6 Ways to Jump-Start Your Writing Day

1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE

....for half an hour or so before you start to write. Some writers find this mentally 'prepares' them for writing - it's a bridge between their ordinary lives and their writing. The repetitive activity can free up your right brain.

2. DO 15-20 MINUTES OF FREE WRITING

...before you start your 'regular' writing projects. If you don't know what to write, start by describing the room you're sitting in, or the day outside. Write anything - but do write. Don't let yourself stop until your time is up. Very often, you'll find your mind drifting to the project in hand.

3. WRITE A LETTER

.... to a friend, describing your ideal writing life. End with '... and the first thing I'll do towards obtaining this is...' and fill in the answer. Think about how much you want that writing life. The first step is to begin work on your current project!

4. FINISH SOMEONE ELSE'S PARAGRAPH.

Grab any novel from your shelves. Turn to a page at random and jot down the first whole sentence you see. Now write a page that flows on logically from that first sentence. 5. THINK BACK TO THE LAST STRANGER YOU SAW ...that you can remember). It may have been someone in a shopping centre; it may have been someone standing in the same queue. Why do you remember this person? Invent a background for this character.

6. WRITE A PAGE ABOUT AN INCIDENT IN YOUR DAY

....in the first person. Now write about it again, from the point of view of a stranger looking on. What did you learn about yourself?

These are only six of many possible stimuli that might fire your imagination as a writer. When you're really stuck, try jotting down a list of 'Creativity Starters' yourself. Ask other writers how they begin their writing sessions.

(c) Copyright Marg McAlister

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

best cleaning company Highland Park ..
In The News:

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.
The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

How To Avoid Viewpoint Slips

Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More

Writing the KAIZEN Way

Over the past eight years or so, I have tutored... Read More

What Nationally Published Columnist, Cindy Laferle Has To Say About Writing & Journalism

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel and bookpleasures is honored... Read More

The Psychology Of Effortless Writing

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More

Freelance Writing: A Career From Anywhere

An island in the Mediterranean. A beach in Africa. The... Read More

The Best Freelance Job Boards for Writers

How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More

Writing Technique: The Restaurant Syndrome

Picture this scene.Your hero is sitting in a bar. He's... Read More

Have You Settled On First Choice When Choosing A Title?

Short Story Writing Tips -We've established what a title should... Read More

Bird by Bird

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by marketing. First, there's so... Read More

Secrets Of Successful Authors

When the writing bug hits you, get out your pencil,... Read More

Top Seven Ways to Write your Print or eBook Fast

Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More

Writing Tips for your Journey

Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More

Get Rich Writing With Your Computer Word Processor

Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More

Common Writing Mistakes

Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More

Get Creative In The Great Outdoors

Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More

Check Your English Grammar With This Easy Technique

As an International language, English has been used widely in... Read More

Go With The Flow: Write With Transition Words and Phrases

One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More

How To Be A Published (Non-Fiction) Author

1. Turning your idea into a bookWith non-fiction books the... Read More

Publish Your Novel on the First Try

Rejection. This scary word plagues virtually every writer this side... Read More

Should You Write a Book?

One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails... Read More

Writing from Home: It Can Be Great and Not-So-Great for Mothers

I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More

Power Writing 101: Tips and Tricks to Get You Taken Seriously!

In my ten years as an advertiser, I've encountered plenty... Read More

Write Your Story, Put It On A Website, Sell Millions of Copies

Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does... Read More

Tell the World About You

You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More

How To Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Career

In the current job market, many editorial freelancers have turned... Read More

high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..