Write or Die
You've got nothing to lose as you sit at your desk contemplating your next scintillating sentence. What will it be? What's next? Uh-oh, you're stuck so you get up and walk away in order to “think about it”. HA! Procrastination and writers block leap wildly on your back like a pair of half-crazed gorillas, stealing all of your drive and motivation while leaving just a helpless husk of wannabe writer writhing on the floor. Is there a cure for this malicious malady?
You bet. You see, the problem lies in the fact that there are no immediate consequences to stopping. Oh sure, it'll take you longer to finish that first draft of your novel, if you ever do, but so what. Nothing to lose but that dream that sits waiting for you sometime in the foggy nebulous future. The only consequences are INTANGIBLE.
Ah, a key word is that. INTANGIBLE. NOTE: Only tangible consequences are known to produce results. Now to the cure for this malais. It's free, it's online and it's called Write or Die, Dr. Wicked's Writing Lab. http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html. The writing lab is set up so the user can choose which mode of writing suits them. I started with the gentle mode, just to get a feel for it. The comments below explain it much better that I could. Read them, visit the site and watch your words per day escalate into a finished draft in no time. Note, this is a free service.
The idea is to instill in the would-be writer with a fear of not writing. We do this by employing principles taught in Introduction to Psychology. Anyone remember Operant Conditioning and Negative Reinforcement?Negative Reinforcement "strengthens a behavior because a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the behavior."Consequences: Gentle Mode: A certain amount of time after you stop writing, a box will pop up, gently reminding you to continue writing. Normal Mode: If you persistently avoid writing, you will be played a most unpleasant sound. The sound will stop if and only if you continue to write. Kamikaze Mode: Keep Writing or Your Work Will Unwrite Itself.
These consequences will persist until your preset conditions have been met (that is, your time is up or you've written your word count goal or both)This text box is not a word processor, it is not for editing, the way to save is to select all of the text, copy and paste into your own text editor. The idea is to separate the writing process and the editing process as much as possible.This is aimed at anyone who wants to get writing done. It requires only that you recognize your own tendency towards self-sabotage and be willing to do something about it. If you're sick of saccharine writing advice that no one could honestly follow and you want a real method to getting work done. Works great for real deadlines too! Excellent for getting your 1667 words a day for NaNoWriMo
Good for writing on lunch breaks, just enter 30 minutes in the time limit box.
"TIDBITS"
Here's a great contest to enter:
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone! This competition welcomes anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com/
Guidelines:
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Postmark Deadline: July 31, 2009
All winners will be announced on August 31, 2009
Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.
Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “Dreamquestone.Com”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for further details or to enter!
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One
Last but Not Least
Here's a great contest to enter:
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone! This competition welcomes anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com/
Guidelines:
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Postmark Deadline: July 31, 2009
All winners will be announced on August 31, 2009
Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.
Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “Dreamquestone.Com”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for further details or to enter!
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One
Recipe for Podunk Candy
I haven't tried this yet but it sounds good. You may have to experiment with the timing on this, though.
4 ozs. Chocolate
1-2/3 bottles Dark Caro Syrup
1 lb. Dark Brown Sugar
2-1/2 Tbs. Butter (reserve 1 Tbs.)
Lots of Vanilla extract
Cook in a fair size pan over good heat until it bubbles like a volcano. Add 1 Tbs. butter at the end to soften.
Pour on greased (?) cookie sheet or candy plate. Cool and crack with a hammer.
From Valerie J. Naso, Gardner's grand daughter
Thanks to: http://www.phantombookshop.com/erlestanleygardner/esgodd_.htm
Well, that's it for this time, see ya later gater…..Aelf
Sites to see, places to go and groups to join
Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
Fantasy Gazetteer: http://www.fantasygazetteer.com/
My Writing Friend: writingfriend@yahoo
Linda Barnett-Johnson Editing: http://lindabarnettjohnson.homestead.com/
Pindersoft's Writers Project Organizer: http://www.pindersoft.com/wpo.htm
StorYBook 2.1.11: http://storybook.intertec.ch/joomla/
Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
J.D.Vine Publishing: http://www.jdvine/com/index.html
Tennessee Writers Alliance: http://www.tn-writers.org/
USA Patriotism, Poetry: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/
Poynter 30 Writer's Tips: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943
Idea Cruncher: http://www.ideacruncher.com/
Freemind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Word Web download: http://www.wordweb.info/
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
Copyright © 03/17/09
Labels: contest, Fantasy, Software for Writer's, Tips, Writers Block
posted by Aelf at 4:58 AM
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