Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo (Novel and Creative Writing Book, National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo Guide)

Every writer knows that as rewarding as the creative process is, it can often be a bumpy road. Have hope and keep at it! Designed to kick-start creativity, this handsome handbook from the executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) gathers a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career. From tips about how to finally start that story to helpful ideas about what to do when the words just aren't quite coming out right, Pep Talks for Writers provides motivation, encouragement, and helpful exercises for writers of all stripes. Cover Title Copyright Contents Introduction: A Creative Manifesto 1 You Don’t Need Permission to Be a Creator 2 How Do You Create? 3 Finding Your Muse 4 Be a Beginner 5 Make Your Creativity into a Routine 6 Goal + Deadline = Magic 7 Embrace Constraints 8 The Art of Boredom 9 Getting Ideas: A Writing Rorschach Test 10 Building a Creative Community 11 An Artistic Apprenticeship 12 Getting Feedback 13 Channel Your Super Heroic Observational Powers 14 Cavort . . . Wander . . . Play 15 Using Your Life in Your Story 16 Overcoming Creativity Wounds 17 Make Your Inner Editor Work for You 18 Accept the Mess 19 Pull Yourself Out of the Comparison Trap 20 Put Your Life Struggles in Perspective 21 Treating Impostor Syndrome 22 Embrace Vulnerability 23 Fail Often . . . Fail Better 24 Creativity as an Act of Defiance 25 You Are What You Wear 26 Where You Work Matters 27 Artistic Thievery, or the Art of Remixing 28 Take a Story Field Trip 29 Looking through Your Character Kaleidoscope 30 On Finding Creative Flow 31 Say, “Yes, and . . .”: The Secrets of Improv 32 Think Fast to Outpace Writer’s Block 33 An Exercise in Extreme Writing 34 Sleep, Sleeplessness, and Creativity 35 Be Deluded . . . Be Grand 36 Nurturing Awe through Darkness, Solitude, and Silence 37 New Experiences = New Thoughts 38 The Magical Sprites of Creativity: Distractions 39 Trusting in The Absurd 40 Move Differently to Think Differently 41 Specialize (but Not Too Much) 42 The Art of Melancholy 43 Thank Your Muse 44 Writing with a Persona 45 Persisting through Rejection 46 Know Thyself 47 Make Irritants into a Symphony 48 Hold Things Lightly 49 Intuition versus Logic 50 Vanquishing Fear with Curiosity 51 Logging the Hours: Mastery Equals Perseverance 52 What Is “Success”? In Review ACKNOWLEDGMENTS WHERE DO YOU NEED HELP? Chronicle Ebooks “Will leave you feeling happier, bolder, and ridiculously excited about diving back into your writing projects.” —Chris Baty, author of No Plot? No Problem! and founder of NaNoWriMoEvery writer knows that as rewarding as the creative process is, it can often be a bumpy road. Have hope and keep at it! Designed to kick-start creativity, this handbook from the executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) gathers a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career.From tips about how to finally start that story to helpful ideas about what to do when the words just aren't quite coming out right, Pep Talks for Writers provides motivation, encouragement, and helpful exercises for writers of all stripes. "Every writer knows that as rewarding as the creative process is, it can often be a bumpy road. Have hope and keep at it! Designed to kick-start creativity, this handsome handbook from the executive director of National Novel Writing Month gathers a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career. From tips about how to finally start that story to helpful ideas about what to do when the words just aren't quite coming out right, Pep Talks for Writers provides motivation, encouragement, and helpful exercises for writers of all stripes"-- Provided by publisher Have writer's block? Time for a pep talk! For any writer who's gotten stuck or needed a little encouragement, here comes the ultimate handbook to keep the creative juices flowing year round.