tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post6502021982641160909..comments2024-03-26T17:32:38.865-04:00Comments on YA Outside the Lines: Fake it until you make it - April Henry's tips for successBrian Katcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159532800819759917noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-49782462004993367082011-05-20T09:52:32.289-04:002011-05-20T09:52:32.289-04:00I Just love everything about this post! But I espe...I Just love everything about this post! But I especially love the don't feel guilty about reading advice. I often save it as a treat and I shouldn't!Alix https://www.blogger.com/profile/04684209302932310537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-49334325345857428082011-05-06T00:33:38.841-04:002011-05-06T00:33:38.841-04:00Great tips, April- thanks! I've been trying to...Great tips, April- thanks! I've been trying to follow Ray Bradbury's advice, similar to the Fast 500, which is to write as soon as you wake up and profit from that conscious/dream state.Amy-Baskin.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02456111597354561225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-64546985577498000472011-05-05T23:01:42.254-04:002011-05-05T23:01:42.254-04:00Thanks for these tips. Butt in Chair! I also think...Thanks for these tips. Butt in Chair! I also think I ought to try those Fast 500. No excuses :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-42500642332334124922011-05-05T20:04:59.873-04:002011-05-05T20:04:59.873-04:00Great tips. Especially the "you can edit crap...Great tips. Especially the "you can edit crap, but you can't edit nothing" motto. A tip that works well for me is to end in the middle of a chapter, or, if you don't write chapters, end in the middle of something that you could potentially go on with. When you go back to it later, there is no "writer's block". You pick up momentum right away. (At least I do.) I can't remember where I picked that tip up from but it's worked wonders for avoiding the blank screen trance. Thanks for the great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-74570698236447480022011-05-05T19:40:03.756-04:002011-05-05T19:40:03.756-04:00James Scott Bell recommends something like The Fas...James Scott Bell recommends something like The Fast 500. It's sitting down very early in the day and getting out 500 words. I've been trying it and it really starts the day off right (or write).April Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193292966301864407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-4323495728710679932011-05-05T18:09:57.260-04:002011-05-05T18:09:57.260-04:00Great article and list. One thing that really wor...Great article and list. One thing that really works for me is to get at it early. Like so early I am not fully awake. Before I have time to argue with myself about the lack of inspiration and how pulling weeds in the garden is more important. If I do this, I find that by the time I 'wake up' I am on a roll.<br />Writer ChickWriter Chickhttp://writerchick.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-11568128299089282202011-05-05T17:54:53.112-04:002011-05-05T17:54:53.112-04:00Excellent suggestions. Amazing how I will fight th...Excellent suggestions. Amazing how I will fight the Butt-in-chair technique when I'm struggling with a scene. I can get my butt in chair, now I need little shackles to keep my fingers from net surfing!Vicky Alvear Shecterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570828339389206203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-14927577800418833922011-05-05T17:19:11.092-04:002011-05-05T17:19:11.092-04:00Yes, yes to pushing yourself, if only for fifteen ...Yes, yes to pushing yourself, if only for fifteen minutes. Often that's the difference between being panicked or not if I'm stuck or don't have a lot of time. And I write on a laptop on which the internet connection is off except to update security. If I need to look up something or go on line I have to move to another computer. It helps me avoid those on line time sucks.Joy Preblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00532958575068320212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-74396398054247079922011-05-05T16:01:01.869-04:002011-05-05T16:01:01.869-04:00"Butt in chair" is my writing group'..."Butt in chair" is my writing group's motto. If you don't do that, nothing else really matters!<br /><br />Terrific post!Jan Blazaninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01085118289400659555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-87112958939124402592011-05-05T14:09:16.302-04:002011-05-05T14:09:16.302-04:00Freaking brilliant!!!! I especially love "You...Freaking brilliant!!!! I especially love "You can edit crap. You can't edit nothing."Jenny O'Connellhttp://www.jennyoconnell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-2632145417882410432011-05-05T10:57:51.416-04:002011-05-05T10:57:51.416-04:00I'm not a writer, but as a visual artist these...I'm not a writer, but as a visual artist these rules still fit. Perhaps they can be generalized to any creative endeavor? Obviously you'd need to tailor to fit the craft, but that's not too hard to do.amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360877947143272580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-63409007974099800932011-05-05T10:27:04.258-04:002011-05-05T10:27:04.258-04:00Fantastic post! It's so easy to get distracted...Fantastic post! It's so easy to get distracted or make excuses even as a full time writer. I find I'm constantly making deals with myself when I plan for the day--and almost always hit the mark I set. We have the BEST job!Patti Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168127105768532144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-7843728361120276972011-05-05T10:02:56.702-04:002011-05-05T10:02:56.702-04:00oh I love these tips! I do many of them but what a...oh I love these tips! I do many of them but what a great reminder from a pro, and in a handy dandy list form :-) Thanks for sharing!<br /><br />The butt in chair is the one I use the most. If I force myself to write, even or especially when I'm not feeling it, I always break through that wall eventually. But you're right: you can't edit nothing. :-)Rachel Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02711443001167188505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-56243628273875538722011-05-05T09:57:52.505-04:002011-05-05T09:57:52.505-04:00Words of wisdom as usual, April!!!Words of wisdom as usual, April!!!Janet Gurtlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378521577302320423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-8518805888242327562011-05-05T08:14:26.707-04:002011-05-05T08:14:26.707-04:00Great tips! I especially like the one about readi...Great tips! I especially like the one about reading being part of the job. I usually feel guilty about reading when I should be putting my own words to paper, but this might change my attitude!<br /><br />Erin @ <a href="http://oneyeartowrite.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Quitting My Day Job</a>Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17617151224505912914noreply@blogger.com