Your best writing year starts here
Here’s the replay of our fun creative writing webinar designed to kick-start your most successful writing year.
Your Best Writing Year: Key Insights from the Webinar
Here’s what we uncovered about crafting compelling stories and maintaining a sustainable writing practice.
The Power of Routine
The most successful writers aren’t waiting for inspiration to strike – they’re showing up at their desk consistently. While writing every day isn’t mandatory but establishing a regular schedule is crucial for both productivity and creativity. Even on days when the words don’t flow easily, maintaining this routine keeps your creative muscles strong.
But what about the dreaded blank screen? As we discussed in the webinar, fear often masquerades as writer’s block. We agreed that the solution isn’t to wait for inspiration, but to push through with discipline. Try setting internal deadlines and finding accountability partners among fellow writers.
Characters: The Heart of Your Story
Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, your characters drive the narrative. We explored how plot should serve as a framework to showcase your characters’ desires and evolution – not the other way around. When you’re stuck, we recommend returning to your character’s core motivations. What do they want? What stands in their way?
This principle applies equally to memoir writing. Rather than chronicling events chronologically, focus on the stories that demand to be told. As we discussed, ‘A life is not a story, but from that life, we can construct a story with shape and flow.’ The art lies in selecting which moments to highlight and which to leave behind.
Embracing the Revision Process
For those feeling discouraged about their first draft, take heart: the real magic happens in revision. Even accomplished authors go through multiple drafts before reaching their final version. One writer to think about is Nora Roberts who wrote six complete novels before submitting any for publication – treating each one as part of her apprenticeship.
Breaking Through Creative Blocks
When facing creative challenges, we shared several practical strategies:
- Use free writing or morning pages to warm up your creative muscles
- Record ideas immediately when they strike
- Consider using writing software like Scrivener to set and track word count goals
- Read extensively in your genre – it builds confidence rather than diminishing your unique voice
- Train yourself to observe details and conversations around you (though perhaps not too obviously!)
The Reality Trap
We addressed the challenge of blending fact and fiction. Writers often feel constrained by real-life experiences when creating fictional characters or scenarios. The solution? Give yourself permission to let your characters evolve beyond their real-life inspirations. Try placing familiar scenarios in unexpected settings or allowing characters to make choices their real-life counterparts never would.
Building Your Support System
Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. Fellow writers and writing communities provide not just accountability but also opportunities for growth and feedback. We offer our community various ways to connect with other writers through our writers’ circle, monthly creative webinar and retreats.
Moving Forward
Whether you’re working on your first novel or your sixth, remember that every established writer started exactly where you are now. The key is to establish your routine, trust the process, and keep pushing forward. Success in writing comes not from sporadic bursts of inspiration, but from consistent, dedicated practice.
Start small if you need to, but start today. Set aside regular time for your writing, connect with other writers, and most importantly, keep showing up at the page. Your best writing year awaits.
Go forth and write
Jo-Anne and Richard
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Looking for more writing support? Consider joining our Writers’ Circle, honing your skills through our flagship Creative Writing Course, attending a writing retreat, or seeking feedback through a mini-assessment to help determine your next steps.
