Woo! After a bit of a respite, I’m back! And what a way to come back!

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been moving along to on the latest Jennie Manning version, which has long decided not to become a short story but rather a longer short story and even dangerously close to being a novella.

So, I’ve been looking at links that teach something — a technique or a way to structure — so that I could try them out on my current project. Since summer is a time to try out some new things, I’m excited to see if I can add something to my tool belt. Below, check out these new ways (or new to me ways) of doing some writerly things. Think of these as a list of writing hacks.

Need more than five links? I usually tweet them out, or share them on Google+. I also like putting them in my Flipboard Magazine. Check those often for more.

• What exactly is a scene list? Writing Practice gives us the skinny. It’s part of a bigger technique called the Snowflake Method, which is a way of pre-planning that makes outlining seem over simplistic. How simplistic? An Excel document is involved. But don’t let that intimidate you. It actually looks interesting.
• What’s the most important part of the book? The beginning, of course! Actually that first sentence. Don’t underestimate how the first line can set the tone, mode, and experience for your reader. AWP takes a looks at some famous first lines. Not a bad way to inspire your writing today.
• Your inner editor? Yeah, that person has got to go! I was surprised that Fast Company had this interesting article about how creatives can quiet down their inner negative voice.
• Need something more than just quieting your inner editor? Time Magazine gave some tips for how creatives can motivate themselves. Hint: Go beyond calling your procrastination part of your process.
• When I read about this trick to cut down your long novel, I was a bit stunned. But then I thought about it and I’m willing to try this. It’s all about focus and this is one way to focus your novel/short story.

Write on and have a great week!

 

Icess Fernandez Rojas is a writer, blogger, teacher, and journalist. Her commentary has appeared in The Guardian and on Huffington Post Latino Voices. Her fiction has been published in literary journals/anthologies such as Minvera Rising and Soul’s Road. Her first book, the beginning of the Jennie Manning series, will come out next year.  In addition to writing, Icess teaches fiction writing classes. Want more on what it takes to be a writer? Sign up  or contact her and ask a question.