Sometimes you need to take some time off

Yesterday was my birthday so I took some time off from writing. I did try to write though, but I did not get very far. My mind was just preoccupied with all the things that I had to do. It was also the last day before spring break at work, and it was pretty hectic. The good thing though is that today, my mind is ready to write. So sometimes we just need to take a day off to recharge our batteries and to renew our minds.

What do you think?

Writing fiction

I started writing a detective novel. I wanted to see if I could do it. So far I have written 7 chapters and I am making progress. I tried to use the dictation function on my iPhone, but it did not work so well when I wrote fiction. It kept mixing up the words I was saying. I am not sure why it did that, but it doesn't when I write non-fiction. I also found that I could not write fiction as I drove. I think it just takes too much focus to write fiction well. So what I am doing is writing non-fiction stuff (like my blog posts) as I drive. I write fiction on my breaks and during my lunch. That seems to be working. I am still writing about 4000 words a day, which is amazing. When it comes to fiction though, I am back to typing.

What do you think?

Writing e-books

I would very much like to start writing ebooks. I am not sure what kind I will write. I could take some of the ideas I have written about here in my blog and expand them into some kind of non-fiction book. Another idea was to start writing fiction and see if I can come up with some novellas (short books of 20-40,000 words). Now my biggest problem is finding things to write about. When it comes to nonfiction there are tons of ideas, but not very many that could be developed into an ebook. I also imagine that I would run out of ideas eventually. That then leads me to fiction because there are unlimited possibilities. Since you just make stuff up in fiction, you literally never run out of ideas. Sure you might get tired of writing about one character or in one particular genre, but then you just come up with a new character or switch to a new genre. Eventually I will decide on something and create an ebook.

What do you think?

Writing in chunks

A while back I started a practice that has actually help me be a more prolific writer. I started writing in chunks. Here is what I mean by that. First I write a short headline that summarizes what I am going to write. Then I write a paragraph that fits the headline. I started doing this because that is how I write and create my blog posts. It made sense to me to do all my writing like that. In doing so, it's as helped me write many more words than I was doing otherwise. It does also helped me organize my writing. If your rider and you want to try something that will help you be more prolific, give writing in chunks and try. Maybe it will do for you what it did for me.

What do you think?

First create, then edit

When you are writing something that is going to be published in some form, it is very tempting to edit as you write. Many times as I write things that will be published I am tempted to do this. I am tempted because it feels like a shortcut and a timesaver, but it is just a way to make sure that what you write is bland and boring. It is also a great way to make sure you do not write very much because if you edit as you write, it'll stop you from putting words on the page. It'll stop the flow. Writing should always be a two-step process. First throw the words on the page as fast as possible. Then, come back later and fix it. That's how you create good stuff for your readers. It's also the best way to make sure that you keep putting words up on the page without impediment.

What do you think?

Focus

Creating stuff is all about focus. The reason being is that everything that is created first begins in the mind. In order for something to become real it first has to be thought of in the mind. You have to make it up in your head first. Focus is how you do it. In order to start the process of creating something you need to bring your mind to think about only the thing you're creating. You need to aim your thinking on just the specifics regarding what you want to create. That's how you actually make stuff up, which is what creating is all about. Focusing your mind is not easy. What is easy is to let your mind drift off in a million directions. It is also easy to become distracted with things that keep you from creating. It also doesn't help that we have thousands of things we can go and do that will keep us distracted. If you want to create, work on focusing your mind.

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Productive commute

I spend a lot of time in my car commuting back and forth to work. It takes me almost an hour to get to work and another hour back home at the end of the day. One of the things that has bothered me the most over the last 15 years is how unproductive my commute was. I just sat there in a sleepy daze as I drove in and a mind numbing haze as I drove home. That has all changed since I discovered the dictation function on my iPhone. Now I talk to my iPhone and get a ton of writing done. In fact, as a result of talking to my iPhone, I am now writing over 4000-5000 words a day rather than the 1000-2000 I was writing before. Now it is a little distracting to talk to my iPhone while I drive, and I am not even sure it is legal, but I have managed to make it work without wrecking my car or incurring the wrath of a local law enforcement officer. I do not recommend this for everyone, but I sure enjoy the huge boost in productivity. Now if only driverless cars were introduced faster, I could actually write some music on my commute.

What do you think?

Quantity versus quality

When it comes to doing something creative should you focus on quality, or should you seek for quantity? I have discovered that if you want to produce quality work the best way to do it is through quantity. In other words, the more you create the better you create. Why? Because when you do a lot of something you end up practicing. The consequence of practicing is that you get better at it. When you are better at something you produce quality work. So you want to make great things? Then make a lot of it. Write more. Sing more. Paint more. Create create create. When it comes to creating, quantity leads to quality.

What do you think?

Finding your niche

I believe that finding your niche is much like finding your passion. In other words, you have to look at your life and find those things that interest you. What do you like doing? What do you like reading? What do you like watching on TV? How do you spend your free time? If money wasn't a concern, what would you do? If you won the lottery, how would you spend your time? Answering these types of questions will help you find your passion and your niche. My passion is in writing, the news, and the economy. I am passionate about blogging, creativity, the Internet, and finding a way to make money on the Internet. So that is what I write about. It is also where I will find my niche.

What do you think?

Note: I am thinking of moving my blog. Check my new site out

http://waltersthinking.blog.com/

Finding something to write about

Though sometimes I struggle to find things to write about, The reality is that I always find something. That brings me to the conclusion that there is always something to write about even if it's the most mundane and simple thing. You just have to keep putting words up on the page and then pick something and write about it. It is all about the making choices. Sometimes the choices produce great things. Sometimes the choices just produce words, but you are still making progress. It is all about making progress.
What do you think?

Writing when you're tired

It is nearing the end of the day and I'm tired. As a result, the words don't flow as well. It takes me longer to think of things to write about. So here is my observation. Try not to write when you're tired. Now sometimes you can't avoid it. You have to write and you're tired so you just work through it. But the best time to write is when your brain is fresh and you're not tired. One thing you can do is try to take a nap if you're tired. Even if it's just a short 15 to 30 minute nap, it would help you out and probably help you make it through whatever writing you need to finish up. Obviously the best thing you can do is try to get plenty of sleep and do your writing when you're at your peak when it comes to energy. In the end though, just get the words on the page any way you can no matter how tired you are.

What do you think?

Writing – making progress

Since I have discovered the dictation function on my iPhone I have become very prolific. I am averaging 4000 to 5000 words a day. That is 3 to 4 times more words that I was writing before I started using dictation. This is now the third week I'm using dictation, and it is now becoming much easier than it was at first. I have learned how to say things so my iPhone will put it into text correctly. It takes a little bit of practice to make it work correctly. I have also found ways to keep putting the words up on the page, as I have discussed in my other posts. This all started as an experiment. I wanted to see what I would be able to do. Guess what, it has been a huge success. Clearly this will be something I will continue to do, because I am making very good progress and I have become fantastically prolific.

What do you think?

Writing when you have nothing to say

For the last two weeks I have been averaging roughly 4000 to 5000 words a day. Now I do that mostly by dictating to one of my digital devices, which has enabled me to write so much. One of the drawbacks of writing so many words a day is that I usually run out of things to write about. In order to continue being as prolific as I have become I have developed a way to find things to write about. First I have a list of topics I like to write about. So if I am stuck, I just review the list and see if anything comes to mind that I would like to write about. Another thing I like to do is to surf the Internet and see if anything is worth writing about. The last thing I like to do, which has become something I do quite often, is to just keep putting words up on the page until something worthwhile materializes. I just keep writing whatever is going through my mind. Eventually as I keep doing this, something interesting does find its way onto the page. Then I just write about that. This last technique has worked every time I've used it. If you are writer and your stuck, just start putting words on the page no mater what they are. Eventually something interesting will appear.

What do you think?

Chromebook and dictation

It turns out that Google has a dictation function on Google Docs, so I am not limited to just using my iPhone for dictation. I was not aware that Google Docs had this ability. I am using the dictation function in Google Docs right now as I write. I am also using it through my very inexpensive Chromebook. And one more point, it is all free (except for having to buy the Chromebook first). The great benefits of using a Chromebook is how inexpensive it is to do just about anything you would like to do with a computer. Here I am creating a blog post while using Google Docs and dictation. All of it is free to use. that is one of the best benefits I'm using a Chromebook. I keep asking myself the question of why would you purchase something more expensive when you can get the job done with a Chromebook that is so much less expensive?

One more observation. I actually think the dictation function here in Google Docs is more accurate than the dictation function on my iPhone. Here in Google Docs I am having to do a lot less editing to make sure everything is right. Now, I am going to continue using the dictation function on my iPhone because it's so much more portable. In another words, I can write anywhere I go using my iPhone, but with my Chromebook and Google Docs I am limited to writing only when I have access to Wi-Fi. But, when I can have access to Google Docs I am going to use this dictation function more and more. the reality is that I can put words up on the page much faster using the dictation function rather than typing. Plus, with the volume of writing that I do I do not risk getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

What do you think?

Talking to my iPhone

Just recently I discovered a way to considerably increase my productivity in regards to writing. I have discovered the dictation function on my iPhone. I just started to talk to my iPhone. As I talked to my iPhone it turns what I say in the text. At first I was not sure how this would work out for me, but, the more I have been using it, the more I have written. Though I considered myself prolific, I was not prepared for how prolific I would become. I used to average about 1000 words a day. Now, I am averaging over 4000 words a day. Turns out, I can talk to my iPhone faster than I can type. Now most of what I create using the dictation function on my iPhone is not useful in any manner but, every now and then I create a gem. This reminds me of an adage when it comes to creating. In order to create something of quality you first have to create a lot of junk, and that is exactly what I'm doing by talking to my iPhone. I create a lot of words that I probably will never use. What I do get to do is practice a skill that is helping me write more more useful things. Who would've thought that by just talking to my iPhone I would transform my writing life? If you have an iPhone (or any other smart phone) you might want to give the dictation function a try. Is it perfect? No, but it does put words up on the page much faster than typing.

What do you think?

Writing more

I started keeping a journal digitally once again. I seem to bounce back and forth. I had been writing in paper notebooks, but I stopped once I got my new iPhone 6s. I just wanted to put it to greater use than just texting, surfing the internet, and checking my email. By keeping a journal on it, I have the ability to write anyplace I want to and anytime I want to. I can also take what I write and post it to my blog with ease. I have also started to use my Chromebook more. I think it is because when there is WIFI, it is just easier to write using my Chromebook. As a result I have been creating blog posts once again. I have also become a bit of a writing machine. I am writing and average of over 2000 words a day in my journal. I think that is awesome and credit it to being able to write that much to having access to a device 24/7/365. Also, I have no excuse not to write since my iPhone is always with me.

What do you think?