Category: Blog

As I have described in previous blog posts, I have an extremist personality. This is especially reflective in my journaling journey (that’s a fun tongue twister). Sometimes, I would be able to fill a 100 page composition notebook in a week flat. Other times, I would drag through a small, 80 page notebook for months on end. Though it has been an on and off battle, with my younger self trashing a variety of half finished journals, it has been a rewarding experience. While there are many benefits to journaling, today, I am specifically going to discuss the six ways it has affected my creative writing.

1. Characterization

As the saying goes, reality tends to be weirder than fiction. In your journals, you will describe numerous people who have the potential to be transformed into engaging characters. Take the foundation of the person, may it be their appearance, actions, or the general emotion they exude, and fill in the rest of the blanks yourself to fit your story. When my written works are more plot driven, it is extremely beneficial to have these real life character “templates” as inspiration.

2. Writing from the 1st Person

I naturally write from the first person. That’s why I enjoy blogging and making YouTube videos so much. However, I know writing from the first person is not everyone’s strong suit.

Especially if your stories are more plot driven, it can be difficult to get into the mindset of a character and truly live through them. Journaling aids in this dilemma, allowing you to observe and understand someone’s perspective, motives, and growth, even if it is your own.

You would think writing about your own life would be easier than writing about a fictional person’s life, but you are surprisingly wrong. People find it most difficult to truly know themselves, and to realistically analyze and observe their actions and feelings. Once you have lived through your period of self development and discovery, it is easier to go over it again through your story and character, since you are already familiar with the process and its end result.

3. Writing Practice

If you are already good at characterization and writing from the first person, then use journaling as a general way to practice writing. Journaling is a calm way to flex your writing muscles without straining them through extreme formality. If you are ready to make the jump, I would recommend starting a blog, which is like having a public journal.

4. Retain Life Experiences

Direct experience supplies you with the most powerful form of knowledge. I discussed this in a previous blog, titled “Experiencing Life as an Author”, and am going to expand upon the ideas mentioned there here.

Without my past journals as reference, I would have been at a lost to how I felt in past moments highlighted in my memoir style poetry collection, “My Heart’s Metamorphosis”.

If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming collection or my in progress science fiction novel, then click on my website’s tab titled “Published Works”.

Also, if you ever become famous, how will someone write your biography without these precious daily entries of your oh so fabulous life?

5. Brainstorming

Meditating and journaling are similar in the sense that they both clear your mind. One directs you away from your thoughts while the other drains you of them. Personally, it easier for me to put everything out in the open instead of just letting it pass by. Of course, both methods are very effective, and I highly recommend implementing them both.

By clearing your mind through journaling, you become more open to light bulb moments and expansive new ideas that filter directly onto the page after you finish writing about your day.

6. Reveals your Core as an Author

What you choose to write in your journal shows the prominent or valued parts of your life. This can give you a sense of your identity as an author and what types of themes or ideas you wish to explore through written fiction.

If you tend to write love letters to your crushes or muse over interactions with that attractive person of interest, then you may want to write fictional romance and giving people the same love based experience you desire. It may not be a sure fire way to discover you to your writing nitch, but it can still point you in the right direction and allow you to think critically of what you enjoy writing.

Conclusion

Journaling is its own unique art form, one which should be implemented by everyone, whether you are an author or not. Nonetheless, the act of keeping a journal has some rather specific appeals to us writerly folk. I hope these tips aid you in your craft. Please comment down below your own thoughts on journaling, and how it has affected you as a writer!

 

Introduction

This is a bit off topic from my usual work. However, it was something I needed to write down, more for myself than anything. I still include some “adulting tips” for writing, since that is a career path I wish to pursue.

I may have specified that this is how to “adult”, but, even if you are not an adult, these are handy things to know for now and the future.

Clothing

1. Iron anything that isn’t polyester, and especially if it is a dress shirt.
2. Separating dark colored clothing from light colored clothing is annoying but beneficial.
3. Wear what you want, but remember that even though this shouldn’t be the case, you will be judged by it.
4. Trying to dress younger usually makes you look older.
5. What clothes you wear on a daily basis should not be a costume hiding who you truly are.
6. Jumpsuits are a great way to dress nice and quickly.

General

1. Living under your means and having extra money to spend on other things is better than living at your means and being unprepared for a sudden financial need.
2. Insurance is really, really expensive.
3. One impulse can set you onto an entirely new course with no going back.
4. It is better to try and fail than to live in complacency. Might as well go out bold and proud!
5. Not everything is as big of a deal as you make it out to be, especially when it comes to social interactions. Be confident and take a chance. It may be uncomfortable now, but your future self will thank you for it.
6. Budgeting is your best friend. It helps balance short term desires with long terms ones.
7. BE PATIENT!
8. Don’t force something at the wrong time or with the wrong person. Put your intentions out there, do as many steps as you can in the present, and then trust in the future to bring you what you want.
9. Don’t let your memories be downcasted by anxiety. Most of the time, what we worry about is not that important in the grand scheme of things.

10. There are no set rules to life.

Writing

1. Stick with your project. Even if you take a break from it, always come back to it. If you can’t persevere through the process, how will you be able to get anything published?
2. The first time you share your writing is always difficult. Avoid the urge to automatically delete your first social media post, or to dely setting up a writing based online account. Do it quickly and efficiently, like peeling a band aid off.
3. Keep yourself on track and focused by telling your followers your goals and intentions. It keeps you in check, builds up your confidence, and keeps your audience engaged.
4. Don’t take on too much at once. Slowly build up your content and don’t be too hard on yourself.
5. Most importantly, don’t make simple spelling or punctuation errors within your posts! It looks very unprofessional.

Before I begin discussing the main topic, I just wanted to apologize for not uploading a blog post this weekend. Since I was busied with other obligations, I had to push it back to Monday. Still, I hope you enjoy the post.

It is an age old stereotype; a highly introverted writer, cooped up in their room, pounding words onto a keyboard for hours at end. If they are not busying themselves with their fictional or nonfiction work, then they are most likely scrolling through social media or watching TV. Of course, not all writers fit such a stereotype, but, from what I have seen of this community, many are an alarmingly close match. I tend to fulfill such a role myself.

The problem many of us run into, especially if you are new writer like me, is a lack of potency, or realness, to our descriptions, plots, and characters. This is not merely due to a limiting vocabulary or a lack of creativity. Instead, it falls mostly on a lack of experience. Not writing experience, but life experience.

I originally heard about this concept through a YouTube video Jenna Moreci made which was dedicated to new writers. Ever since then, I have pondered the idea in the back of my mind.

It makes sense. How can you write a thrilling, romance novelette without having been in a romantic relationship? How can you write about a powerful friendship when you have not had one? I feel like if you can experience it, you should try to. Of course, some things in fiction are unrealistic or even harmful to go out and try to experience, but you should still attempt to research them.

The act of valuing life experience for writing especially hit home for me when I went on a recent vacation which involved scalloping. I had never done such a thing before, and, without the experience, the entire event would have been indescribable.

Before, I never knew what if felt like to jump off a boat and submerge oneself into the murky brown ocean, to hover above the surface with a snorkel, to dive down into the grassy and sandy plains as you retrieve a scallop, its mouth slightly agape with blue eyes.

It would never have crossed my mind to write a short story surrounding the experience, to write a blog post highlighting the event of shooting across the ocean on a boat, with bubbling water swirling around the engines like a fan turned on at high speed.

By opening myself up to new life experiences, I have unlocked newfound knowledge which will serve me well as I continue to embark on my career as an author. Do not let the fear of leaving your comfort zone or of not being a “productive writer” hold you back. Writing is a passion and a major part of your life, but it is not solely your life. After all, if your life only encompassed writing, what would you write about?

I already shared some thoughts about this topic through my YouTube channel. However, I had to simplify things while discussing it there due to time restrains.

Now, I can explain more thoroughly the steps I took to get out of this slump.

The reason I am calling this a “writing slump” instead of “writer’s block” is because I was fully capable of writing. My brain is rarely stagnant of thought and creativity (which poses more problems than you think).

Still, this does not make me super-woman. I frequently experience burnouts, and, most of the time, I just don’t feel like writing. What usually causes my lack of passion towards the craft is my fear of not meeting expectations.

I am an all or nothing person. If I cannot write 24/7, 365 days a year, then why bother? I am never going to be truly productive anyway.

I know this thought process sounds irrational read aloud, but, inside my brain, it made perfect sense.

Recently, I have taken a step back and reflected on this philosophy, and realized that my constant need to be at extremes is not healthy. It was hard too admit, but eventually, I came to terms with the fact that I needed to find balance in my life.

Instead of focusing on all the things I shouldn’t do, such as to never watch TV or even glance at the YouTube home screen again, I decided to focus solely on what I wanted to accomplish during the day. I decided that as long as I set realistic goals and worked hard towards them, I could do whatever leisurely or ‘unproductive’ activity my heart desired.

Of course, keep in mind I am not working through any bad habits at the moment, so if you are focusing on changing such things, then I would not recommend directly implementing my advice. This is just what works for me. Nonetheless, I still feel like you should try shifting towards a more positive mindset, focusing on what you are capable of instead of what you are unable to do.

But, if you are in a similar situation and experiencing your own ‘writing slump’, then an app I would recommend to aid you during this venture is “Habiticia”. It is available through your phone.

The app operates similarly to a video game, having you level up with the more tasks you complete, and having your health deteriorate with the more tasks you fail to finish.

There are three different types of tasks. One type are the “Dailies”, which I use the most. “Dailies” are tasks you repeatedly have to do on a set schedule, may that be daily or weekly. Next are “Habits”. These tasks are given a positive and negative sign you can press throughout the day depending on the condition of your habit. Finally, there are the classic “To Do’s”, which are pretty self explanatory.

Overall, the reason for someone falling into a writing slump is very personal. I am merely sharing my experience.

I hope you found my advice helpful or at least entertaining to read. I will upload another blog post about my writing journey this weekend.