Category: Writing – General

Tap Into Your Dreams to Inspire Your Writing

Our dreams are fertile ground for writing inspiration, providing a wellspring of settings, characters, emotions, symbols, and storylines. Keeping a dream journal and practicing lucid dreaming techniques can help writers harness the creative power of their subconscious.

Analyze your dreamscapes and extract compelling elements to weave into your writing. Turn a recurring dream figure into a complex character by giving them a name, backstory, motivations. Reimagine a dream landscape as an exotic fictional setting. Explore a dream theme more deeply through the lens of poetry or magical realism.

Vivid dreams often connect back to what already preoccupies our waking thoughts and emotions. A dream about getting lost in a forest may represent feeling directionless in a current project. Recurring nightmares of being stuck in traffic could indicate frustrations over something moving too slowly. Interpreting these symbols and metaphors can provide insights to inject more authenticity into your writing.

Some authors have credited entire books to inspiration derived from a single vivid dream, like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Keep a notebook and pen next to your bed to capture your most memorable nocturnal adventures before they fade away. Upon waking, jot down any impressions, dialogues, sensations or symbols you can recall. These snippets often unfurl into full stories or poems when explored creatively.

With practice, you can even take charge of your dream narratives using lucid dreaming techniques. As you become aware that you’re dreaming, redirect the plot to a scene that supports your current writing goals. Adventure through wondrous dreamscapes and consciously plant inspiration that your subconscious will later uncork.

Our minds are at their most uninhibited and creative while dreaming. Learning to remember, record and interpret your dreams provides a wellspring of original inspiration. Now excuse me while I take my own advice and go dream up my next story!

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Use Music to Inspire Your Writing

Every writer knows the struggle of summoning the motivation and imagination needed to make words flow onto the page. Sometimes, our muse needs a little ignition to get the creative juices pumping. One powerful way to inspire focused, emotive writing is through music.

Turning on some tunes that awaken your imagination can work wonders when writer’s block strikes. Upbeat songs provide energy and drive to power through difficult projects. Melancholic melodies summon pensiveness and sensitivity needed for heartfelt scenes. Your own personalized playlists can become a vital part of your writing ritual.

In addition to setting the mood, attentive listening to music unlocks new depths of inspiration. Analyze song lyrics for ways to convey themes more poetically in your prose. Study how musicians build tension and interest with their instruments. Allow the emotions of a chorus to unlock hidden feelings in your characters.

You can even match musical genres to different writing styles. Classical music promotes fluid, elegant passages. Punk drums up gritty, visceral action scenes. Try writing a setting while listening to music native to that location, like Argentinian tango for a Buenos Aires backdrop.

While writing, music provides a productivity-boosting cadence to match the rhythm of your typing or scribbling. Let the melodies and beats flow through you into the language. But for editing sessions, opt for instrumental-only tunes — lyrics can be too distracting when you require focus.

Build playlists that speak to the tone and themes of your current projects. Are you writing a steamy romance? Queue up some sultry R&B. Drafting a spooky thriller? Assemble eerie, atmospheric movie soundtrack hits. Treat your writing like the sensorial experience it is by letting music infuse your creative process.

Don’t feel confined to traditional genres either. Follow your distinctive musical tastes.

What are some of your favorite tunes, artists, or playlists for writing? Share your top musical inspiration hacks below!

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Elevate Your Descriptive Writing: Crafting Vivid Sensory Details

The key to immersive, transportive writing is top-notch descriptive skills that allow readers to fully visualize and experience each moment. Descriptive prose engages the senses to make settings, characters, and moments come alive. But taking your descriptive writing to the next level requires finesse and precision. Follow these tips to write rich, vivid sensory details.

Choose Strong Verbs and Adjectives

Reach for specific, impactful verbs and adjectives that convey clear sensations and qualities. “Sprinted” packs more punch than “went.” “Glistening” creates a distinct visual rather than “shiny.” Precision descriptors place readers in the scene. Avoid generic terms when more exact words exist.

Use Metaphors and Analogies

Crafting apt metaphors and smart comparisons elevates descriptions. For example: “The moonlight reflected on the water like a shining path of diamonds.” Metaphors make writing more vivid and memorable through unexpected associations.

Activate All Five Senses

The most immersive descriptions incorporate more than just the visual. Include details of smells, sounds, tastes, and textures. Allow readers to fully experience a scene through the protagonist’s senses. Sensory variety paints a multilayered mental picture.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Allow well-chosen descriptors to demonstrate a quality rather than bluntly stating it. For example, show a character’s exhaustion through drooping eyes and sluggish gestures rather than outright saying “she was tired.” This makes the writing more dynamic.

Use Descriptors Judiciously

Adverb and adjective overload leeches power from writing. Be selective about which details to include. Crafting one or two vivid descriptors is better than cramming in generic adjectives. Precision beats quantity.

Polishing your descriptive writing skills takes time, but applying these tips will take your prose to the next level. Immerse readers by engaging their senses and abilities to visualize each moment. Vivid details invite them into the story’s world. What descriptive writing tactics do you find most effective? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Our Final Days Now on Patreon

I’m excited to announce that my zombie apocalypse serial, Our Final Days, is coming to Patreon! Starting today, I’ll be posting a new episode daily (on weekdays) until all 11 of the first episodes are available.

After that, new episodes will release first on Patreon 2 weeks before they become available to read on Vella. This means Patreon members get exclusive early access to new chapters of Our Final Days before anyone else!

If you want to dive deeper into the story and stay ahead of each new terrifying chapter, now is the time to pledge!

PATREON

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The Art of Blackout Poetry

Blackout poetry is a unique literary artform that creates new poems and meaning from existing texts. The concept is straightforward – take any text, whether an old novel, magazine, or even road sign, and redact words with a black marker. What remains becomes a found poem distilled from the source material.

Part of blackout poetry’s appeal is how it lets anyone find poetry in unexpected places. You don’t have to be a talented wordsmith to craft a blackout poem. Simply scan a text, manually blacking out words or using digital tools, until only an interesting poem remains. The selected words present themselves in new, surprising arrangements.

Blackout poetry is also a powerful critical thinking exercise. It pushes readers to closely analyze a text to determine which words carry the most meaning. By redacting language, you reveal the hidden poetical essence buried in the original. The remaining poem may convey a very different tone or perspective than the full text intended.

Educators often use blackout techniques to engage students with analyzing literature. Students can create their own blackout poems from classic texts as a playful way to distill themes and literary devices. The hands-on process sticks with them better than standard annotation or explication.

Blackout poetry is endlessly variable. You can create erased poems from a single page or passage. Or ambitiously redact entire novels, newspaper archives, or other collected works. This variability keeps the practice fresh and challenging.

If you want to experiment with this compelling poetic form, simply grab a text meaningful to you. Scan for words and phrases that jump out, tell a story, or convey emotion. Blackout the rest, and shape what remains into a found poem.

Did’ja know that I’m on Patreon? Check out the benefits you get by joining the inner circle…

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Blackout Poetry from Soul Sister

Occasionally, I’m going to share projects that I’ve been given by students who’ve studied my books. I’m going to leave the poet anonymous as this was schoolwork. 🙂

Blackout poetry is a creative literary form where writers take an existing text and selectively redact words, bringing forth poignant new poems from the underlying work. This artform has become popular in classrooms as a way for students to engage with literature in an imaginative, hands-on manner.

Earlier this year, a student at Wakapa Academy here in Buhl crafted a blackout poem by reinterpreting passages from my novel, Soul Sister. 

As an author, I’m always humbled to see my writing used as raw material for another’s artistic expression. The student’s blackout poem is a reminder that storytelling is collaborative. While I put my vision down on paper, readers complete a book by bringing their perspectives and finding personal meaning. This interplay further validates writing as a powerful tool for human connection.

 I hope their example will inspire other young readers to experiment with blackout poetry using my writing or any fiction they deeply enjoy.

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A New Chapter: Relaunching My Patreon and Inviting You to the Inner Circle

You may remember that I’ve had a Patreon page for a while. Well, I’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, and it’s time for a grand relaunch! My Patreon is not just getting a facelift; it’s evolving into something magical, something that allows us to connect on a whole new level. The Inner Circle.

Why a Relaunch?

The truth is, I’ve been neglecting Patreon, and the world of storytelling is as expansive as the universes I create in my novels, and Patreon can be a sanctuary for us to explore these universes together. I wanted to offer you something that’s not just exclusive but also deeply personal and enriching.

What’s New: Enter the Inner Circle

The Inner Circle is not just a name; it’s a promise of intimacy and exclusivity. As a member, you’re not just a fan; you’re a treasured collaborator on this incredible journey of storytelling. Here’s a sneak peek of what awaits you:

Tiered Rewards

From the Circle Initiate to the exalted Circle Archon, each tier offers a cascade of exciting benefits. Imagine receiving a free eBook each month or an autographed paperback delivered right to your doorstep.

Discord Community

I’m also offering a private Discord server, another extension of the Inner Circle. This will be a vibrant space for discussing your favorite characters, plot twists, and even getting writing advice directly from me.

More than Just Books

Your support goes beyond the pages and even the screen. It fuels a creative journey that I couldn’t embark upon without you. That’s why I’m committed to offering more than just books. Expect behind-the-scenes access, writing tips, and answers to all your burning questions about writing and self-publishing.

How You Can Join

Becoming a part of the Inner Circle is as simple as heading over to my Patreon page and choosing a tier that resonates with you. No contribution is too small, and every bit of support is a cornerstone in this community we’re building together.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Your presence, whether as a reader, a follower, or a patron, is the magic that makes my storytelling journey possible. With this relaunch, I’m inviting you to step closer into this world we’re creating together.

Thank you for being a part of this adventure. I can’t wait to see where this new chapter takes us.

https://patreon.com/gswright

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Fever Dream

Part 1 of some free interactive storytelling:

Warning to the listener: There should be no lyrics! If you hear her singing, it is already too late. DO NOT LISTEN FOR LYRICS!

I should probably warn you… Elysia Noctura… well… she gets into your head. There’s an urban legend, you see, that if you listen to this album as you fall asleep, she’ll visit you. And if… just if… you dream of her singing along to her songs – IF YOU HEAR HER LYRICS – each night you will dream that you’re in one of her songs, until finally you’ll join her macabre marionettes upon their velvet chains, joining them in their dance forever.

But never mind all that, it’s just another creepypasta, right? Another urban legend. There’s no truth to such things…

But it’s probably a good idea to share it, share it everywhere, just in case. That always breaks the curse…

Right?

Go back

Your message has been sent

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Writing Challenges

Are you looking for a way to boost your writing productivity and improve your craft? One idea to consider is taking on daily or monthly writing challenges.

Daily writing challenges can be a great way to build momentum and establish a consistent writing habit. For example, you might set a daily word count goal and write every day until you reach it. Or, you might set aside a specific time each day for writing, such as first thing in the morning or the last hour before bed.

Monthly writing challenges can be a longer-term way to focus on a specific writing goal. For example, you might commit to writing a certain number of words or pages each month, or you might set a goal to finish a specific writing project by the end of the month.

Some other ideas for daily or monthly writing challenges might include:

  • Writing prompts: Choose a writing prompt every day or week and use it to inspire your writing.
  • Creative writing: Write a short story, poem, or other creative piece every day or week.
  • Personal essays: Write a personal essay every week or month, sharing your thoughts and experiences as a writer.
  • Book reviews: Read a book every week or month and write a review of it.
  • Writing resources: Share writing resources that you’ve found helpful, such as writing software, websites, or books.

No matter what type of writing challenge you choose, it’s important to be kind to yourself and remember that the goal is to have fun and improve your craft, not to be perfect.

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Writing in 2021 – Week 2 Update

Two weeks have already gone by in January. So, what have I done?! Let me tell you!!!!

First the ‘Meh…” My goal is to hit 10k words of writing a day. I am not there. Right now I’m averaging 3,227 words a day for the year. Which isn’t bad… my worst day this week was only 461 words, and my best was 4,403 words.

What’s holding me back? Editing, cover design, and publishing. That’s not really a big deal, then, because if anything’s killing my word count, it should be releasing books.

Which brings me to this week’s positives. I released three books this week. One was my new horror novel, The Devils of Dedlan Peak. Working on this book gave me the low word counts as I spent some time revising and designing. I also released one book under another pen name and a 3-book bundle for that same author.

So, not a bad week. Not the words I was looking for, but I’m not disappointed over all.

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