3 Ways to Make Space for Yourself

I love data and statistics.

Statistical analysis helps reveal to us what we cannot see. Statistical analysis also helps to makes sense of what we think might be happening.

I also love my readers.

My readers are the reason I write. Sure, I write for my own benefit, but any writer worth their salt is lying if they said they didn't care whether their material was ever read.

Loving both analysis and my readers, I present the following graph produced by Blogger:

The most popular post on this blog, out of 24 posts, is "2 Ways to Keep Writing in Times of Crisis" with 153 page views. The next most popular post is 62% less popular at only 58 page views.

What is it about the "Times of Crisis" most that made it so popular? I won't bore you with my own detailed assessment. Rather, I want to present a hypothesis that I believe is supported by the number of page views on the top four posts.

My hypothesis is that we are all desperate to find space for ourselves in a world convincing us that our personal well-being is no longer a priority. 

So, what to do with this information?

Here are 3 ways that I work to make space for myself, regardless of what is going on around me:

1) Establish sacred spaces. Whether your "space" is a period of time (let's say, your lunch break or 20 minutes after you first get home from work), or whether you create an actual space that is only meant for you, establishing (and maintaining) sacred spaces will help to provide a vehicle for whatever it is that you need in your life.

2) Honor your preferences. If part of your "self-indulgence" is having a great cup of coffee while you start your day, don't grab a gas station brew or settle for whatever happens to be available at the office. No. Wake up a few minutes early to make a French press cuppa, or, if you're like my partner, you'll have a French press on-hand at the office. Maybe you have a particular way you like your desk set up. Or, perhaps you enjoy taking your breaks outside. Whatever your preferences are, honor them in your daily life, even especially when others attempt to sideline those preferences.

3) Take time to consider before making a decision to commit. Too many times, we often feel pressured to provide immediate answers to "will you," "could you," "are you" questions. The next time someone asks you to make a decision about whether or not you want to get involved, say, "Thank you for asking. I'll think about that and let you know tomorrow." It's that simple.

I hope these posts continue to provide some insights and creative sparks for my readership. In the meantime, make space for yourself. Remember that you are your greatest resource for living a fulfilled life.

The #1 Enemy of Creative Types (And How to Avoid It)

I once had a student that would not put pen to paper. They were paralyzed. They had a five page paper due in two days and they had not written one word.

"What do you think is the problem?" I asked. 

"I have writer's block," she answered. 

"What do you mean by 'writer's block?'" I asked. 

"My mind is a complete blank. I literally can think of nothing to write about. I don't even want to think about this paper anymore because when I do, I just feel drained. This assignment is depressing me and I haven't even started it."

My student wasn't experiencing writer's block. She was experiencing something even more sinister.

Apathy.

But wait, I hear you say, how can one be said to be apathetic if there's evidence of trying?

The answer is that if you, as a writer, go chasing after topics and ideas about which you are not thoroughly interested, sooner or later, you may find yourself unmotivated and indifferent about your writing practice.

From Art Made From Books. Find it on Amazon.

My student's error occurred when she felt she had to pursue a topic that was completely out of her line of passion. She talked to me at length about what she has tried writing about and, from the attitude she displayed in listing these topics, even I was beginning to feel depressed about the assignment.

"Why are you taking this course?" I asked. 

"Because I'm really interested in parts of African cultures," she replied. 

"What parts?" 

"No, it's really off-topic," she replied.

The course I was teaching focused on peacemaking and conflict mitigation in the Sub-Saharan region of the world.

"Just tell me what it is about African cultures that made you enroll in the class." 

"The music," she answered.

Ah ha! As is sometimes the case, this student had a tangential interest in the course and was now struggling to situate her interests with the topic.

Without hesitation, I seized the moment.

"How do musical traditions in Sub-Saharan African countries contribute to peacemaking and conflict mitigation?"

You should have seen my student's eyes light up. It was as if a light had been switched on.

Long story short, the student left my office in a hurry and, on Friday morning (with a smile on her face), she proudly presented a very well-written and interesting paper on the topic I had suggested in our meeting.

What is irritating about writer's block is not that we can't seem to think of anything to write. The problem is that we have plenty to write about, but can't seem to capture the words for the thoughts zipping through our heads.

The lesson here is that, if creativity is part of our living, part of what we are expected to do as a function of our employment, we can sometimes get caught up in the actual assignments and lose sight of our passions. Sure, we all have to engage in topics that are not directly in our line of passion, but as creative people, we owe it to ourselves and our audience to find ways to incorporate our passions in everything we do. 

So the next time you feel yourself begin to panic or lose interest in an assignment, re-evaluate how you approach your task. Recall those topics and ideas about which you are really passionate, and then ask yourself how you can incorporate them into the work you must do. You, and your audience, will benefit from this practice.

Happy writing!

2 Ways to Keep Writing in Times of Crisis

From Art Made From Books. Find it on Amazon.com.

I have struggled for the past few days to come up with a brilliant topic for my next blog post. My struggle stems from living inside a whirling gyre of obligations that require my immediate and undivided attention.

Or, at least, that is what it seems to be.

But rather than fight "block" that often accompanies one or more life crises, I decided I would provide two ways to use your times of crisis to fuel your writing.

1) Write when you feel least like writing. How many times have you come across articles describing the multitude of "types" among writers? Are you a plotter or pantser? Are you a midnight writer, early riser, or mid-day muse? Do you write alone in a quiet organized area, or do you venture out to scribble while on a crowded train into the city?

Crisis doesn't care about your comfort zone. In fact, crisis requires that you step out of your comfort zone and complete tasks sans your comforts.

So, instead of waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting . . . and becoming more anxious about the fact that your perfect conditions for writing are too far out of reach, just start writing. Keep a writing instrument and something to write on with you at all times. And just start writing.

By calling upon yourself to do something in a time of crisis or in less than ideal conditions, you will not only improve your abilities to perform the task, you will quite possibly find that you gain a different perspective and understanding of the task at hand.

What better way to develop an exciting plot twist than to use your own life's plot twist as a catalyst?

2) Find ways to make writing part of the solution. For many young and novice writers, writing can, at first, seem to be part of the problem. What I mean by this is, writers sometimes see their writing practice as a problem to be solved, something 'other' that must be delicately folded into the otherwise normal aspects of the life they already possess.

When crises arise, even experienced writers may be tempted to put their writing on the back-burner, unable to justify fitting their writing habit into the day-to-day of managing difficult and threatening situations.

But if writing is your love, your passion, and your sanity, find ways to make writing a part of navigating and overcoming crises. Maybe the answer is submitting to trade magazines and trying your hand at freelance work. Perhaps writing a policy note or program evaluation note relevant to a job opportunity is the answer. You may even find that your crisis and your response to the crisis are excellent fodder for a personal essay or book. Write a proposal and see what hits.

Facing crises should not mean temporarily putting aside our paints, our pens, our dancing shoes, our music, or whatever activities we, for whatever reason, deem as impractical to finding appropriate solutions. These are the times when we need to harness our creativity and make use of our passions.


If you are going through some difficult times in your life, don't give up on the things that make you happy. The things that give you joy make enduring crises worth the struggle. 

Hang in there and happy writing!

2 Unconventional Tips for Starting Any Writing Project

If you have any experience in writing, you will understand me when I say that sometimes you have to stop and listen to what you have written. 

For academics, especially, we can fall into the habit of mashing and smashing words into a page to MAKE. THEM. FIT. *exasperated sigh*

But words, stories, and even written reports are, if you will permit me, alive and not easily bullied into existence. 

When we ask ourselves and our students to take a step back from writing before continuing to proofread or make additions or revisions, what we're really saying is that we need to listen to what we've written and ask ourselves 1) if what we hear is what we meant to say and 2) whether our writing is giving us hints as to where to go next with our project. 

But what if you struggle to put words on a page in the first place? What if you find yourself staring at a blank page attempting to divine some sort of message from beyond about how to even begin your writing project? 

How do you listen to your writing before you've put pen to paper?

Keep Your Inspiration Close at Hand

If you're sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper or a blank screen frustrated that you cannot seem to find a way to begin your project, I'm going to assume that something has inspired the content of what you are about to write. 

What is that inspiration? A book you read recently? A photograph? A conversation you overheard? A cause? A news article?

Kurt Vonnegut mug (thank you, Brother!), novel notebook,
and the picture that first inspired The Translator

Whatever it was that made you sit down and think, "This is what I'm going to write about," have that close at hand. 

The photograph that gave me the idea for The Translator sits framed on my desk. I've been known to take it with me when I write in other locations. I also have a copy of my father's end of tour report for his Volunteer Physicians for Vietnam position. That hangs just behind me in my office. 

When I work on my PhD and other academic or policy writing projects, I have news reports and pictures from the field that keep me working, keep me pushing to think deeper and write clearer. When I remember that the substantive focus of my research is often the reality of others, I am inspired to start writing from that place of purpose and urgency. 

Sometimes, just by having inspiring images and stories around you, you will hear what it is about those things that makes you want to write and that is where you start.

Don't Always Start at the Beginning

When you tell someone a story out loud, how do you go about doing so? Do you start with the punch-line? Do you provide an exorbitant amount of background information before you begin? Do you introduce the lesson or theme first?

Now, when you're writing, how do you begin? 

Most of us will admit that, more often than not, we start writing with the introductory sentence. Then we muddle through the beginning paragraphs, careful not to stuff them with too much information, but cognizant of any lagging that might occur. 

And then we obsess over those first few pages that we begin to lose our direction. This often leads to abandoned projects or, in the case of academic writing, really sloppy drafts.

Try this:

Start at the end. Or, start at a point (be it a scene, or an argument, or other aspect of your project) that you find particularly interesting about what you are writing. 

Read this. Seriously.

Just write it down. And keep writing until you start to hear the story unfold. You may gain greater insight into what is necessary in your introduction or first chapters. If you begin in the middle, you may find that you can assess what needs to happen before your pivotal point and what must necessarily come after.

In the First William Morrow Deluxe Modern Classic Edition (2014) of John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, the author describes his process of beginning a novel with the end in mind. It is only after he understands how the book will end that John Irving writes a killer first sentence that is both intriguing and relevant to the entire novel. 

However you choose to begin your writing project, remember that the best way to stick with that project is to trust in your process. By honoring your own writing process and allowing yourself to find your own method of writing, you will not only produce better writing, but you will find yourself striving to see these projects through to completion. 

Happy writing!

Tuesday Tips: Managing Multiple Projects (with a free printable project planning sheet)

In the interest of consistency, and as an experiment to see whether my abstract sequential mind can handle it, I am declaring Tuesday "Tips for Writers Tuesday." I don't necessarily want to inundate my readers with too many or too few "writing tips" posts. This was the solution that came to mind.

So mote it be.

What are the best practices for writers handling multiple projects?

This is a question that I receive (and also ask) frequently. I think the people that have the best solutions for multiple projects are 1) freelance writers and 2) prolific academics. Below are four tips for managing multiple projects (including a free printable planning sheet!)

Multiple project management can be broken down into two categories: physical management and intellectual management. Physical management has to do with how you organize your materials and time. Intellectual management has to do with how you many your ideas and productivity.


Physical Management:

1. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of maintaining an organized filing system. And for project management, you're going to want something more than a simple hanging folder for all the materials included in the project. In fact, you should be keeping, not only the latest materials and drafts, but your notes and previous drafts, as well.

These manilla folders with multiple tab sections are amazing. I've tried other folders that include project sections, but these are much less cumbersome.

2. A project planning sheet is, in essence, a glorified task manager. I develop one for every project I pursue, even if I'm still not 100% sure if the project is going to make through to submission. Sometimes, because of timing or other interferences, we must make choices about what projects we develop. These project planning sheets allow you to place projects in 'purgatory' without losing any work you've already done until you let them go, or until you can come back to them later.

If you are interested in using my version of a project planning sheet, head on over to the Printables page on this blog for a free pdf.

Intellectual Management:

3. Honor your ideas, thoughts, and mental processes. Always keep a notepad or something to write with on your person at all times. No idea, no thought is insignificant. You can sift through these at a later time, but as you write them down, you'll find that, added together, these little thoughts can lead to big revelations.

4. Block out your time, but be realistic. I know that it takes me, on average, about 15 minutes in the morning to get into my 'zone.' In the evening, I know it takes even longer. Don't try to cram an entire day's worth of work into an hour-long period. If you're strapped for time, choose to tackle tasks that fit the timeframe.

The bottom line is, you should know where you've been, where you are, and where you're going on each and every project you have going at any point in time. Color code these projects onto a master calendar for added accountability. But always keep your project planner and your notes updated.

For other writing tips, check out the other posts on this blog and head over to my Pinterest page for writers (on the right column of this page).

Happy writing!

A Brief Comment on Sia's 'Elastic Heart'

This, on repeat.

I realize that there has been some outcry that the video displays pedophile-esque images. I understand this perspective, but I would submit that the artistry in the video calls for dancers/actors that represent two aspects of human nature that are, in many respects, opposed to one another.  

The first time I heard this song, I had to stop what I was doing and listen to it again. The lyrics speak to a particular time in my life when I felt like I was being forced to choose between being compassionate and engaging on the one hand or unfeeling and untouchable on the other. The video, from my perspective, represents this battle beautifully.

4 Essential Books for Writers of Fiction and Non-Fiction

 I love books. Probably a little too much.

My partner and my close friends know that, if I'm curious about a topic, or if I feel like I need to educate myself, I head to the library first, Google second.

There's just something about having the time and space to flip through a book, to hold it in your hands, bookmark some important pages, come back to it later . . . I loves me some books.*

Having said that, I wanted to share several of the books that I have found useful to the pursuit of developing myself as a writer, both in fiction and nonfiction. Although the following selections lean more toward the realm of nonfiction, I'll be sure to post some of my fiction writing favorites in a subsequent post.

Developing Your Platform & Promoting Your Work

I don't care who you are - Even if only part of your gig is getting people to notice your writing, you need to do three things:

1) Establish an online social media presence,

2) make your work accessible to people beyond bookshelves, academic journals, and trade magazines,

and 3) give people the opportunity understand and connect with who you are as a professional beyond the work that you have published.

Blogging for Writers
In this fabulously illustrated 176-page how-to for blogging, Robin Houghton provides several examples of how writers have successfully maintained blogs and, as a result, have enjoyed writing success beyond selling individual pieces. While the book focuses on building blogs on Wordpress and Blogger, the tips for how to design your blog, what to post, and how to grow an audience apply to all platforms.

Create Your Writer Platform
What I love about this how-to book by Chuck Sambuchino is that the author includes, not only the necessary steps to developing a platform, but descriptions of what a platform is, why it's necessary, and how successful authors have built their own platforms. (In case you were wondering, your platform is "your visibility as an author.") Seriously, find this book and, if you're skeptical, just start reading the third chapter, "The 12 Fundamental Principles of Platform." You'll be hooked, I guarantee.

"Oh, but Jennifer, I'm a graduate student. All I need is a well-put together professional website that contains links to my Twitter feed and LinkedIn profile, a place where people can view my CV and read about my current projects."

My friends, what you have is the beginnings of a professional platform. If you want to slam-dunk your academic job interviews and applications, demonstrate that you have a following, that you are engaged in work that is not just "unique," but that is useful and necessary, and if you do decide to venture into the realm of praxis, you will be well-equipped to make the change. Future employers love a one-stop shop for preliminary vetting.

 For Those Graduate Student Types

I have two publications that each and every one of you should have in your arsenal.

Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write & Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation
This book changed the way I thought about my dissertation and my entire PhD experience. I bought it after I had passed my final qualifying exams. I was experiencing a phenomenon that I've heard other PhD students discuss: the emotional intersection between having completed all purely didactic requirements and beginning the dissertation phase of the degree. Depression, anxiety, and exhaustion, peppered with a few existential crises . . . such is the rite of passage, it would seem, for all doctoral students.

Fear not! This surprisingly humorous and well-organized book by Dr. Patrick Dunleavy (a Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science) should be the first thing you read before you begin your dissertation (indeed, before you begin your prospectus). Dunleavy goes into great detail of how to approach each section of your dissertation and how to organize the entire document in such a way that your committee will have an easier time evaluating your work, and you will be proud to put your name on it.

But seriously, you have to pick up a copy. Open to any page, read a couple paragraphs, and then stop kidding yourself and buy a it. Mine is dog-eared, highlighted, written over, and nearly broken in half at the spine. You'll want your own copy, trust me.

Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success
This is not so much of a book as a 350-page academic writers' workshop that you can come back to time and time again for free. Dr. Wendy Laura Belcher (a Professor of African literature at Princeton) not only outlines the steps necessary to write and submit a successful article in a 12-week period, but she helps the reader develop their writing style and habit, something with which young scholars often struggle. The book is flush with worksheets to plan, organize, and revise your writing. There are also helpful tips regarding how to target your audience and select appropriate publications for submission. Unless you're one of the fortunate souls to have attended Dr. Belcher's courses on academic writing, I highly suggest giving this book a try.


I hope these brief reviews are useful in providing some preliminary resources for your writing life. It is my intention to continue to post similar reviews of the resources that I have found helpful. If you have any questions about these publications, or if you would like suggestions for books regarding other aspects of writing, please let me know. I would be happy to help if I am able.

Happy writing!

*Let it be known that, here, I'm referring to my love of non-fiction books. But do not misunderstand. I have read (and own!) every book that Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. ever wrote. I also love classic English and American literature, poetry, and literature from the African continent. Books are just the best!

Responding to Readers' Questions

Since I began this blog at the first of the year, I have received a few messages via my personal Facebook page. Some of them contain questions that, instead of just replying individually, I thought I might answer publicly here:

1) Can you come teach a class on writing at the high school where I work? For a day or two? Or more?

The answer is yes! However, I would either need to do this via Skype, when I happen to be in your area visiting, or if we can work together to find a way to fund a visit.

I have experience teaching creative and nonfiction writing in academic and informal settings. My experiences performing stage theater for over 9 years and teaching at the college level for 6 years have allowed me to hone my public speaking and audience interaction skills. I have worked with children as young as 7 years and adults as young as 65.

Teaching and mentoring the writing process is probably one of my greatest joys outside of my mainstream career. Message me so we can talk about what you'd like to do for your students.

2) Are you writing a book? It sounds like you're writing a book.

I am. Currently, I am working on a full-length reflexive historical novel set in the 60s & 70s in Vietnam. While the setting is the height of the Vietnam-American war, the story goes beyond the conflict. The book is based on my father's experience as a Volunteer Physician for Vietnam, the trip that my father and I took to the areas where he served in Vietnam, and my own research in conflict processes and transitional justice.

The name of the book is The Translator. You should expect to see excerpts on this blog throughout the year. For now, you can visit the book's website.

Behold: A non-graphic designer's interpretation of my future novel's cover.

I am also working on a series of personal essays for individual publication, but that I hope will be compiled into a single book-length publication.

Finally, I have my dissertation and my Dissertation. The Dissertation will be pitched to publishers by June 2015.

3) How much coffee do you drink?

Copious amounts.

4) I thought you were in politics or something. What exactly is it that you do, again?

I have degrees Political Science and Public Health, the specific foci of which are International Relations, Comparative Politics, Conflict Management, Violence, Transitional Justice, and Methods.

Currently, I am the Global Health & Governance Advisor to Peptineo, Inc., an innovative pharmaceutical company developing solutions to the Ebola crisis. My other interests and positions include serving as a conflict analyst, community-based participatory research advisor, and monitoring & evaluation specialist for complex situations in resource-poor areas.

If you want to know more about what I do and what I've done, feel free to pop over to my professional website or my LinkedIn profile.

5) What process do you use to keep yourself organized? I'm working towards my PhD and I feel like I can never find the best way to stay organized (and sane!).

I hear you. Everyone is different with regards to how they process and retain information, so your organizational style may be very different from mine. However, I can tell you that I almost always do the following to keep it pulled together:

I am an abstract sequential thinker. Even though I have a lot of things going on in my workspace, all of those things are where they belong at the end of the day. It's truly organized chaos.

• Use a pen/paper planner. 
• Use folders with labels to organize loose papers (even if you only have a couple pages to store).
• Make your planner the first and last thing you look at during your work day. And check in often.
• Organize your books or research materials by project. If you're really committed, create a project folder and list the books or materials required to complete it.
• Create progress reports for your projects. Update these, even if it's a quick note to mention successes or disappointments. Keeping a record makes you accountable and keeps you honest.

I have more tips, but I'll leave those for a future post. I can also share my own progress reports, planner pages, etc. in future posts. 

That's it for now, but keep the questions (and the encouragement!) coming. If there's a topic you'd like see on this blog, feel free to make a suggestion. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy writing!

3 Ways to Confront Writer's Fatigue

Let's be real.

Some days, it is really really difficult to get anything done, let alone work that gives you anxiety for one reason or another. 

If you are like me, you are often pulled in different directions because your curiosity gets the best of you. I love to learn and I love to get involved in activities and groups that I find interesting. My problem is, I don't know when to put on the breaks.

It is absolutely insane for me to be working on a dissertation (remotely), a full-length novel, personal essays for magazine publication, and consultant research.

But I am. 

And you know what?

I'm producing the work that I need to produce. I am completing projects of which I am proud. And I very much enjoy the writing process. So while I can't say that I am always in love with all aspects of what I do, I can say that the privilege of writing, of making the written word a central part of what I give to the world, gets me out of bed and in my office when my anxiety and frustration are maxed out.

Starting my work day with a bowl of coffee and the cover of my novel on my desktop. I don't work on my novel every single day, but having this cover on my desktop never fails to inspire me to keep going.

Not everyone is great at multi-tasking. I actually don't consider myself a multi-tasker. I consider myself well equipped to compartmentalize, at least with regard to intellectual and writing pursuits. But if I had a dime for each day that I struggled to move beyond feelings of anxiety, despair, frustration, and even fear with regard to my writing projects, I would be able to concentrate on nothing but finishing my novel. In a large cabin. By a lake. With room service.

Here are three ways that I deal with writer's fatigue. I hope they are useful to you, or at least provoke your own thoughts regarding how you might better manage whatever obstacles keep you from enjoying your writer's life:

1) It really is, honestly, okay to say no. I still struggle with this statement. Saying no, from my perspective, means missing out on opportunities for myself, as well as opportunities to help others. But what I have learned is the more I say 'yes,' the more I forget meetings and deadlines, the more stress I put on my personal relationships, and the lower the quality of my work.

2) You do you, even when others don't quite get it. This is not to say that you shouldn't take into consideration the constructive criticism you are bound to get. I live for constructive criticism, probably to a fault. I've had to learn that, not only is it okay to stick to your guns, so to speak, but in doing so, you're not just producing material, you are producing material that is uniquely you and, therefore, value added to the world.

3) Allow yourself to dream and get excited about your dreams. Everyone has seen those tag lines that implore us to 'follow your dreams.' My father always reminded me that dreams are just dreams unless you turn them into goals. This is true. But if you don't allow yourself to think beyond your measurable goals, you run the risk of losing the energy and excitement that led you to those goals in the first place.

For more tips for writers, check out the other posts on this blog, or visit my Write. Just Write. Pinterest board.

Happy writing!

Cat Photo Bomb #1

Wanted to take a selfie of my cute new wool hat. But it seems as though not everyone is amused.

. . . Soon . . . 

For Fiction to Work, You Must Know Your Truth

I have helped many middle school and high school students hone their fiction writing skills through private tutoring and supplemental educational programs. Fiction writing was, for many of them, a struggle. Many viewed this practice as antithetical to the pursuit of education, given what they understood as the nature of fiction writing.

I have a theory about fiction. For fiction to work, you must know your truth.

When reading and critiquing students' work, I would often sit down with them, one-on-one, and ask them how the story they wrote conveys their truth. Not surprisingly, this inquiry would often provoke questioning and confused looks from the student.

To clarify, I would ask, "What is it about this story that is truthful?"

"I don't know, it's fiction. I made it up."

"There's nothing about this story that speaks to something that you know to be true, either through experience or education?"

"What does that matter. It's fiction."

What these students didn't realize was that fiction is a form of truth-telling. The storyline, the characters, the setting - these may all be fictitious in the sense that they have not or do not exist in the world as we know it, but ask any author and they will tell you from whence these fictitious elements came.

The fiction of authors comes from a place of personal truth, a yearning to tell a story so that these kernels of truth can be shared in a way that is both entertaining and evocative. 

And why, you may ask, do I use phrases such as "personal truth" and "what you know to be true," rather than "facts?" The answer is that each and every one of us experiences the world differently. Facts are facts, these are not subject to interpretation. But how we perceive the world, the value we add to what we observe, these behaviors create a personal truth about the world for every individual.

Sharing your personal truth and relating to the truth of others is part of the craft of being a writer. But first, you must know yourself and you must know your truth.

In Kabale, Uganda. As a researcher, I am humbled to have the opportunity to hear others' personal truths.

I use these three tactics for finding my personal truth:

1) Journal Pick a thought or action that is particularly interesting to at the moment. Maybe it's something that happened that day, maybe it's something you've been thinking about for a while. Hash it out in your journal. Your thoughts on paper may surprise you.

2) Make Lists Choose a category and simply write the first 20 things that come to mind. Your category may be serious ("Things of Which I Am Terrified") or light-hearted ("Things That Always Make Me Smile"). The point is to reach into places in yourself that have not been called upon to speak up.

3) Practice Honesty This is not a writing exercise, but rather a challenge to be mindful of your truth in everyday activities and decision-making. Why do you make the decisions you do? Would you have made a different decision under different circumstances? How does your decision affect you? Others?

Try these out for a while and see how your writing changes as you learn more about yourself. Infuse your writing with your truth and you'll notice how much more interesting and magnetic your writing
feels.

The #1 Mistake That Novice Writers Make

What is the one thing that I have found sets successful, veteran writers apart from the rest?

They research well before they write. 

I have been a member of several writers groups in states and cities all over the U.S., including Colorado Springs, Indianapolis, and Albuquerque. As I became familiar with the various personalities and habits of my fellow writers, I wondered what really set those whom I saw as "successful" apart from those who seemed to be stuck in a holding pattern.

Part of my "research wall" for my historical fiction novel.

The answer wasn't that some had published more than others or that some wrote more than others or that some were more disciplined than others. These characteristics, I concluded, weren't measuring the quality of the writing. 

The writers that captured their audiences and left them wanting more, the writers who were excited to sit down and begin writing day after day, and the writers that seemed to have a much better time of making a living from their writing all had one thing in common.

They took the time to research their topic, subject, storyline in one way or another.

For example, two of my writer friends are science fiction authors. Writer A appears much more confident in discussing his projects, has very little difficulty sitting down and writing, is much more disciplined in his writing, and has a talent for making his science fiction believable. I'm not a science fiction person, but the detail and strength of what Writer A produces is enough to draw me in and keep me there.

Writer B, on the other hand, struggled for years to produce a book that could sell. He wrote all the time. But he appeared frustrated with the process, was often at a loss for where to take his stories, and his writing suffered from a lack of depth. While I liked the work that this writer produced, I didn't feel a need to keep reading, nor did I wait impatiently for the next installment.

During one of our meetings, Writer B finally asked Writer A what his secret was. Writer A asked how much research Writer B had done prior to writing. 

"As much as I needed to," was the answer from Writer B.

Writer A responded with, "Unless you're in the library or on a search engine, interviewing people, going to places and observing, unless you've collected a college course's worth of information, you may not be ready to write."

Then, Writer A pulled out a mechanic's book and a physics textbook from his bag.

"These," he said, "are references I always refer to when I write. Because so much of my storyline involves science and technology, I try to be as accurate as possible."

"But you write science fiction," Writer B replied.

"If you can't write science, you can't write fiction."

I believe this advice goes for writers of all genres. I'm a political scientist and a public health professional (not to mention a caped crusader by night), so I am well aware of the need for research in order to make writing rich and believable. But I had no idea how valuable my research skills would be until I started writing a full-length historical fiction novel.

Part of my own library - only three of the books on these shelves are fiction.

Subsequent posts will go through some of my processes of research for writing, but for now, remember these three tips for researching your story before you write.

Be organized.

Be thorough.

Be curious.

Now, get thee to the library!

How Quiet Works to Promote Creativity (In Four Steps)

I am a quiet person. Usually.

I'm introverted and introspective. I also enjoy observing people (although, interacting with folks on an intellectual level is also engaging for me). My thoughts are lengthy and often complete. If I feel as though I haven't thought through something long enough or in enough detail to be satisfying, I write it down to return to it later.

All of this, even in a crowd, at a concert, at a party, you name it.

My favorite and most productive quiet sessions are among trees and nature.

Naturally, I like quiet. But there is a difference between sensory void (like outer space, which honestly creeps me out) and a lack of high auditory stimulus. For me, "loud noises" range from fireworks to a flock of chirping birds to a marching band, to boats motoring back and forth on a lake.

I much prefer the quiet.

What I find is that some folks who are trying to make a habit out of meditation or working in silence become frustrated when a lack of high auditory stimulus doesn't provoke insight or creativity.

But silence does not beget insight. Silence is not always followed by creativity.

In fact, when I began my writing practice, and even my meditation practice, the silence that I loved so much began to frustrate me. Why, oh why, when I have these precious pockets of time when my brain and my body final relax can't I just pick up a pen and write the next Great American Novel?!?

Pavlov's dog provided the answer.

It wasn't enough to sit in silence waiting for creativity to happen. I had to tell my brain what I wanted from this moment, to channel the freedom and peace that came with silence into something creative and useful to my enterprise.

Here are the four steps I used to accomplish my Pavlov's response to quiet:

1) Create quiet moments every day starting out with only a fraction of what you are used to having available (For me, this was 20 minutes. For others, it may be more like 5 or 45 minutes).

2) During your designated quiet time, just begin to do the thing that it is you want to do during that quiet moment. If it's writing, just starting free-writing with no agenda. If it's meditation, focus on your favorite mantra or image. Set a timer, if you wish. Just keep doing whatever activity you choose for the entire allotted quiet time.

3) Before you throw yourself back into the world after your designated quiet working time, allow yourself to sit back, recognize your accomplishment, and enjoy a little unfocused quiet time. Sometimes, I'll go for a quiet walk for five or ten minutes after a quiet working session.

4) Do this every day (if you can) for 66 days in a row. (If you want to know why "66 days," check out this post on setting goals.)

While my partner is on the slopes of Vermont, I'm cozy in the cabin catching up on some writing projects.

Once you've gone through these steps, you should have developed a response to quiet that says, "Hey, not only do I feel more relaxed and revived in this quiet space, but I also have a strong desire to be creative, introspective, etc."

With this response, you will spend less time stressing over making the most of your quiet time and more time making the quiet work in your favor.

Waking and Writing: Creating a Manageable Routine

This blog was never meant to be a "writing advice" blog, but given enough time, eventually some tidbits about the writing process are bound to surface. This is one of them.

I am an early riser. I relish in getting up before most of the people on my street and in my city. I enjoy experiencing what life has to offer those who awake before dawn. 

My routine, before I began the work of making writing a part of my life and career, was to go for a run as soon as I climbed out of bed. I kept my running clothes and gear as close to the bed as possible. I put my running shoes on before I left my bedroom. I ran before school. I ran before the local cross country team was practicing. I was that serious about making running a central part of my morning routine.

So why does it seem so difficult to stick to the same routine with writing?

The answer, I believe, has to do with the nature of the behavior that is being highlighted. It's easy to stick to a healthy routine when the results, the rewards, and the kudos received are tangible and fairly immediate. 

Everyone knew I was a runner. Neighbors would comment on how they wished they had my energy and willpower. I knew I could enter races all over town, and often did. My physique reflected my routine. I felt healthy. I felt in control. I felt accomplished.

And so keeping my routine became fairly uncomplicated. 

Based on what made my morning running routine so enjoyable, I've created a list of four ways to accomplish a similar morning routine for writing:

1) Measurable Results With writing, the fruits of our labor are less visible, even to the writer. We may sit at our computer or our journal and write for an hour, only to realize that perhaps a fraction of what we have written is "acceptable" to our enterprise. Rather than measure your success on the edited version of whatever you have just written (a version that, I'm willing to bet, is mostly in your head), use word counts or page counts to mark your progress. Leave the critiques to a later date, or after so many words/pages.

My partner is half Norwegian. I was blessed to engage in some morning writing at this beautiful location outside of Oslo.

2) Recognition of Your Efforts No one may know the extent to which you are dedicated to your writing. But you do. While others may not label you a writer, either because they don't know what you do for a living or because they don't know exactly what a writer does ("Can you make a living doing that?"), if you know you are dedicated to the practice and a writer's life, call yourself a writer. That's the first step to letting others know about your commitment. Who knows? Maybe a friend of a friend is an agent and is curious to see your work!

I also collect typewriters. It seems impractical, but I am inspired by these writing instruments of yesteryear.

3) Confidence to Take Next Steps If you are anything like me, you may have difficulty letting go of your writing, allowing others to read it and provide feedback. But if you are serious about your writing and making a living from it, you must allow your work to be criticized (and praised!). The more you write, the more confidence you will have. The more you submit, the more you will grow as a writer. 

4) Set Yourself Up for Success Making a morning routine of writing, for me, meant three things:

1. Creating a space dedicated to nothing but the practice of writing.
2. Insisting that, no matter what, writing always came first in the day. If my partner and I were leaving the house at 6a for a trip into the mountains, I knew I needed to be writing no later than 5a. 
3. Incorporating pleasantries in my writing routine. Freshly brewed coffee in my favorite mug, fuzzy slippers, inspirational pictures and quotes on my office walls . . . even investing in my favorite writing pads and pens. These are all delights that make me want to get up first thing to be by myself and write.

Working on a doctoral dissertation, research projects in partnerships across the globe, and a historical fiction novel can be daunting. But starting the day just by sitting down and writing puts everything into perspective.

By focusing on these four, small changes, you can begin to develop your own routine that you will then have to protect and nurture in order to develop a habit. But just like other routines, you will have good days and bad days. 

One of the things I was most proud of as a runner was that, even if I felt less than my best, even if I didn't make the four miles I had intended, I always always laced up my shoes and left my house with the intent to run. That behavior, in and of itself, was probably 90% of the reason why I ended up running, even just a mile or two, every morning.

The same goes for writing. In order to develop a serious habit, you have to give yourself (and your writing) a fighting chance. Get up, pour that coffee, sit your butt in your chair, and write.

If you are interested in reading the writing advice I have gleaned from others, follow my Write. Just Write. Pinterest board.

The Myth of the "Clean Slate"

I hear a lot of talk about "starting with a clean slate" at the beginning of a new calendar year.

But guess what?

It doesn't work that way.

None of us can start completely from scratch. No one is absolved of their histories. We can't erase what's already been done. And we certainly can't wipe clean any of our actions or deeds from the memories of others.

So be it.

Having a "clean slate," so to speak, is overrated. Chances are, you wouldn't even be considering "turning over a new leaf" or "taking a plunge" or whatever mantra-esque resolution you've proposed for this new year if it were not for the journey you have already taken.

Perhaps I'm alone here, but I embrace the successes, failures, good times, and less than good times that have brought me to where I am. I've had some unbelievable highs and some debilitating lows. But none of that goes away at the turn of the year, no matter how hard I will away the past.

Swimming in Uganda - one of my favorite memories of 2014.

The only "clean slate" we can hope to have in the new year (or at any point in life when you're ready to make a change) is a solemn vow that we take, perhaps known only to ourselves, that we are going to practice a new way of living, working, loving, being, what-have-you.

Go ahead and declare this time of year as the beginning of your "clean slate." Just don't fall prey to the illusion that your past no longer matters. Our pasts, our histories, are not meant to weigh us down like so many chains. Rather, who we have been creates potential for who we are to become.

Happy New Year and cheers to becoming the truest form of yourself!