Eamon WritesEamon Writes

By Eamon Storer

Creativity

The 1 Principle That Destroys Uncertainty in your Writing

By Eamon on

There is a state of mind that plagues creative people all around the world. Uncertainty.

People WILL NOT start a project if they don’t know exactly how to do it.

Why would I create anything if I’m not creatively prepared to do so?

There’s a piece of advice I always think about when I hear people talking about their hesitancy.

“You can’t see the label from inside the bottle”.

Your deep investment in the work makes it practically impossible for you to grasp how others perceive it.

In a sense, you perceive the label, but it certainly does not reflect what is actually presented.

There’s a Physics Concept Called the Uncertainty Principle

Let me use some science, I promise it is related.

Scientists will not stop trying to find the smallest thing possible.

Some of these really small things are the photons and the electron-charged particles that make up the atoms that makeup everything in the universe.

However, when scientists are trying to look at these little particles weird things start happening.

Werner Heisenberg, the clever man that he is, came up with his Uncertainty Principle to explain this weird stuff.

We cannot know both the position and speed of a particle, such as a photon or electron, with perfect accuracy; the more we nail down the particle’s position, the less we know about its speed and vice versa

-Hisenberg

The more you know about a particle’s place in space the less you know its speed and vice versa.

Creative Science

Oddly enough Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle can be applied to our writing.

In terms of writing the less you know of your own skills the more you know about how your work is perceived.

Just like speed and position, writing skills and the quality of your writing cannot be observed at the same time.

In this case, the best place you can be in is knowing you have very little writing skills and are unaware of how good your writing actually is.

The beginner mindset and the uncertainty of beginning writing are scientifically proven to be the best place to get to work.

Embrace uncertainty only through embracing uncertainty will you become less uncertain.

In Conclusion . . .

Embracing uncertainty isn’t merely a challenge; it is the most fertile ground for creativity.

In the realm of writing, much like the enigmatic world of quantum particles, the less you fixate on your writing skills, the more attuned you become to how your work is perceived.

Adopting the beginner’s mindset, with its inherent uncertainty, is scientifically proven to be the optimal starting point for any creative endeavor.

So, dive into your work with the humility of a beginner, and through embracing uncertainty, you’ll find clarity and growth in your writing journey.

Happy Writing 🙂

I post writing tips every day, if you enjoyed check out my most recent post;

Writing Themes: What’s The Big Idea!?

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!

Getting Writing Done: The Power of Flash-Fiction

By Eamon on

The art of short-form writing is the art of finishing projects.

Flash fiction and short stories are the perfect way to hone your skills as a creative writer.

Short fiction trains you to be concise with your wording, understand ideas’ value, and master show not tell.

Especially in the digital age short-form writing is incredibly popular as it appeals to not only readers but also writers.

A great short story is an experience someone goes through in one sitting often.

The power of this type of writing CANNOT be understated.

Understanding Flash Fiction

I consider flash fiction as stories that range from 100 to 1,000 words and Micro-fiction as stories with less than 100 words (this is your two-sentence horror stuff).

Both types of writing offer a condensed and greatly beneficial means of creative writing.

The best benefit of short writing, however, is the power of conciseness.

Conciseness

Having a condensed story means you are forced to grab the reader’s attention with as few words as possible.

Once you hook the reader they will fly through the rest of your writing.

If you master this skill alone, grabbing and holding attention, you’ll go miles with your writing.

The power of conciseness is that your narrative becomes deadly focused and follows a clear central idea or theme.

Understanding how to work around a central theme in a way that is engaging and meaningful will also give you a headstart from other writers.

Tips for Crafting Short-Fiction

As you have a VERY little amount of words you can write in your piece. You have no time to waffle on.

You NEED to choose a strong concept.

Choose a Strong Concept

A strong concept for short writing is a scene or event that shocks the reader on some obvious or deep level.

Your concept should have built-in, unique characters, conflict, and compelling antagonistic forces.

For example, Stephen King’s The Mist is a short story about a town engulfed in a mist that hides otherworldly creatures fighting with each other to survive this terrifying ordeal.

King’s premise has built into it a shocking event, room for interesting characters, and conflicts plenty.

Precision in Language

Every word you put into your story is one off the word count.

You want to say what you intend to say with as few words as possible.

Don’t anguish over every word, just make sure you are not spending more words than necessary to say the same thing.

You WILL need to choose a longer description sometimes for atmospheric effect but more often than not, fewer words are better.

Show, Don’t Tell

It’s familiar advice to many writers but it’s easy enough to lose sight of this advice.

Make sure you are using your words to lead your readers through your world, DON’T use your words to point at your world.

The difference is night and day.

An engaging short story will immerse you into the world of the text immediately and only give in at the end.

Lead your reader, don’t point at things for them.

Embrace the Constraints

Constraints are awesome.

Having a genre limit or word count gives you a box that you can then make creative ways to expand from the box.

The first step to a creative short story is embracing the word limit.

You need not fret about your words, but you do need to be aware of the limit you are putting on yourself.

Experiment with Structure

Your structure for your short fiction is incredibly flexible.

There are a million and one ways to tell your story, be sure to experiment with different structures to breathe a bit of life into your narrative.

You are constrained by the words you can write but not the size of your imagination.

In Conclusion. . .

Mastering the art of short-form fiction is not an overnight endeavor.

It requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to explore the boundaries of your creativity.

Embrace the challenge, experiment with different styles, and find your unique voice within the constraints of brevity.

As a vibrant community of writers, I encourage you to share your flash fiction or micro fiction creations with others.

Embrace the opportunity for feedback, celebrate your peer’s successes, and learn from the diverse perspectives within our community.

Now, it’s your turn to embark on a journey into short-form fiction!

Take the tips and insights we’ve explored and apply them to your writing. Here’s your challenge:

  1. Try Your Hand: Write a piece of flash fiction or microfiction, focusing on one or more of the key takeaways we’ve discussed.
  2. Share Your Creations: Share your stories where you can. Let’s build a collaborative space where we can learn from and inspire one another.

Happy writing, and I look forward to reading your brilliant creations!

I write every day about how you can improve your writing process. Here’s my most recent post;

Architect vs Gardener: Finding Your Ideal Writing Process

Fighting Self-Doubt: The Rollercoaster of Writing

By Eamon on

When the results of your actions and hard work are as uncertain as it is when writing self-doubt is a certainty.

Doubting your skills and value as a writer is something EVERYBODY will go through at some point.

The writing world is scary.

It’s uncertain and that’s terrifying for me.

Not knowing how your audience will respond to what you put out there can be an agonizing thing to fret about.

The writing journey can be compared to riding a rollercoaster blindfolded and backward.

You have no idea what the hell is going on.

You’ll be up at one moment then you’ll hit your lowest low and there is no rhyme or reason.

The worst part is you are blind, you have no idea if you’ll ever make anything of yourself, and you don’t know how long this ride is.

However, the worst part is also why you’re on the rollercoaster.

You’re on the rollercoaster backward and blindfolded of your own free will.

It’s empowering to know you have put yourself in a difficult situation and are determined to see it through.

To be comfortable in yourself you need to. . .

Understand the Roots of Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is a result of various factors interplaying.

Once you understand each you can learn to point them out.

Acknowledging these reasons makes the feelings of self-doubt less spiky.

Fear of Failure and Perfectionism

If you are new to writing it’s extremely difficult to not be terrified of completing your first few pieces.

This is because you KNOW you don’t know enough to create a masterpiece but you can’t help but feel inadequate because when you release your writing you WILL fail.

That’s terrifying.

The brain deals with this fear by creating a mindset that delays this failure.

Perfectionism.

Meticulously going over your writing for ‘improvements’ and never being ready to finish it is just a distraction you do to yourself so you can delay the fear of failure.

Failure is normal.

It’s even encouraged.

If you don’t fail with your writing you don’t know what you don’t know.

The more you fail the more you understand what you don’t understand.

Which makes you a better writer.

You CAN’T become a better writer by passing with flying colors.

You NEED to write terrible stories.

Failure is REQUIRED.

Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure

Extrinsic Vs Intrinsic Motivation

When we understand motivation there are two ways you can be motivated.

Externally sourced motivation.

and

Internally sourced motivation.

Externally sourced motivation is stuff like what your parents will think about you, what the numbers say, and how people respond to your writing.

Externally sourced motivation is interchangeable with external validation.

They’re the same thing.

Intrinsic motivation however is stuff like the way you feel about your novel, how fulfilled finishing projects feels, and the pride you have in your work.

These two motivators are VERY different.

Often when you find yourself in the depths of self-doubt you are focused on external validation.

You are focused on how your writing will be received.

The thing about external validation is you have 0 control over it.

None.

You can’t control how people think (well at least I can’t and if you can you should be studied).

Intrinsic motivation, how you feel, IS under your control.

You CAN control whether you feel proud of yourself or not.

Great Stoic leaders of old know this fundamentally.

It is not in our control to have everything turn out exactly as we want, but it is in our control to control how we respond to what happens.

Epictetus

You NEED to be concerned with what is in your control.

What you can control is how you feel.

Focus on intrinsic motivation rather than external validation.

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is when you constantly feel your success is not deserved or has been legitimately achieved, you feel like you’ve been given success by accident, by the Gods.

This persistent feeling of not being good enough is sure to sprout self-doubt in your writing.

In the writing world, imposter syndrome is where you are complemented on your work and don’t feel you deserve the credit, it’s where you are embarrassed to even share your work because who are you to write?

Imposter syndrome is common, especially among successful writers.

Neil Gaiman, a legendary writer, and creator of epic stories such as Coraline and The Sandman Comics struggles with imposter syndrome.

He CONSTANTLY feels despite his success he is one step away from being found out as a fraud.

It’s common and normal.

However, it’s not helpful.

The best way I have found to combat imposter syndrome is regular journaling.

Being able to go back over my past journal entries I can see just how much work I have put into my writing and can take pride in it.

Try it out.

In Conclusion. . .

There are so many reasons why you are self-doubting your writing that it’s completely normal.

I hope however our discussion of;

  • Fear of Failure
  • Perfectionism
  • Extrinsic vs Intrinsic Motivation
  • Imposter Syndrome

has helped you in some way and hopefully can deal with your self-doubt.

You’re awesome! Keep writing, the world is better off for it.

Thanks for reading 🙂

Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure

By Eamon on

A term that has become synonymous with any sort of meaningful work these days is perfectionism.

Perfectionism is the constant chasing of a perfect or ideal product often at the expense of your own output.

This rather nasty mindset WILL affect everybody at some point.

Taking 23 years to finish your first draft of your novel IS PERFECTIONISM

If you won’t date before you are ready too, THAT’S perfectionism.

Even putting off starting that project you’ve always wanted because you’re ‘not ready’ IS perfectionism.

Perfection Is A LIE!

Paralysis by Analysis

Constantly comparing yourself and your accomplishments to a perfect scenario is one sure way to hit writer’s block.

The problem with the idea of perfection is that it NEVER occurs naturally.

Anything considered completely perfect is actually a horrifying thing.

A perfectly round sphere is terrifying.

Perfectly white rooms are terrifying.

The peak perfection of anything you consider worthwhile is a terrible thing.

Imperfections are what MAKES your work.

This is because when you push the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is considered wrong you create art.

Art can NEVER be perfect.

Someone will ALWAYS have something negative to say about anything.

A great way to put this into perspective is to go online and read 1-star reviews for your favorite books, everything they have to say is complete nonsense to you but is an interesting well put together comment in their eyes.

Your perfect is NEVER the same as someone else’s perfect.

This is something I have only come to terms with recently.

I’m guilty of putting off starting things forever and ever because I’m ‘just not ready’ so start them.

This point of view springs from the idea that what I consider a ready writer, is the same as what you think makes up a ‘ready writer’.

Obviously, believing in this lie leads to paralysis by overanalysis, where I’ll go months without creating ANYTHING because “I’m just not ready”.

The thing is. . .

You’ll NEVER be Ready

Waiting for the ‘perfect’ time for anything is the same as asking for a sign from God himself before you start your day.

It just doesn’t make sense.

What I’ve come to understand about my writing is the MOST important part is showing up.

Showing up

Every,

Single,

Day

Rather than focusing on how good your work is or how it compares to others in your field, it’s so much more valuable to make sure you are just showing up.

A common phrase in recovering alcoholics is that

“You can only control the first drink”

Similarly, in your writing, you can only control whether you show up or not.

That’s it.

You don’t control how good your writing is.

You don’t control how many ideas come to you.

And you DEFINITELY don’t control if you’re ready or not to write

So rather than worrying about the finished product and getting paralyzed with fear focus on showing up every day, focus on controlling yourself enough to stick with your work, and the quality WILL follow.

The biggest block to showing up every day is. . .

The Fear of Failure

The thing is creating is a very vulnerable act.

Putting something you care about in front of impartial eyes is extremely daunting because once they react to your writing, you’ll know EXACTLY how good your work is for that person.

This aspect is terrifying for perfectionist artists, therefore perfectionism becomes a coping mechanism by which keeping your work to yourself because it’s ‘not good enough’ is not a matter of care for the reader’s experience but rather a desperate attempt to save their own feelings.

People are going to not like your writing.

It’s just how these things go, some things are just not someone’s thing.

And that’s ok.

Because there will be just as many people who absolutely adore your work.

Who are you to decide how good your writing is, when it’s different for everyone.

So the noble thing to do is to just put yourself and your work out there, consistently, no matter the feedback.

Another way to think about it is if 6 months from now god forbid you are terminally ill will you be content with all your unfinished projects? or would you be wishing with every fiber of your being that you just put yourself out there and wrote every day?

So, just do it.

Write every day.

Share your writing.

Make this world a little bit more interesting with your unique writing flair.

I thank you for your attention.

Good Luck and Get Writing 🙂

I write lots of stuff for writers who want to improve their writing, here’s a post about the power of writing with constraints;

Writing with Constraints: Embracing Limitations for Creativity

Writing with Constraints: Embracing Limitations for Creativity

By Eamon on

Although seemingly unproductive adding constraints to your writing WILL increase your creativity by tenfold.

Writing constraints are when you add restrictions such as word limits or time limits to your creative writing.

They are intentional limitations you place on the writing process that will specifically target a slump or low point in your creative ability.

There is a paradoxical relationship between creativity and constraints.

It only makes sense that adding limits to your writing will limit what ideas you can come up with because they have to specifically fit into the box you set.

In practice, however, the effect is the opposite.

When a creative person is given a restraint they have to come up with a way to fulfill their writing given they are limited in some way.

This FORCES the writer to use creative thinking and push to find innovative solutions and think outside of the box.

The BEST Writing Constraints

There are three main writing constraints I use to stimulate my creative senses;

  1. Time Constraints
  2. Word count limits
  3. Theme-Based Writing

Time Constraints

There’s a ‘law’ of reality that EVERY writer should know, it is called Parkinson’s Law;

Parkinsons’ Law is the idea that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.

This idea explains procrastination PERFECTLY.

If you find yourself putting off a task until the last moment before the deadline, that’s Parkinson’s Law in action.

That’s why if you have a writing project without a deadline you will find yourself procrastinating about it more often than when a deadline is set for its completion.

Adding a specific time frame to your writing WILL force you to complete your project within the time frame, it’s just how it works.

There are a lot of different time frames you could pick depending on your writing speed.

However, you want to be setting time frames that CHALLENGE you but are still practically achievable.

For example, you COULD say you must complete an 80,000-word manuscript for your book within 24 hours and could complete it but it’s just not a sustainable practice.

Setting time frames and achieving them is practicing the art of finishing projects that WILL build your content library and your writing skills.

Word-Count Limits

Parkinson’s law comes in handy with this limit as well.

Remember, Work expands/ shrinks to fill the space allotted for its completion.

So when you set yourself a word limit you are forced to come up with creative ways to say more with fewer words, which is just a valuable writing skill in itself.

Similarly, word-count limits will force you to distill your message down to the bare bones and create a body of a story that fills itself right to the restriction.

This limit helps you practice the art of avoiding verbosity (using more words than needed).

Creating succinct and meaningful writing is a skill I am investing in daily.

Set word limits.

Theme-Based Writing

Restricting your writing to a theme such as a specific story structure, genre, or message forces you to look at that theme with creative eyes.

The way you are forced to look at a theme builds respect and passion for that theme.

Eventually, if you repeatedly explore unique themes you will have built a creative repertoire of ideas to build from.

I have recently started drawing and sketching, specifically creature design for my creature horror fiction and a pitfall new artists fall into all too often is they try to draw from their imagination but because they haven’t studied any models of anything their drawings are terrible.

Creating terrible things is painful but is a good indicator of what you don’t know.

The artist who tried to create their idea struggled. They had nothing to compare it to because they were new to drawing.

It works the same way for beginner writers.

They jump into writing their 400-page novel creating links between lots of different ideas when they’ve never actually explored one of them.

Restricting yourself to specific themes deletes this lack of knowledge.

The more topics you explore with your writing the larger your mental bank of ideas grows and becomes accessible for your writing.

In Conclusion. . .

There are so many benefits to these three writing constraints you are GUARANTEED to benefit creatively from any one of these limits;

  1. Time Constraints
  2. Word count limits
  3. Theme-Based Writing

Try out one limit and if it works for you try the others, I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Get out there, get creative, and get writing!

I talk about loads of stuff to help you as a writer here’s my most recent post about why you should use a writer’s sketchbook;

The Writer’s Sketchbook: Infinite Inspiration

The Writer’s Sketchbook: Infinite Inspiration

By Eamon on

You guys NEED to be getting a sketchbook for your writing. I have never felt more free to express what it is I’m trying to write by visually displaying the chaos in my brain.

A writer’s sketchbook is what you can use as a writer to get words onto the page. It’s not a means to write your stories but it does efficiently get ALL of your thoughts circling in your brain somewhere.

Once your ideas are trapped on the page you can go over them with a fine comb brush and pick out the gold.

I have recently begun a writing challenge I created called Tiles of Terror.

Tiles of Terror is where I use a tile from my bathroom to come up with a short story, one tile, and one short story a week.

This is how I am going to actually write my horror stories more.

The first time I used this sketchbook/ notebook was for this project.

Before getting the scribbles onto the page I had no real idea of what direction I was going, after using it ONCE I have seen benefits.

Creating Your Writer’s Sketchbook

It’s easy to get finicky with your book, the paper, and your pens, trust me I know.

That’s all just procrastination.

Focusing on the tools that you are going to create with IS NOT CREATING!

Creating is creating.

So, I want you to find the first notebook you have available.

It doesn’t matter if it’s partially full, rip out the pages.

If you have to just use loose-leaf paper.

You mustn’t spend too much time THINKING because the more you think the less you write.

One thing that you may want to consider is what sort of style you will sketch with.

You could be completely sketched, completely written, or a mix of both.

I find it incredibly powerful to have rough ideas for your story mixed in with loose sketches of the vibes you’re going for.

Benefits and Tips for Using Your Writer’s Sketchbook

Using this method is incredibly empowering.

Knowing that your ideas and sketches are completely your own, they don’t need to ever see the light of day creates a lightness and playfulness that often straight writing lacks.

Something you will find incredibly useful for sketching out your ideas is that your ideas are now out of your head.

They’re there.

On the page.

This means you can come back at any time and relive these ideas, which creates an infinite source of motivation and inspiration.

Why would you not use it for that benefit alone!?

You need to be very careful that this playful sketching and exploration of ideas doesn’t take away from your writing time.

Stephen King said something like you should be CONSTANTLY reading to become a better writer, but your reading should NEVER take away from your writing.

Because writing will make you better at writing.

It really is that simple.

In Conclusion. . .

I really hope I have persuaded you to take up your own writer’s sketchbook.

If you have tried this method out, which I highly recommend you do I would LOVE to see how you’ve set up your own pages.

Thank you ever so much for reading.

Get writing 🙂

If you enjoyed this post check out this one about how and why you should be writing from life;

Write from Life: Crafting Authentic Narratives that Resonate

Consistency Over Quality to Progress as a Writer

By Eamon on

The power of consistency is a greatly undervalued skill in the productivity and self-improvement space.

Most of the time writers are told how to do more with less time, where they should be focused on being consistent and showing up every day.

Build Your Library

Being consistent is the best way to build your library of work as quick as possible.

For some people, it takes five to ten years to publish a book whereas you have legends like Stephen King pumping out something like two books a year or something crazy like that.

This achievement is not by accident.

King and others like him are consistent.

They show up every day and add to their library, they put words on the page and stories into the world.

By doing so they show the world that they can create quality content, not by the inherent talent of the writer but rather as a product of showing up every day.

They focus on quantity first and quality will come with time.

Quantity vs Quality

No matter what you are learning, you’re gonna be horrible at it.

That’s just how it is.

You’re terrible because obviously you’ve never done the thing before, and that terrible writing you do when you start writing will fade with time.

This is why you need to focus on the amount of content you make not the quality in the beginning.

The more you focus on consistency the less you focus on the quantity and vice versa.

To get good at writing you have to write.

Let me repeat that, to get good at writing you HAVE to write.

You’re not gonna be a better writer by planning and planning what you will write, you will not get better thinking about the stories you’ll write.

You get better by putting words on the page.

This means the more words you put on the page the better you will get at writing.

Therefore, it only makes sense to focus on creating and writing LOTS because you will get better at writing through your output. You will learn and you will adapt.

You CANNOT have the same sort of progress working on one project for multiple years before you even let someone look at it.

The benefit just isn’t there.

Focus on quantity NOT quality when you start writing.

Momentum is EVERYTHING

Newton’s second law of motion describes the force exerted on an object as equal to the mass of the object times by the acceleration of the exerted force.

It looks pretty tricky but it’s not that bad.

Basically, the amount of energy needed to move an object depends on how heavy the object is multiplied by the speed at which energy is given to it.

This is a valuable way of looking at momentum in writing.

Initially, when you start writing the speed at which you can progress in your writing journey is very high because the large path ahead of you equates to a large mass that needs a lot of exerted energy to move it anywhere.

However, when you repeatedly come back to your writing, not only are you shrinking the amount of writing you need to progress but also it becomes easier to accelerate/ kick into gear when writing because less force is needed to push the object the same distance.

This happens because of momentum. The speed at which an object is traveling needs a large force to stop it. The more you write, the more you engage in consistency, the more momentum you gain.

Soon, you’ll be unstoppable.

You Already Know How to Achieve Success as a Writer;

You Already Know How to Achieve Success as a Writer

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The Power of Short Stories: Crafting Compelling Narratives in Limited Space

By Eamon on

Short stories are everywhere. When you think about great stories you think about novels, about best-selling series.

But short stories are a huge part of literature.

This is because many writers begin with writing short stories and get better at telling stories over time so by the time the same writer has published a few novels the short stories they create are absolutely phenomenal.

Also, you have writers who just stuck with the short story and did an awesome job.

I’m talking about the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.

I write horror short stories so these two writers have been a massive inspiration for my writing.

Short stories are oddly perceived. Because short stories are so limited in size there is a misconception that writing short stories is easy, as there is less to write.

I wouldn’t say any writing is easy. The short story format has unique challenges and opportunities like any form of writing.

In the words that follow I will show you the importance of the short story and tips and tricks for writing your own.

The Art of Short Story Writing

A short story is a piece of prose fiction that can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained story that often intends to evoke a single effect or mood.

So the short story is a limited prose that elicits a response from the reader.

The emotions you want to evoke in the reader are largely dictated by the genre of writing, and each genre has its own conventions.

The most efficient short stories are focused on brevity, conciseness, and economy of language. A compacted compact version of a story.

Impactful Elements of Short Stories

There are various tools short story writers use to elicit certain emotions from the reader.

Having a strong hook or opening to your short story is absolutely critical for the effectiveness of your story. With novels, readers are willing to give the book a few pages before deciding whether to put it down or keep reading, in short stories we don’t have this luxury.

A typical short story is between one and five pages in length.

This means you have an extremely limited time to grab the reader’s attention, this is where the hook is used.

Another efficient tool in a good short story is well-developed characters.

There are few things more annoying in any story than characters that don’t make sense.

A short story is a challenge in this way because the limited word count means you can only spend. so much time within a character’s head this is why you must develop your characters well in all of your short stories.

Lastly, a good short story will have a compelling resolution or twist.

The power of a short story is the emotions you feel after reading an absolutely awesome ending.

This feeling is such a magical thing.

To experience this emotion best I would recommend “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson an absolute masterpiece in terms of short fiction.

A compelling ending to your story will leave a lasting impression on people.

There’s a famous quote that I believe is from Maya Angelou that goes great with what I’m saying here;

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

Tips for Crafting Impactful Short Narratives

Short stories, despite their brevity, have the power to leave a lasting impact. Let’s delve into practical tips for crafting short narratives that captivate and resonate with readers.

Alright, this post could be 20 minutes long but I’m just gonna rapid-fire with dotpoints to save your time.

Here we go.

Start Strong: Crafting Compelling Beginnings

In the realm of short stories, the opening lines serve as a gateway into a confined world. There are a few ways you can start the reader off in your world;

  • In Medias Res: Plunge readers into the midst of action or a pivotal moment.
  • Intriguing Questions: Pose questions that compel readers to seek answers.
  • Vivid Imagery: Paint a vivid scene that sparks curiosity and draws readers in.

For example;

  • It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. — George Orwell, 1984
  • The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door… — Frederic Brown, Knock
  • For sale: baby shoes, never worn. — Often attributed to Ernest Hemingway

Develop Characters Efficiently

Crafting characters in short stories requires precision and impact. Employ strategies such as:

  • Distinctive Traits: Highlight a few key traits that define the character.
  • Show, Don’t Tell: Use actions and dialogue to reveal character qualities.
  • Reader Imagination: Leave room for readers to fill in some character details.

You must strike a delicate balance between depth and brevity for your characters;

  • Key Moments: Showcase character depth through significant moments.
  • Symbolic Details: Use symbolic details that convey layers of meaning.
  • Character Arc: If possible, hint at or imply a character arc within the limited narrative space.

Focus on a Central Theme or Message

Short stories thrive on clarity and purpose. Ensure your narrative revolves around a clear theme:

  • Identify Core Ideas: Pinpoint the central idea or emotion you want to convey.
  • Consistency: Ensure every element in your story serves the central theme.
  • Avoid Overloading: Resist the temptation to incorporate too many themes.

Effective short stories convey profound messages without unnecessary embellishment:

  • Subtext: Use subtext and implied meanings for a nuanced approach.
  • Symbolism: Employ symbolism to convey complex ideas in a condensed form.
  • Economy of Words: Choose words wisely, conveying more with fewer words.

Build Tension and Resolution

Master the art of building tension within a confined word limit;

  • Pacing: Control the pacing to escalate suspense and anticipation.
  • Conflict: Introduce and escalate conflicts swiftly but effectively.
  • Uncertainty: Keep readers guessing by introducing elements of uncertainty.

Concluding a short story requires finesse:

  • Closure: Provide closure by resolving key plot points.
  • Open-Ended: Alternatively, leave room for reader interpretation and contemplation.
  • Revisit Themes: Reinforce the central theme in the resolution for resonance.

Be sure to experiment, refine, and let each word contribute to the potency of your narrative.

Short stories, with their brevity, hold the potential for immense impact — make every word count.

In Conclusion

Mastering the art of short story writing is akin to honing a finely crafted skill set. This mastery brings forth several invaluable benefits such as sharpened craftsmanship, enhanced creativity, and impactful storytelling.

In the intricate dance of crafting short stories, every writer becomes a storyteller, weaving tales that resonate in the hearts of readers.

As you embark on your short story adventures, may your narratives be rich, your characters vibrant, and your impact everlasting.

Happy writing, storytellers!

You will enjoy this post about how reading can benefit your writing;

Reading and Writing: Developing Your Craft Through Books

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Staying Inspired: Drawing Creativity from Unlikely Sources

By Eamon on

Inspiration and the act of being inspired come from the Latin word ‘inspiratus’, which essentially means ‘breath into’.

The word inspiration initially referred to the influence of a divine entity on a person. The word has come to mean the influence of a person on the world.

To breathe life into your work you NEED to be inspired.

The act of being inspired by something is made to look like a eureka moment for brilliant minds. Becoming inspired is really a daily process of observation and reflection.

That’s why it doesn’t take a God to breathe life into your writing but just you and the things you observe.

Creativity through inspiration is everywhere. You need only look at a conversation between two people to see a million intricacies about human interactions and the way people navigate encounters with each other.

Inspiration is EVERYWHERE you just need to know where to look.

Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life

The key to consistent inspiration is the keen use of observation and awareness.

Observation and Awareness

You need to be conscious enough to register what you are seeing in a meaningful way, this is how you observe.

The second step is to reflect and acknowledge what you are observing truly means to you, this is awareness.

Observation and Awareness are the 2 key forces for successfully being inspired by your menial daily tasks.

The first way you can use this frame of mind is to be mindful of your surroundings. This doesn’t mean being aware that your surroundings are around you, but rather knowing how your environment shapes what you acknowledge about it, it’s looking past the veil our brain puts over our eyes to mitigate overwhelm.

To be inspired is to notice the beauty and intricacies of the ordinary.

When you truly acknowledge things you take for granted you understand that there is a purposeful approach to why this thing is the way it is.

A great example is if you study animals. Every single creature you encounter daily, down to the most minute detail is DESIGNED to do what it does. Understanding this brings order to the chaos, and opens your eyes to the purposefullness of life itself.

Some call it God. I’m not so sure. But I do know, it’s definitely real.

Embracing Life Experiences

One of the most pertinent ways to write things that actually have meaning for people is by writing from your experience.

There is some sort of universal truth that when you write about what happened to you just clicks with large amounts of people.

That’s all stories really. Just ways people distill their experience into a capsule by which others can experience the same thing.

This makes writing for life experience such a powerful means to fuel creative ideas.

So, if you want to connect with people through your writing, if you want to breathe life into other people to get them inspired, write from your truth, from what you experience.

If you do that, inspiration will flow through you in bucket loads.

Even the most mundane of moments can be turned into sources of inspiration.

If you can find the human truth, the purposefulness in your current experience, you can write novels and novels just from this feeling, this truth.

Finding inspiration is the act of uncovering the truth.

Drawing Creativity From Unexpected Places

The real meat and potatoes of this post is to tell you that inspiration is EVERYWHERE, especially in the places you wouldn’t think to look.

Unconventional Sources

The fact about the trivial is that you think you know what that thing means.

Your daily routine to get to work is trivial to you because you do it so many times that you think you know why you do it.

You don’t.

The reasons people do anything are beyond even the wisest scholar. There are thousands of influencing factors, tainted by countless cognitive biases, and understanding why humans do anything they do becomes an educated guess.

However.

You get to make that guess.

You see finding inspiration in the trivial is spinning the truth to fit a certain viewpoint. It’s looking at the meaningless and creating meaning which is what creativity is!

This is why I recommend that you explore hobbies, interests, and activities outside of your writing, this allows you to be constantly doing something, which means you are constantly acting a truth.

If you are constantly acting your truth, and discovering truth is the key to inspiration, no surprise doing more things will lead to more inspiration.

Similarly, consuming art does the same thing. When you truly observe and acknowledge music, visual arts, or even science what you are doing is finding the truth that the creator envisioned.

Compiling the way others see truth gives critical information to formulating your own, this is of course creativity in work.

Travel and Exploration

New environments are the base of creative breakthroughs.

Changing your regular surroundings to something less than familiar lets your brain work in weird ways.

A change of scenery exposes you to new ways of thinking which will no doubt stimulate creativity.

The problem is that an experience is always in the present so it’s hard to keep the mental shift with you, this is why you should document your travel experiences.

Documenting your experiences in general is an excellent way of sustaining your truth.

This journal of past experiences will act as the same thing as being in this situation, therefore you can grab that inspiration from your holiday in Japan in the comfort of your own home.

Get your brain in different scenarios, and you are guaranteed to find inspiration.

The Power of Reflection To Get Inspired

Reflection is a key skill we must develop here to attain sustained inspiration.

Remember our two keys to inspiration?

Observation and Awareness

Regularly recording and reflecting on your experiences acts as both observation and awareness.

This unlocks an inspiration-triggering machine.

The more you experience, the more you record, the more you record the more you observe, the more you observe the more aware you will be of your experience.

This positive feedback loop will certainly skyrocket your inspiration.

Journalling and Mind Mapping

Ever had a fleeting thought or observed something intriguing during your day?

These moments, no matter how small, can become seeds for brilliant ideas.

Journaling is the art of capturing these thoughts on paper. It could be a pocket-sized notebook or a digital journal—whatever suits your style. By jotting down your observations, you create a reservoir of potential inspiration for your writing.

Another way of journalling is creating links between your experiences.

Enter the realm of mind mapping.

Take those scattered thoughts and connect them visually.

Mind maps are an excellent way to explore the relationships between seemingly unrelated concepts. As you map out your ideas, you might discover unique intersections that spark creativity. It’s a dynamic technique to unearth hidden connections and bring depth to your writing.

Learning From Challenges

Challenges are inevitable, but their role in your creative journey is transformative.

Instead of viewing setbacks as roadblocks, consider them as opportunities for growth.

Journal about the challenges you face in your writing. What did you learn? How can you use this newfound knowledge to enhance your craft?

Turning adversity into an opportunity for improvement is a hallmark of resilient and creative writers.

Creativity often thrives in the unexpected.

Embrace the twists and turns that life throws at you.

Did a project not go as planned? Did you face a writing block? These unexpected moments can be catalysts for fresh ideas.

Reflect on these experiences in your journal, exploring how they pushed you outside your comfort zone and spurred new creative paths.

Journalling like this is almost guaranteed to change your writing for the better in one way or another.

In Conclusion . . .

We’ve uncovered various strategies to keep those creative flames burning.

From observing the ordinary to exploring the extraordinary, journaling, mind mapping, learning from challenges, and embracing setbacks as opportunities—each tactic contributes to our toolbox of inspiration.

Inspiration surrounds us, often in the most unexpected places.

The challenge lies in actively seeking it.

Writers, take a proactive approach. Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, find beauty in the mundane, and embrace the unexpected. Creativity is a treasure hunt, and the gems are waiting to be discovered in your everyday experiences.

Remember, the pursuit of inspiration is not a one-time quest but an ongoing journey.

It’s a continuous process of discovery and rediscovery.

As a writer, every experience, every observation, and every challenge contributes to your creative reservoir. Embrace the notion that inspiration and truth are not confined to grand moments; it’s woven into the fabric of your daily life.

In your writing journey, let reflection be your compass, guiding you through the nuances of creativity.

With a journal in hand, an open mind, and a willingness to learn from challenges, you’re equipped to navigate the vast landscape of inspiration.

So, writers, go forth, seek, reflect, and let the endless well of creativity flow through your words. Happy writing!

Check out this post if you enjoyed it’s about The Compound Effect and how it will kickstart your success as a writer;

The Little Things Writing — The Compound Effect

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