Happy midweek WRITER WEDNESDAY! 

This week I want to talk about the habits of successful writers because they do make a difference. And they are ALL things that you can start doing right now to change your writing career and take it to the next level. 

1. Successful writers-WRITE. I know that sounds sarcastic and it's not meant to be, but if you want to be a writer you need to write. You need to write every day. Now, there are many who will say that you only need to write when the spirit moves you but not if you want to do this for a living and actually make money. 

If you want to be a successful writer---WRITE, every single day. 

2. They hone their craft. They take workshops, read books on the craft of writing, get into writing retreats with other writers, they constantly work on their craft. You don't need to spend thousands traveling far away to another country or resort to do this--although, when you can, it is fun, but it's not needed. You can read blogs...

Hello Dear Writers! 

It's Wednesday and this week I'm focusing on mindset--in fact--I'm working on something pretty amazing for this spring to help you get into the mindset that IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING! 

But let's back up. 

When I was 16 I saw Back to the Future. It was in the middle of the night as I worked in the movie theater and we watched the films before Friday to make sure the reels were spliced together properly--this was long before digital and theaters still had projectionists. 

I went only because I was in love with this boy, Chris, with who I worked at the movie theater with. He was my everything and he wanted to go watch it so I went. I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. 

In fact, it CHANGED MY LIFE forever. 

Why? 

Because as a creative we ALL have the thoughts that both Marty and his father shared---WHAT IF THE TELL ME I'M NO GOOD? 

This is normal and sadly is why so many people...

Hello, Writers! 

It's writer Wednesday and I want to know how you are doing? I really do, so please message me on social media or email me and let me know how I can support you. 

I feel like this is going to be a bumpy, bumpy, week. 

I kept saying all week---thus far---it's like being on the airplane, once they close that door there is nothing you can do, so there is no use worrying about it----but there is and it's IMPOSSIBLE not to. 

I honestly didn't write this blog ahead of time because I wasn't sure how I would feel today or how you would feel, or what would be the state of the world, but I do know this...being CREATIVE has saved my life many times over. 

A personal story, I lived alone when I was 13-almost 16. ALONE--my mother left me and so it was me and my Pomeranian--by ourselves for almost 3 years. I was afraid to go into the system and I thought something was wrong with me or why would she do this? Right? 

She paid the rent so luckily I...

Writers!! 

Some days it's just too hard to do anything, especially in 2020. 

Last week I hit a wall, and thus I skipped everything-including my blog which is a day late this week too. This is a big no-no in the business world but I'm only one person. 

I felt guilty about it all last week, all weekend, and yesterday when I literally crashed out for 8 hours in the middle of the day. 

You see, in life "shit happens" and I am one of those, like the great Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy who always says "I'm fine" even when I'm not. I won't bore you with the details but just apologize for being absent for these few days. I'm sorry, do you forgive me? 

NOW, let's talk about the importance for creatives to take a day off! 

It's important for creatives to take a day off. See, our brains work harder than normal people who don't create stories, art, etc., because no matter what we are doing there is that something in the back of our minds that is building. This...

Hey, writers!! Are you doing #NaNoWriMo this year? 

Yay, so am I. Every year I write blogs about doing it, articles, and I share tips because I want YOU to be successful. Well, this year is no different!!!! 

Add me as a buddy at https://nanowrimo.org/ I am stephnewyork

Here are some quick and easy tips!!

1. Be open to whatever story you are writing--meaning--just be free and free write
2. Don't edit--just write
3. Make a schedule. Usually, during NaNo I set aside a couple of hours every month to write BEFORE I do anything else. Well, maybe you can't do that but try to schedule this in--you will be more likely to do it if it's on your calendar.
4. Make a daily word count goal.
5. Aim to finish before the end of the month so you have time to spare.
6. Do NOT compare yourself to others
7. Don't expect this to be perfect right out of the gate.
8. Don't outline in October---I find those who do this often fail because they are trying to stick to an idea, whereas...

and it rocked my world (no pun intended)

Hello Writers, I hope your week is going well! 

My day has been filled with a bit of sadness and reflection 

Eddie Van Halen has died--

I've been sending out emails because I have a new course that is open for early-bird registration and I want you to write your novel so I've been in your inbox every day this week encouraging you to sign up and then yesterday after going to VOTE and drop off my ballot I heard the devastating news of Eddie Van Halen's passing. 

My world was suddenly in a whirlwind of sadness and grief. 

You see, I never knew Eddie personally but he affected my life in many ways. 

1. He always did what he loved-MUSIC-that was it for him, he never wanted or imagined that he would do anything else. 

2. His happiness doing what he loved always shined through in his performances.

3. He was genuine and authentic--he had a voice...

Hello, Writers!! 

This month I'm going to focus on how to write a draft fast and complete NaNoWriMo, which is coming up in just a month. 

Today is Sept 30th! Wow, how fast this year has flown by has been crazy, but here we are. 

 NOW, onto some things you can do to get ready to write your novel fast. 

If you are signed up for NaNoWriMo or in any groups for that challenge, you will learn there is now a thing called "Preptober," which is for prepping your book. 

This is not my style at all. 

When I first starting doing NaNoWriMo, you couldn't have any more than a title on November 1st, when we started, and I'm old school, so I never know what I'm writing until that day when I sit down. 

That's just me, and it is the method I'm going to teach you in my course, but you can do what makes you happy as long as you finish a novel. 

The five steps that I use to prep are these. 

1. Decide WHO your story is about & WHAT will happen to...

Even for your novel!

and finish that work in progress. 

In film and especially television writing the "beat sheet" is something that is needed to show your showrunner or director the beats of the script so they can approve the story before you spend hours and hours writing it. 

It helps them "see" it. It also helps you see the big picture. 

The beat sheet is an outline of your story in beats. What happens in the story beat by beat.

You open your notebook, notecards, or even Word/Scrivener (I like to use Scrivener for this) and literally write out the beats like this. 

Scene 1--this happens

Scene 2--this happens

etc.

Now, you may not know what happens in perfect order--so then just write what you want to happen out. This is why I love using post-its and or notecards and the stickies in Scrivener 

Scene-character finds out....

Scene--character makes this decision 

Scene-resolution 

If you are doing it...

Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel but believe that you don't have the time? Well, I'm here to tell you that you can do it!

I've been writing novels during NaNoWriMo since the early 2000s because um, it's amazing. It's like running a marathon in sprint time. 

Really the best thing I ever started doing for myself and I do it every year. I also usually do CampNaNo in the summer and it's taught me so much about myself as a writer and how to draft quickly which comes in handy if you do any work-for-hire or ghostwriting. 

Now, will you have a perfect ready to submit novel after 30 days? Not unless you are super lucky and if you are--OMG awesome!!! I wish that for everyone but what you will have is a FIRST DRAFT and or a revision. 

**I love to rewrite from scratch my novels at about the 4th revision and that way I leave out all the crap that doesn't move the story forward. 

Some people like to take their time and I once had a mentor tell me to slow down BUT the...