The ABCs of the writing process are up to you.We're going to look at the ABCs of the writing process in both a literal way and from the perspective of a useful writing activity to get your creative juices flowing. Click for Free Writer's Block Help E-Zine and Free E-Book First and foremost, take each letter of the alphabet, starting with A, B, and C, and consider a word related to writing that has helped you out of a writer's block dilemma. See some writing help tools for even more ideas besides the ones below if you find yourself wondering what other ways exist to overcome your writer's block. Here are the beginnings of my own ABCs of the writing process: A is for Ammunition. My reservoir of writing techniques serves as my ammunition to get the ball rolling. I work hard to come up with new ideas each and every day to share not only with you, but with myself, as I work on my own young adult novel and other writing endeavors. Ammunition does not have to only be construed as a negative word. People hear the word and think of guns and violence. However, in this case, as part of the ABCs of the writing process, it is to be understood as the driving force behind my writing. Each new idea I consider, from triple decker writing prompts to writing with euphemisms, anachronisms, or the like is a part of the vast store of ammunition I have made a stockpile of on the road to writing my own novel. B is for Bravery. I am not afraid to take risks. I want to stand out and make my writing shine. I make a point of including conflict and tension in my stories to make the end results all that much more magical for my readers. My characters must struggle through their own dilemmas and emotions, but they must also find ways to overcome these same struggles. Sometimes that is not possible, and that is what makes for more emotional, substantial details that lend themselves well to pulling at the heartstrings of my readers and making them feel deeply for the characters I have created. C is for Collection. I have a large collection of books, poetry, websites, and other information that I use when I feel stuck. I read books by authors who have written in the genre I am interested in, and I make a point of learning more about the author by analyzing why they chose to write in a certain way, why they made the characters act in a certain way, etc. It is important to have a collection of writings by other people in order to learn your craft well. D is for Decisions. Making decisions can be quite hard at times, not only in our own lives, but in our writing. Even if you are writing fiction, the reality of the writing must set in as you embrace the lives of the characters and realize that you must make decisions that can affect the outcomes of their lives. Remember that creating conflict is not the worst thing to do, as there must be some sense of urgency throughout your writing in order to make it believable and realistic. You might have your readers suspend disbelief, but you also might want them to feel grounded in reality at times. Pick your moments wisely, and make the most of your writing as you do so. E is for Energy. Never lose the vivacity and excitement that you have when you first begin writing something that strikes your fancy. Stay on the rollercoaster of your writing, and let it take you on all the twists and turns that it can until you have completed your work. F is for Freedom. You have the freedom to write to your heart's content. You can write a novel-in-verse like Sonya Sones does, or you can write a short story that chronicles the top headline on the news for the day. You can write about the way the sun feels on your skin as you take a brisk walk outside, or you can jot down notes about your favorite TV show and see where your mind leads you as you try to come up with an idea for a TV pilot all your own. You are at liberty to make revisions, additions, and concessions within your writing until it is written to your satisfaction. G is for Gravity. Keep your feet on the ground. Even if you are writing a novel of fantasy or science fiction, do not go so far as to become totally unbelievable to your readers. You want to convey a sense of comprehension for your readers, and they may lack that if you get too into ridiculous notions that they are not apt to understand. If you do choose to write silly, goofy, ridiculous stories or poems, that's fine. Just make sure that the context is right. Do not write in this way if you haven't prefaced your work in such a way that it will be comprehensible. I is for Instinct. Use your instincts. Intuition is a strong tool at your disposal, and if you feel something is right or wrong for your story, trust your thoughts. However, it can't hurt to make a note of that which you choose not to include, as you never know how it might come in handy in the future. If you don't write it down, you are more likely to forget it. Keep all your thoughts, as you never know when they might become useful and creatively stimulating in a way you never considered before. J is for Jello. This sounds like a silly one, but in fact, it makes sense when you think about it. When you make jello, you have to leave it in the refrigerator for a while before it becomes more solid. Until this happens, it is a liquid. At that stage, it is not quite ready to eat, but when it takes on a more solid form, it is much more edible and tasty. The same is true of writing (except for the edible and tasty part, of course). Your writing needs to be worked on for a while before it can become the solid structure that can be sent off for publication, or sent to friends, family, etc. for perusal. You want to make sure you focus on all the details that are necessary to make your work a success before you let it become the liquid form of jello. Work on it until it becomes a well-rounded, solid piece of work. K is for Kin. Work on your characters. Outline their physical characteristics as well as their personalities. The way someone acts is equally, if not more, important in some instances than the way he or she looks. A character's personality can often be equated to someone else that readers know, and this will give them a vision of what they think the protagonist, antagonist, etc. will look like. More of the ABCs of the writing process are forthcoming, but as you learn to write the alphabet of your own writing process, imagine all the possibilities I have already laid out for you. There are so many places to go with your own writing. From characterization to the importance of emotions, there are so many areas to consider as you create your writing and establish your mark on the writing world. Take my ABCs of the writing process as your first step to figuring out what the most important parts of writing are to you. This will help guide you in the appropriate direction. Soon enough, you will find yourself thinking of your writer's block as a thing of the past.
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H is for Happiness. Enjoy what you write. Laugh at your own jokes. Employ your best descriptive words and phrases. If you are not happy with your writing, how can you expect anyone else to be? You need to approve of and enjoy what you write as much as the next person. Obviously, concessions can be made if you feel it is for the best in terms of your writing, but you are the one who is doing what you love by writing. Make it a happy, joyful experience for yourself. Write what you love. The rest will fall into place.