Introducing…The Secondhand Inspiration Project!

What is The Secondhand Inspiration Project?

It’s a new mission I’ve developed over on Medium. Periodically, I pull together a post that starts with a motivational quote and goes wherever my musings lead. The idea was born out of my obsession with inspirational quotes and self-help books. This, mixed with a need to sometimes use prompts for my daily writing practice, sparked this initiative.

I already have several entries at Medium for The Secondhand Inspiration Project. My goal is to post some links to catch everyone up on this relatively new pet project. From there, I’ll be sure to update this blog after every new entry.

The first entry of The Secondhand Inspiration Project, Go Farther, was based on a famous quote by Wayne Dyer: "It's never crowded along the extra mile." Check out this post and just maybe it will provide you with a little secondhand inspiration.

https://medium.com/@adrianpotter/go-further-a7413df120a4?source=friends_link&sk=fbf834d3db736379c3c4c5ff057bec48

5 Quick Daily Writing Exercises You Can Practice

It’s not unreasonable to say that the number one problem most writers have is that they just don’t write enough. Writing, even professionally, is often treated as a side venture, or something that is inherently doable at a moment’s notice. The truth though is that it’s a skill, and like any other skill it must be practiced and nurtured to be its best. In other words, anyone fancying him or herself a writer needs to find a good excuse to write creatively and/or intellectually every single day. ‘'

Because of this, there’s actually a fairly strong market of prompt and exercise books aimed at writers. The thinking is that if you simply have an idea in front of you, you won’t have trouble putting pen to paper. As helpful as these books can be though, they’re not strictly necessary. With a little creativity you can come up with some daily exercises of your own, and help to ensure that you get at least a little bit of practice in every day.

A few ideas to get you started….

1. Just Write Titles

Sometimes you just don’t feel like you can get the words down to do anything substantial, and while some writers contend that you need to force through those times, there are other solutions as well. One is to simply write titles of things you’d like to write. It’s simple and quick enough that you can turn it into a daily exercise, even if that means just 10 or 15 titles a day - be they for stories, books, essays, or even films or songs. It’s not a robust writing exercise by any means, but it does activate that part of your brain, and it can give you some ideas of things to work on.

2. Go For A Jog, Write About It After

Writing just about a jog isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but if you go running outside chances are you’ll see other people out, pass by interesting places, or even see animals or other elements of nature that intrigue you. These are the kinds of things that can inspire any writer, and it’s a worthwhile idea to practice your observational skills anyway. Throw in the fact that exercise can chemically stimulate creativity as well, and it’s actually an excellent way to put yourself in a writing mindset. A quick jog and then a series of stories or vignettes about the things you observed while out can be an excellent daily, or at least near-daily activity.

3. Play Daily Fantasy, & Write Up Recaps

This is an idea that will make sense to a lot of people who play fantasy sports, because some of the leading sites have started writing automated recaps of contests. You can turn this into your own exercise by turning to daily fantasy, which involves a range of contest styles but more importantly runs every day. That means with each and every night you can have a contest to recap creatively, the way a sportswriter might do it. It seems somewhat random, but the idea is to have something fresh to discuss and shape into written thoughts on a daily basis. Plus, if you’re a sports fan at all, it’s quite a lot of fun to do.

4. Find Launch Points

One of the most common writing practices out there is to base your work off of somebody else’s (provided you’re not intending to sell that particular work of course). You might pick up a favorite book, open to a random chapter, record the first few sentences and then close it and continue the story your own way, for instance. That’s just one example, but wherever you can find these “launch points” for a story, you should give it a shot. At a certain point, repetition - the act of writing a story every day, no matter how small - is the best practice.

5. Try A Dream Journal

There’s a lot of pseudoscience behind remembering, analyzing, and recording dreams. You can try different ways of remembering your dreams though, and if any of them work you can simply start writing about your dreams in the morning. Waking up an extra 15 minutes early (easier said than done, of course) gives you time to write a few words about what you remember or what you think about it, or even to write a little story about it. This is a particularly fun exercise if you can make it work, because it’s almost like your own brain is feeding you prompts.

Really, it all comes down to creativity and resourcefulness. There are many ideas beyond these that can lead you to daily writing in a very effective way. Just be sure to keep that pen moving day in and day out, and you’ll become a better writer for it.

Fight Procrastination by "Chunking" Down Goals

The start of the new year is the season of big goals. And with these lofty expectations undoubtedly comes chances for procrastination to occur – especially with writing. “Chunking” down goals is a strategy I’ve used to dead procrastination in my creative life, especially with larger writing projects like manuscripts.

Achievers sometimes bite off more than they can chew. Procrastination is when you look at what's sitting on your plate and think: No way! It's too just big. I can't finish it.

I said plate figuratively, but let’s think about goals as if they are meals. Whenever you have too much to swallow, do what you’d do if you had ordered a large meal at a restaurant. Cut it up. Chop it into smaller portions. Eat it one small appetizing bite at a time, one manageable portion at a time. If needed, take some home to finish later - you don’t have to down the whole meal in one sitting, despite the peer pressure from others. But break that meal down to pieces you can handle.

Like that meal, take intimidating goals and slice them into smaller chunks. If you look at those portions and they still seem overwhelming, cut them into even smaller chunks. Keep going until you get to a bite-sized morsel where you think, "yes, I can finish that." Then just eat it one chunk at a time. And keep going until you've finished the whole thing.

When you have a project that seems too big and you’re tempted to procrastinate, break it down. Then attack it one bite at a time. Savor each piece and appreciate that portion of the larger meal (goal). Swallow and progress on to the next chunk.

In Defense of Laziness

Last week I didn’t do as much for my overall writing practice as I had planned. Not nearly enough freewriting, zero blog posts, just a bit of editing, and I only sent out a handful of submissions to journals. With all the pre-holiday hubbub, I wasn’t feeling a creative spark, so I decided not force it.

Society has sold us this concept that people should always be busy, and that when we’re not busy we should keep ourselves busy preparing for when we will be. We’re told inaction is inherently bad. We’re challenged to prove our worth, and worth is measured by how much we accomplish.

Overachieving employees and students are sleep-deprived workaholics (me included). We feel guilty when we say “no” to social outings & party invitations. We apologize when we can’t take phone calls or make meetings. We act like it’s bad if we sleep in or stay at home - unless we’re organizing or cleaning.

Bullshit. Laziness is okay at times. Often the problem isn’t that we don’t do enough. It’s that we do too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the right stuff.

Laziness is okay…in moderation, like everything in life. Inactivity can be our default mode. This is where we can remain, contemplating and resting, preparing our minds and energy until the right action becomes obvious. But be mindful of when the next move becomes apparent; cease being lazy and take that action so you don’t miss opportunities.

Just this morning I’ve already pre-written a few blog posts, edited a story I’ve been working on, did some freewriting, and sent out a submission. I am convinced this is because I took a little time to rest and “be lazy” in moderation. My mind has responded in kind, and now I’m poised to seize the opportunities in front of me.

It’s something to think about – maybe your next move shouldn’t be to force things just to keep up the appearance of staying busy. Perhaps you need a little time to be lazy to recover and get yourself back on track.

Free Time Calculator: Do You Really Have Time to Write?

If you're like many writers, you've probably convinced yourself that you don't have enough time. Whether it's finding time to send out submissions, edit your work-in-progress, set new writing goals, finish your novel or just about anything…we often give up before we even start because we believe it's just not possible to fit writing into our busy lives. 

Well, the interesting thing is, if you sit down and do the calculations, you'd be surprised at just how much time you really do have. 

To make it easier to figure out how much time you actually have to write, check out the Free Time Calculator at the link below. It's a simple, but effective, spreadsheet that will reveal the time you actually have to work on things you've been putting off - such as your writing. And it will help you identify the time blocks you can use to your benefit each day.

Quick Instructions:

1. Simply open the spreadsheet and you'll see all the days of the week across the top and then 60-minute time blocks on the side. These time blocks should start from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, so you may need to make adjustments. You can also switch to 30-minute increments to be more precise if you prefer.

2. In each time block, mark all the times you are busy. For example, include time at your job, exercise, family time, church, meal preparation and eating, commuting, etc. 

3. Then for open blocks, write in “1” for each hour block that you have free. If you switch to 30-minute blocks, enter “0.5”.

4. Once you've completed these steps, you'll see how much free time you have each day AND the total free time you have each week.

Of course, this calculation is just the first step in getting more done with your time and possibly reaching those writing goals you never thought you had time for. From here, you'll need to connect that time to the writing goals you want to achieve.

http://www76.zippyshare.com/v/qCoImh3d/file.html

So what does it mean to be a writer?

Lately, I’ve thought about what it means to be a writer. I’m a self-taught creative with a technical day job. I used to equate my worth as a writer to the number of publications my work appeared in. I felt as if I needed to legitimize myself in a world filled with accomplished MFAs.

Over time I have evolved – I’ve had work published in at least 200 periodicals, both in print and online, and won or placed in contests for both poetry and fiction. I know that I’m not a hack anymore. My work has faced off with some exceptional creative minds – sometimes winning, more often losing, but I’m sure my writing deserves the chance to compete. I’m not the most polished. I don’t have MFA connections or a book deal (yet). But I’m humbly certain my writing deserves the little bit of attention it steals from time to time.

With that manufactured confidence, my personal writing focus shifted from just getting work out there to crafting better writing on a daily basis. That transition has helped my growth, energy, quality, and work rate. Not to mention that spilling new ideas on paper is immensely more satisfying than obsessing over amassing empty publication credits.

All of this self-reflection fell in line with my thoughts as I read “What It Means to Be a Writer—and to Emerge as a Writer”—guest post by Albert Flynn DeSilver on Jane Friedman’s site. This article presents some unique insight on the term “emerging writer” and the transformation many writers experience as we hone our craft. It is a great read.

So what does being a writer mean to you?

https://www.janefriedman.com/what-it-means-to-be-writer/

21 Tips.

From the BookBaby Blog: 21 Tips to Beat Writer’s Block.

Some wonderful tactics that can be employed for when your motivation or ideas for writing dry up. #14 and #15 are standard protocol for me.

Link

Protect Yourself Against “Non Writing”

From Poets & Writers: Rita Mae Reese discusses how to fight off “non-writing,” which she likens to a virus. Interesting quick read.

http://www.pw.org/content/rita_mae_reese_2

About Writing Prompts.

In this interesting AWP article, Leslie Pietrzyk describes a group-oriented prompt-writing practice.

Link

Jumpstart Your Poetry Endeavors During National Poetry Month.

In case you don’t know….April is National Poetry Month (NPM). And no, that is not an April Fool’s Joke.

In fact, this April marks the 20th anniversary of NPM, which was initiated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, NPM has become a large literary celebration with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets all celebrating poetry’s place in society.

Many writers use National Poetry Month as a motivator to write more poetry. Below I list a number of sites that could help you infuse your poetry practice with new energy during NPM.

Some sites encourage writers to share the poems that the prompts help generate. I personally avoid that step, for two reasons. For one, something I freewrite in response to a daily prompt is not ready to be shared immediately. And second, (and I admit this might be a little paranoid) I want to protect the "unpublished" status of my work so I can freely submit it elsewhere in the future. That’s my two cents to consider.

And with that said, here are some potential sources for poetic inspiration during April:

Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge:

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-april-pad-challenge-guidelines

Shade 30FOR30 Poetry Prompt Challenge:

http://lutherxhughes.com/2016/03/28/30for30-poetry-prompt-challenge/

NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month):

http://www.napowrimo.net

thirty//thirty:

http://www.thirtythirty.org/

Poetry Super Highway Prompt-A-Day for National Poetry Month:

http://poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/a-poetry-writing-prompt-a-day/ 

Poetry Writing Workshops from Mslexia:

https://mslexia.co.uk/workshop/poetry-writing-workshops/ 

(Note: This is from a previous year. I don't know if new prompts will be offered in 2016, but the archive is a resource itself.)

30/30 Prompts at Asterisk and Sidebar*

http://nicolehomer.tumblr.com/

The Time is Now (year-round resource of excellent writing prompts offered by Poets & Writers):

http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises

Happy National Poetry Month to all!

Sing That Like Dovesong.

As mentioned on this blog, I spent last week participating in Sing That Like Dovesong (STLD), an online writing workshop for writers of color by Winter Tangerine. The focus was reading, writing, critiquing, discussing how heritage & cultural identities are expressed through writing.

STLD was amazing. I interacted with an extremely diverse and talented group of writers. The varied backgrounds of participants was remarkable, along with the camaraderie – though it was online, it was a safe space and supportive environment.

There were reading assignments dealing with the strength & power behind names, how to reclaim & confront our cultural icons, and how family memory warps our lives. Add in guest seminars exploring dialogue with Angel Nafis and the trauma of diaspora with Fatimah Asghar, and it made for a busy week.

One challenge was technology. STLD was held over three different online platforms: Facebook, Google Docs & Google Air/Hangouts. I had some exposure to these, but I was far from proficient. There was a slight learning curve, but it all worked out. And in the case of Facebook…participation in STLD finally triggered me to join that social media venue after years of resistance.

Overall STLD felt like success. I finished with 3 decent poems on culture that will hopefully be ready for submitting after a bit of editing. I gave and received solid feedback from my workshop group. I have many free-writes and unedited texts with potential from daily exercises. And finally, I know what I’m capable of writing in 7 to 10 minutes – never again can I use the excuse of not having enough time.

Props to my workshop group – Talia Flores, Venus Selenite, Erika Rodriguez, and our advisor Luther Hughes – you made STLD a positive experience. I appreciate that.

If you’re a writer considering an online workshop or class but find yourself hesitating…look into it. If it matches your goals, take the plunge! It can be rewarding and will challenge you to adapt to something different than your normal writing routine. And that change can be a good thing.

About Writing Anxieties.

At the Electric Literature blog, Ingrid Rojas Contreras boldly presents an illustrated guide to her writing (and not writing) anxieties.

She has an interesting take on the subject, and this is surely the first time I have seen a Venn Diagram used to effectively describe writing anxieties.

http://electricliterature.com/on-not-writing-an-illustrated-guide-to-my-anxieties/

Apathy.

Writing when you feel like…meh.

It is something all writers face - what do you do when it’s time to write and you just don’t feel like it? For those moments when you just aren’t feeling motivated, here are seven remedies for writer’s apathy, from a posting on the BookBaby blog. I plan to use this advice for my own writing endeavors – maybe you can, too.

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2015/09/7-remedies-for-writers-apathy/?utm_campaign=BB1546&utm_source=BBeNews&utm_medium=Email&spMailingID=49982702&spUserID=MTQyNDU5NjkyMzI5S0&spJobID=801389160&spReportId=ODAxMzg5MTYwS0

Secondhand Inspiration: Get to Work.

The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.

- Émile Zola

Spark: How to Find Inspiration

Sometimes the intent to write is there, but maybe you lack the motivation needed to put words on paper. If that is the case, find inspiration by taking a quiet moment to observe the world around you and within you.

Read more about this method of stimulating yourself to write in this posting from the BookBaby blog by Jim Dempsey. Then put his advice to good use. Be inspired!

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2015/09/how-to-find-inspiration/?utm_campaign=BB1538&utm_source=BBeNews&utm_medium=Email&spMailingID=49549469&spUserID=MTQyNDU5NjkyMzI5S0&spJobID=762068546&spReportId=NzYyMDY4NTQ2S0

Secondhand Inspiration: April = National Poetry Month

April is almost here. Which means it's time for National Poetry Month. Below are several sites/resources for those always-helpful prompts to write poetry. Since I’ve been creatively constipated lately, I'm looking forward to using these offerings to help kick-start my poetry practice in April.

2015 Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-guidelines

Poetry Super Highway Prompt-A-Day for National Poetry Month

http://poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/a-poetry-writing-prompt-a-day/

NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month)

http://www.napowrimo.net/about/

What I’ve Been Doing…

Over the last several weeks, after a short self-pitying slump about inspiration/ambition and all the other things writers find to complain about, I've hit a nice groove. As usual, I’m swinging between poetry and fiction, editing-wise and writing-wise.

These days I’m editing The Alter Ego Project chapbook (again) for submission to some contests, and also tinkering with a couple of stories. Once those are done I’ll turn to working on what I’ve tentatively dubbed The Field Guide project, a prose poem/narrative-in-verse of sorts. To say more than that now would jinx it.

Flame: Writing & Working Out

For me writing is a lot like exercise. If it hurts, that means it's working, and in the end it always produces positive results.

This analogy is bolstered by the fact that when I’m successfully sticking to my workout regimen, I concurrently do a better job of consistently writing as well. It’s as if the discipline and dedication required for fitness unconsciously bleeds into the creative realm of my life. Or maybe staying in good physical shape also helps my mind become fit, and provides me with focus when I sit down to write.

Does anyone else think there’s a correlation between personal fitness and creative endeavors?

That silence you hear…

…is the sound of me working. Seriously. The lack of posts on this blog is not an indication of a lack of writing activity, for sure.

I will have upcoming work in publications that I failed to previously mention on here, in print in burntdistrict and online in the Bare Root Review.

In addition, I earned third place finishes in both the Art Affair Poetry Contest and the Burning the Midnight Oil Poetry Contest – no publication, but a little cash always soothes the soul.

I wrestled my inner procrastination demons in a cage match. I won and am now back on pace with a decent writing work rate in the past month. This has been partially sponsored by a new manuscript idea that I hope will lead to the promised land of publication and not another dead end.

I also have big plans to revamp this blog.

All I need to do is execute. Which means not more hiatuses, no more wandering focus.

That’s all for now. Be good.

Interview at the Spark Wheel Press Blog

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to play question and answer via email…the results of which appear on today’s entry on Spark Wheel Press’ blog.

Spark Wheel Press publishes burntdistrict, a journal dedicated to elevating public awareness of contemporary poetry and to the promotion of writers. I had the honor of having my prose poem Epiphany appear in the inaugural issue of burntdistrict earlier this year.

In the interview I talked a little about epiphanies in writing, my writing process, labels in the literary world, influences and other subjects. Huge thanks to the folks at Spark Wheel Press for the chance to do this interview with them, and to Deanna McElhatten for asking some very thought provoking questions (and for being patient as I crafted my responses). You can check out the interview by clicking here.