitions, when executed seamlessly, maintain the reader’s momentum.

Abrupt shifts can disrupt the pacing flow, jolting readers out of the immersive experience.

Ensure your scene transitions are like gentle waves, guiding your audience from one narrative shore to the next.

Think of them as the invisible hands that keep the journey smooth and engaging.

Slow Pacing: Building Tension Gradually

Essentially your story is about building tension followed by a release, usually at the end of your story.

When you use slower pacing, giving your readers less information over time your ideas are forced to stew.

The act of building tension is letting your ideas sit and having your characters deal with them.

This action-reaction pair WILL build tension.

So slow tension followed by rapid release results in a gradual building of tension in your narrative.

The Quick Pace: Energy and Momentum

Fast-paced writing is the writing of energy.

High beat scenes = high energy.

Therefore, a quickly-paced narrative = a highly energized story.

You want to be quickly paced in your battle scenes, confrontations, and chase scenes.

Where your characters are exerting lots of energy you NEED to be keeping up with your pacing.

There is a balance to strike so as to not overwhelm your reader, rather than rapidly shooting facts and things that are happening use descriptions and reactions to this information to give a more balanced reading experience.

In Conclusion . . .

Pacing, as we’ve uncovered, is the heartbeat of a narrative. It’s the rhythm that breathes life into words, orchestrating the reader’s journey from one plot twist to the next.

A well-paced story is a dance — fluid, captivating, and utterly unforgettable.

Consider pacing as the invisible hand guiding your readers through the twists and turns of your literary landscape.

It’s the force that keeps them engaged, eagerly anticipating the next revelation or relishing in a moment of quiet reflection.

A carefully paced story is not just read; it’s experienced, leaving an indelible mark on the reader’s imagination.

In your storytelling, pacing is the thread that weaves excitement, suspense, and emotional depth into the reader’s experience.

So, fellow wordsmiths, as you embark on your writing ventures, may your pacing be as enchanting as a well-tuned melody, leaving readers eager for the encore.

Happy writing!

I post writing tips every day consider following if you enjoy. Here’s my most recent post;

10 Simple Steps to Failure as a Writer

10 Simple Steps to Failure as a Writer

By Eamon on

Sometimes knowing what NOT to do (steps to failure) is more important and meaningful than what you should do.

So, if you just like me and want to guarantee you fail as a writer I’ve constructed 10 easy steps to complete failure.

Step 1: Procrastination Olympics

Ah yes, the very key to our successful failure, is procrastination.

If you want to guarantee your failure procrastination should be taken as seriously, if not more than the Olympics.

Every Single Day you NEED to train this muscle.

If you don’t you might accidentally get something done, which we want to avoid.

Step 1 train your procrastination muscle it will come in handy for your ruin.

Step 2: The Overwhelm Overdrive

Our next simple step is to get overwhelmed.

Take all your ideas and start a project for every single one.

Start a novel.

Begin a poetry book.

Write short stories.

Never stick to one thing.

The goal is to start as many projects as possible, and then some more.

Don’t even try sticking to one task, the more overwhelmed you are the better.

Our goal is to be spread as thin as possible.

NEVER stick to one task, start a billion.

Step 3: Blissful Ignorance

Feedback is the bane of your failure.

If you want to fail you MUST ignore any feedback.

Any form of feedback, ‘constructive criticism’, or editorial intent is a deliberate ATTACK upon you and your whole bloodline.

DO NOT LISTEN TO FEEDBACK

Every word you won’t write is perfect as it is, how could anyone possibly improve what is already a masterpiece?

Step 4: Social Media Sabotage

To ensure your failure spend as much time as you can on social media.

You MUST get to the point where you obsessively check your phone.

ALWAYS compare yourself to other writers online for who else could you compare yourself to?

Social media is nothing but pure inspiration for your masterpiece.

Spend as much time on social media.

Step 5: Multitasking Mayhem

The key to our failure as a writer is to do at least 12 things at once.

When writing you should be at least;

  • Scrolling social media
  • Sending emails
  • Listening to a podcast
  • Talking to your friend
  • Feeding your dog
  • Feeding yourself
  • Reading a book
  • Solving a Rubik’s Cube
  • Playing poker
  • Drawing a portrait
  • Journalling about peacefulness
  • Playing video games

AT LEAST!

The best thing for your failure is to have the smallest amount of your attention on your writing.

Step 6: The Perfection Paralysis

Every sentence MUST be flawless.

Your first draft WILL be your published piece.

If you ever even dare progress in your novel before every single word sparkles like a diamond, even I can’t help you.

Perfection is a lie.

Paralysis by perfection is a LIE.

You MUST be perfect otherwise why even try?

Step 7: The Art of Burnout

To ensure your successful failure you MUST work a minimum of 26 hours a day.

MINIMUM.

You must snatch hours from the jaws of time itself to make sure every second of your day is crammed with work, work, work.

You must never take breaks.

Only when your fingers go numb, do you have full body cramps, only when your brain stops working may you rest.

And by rest I mean WRITE.

Never Stop WRITING!!!

Step 8: The Echo Chamber

Your perspective is the ONLY perspective.

The ideas and opinions of others are of no means to you.

Insignificant.

Water off a duck’s back their words are.

Not only are they not successfully failing they are thriving.

Who wants that?

Surround yourself exclusively with people who agree with everything you write.

You must be so cut off from the general public that an echo chamber of your opinions MUST be achieved.

Step 9: Neglecting Network

There is no us in team.

The only good team is a team of one.

You.

Never should you discuss your writing with others.

Not once should you share your writing with your friends.

Networking in the writing community is only for failing failures.

You MUST ignore every opportunity to connect with other writers, publishers, and literary professionals, they will only get in your way.

Loneliness is a lie.

It’s just you and that’s the best time there ever is.

Step 10: The Submission Avalanche

When submitting your work be sure to NEVER check specifications for publications.

Never research what these publications are interested in that’s only a suggestion.

Expect immediate success, it’s only inevitable.

Patience and persistence were created by people who want to succeed at writing, what failures.

In Conclusion . . .

I hope you will take these 10 steps in your stride to become the most successful failure of a writer you could be.

Ignore the lessons, despise the process, and let the despair of creation be your guiding star.

Happy writing 🙂

I post writing tips every day. Here’s my most recent post;

The Power of the 80/20 Principle in Your Writing

The Power of the 80/20 Principle in Your Writing

By Eamon on

This principle is so intertwined with your writing that not having an understanding of it is almost criminal.

The 80/20 rule otherwise known as the Pareto distribution is a ‘law’ of nature.

This law applies everywhere, in every situation where there is an output.

The 80/20 principle is so important for your writing as it helps you understand the relevance of optimizing efforts in order to maximize creativity and productive output.

Understanding the 80/20 Rule in Writing

The 80/20 rule put simply is;

80% of outcomes are due to 20% of the causes

-Vilfredo Pareto

Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian civil engineer, economist, and sociologist, observed the 80/20 rule in the late 1890s.

Pareto discovered that 20% of the population owned 80% of the land in Italy. He then surveyed a bunch of other countries where he found the exact same result.

This concept can be applied to anything.

80% of the fish in a pond is made my 20% of the population.

80% of a companies work is done by 20% of the employees.

More importantly 80% of your productive writing output is a result of 20% of your actions.

Of course, the pareto distribution can be applied to your writing.

80% of how your reader feels about your book comes from 20% of the scenes.

80% of your best writing is found in 20% of your work.

The rule can even be flipped.

20% of your writing is responsible for 80% of your fans.

The pareto ddistribution is an incredibly powerful thing to understand because you can know what to optimize for.

You optimize the 20% driving the 80% of the outcomes.

Identifying the 20% in Your Writing

By understanding the rule we can now outline,

‘What 20% percent of the work you put into your writing drives the majority of your outcomes?’

Here’s the 20% for me.

Content Creation

By the rule we understand that 20% of your ideas are going to be responsible for 80% of your great storis.

It’s a simple rule, with a simple implementation.

Generate more ideas.

When you keep coming up with ideas, for longer than you regularly would your incresing the amount of total ideas and thus will increase the 20% of the best ideas.

In this way brainstorming MUST be implemented for your idea generation.

If you have an idea for your story, brainstorm it.

Idea for a character, brainstorm it.

The more ideas you generate the greater your ideas are.

It’s just math.

That’s why its so easy to fall into following a bad idea just because it’s the first one you thought of.

If you are consistently coming up with 1 idea and writing 1 story, its going to take ALOT of stories for you to get a good 20% because you just don’t have the numbers.

Whereas, of you generate 50 ideas for one story you can sift through and prioritze the best ideas for maximum productive output.

Time Management

Following this principle 80% of the words you write comes from 20% of the time writing.

This also makes so much sense.

You know there’s a specific time or place that sparks your best writing, and the rest of the time, you faff around, not producing much quality content.

In this way we can optimize for our sacred 20% of time to drive more thann 80% of the good writing.

To do this you first want to identify where and when your best writing takes place.

Plan how you are going to keep that time sacred.

Optimize your time for maximum output.

Through identifying and focusing on the most valuable writing activities and time spent you WILL push out more great writing with less of the time.

That’s an awesome deal!

Character Development

80% of your characters development and growth is a result of 20% of the situations they’re in.

To maximise our 20 percent here we need to understand that not all the scenes your character faces will affect them deeply.

Only 20 percent, 1 fifth of your scenes will affect your character deeply.

In this way you will pick out those key scenes and dump all your efforts into those scenes because you will then drive the 80% of your characters development with very little writing.

I could go on for thousands and thousands of words applying this rule, that just shows how powerful the pareto distribution actually is.

In Conclusion . . .

Now, armed with the knowledge of the 80/20 Principle, I invite you to experimet within the realm of your own creativity.

Tailor the principle to suit your unique writing rhythms, style, and preferences.

Experimentation is key—try applying the principle to your content creation, refining your editing focus, or optimizing your writing routines.

As you embrace this journey, observe the subtle shifts in your creativity and productivity. Tweak the formula until it harmonizes with your individual process, enhancing your ability to create profound and impactful narratives.

Remember, the 80/20 Principle is not a rigid framework but a dynamic tool that adapts to your needs.

So, dear writer, take this newfound wisdom, let it seep into the fibers of your craft, and watch as the synergy of efficiency and creativity transforms your writing journey.

May your words flow effortlessly, your stories resonate profoundly, and may the 80/20 Principle be the compass that leads you to unparalleled heights of creative brilliance.

Happy writing!

I post writing tips every day, consider following if you enjoyed. Here’s my most recent post;

Creating Emotional Scenarios: Writing Scenes That Resonate

Creating Emotional Scenarios: Writing Scenes That Resonate

By Eamon on

There’s nothing worse than getting to the business end of a book or movie, where the action is happening, and you can’t give two hoots what the outcome is.

Too often I see this in movies nowadays.

Specifically, I watched the new horror movie Night Swim and it was exactly this.

The last 30 minutes of the movie are just spooky scenes underwater and I couldn’t care any less what was happening.

Luckily, it’s not incredibly difficult to fix these scenes and make them emotional.

To make them resonate.

The Importance of Emotional Resonance in Writing

Emotional resonance is where you are emotionally invested in what you are consuming, you FEEL the emotions of the characters and the scene.

This type of resonance is SO incredibly important to foster the memorability of your narrative.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Mary Angelou

The way you make your reader feel is EVERYTHING!

When your reader is emotionally invested in your story a part of their soul is tethered to the characters and the fate of those characters WILL physically affect the reader.

What they’ll remember from your writing is that it really made them FEEL something.

That’s all that you can ask from your writing.

Techniques for Creating Emotional Resonance

There are 3 techniques I want to share with you;

  1. Show, Don’t Tell
  2. Character Empathy
  3. Dialogue Dynamics

1) Show, Don’t Tell

It’s far too easy to fall into the trap of telling your readers what to feel, and not showing them how to feel.

Show, Don’t Tell is the very first piece of advice you get as a writer, although a seemingly innocuous concept to avoid the difference in the reader’s experience is night and day.

Telling is pointing at parts of your story whereas showing is leading your reader through the experience of your narrative.

When painting your emotional scene you need to be showing how your characters react physically to the scene.

A stoic knight dropping to their knees and weeping at the beheading of their friend is an incredibly emotional scene.

However, if done incorrectly we as the reader feel nothing.

I’ll show you the difference between telling and showing.

“The knight drops to his knees in sadness, hitting the ground over and over frenzied. Renguard cries for the lifeless body of his brother”

Booooooorrrring, there is nothing emotional about that.

“Renguard clenches his fist as he hears the cold wet slap of his brother’s head hitting the gravel. The knight falls to his knees, tears running down his face, slams his fists into the ground over and over until dark streaks of blood begin to trickle down his arm from under his gauntlets”

Although far from perfect you can already see a CLEAR difference between the telling and showing reading experience.

Show, Don’t Tell although it’s a minor difference in how you write, the reading experience couldn’t be further separate.

3 Ways to Show, Don’t Tell

2) Character Empathy

If your reader doesn’t care about your characters then there is no way they’re going to feel any emotion for them.

They just don’t care.

Indifference.

It’s a cold reality to imagine but film is filled with characters that aren’t relatable and therefore create indifference.

To allow the reader to empathize with your characters they need to be relatable.

Note how I’ve said relatable not likeable.

There are plenty of examples of compelling characters that are contemptible. So your characters must be relatable but not necessarily likable.

I have written about this in another post but summarized to make your character relatable you need to;

  1. Introduce Vulnerabilities and Weakness: Showing the faults of your character allows the reader to relate with their own inadequacies.
  2. Depth and Dimensions: Avoid flat, one-dimensional characters by delving into their backgrounds, motivations, and unique traits
  3. Authentic Transformation: Ensure the character’s growth is not only significant but also believable. Let their journey be a natural evolution rooted in the challenges they face

Develop your characters, if you lose your reader’s empathy you lose their emotion.

Crafting Compelling Characters: A Writers Guide

3) Dialogue Dynamics

Authentic and emotionally charged dialogue is a tricky thing to get right but if you understand it you will find yourself head and shoulders above the rest.

The fundamental aspect of good dialogue is conflict.

If there is no conflict then your character SHOULDN’T be talking.

No one wants to read about two people agreeing, it’s not interesting.

If you have your characters sufficiently relatable your reader should be able to see both sides of the conflict when they are talking.

Creating emotional resonance.

A good tip I’ve found for dialogue is that you write two people talking as if they can say anything but what they ACTUALLY want to say.

This will create believable and resonant dialogue.

The Art of Effective Dialogue

In Conclusion . . .

By mastering these tools, writers can transcend mere narration, creating experiences that linger in the hearts and minds of their readers.

Writing is not merely about conveying information; it’s about forging connections.

As you embark on your writing journey, let the heartbeat of genuine emotions guide your pen.

Infuse your characters with the depth of real feelings, let dialogue resonate with authenticity, and paint your scenes with the hues of emotional nuance.

In doing so, you not only craft stories but offer readers an invitation to embark on an emotional rollercoaster.

So, dear writer, as you venture forth into the realms of your imagination, carry with you the power of emotions—use them to shape your narratives, to breathe life into characters, and to create a symphony that resonates with the souls of your audience.

Happy writing, and may your stories reverberate with the echoes of genuine, heartfelt emotions 🙂

I post writing tips every day. Here’s my most recent one;

Awakening Creativity: The Art of Mindful Observation

Awakening Creativity: The Art of Mindful Observation

By Eamon on

95 percent of your brain’s activity daily is unconscious.

95 percent!

You are going about your day thinking about what you see, reflecting on your day, and experiencing your life all at once, whilst it’s all unconscious to you.

There are few ways to access what pschologists call the subconcious mind.

Some of the methods are therapy, creativitiy but the most powerful is mindfulness.

Mindfulness and your creative expression are so closely linked together that fostering one of the pair directly effects the other.

If you are more creative than usual you will notice more than you usually do.

More importantly, if you are more mindfull you WILL be more creative.

It’s just how it works.

Understanding the Link Between Mindfulness and Creativity

Mindfulness is the art of noticing.

So much of the things you experience daily aren’t even conciously seen, just ignored never to be thought about again.

With this ignorance of majority of our environment we lose nuggets of inspiratoin that can be found in every moment of our day.

In this way fostering mindfulness fosters a receptive and open mindset.

In this incredible study they experimented with using mindfulness and the creativity of the indivudals.

What they found was that their was certaintly a relationship between the use of meditation and the way the participants thought.

Mindfulness positvely effects your mood, calms your mind and totally changes the way you think about things.

The Art of Mindful Observation

Mindful observation as I’ve said is the art of attention.

Slowing down and reflecting on what you see is the simplest form of mindful observation.

You can use this form of mindfulness at ANY time.

You need only focus on your environment. Allow your thoughts to wander about your envirnonment, be grounded in the present and deeply observe your environment.

Doing this will not only make you feel better but open the gate to your subconcious mind to seep into the concious.

If you mindfully observe you WILL begin to notice small things in your life that interest you and can be used in your next writing project.

Mindfulness Exercises for Cultivating Creativity

There are 3 main mindful observational activities I want you to try to benefit your creativity when writing;

  1. The five senses exploration
  2. Natures Symphony
  3. People Watching

The Five Senses Exploration

Imagine your writing as a canvas waiting to be painted with vibrant hues. To infuse life into your creations, embark on a journey through the five senses:

Guided Observation:

Close your eyes and engage each of your senses deliberately.

What scents linger in the air around you? What sounds form the backdrop to your moment of stillness?

Allow your fingertips to explore textures, taste the essence of the present, and open your eyes to the visuals that surround you.

Descriptive Alchemy:

With heightened awareness, translate these sensory treasures into words.

Write it down.

Craft a paragraph that vividly describes the experience, drawing your readers into the rich tapestry of sensations.

Let the aroma, soundscape, and tactile nuances become the palette for your literary brushstrokes.

Nature’s Symphony

Step into the embrace of the great outdoors, where nature’s symphony awaits:

Outdoor Observation:

Find a quiet spot in nature—perhaps a park, forest, or your backyard.

Close your eyes and attune your senses to your environment.

What melodies do the birds compose? How does the wind dance through the leaves? Let the sun or rain caress your skin. Immerse yourself in the sensory feast that nature provides.

You can do this sitting still, I do this when I go on my walk.

3 Reasons Why You Should Go for a Walk Everyday as a Writer

Inspiration Harvest:

Reflect on the experience and consider its potential impact on your writing.

How can the tranquility of a forest glade shape a fictional setting? Could the rhythm of falling rain inspire a poignant moment in your narrative? Allow the peace of nature to infuse your imagination, creating a reserve of inspiration for your stories.

People Watching

Navigate the bustling life of human interactions with a purposeful gaze:

Observing without Judgment:

Choose a public space—a cafe, park, or city square—and observe people as they go about their lives.

Resist the urge to judge; instead, absorb the intricacies of their expressions, gestures, and interactions.

Every person is a potential character in the grand theater of your writing.

Character Tapestry:

Delve into the stories that unfold before your eyes.

Consider how the nuances you observe can breathe life into your characters.

What secrets might hide behind a stranger’s smile?

How can the way someone carries themselves reveal aspects of their personality?

People watching becomes a treasure trove of inspiration, offering authenticity and depth to the characters you create.

Embrace these exercises with an open heart and a keen eye, for in the art of mindful observation, lies the key to unlocking your subconcious and your creativity.

Cultivating a Daily Mindful Writing Routine

If you’re going to benefit from mindfulness in the long term you NEED to create a daily mindful routine.

It doesn’t take time in fact it fills time.

I find it happens naturally in the boring moments.

When your waiting in line, waiting for food, or someone to show up you can’t help but observe the people and environment you’re in.

The next step that not many writers take is writing it down.

Carry a pocketnotebook with you to write a description or your feelings or thoughts in these slow times and you WILL reap the benefits of this practice.

I GUARANTEE that.

3 Reasons Why Creative People NEED a Pocket Notebook

In Conclusion . . .

In our journey, we uncovered the profound impact of mindfulness on creativity.

By cultivating a mindful presence, writers can open channels to deeper observations, heightened sensory experiences, and a more receptive mindset.

Scientifically proven or creatively intuitive, the connection between mindfulness and creativity is a bridge that leads to uncharted landscapes of inspiration unlocking the gateway to the subconcious mind.

As you face your writing adventure, I invite you to embark with a mindful and observant spirit.

The canvas of your imagination is vast, and every mindful brushstroke adds layers to the masterpiece you are crafting.

Embrace the power of mindful observation not just as an exercise but as a continuous practice that breathes life into your writing.

So, dear writer, step forward with intention, notice the world around you, and let the magic of mindful creativity guide your pen.

May your words flow effortlessly, and may your creativity dance with the rhythm of your mindful heart.

Happy writing!

I post an article about writing tips everyday. Here’s my most recent one;

Motivation in the Journey: Celebrate the Small Wins!

Motivation in the Journey: Celebrate the Small Wins!

By Eamon on

Often it’s easy to get tunnel vision when chasing your dreams and lose sight of the small wins you achieve on a daily.

Not celebrating your small wins is adversely affecting your motivation for your goals.

If you can’t recognize when you are improving how can you celebrate when you achieve your goal?

It will feel just the same.

Acknowledging Small Wins

Your dreams are reached by succeeding daily.

Many daily successes make you successful.

That’s all there is.

You don’t wake up one day and you’ve achieved your goals.

No!

You win on some days and lose on others but you make progress.

That’s what’s most important here.

Recognizing progress.

That’s why it’s so important to celebrate your wins because without celebration you WILL get burnt out and blocked from completing your goal altogether.

Who wants that?

What are Small Wins?

Small wins are points along your journey to a goal that mark progress.

For a writer creating their novel small wins could be considered completing a challenging scene or hitting a word count goal.

They are the little things that are satisfying but are ignored in the wash of everything else you do that day.

Why Celebrate?

Celebrating key points in your journey is incredibly motivating and builds your confidence.

Nothing will motivate you more to achieve your goals than seeing the finish line get closer.

When you recognize your small wins you are forcing yourself to notice that you are even closer to achieving your dreams.

The thing is with most things in life having the thing you’ve always wanted is nowhere near as satisfying as thinking about getting it.

There was some sort of study where people’s happiness before and during a party was recorded. What they found was the happiness of the people before the party, anticipating it was significantly greater than when they were actually at the party.

Celebrating your small wins WILL motivate you like nothing else to finish your goals.

Setting Attainable Writing Milestones

The milestones you celebrate along the way to your goal need to be realistic and achievable things.

Otherwise, you have big goals inside even bigger goals which just creates these weird interwoven goals and intentions that only confuse.

You need to be aware that your goals are made up of milestones. Little places along the trail show you how far you’ve come and how far you have left on the journey.

So break down your big goals into lots of little points of importance.

For example, if you’re trying to write a novel your small wins/ milestones could be;

  • Writing daily
  • Word limits
  • Anticipated scenes
  • Finishes of chapters

and other notable things.

You don’t need to be deadly focused on them to the point of tracking their progress but rather aware of them enough to be chuffed when you hit them.

Ideas for Celebrating Milestones

There are so many ways you can celebrate your wins but here are just a few.

Reflective Journalling

After achieving a milestone be sure to capture what you thinking and feeling in the moment.

Allowing space for yourself to reflect on how you’re feeling energizes you to hit the next milestone and also provides a fascinating progression of thoughts across your goals journey to look back on.

Treat Yourself

Of course, you should indulge yourself and have a little treat.

Give yourself a little reward of some kind.

Have one of your favorite snacks or a well-deserved, leisurely break.

If you don’t reward yourself it’s hard to feel motivated for the next milestone.

Share your Success

If you share your progress with others not only will you reinforce your hard work but also those around you will get excited for the next update which will motivate you to keep progressing.

I’ve found that support from others is an extremely motivating force. When someone is waiting patiently for the next short story or part of your novel.

In Conclusion . . .

In the journey of achieving your goals, it’s easy to overlook the significance of small victories. Yet, these seemingly modest achievements are the building blocks of a successful accomplishment.

As you embark on your writing endeavors, embrace the practice of setting achievable milestones. Break down your ambitious goals into manageable tasks, savoring the satisfaction of completing each one.

Celebrate these milestones with joy, for they signify progress, growth, and the resilience of your creative spirit.

Remember, in the vast expanse of your writing expedition, every step counts.

So, dear writer, celebrate your journey, celebrate your craft, and most importantly, celebrate yourself.

Your story is unfolding, one small triumph at a time.

Happy Writing 🙂

I post an article every day about tips for writers consider following if you vibe with that. Here’s my most recent post;

Effective Goal Setting: 3 Steps to Deeply Motivational Goals
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