6 Summer Writing Tips

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Summer break starts today. That means I have a few hours before my work schedule shifts to fit around the kids' schedules of day camp weeks and free weeks. Now that the grands live with us, summer schedules challenge my ability to find time to write. I need to stay focused, so I thought I'd share a few summer writing tips in this post using the letters of the word WRITER as my guide.

Write: Ok, this one goes without saying but get your BIC (butt in chair) and do it.

Read: If you write, you should enjoy reading books in the same genre. You're going to need a great beach read, so check out what's current and popular. Read it and take note of what that author does that will help you improve your writing.

Interact: Don't feel like every free moment needs to be BIC. It's summer. Find time for fun with your friends and family. When you're happy, you're more likely to enjoy writing. Also, interact with other writers. Nothing gets my creativity ramped up better than talking about my stories with fellow writers.

Time yourself: If your schedule only provides a few short gaps for writing don't give up and not write. Instead, set a timer and see what you can create in that short time period.

Exercise: Keep your mind sharp by exercising. If you have several hours free to write, change it up every hour or two by stopping to take a walk or do some stretches. If you don't have a lot of time to write, still plan a few moments to stretch or work out. Your neck, back, shoulders, and creative muse will appreciate the increase in oxygen to your brain and muscles.

Research: No time to sit at the keyboard? Fill in your knowledge or story line gaps with research. With today's smart phones, you can do this anywhere. Better yet, take the kids to the library and use the time to dig up details that will make your story better.

These are just a few ideas I'm going to use this summer. What about you?

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