Posts in Writing Routines
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: REVOLUTION [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: REVOLUTION [Podcast]

Welcome to the final episode of the Joyful Writing Goals series! In this episode, we’re bringing it ALL together! If you’ve struggled with consistently starting and finishing creative stories, showing up courageously for your work, using the ICPCS framework is a model you can put on repeat so creative writing feels joyful, automatic, and you eventually have a thick portfolio of finished stories you’re proud of. Putting this process on repeat keeps that wheel spinning, and what do we call a wheel that keeps spinning? A revolution. ICPCS is your key to creating a revolution in your creative writing life.

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How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: SUSTENANCE [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: SUSTENANCE [Podcast]

For today’s episode, we’re diving in to the fifth and final section of the Wheel of Joyful Writing Goals framework: Sustenance. This part of the wheel is all about making your journey as smooth, joyful, and sustainable as possible. I like to think of it like this: if you were dropped into the middle of the woods with nothing but the clothes on your back, theoretically, with the right knowledge, you could survive. You could look for clean water, create a fire by rubbing together sticks or rocks, and build a rustic shelter. But unless you’re IN to that kinda extreme survival lifestyle like Bear Grylls or Survivor Man, you’re probably not gonna have a great time enjoying the wilderness or the journey to getting back home. Sustenance is all the tools in your backpack you use on your journey to make it ease-ful, joyful, and sustainable. Imagine getting dropped in the woods but now you have a compass, a satellite phone, a water purifier, fire starters, plenty of food, and an all-weather tent. That journey is going to be much more joyful, sustainable, and you’ll be able to focus on the process of getting home vs. survival. So when I talk about Sustenance in relation to your writing practice, I’m talking about any and all ways that can support you on your journey so it feels less like you’re running away from a hungry bear and more like you’re on a fun, exuberant hike.

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How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: COMPASSION [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: COMPASSION [Podcast]

For today’s episode, we’re diving in to the fourth section of the Joyful Writing Goals framework: Compassion. This part of the wheel is arguably the most important. Honestly, if you went all in on Self-Compassion in your writing life, the other parts of the wheel would eventually follow and fall into place. Compassion reduces friction in the Wheel of Joyful Writing Goals so that cruel inner critic doesn’t throw off your writing momentum.

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How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: PRESENCE [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: PRESENCE [Podcast]

For today’s episode, we’re diving in to the third section of the Joyful Writing Goals framework: Presence. This part of the Wheel will help you stop procrastinating from writing by making your goals “real,” which helps you become a more consistent and motivated writer. Presence is all about keeping your writing intentions front and center. Presence is about being grateful for the journey you’re on and noting how far you’ve come instead of getting deflated by how far you have to go.

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How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: CLEAR VISION [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: CLEAR VISION [Podcast]

In this episode in the Joyful Writing Goals series, we’re diving in to the second section of the framework: Clear vision. This part of the Wheel will help you make bold and liberating decisions on what creative writing projects you’re going to work on. We’ll also talk about defining what “done” looks like so you don’t get stuck in a perfectionism cycle of editing and revising until you’ve been working on the story for 30+ years. 

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How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: IDENTITY [Podcast]
How to Set and Achieve Joyful Writing Goals with ICPCS: IDENTITY [Podcast]

Welcome to Episode 2 in the Joyful Writing Goals Series! For today’s episode, we’re diving in to the first section of the framework: Identity. This part of the Wheel will help you redefine your definition of a “Real Writer” so it feels empowering instead of deflating. I’ll share how stepping into the identity of a “Real Writer” requires shifting from a viscous identity cycle into a vivacious identity cycle, so your belief in your creativity literally feeds off itself! We’ll also talk about how to integrate the identity of a creative writer into your daily life (and every part of your being) in just five minutes per day.

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Embrace Gratitude to Joy-ify Your Creative Writing Routine [Podcast]
Embrace Gratitude to Joy-ify Your Creative Writing Routine [Podcast]

For me, gratitude is an excellent tool for shifting into the energy of ✨ inspiration ✨ when I want to be inspired to write.

Many creative writers wait to "feel inspired" or "be in the mood" before they put pen to paper. Unfortunately, this leaves you feeling behind and unproductive in your writing life.

On the other hand, forcing yourself to sit down and write when you don't feel good isn't the answer, either.

Here's where gratitude can help.

A gratitude practice shifts you at least 10% closer to that ✨ inspiration ✨ energy so you feel joyful and creative when your scheduled writing time comes around.

The catch: many of us have a sticky relationship with gratitude because it's been used like a cudgel to dismiss and bludgeon negative thoughts and emotions.

That's why I use a two-step gratitude process that does NOT emotionally or spiritually bypass your yucky feelings.

This strategy helps you acknowledge and release negativity so you can move into inspiration and joy.

That's what today's podcast episode is all about. This episode is for you if:

  • You wait to feel "inspired" to write, but you also want to be more consistent with your routine.

  • You've avoided gratitude in the past because it feels icky or inauthentic.

  • You want effective tools to shift into joy and inspiration before you sit down to write.

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For When You Feel Unoriginal and Creatively Dried Up [Podcast]
For When You Feel Unoriginal and Creatively Dried Up [Podcast]

One of the biggest blocks that can suck the sweet juices out of a creative writer's heart is this... Feeling unoriginal. My mind starts to pinwheel around these depleting thoughts: It's all been done before. Someone else has done it already and better than I ever could. My idea is similar to that person's idea, and I'll be called a fraud and a copycat. Ultimately, it's a case of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. But what can we do about it? In my latest podcast episode, I discuss the two human instincts that contribute to feeling unoriginal. Plus, I offer specific steps on how to move past this block and share the gorgeous stories trapped in your heart.

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Embrace Growth Mindset to Become a Phenomenal Writer
Embrace Growth Mindset to Become a Phenomenal Writer

Many of us assume you must be born with a high degree of natural talent to become a great writer. That you have to be gifted by the gods before you can write work that moves people.

It’s not true! Rather than being gifted with a finite supply of talent and skill, we are born with potential.

And all of us have potential. If you have a desire to write stories, that’s all the proof you need to know you have the potential to be a great writer.

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The Writing Life, Writing Routines, The Science of HabitRenee LongComment
Why You Should Love Your Terrible First Drafts
Why You Should Love Your Terrible First Drafts

I hear it all the time from aspiring creative writers:

  • I’m great at starting stories, but then I get lost beneath a pile of raw writing that’s going nowhere.

  • I start off strong, but I get bored and give up in the middle of my story.

  • When I look back at what I’ve written, I can’t get over how terrible it is.

Today’s video is going to dive deeper into those limiting beliefs and offer some mindset shifts to remove those blocks. Let’s dive in!

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How to Choose the Perfect Time to Write & Stick with It
How to Choose the Perfect Time to Write & Stick with It

As a writing coach, I get asked about time & consistency a lot. Here are two questions I received just last week from writing students:

  • “How do you designate time to write and keep that same writing time?”

  • “How do you maintain a consistent writing practice?”

Here’s a short training addressing those questions with simple, practical solutions:

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5 Ways to Grow Gentle Consistency & Discipline for Creative Writing – Part II
5 Ways to Grow Gentle Consistency & Discipline for Creative Writing – Part II

I believe in creating consistency that feels good. I believe writing should be JOYFUL and FUN (most of the time). I believe in creating a writing routine that feels like a sacred, energizing ritual that fills you up, not a chore that you have to show up to and leaves you depleted of energy. Here are five simple ways to create a gentle and consistent writing practice.

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5 Ways to Grow Gentle Consistency & Discipline for Creative Writing – Part I
5 Ways to Grow Gentle Consistency & Discipline for Creative Writing – Part I

I believe in creating consistency that feels good. I believe writing should be JOYFUL and FUN (most of the time). I believe in creating a writing routine that feels like a sacred, energizing ritual that fills you up, not a chore that you have to show up to and leaves you depleted of energy. Here are five simple ways to create a gentle and consistent writing practice.

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How to Deal With Rejection in Writing: It's Just Math
How to Deal With Rejection in Writing: It's Just Math

You can't set an electrifying writing goal if you're scared pantsless by rejection.

Can you relate? You want to sink your pen into a new story or essay, but what if...

  • You're rejected with a form letter: "Sorry, your work isn't for us. Good luck." Ugh, the worst.

  • You publish to the sorrowful sound of crickets. 🦗

  • You publish and readers hate it. They send you hate mail and call your work "A blazing dumpster fire of horrendous writing!" 🔥

When you're in a "what if?!" rejection spiral, it's easier to crawl under your down comforter and spend the rest of 2019 in the fetal position than set a writing goal.

Tame your Fear of Rejection Monster before you set any writing intentions for the New Year. 👹

Here are 3 truth nuggets that will help you move through the fear of rejection so you can publish proudly in 2020:

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How to Think Like a Poet & Trust Your Process with Charnell Peters
How to Think Like a Poet & Trust Your Process with Charnell Peters

This week, I have the honor of sharing my interview with poet and editor, Charnell Peters.

Charnell Peters is the author of the poetry chapbook Un-Becoming from 30 West Publishing House. Her previous work has appeared in Foundry, Hippocampus, Crab Creek Review, and elsewhere. She is the editor of Ruminate Magazine’s online publication The Waking.

I love our conversation here because we got to go deep into a discussion around craft plus very practical tips for poets and writers to overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.

In this interview, we touch on a few things like:

  • How to honor whatever emotional state you're in and write anyway

  • A brilliant and simple strategy for poets to outwit perfectionism, which I'm going to start using myself

  • How to think like a poet in daily life when you're out in the world

  • How new writers can manage the pressure of “creating a brand” and be content in the present moment, wherever they are in the process

  • Plus, Charnell shares a lovely poetry reading with us at the end, so be sure to watch all the way through

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How to Grow a Writing Community & Why It's *Really* Important
How to Grow a Writing Community & Why It's *Really* Important

It’s September in NYC.

I’ve traveled from LA for a big book release (it’s bibliophile season!), and I’m meeting colleagues I’ve only known online.

I’m eating lunch with friends at a Chinese restaurant in Midtown, savoring every delectable bite. (Oh, east coast food, how I’ve missed you!).

Starting tomorrow, our schedules are packed with event activities. I’ve planned to spend the rest of the day alone wandering through lower Manhattan.

Megan, who’s brain holds more book and publishing knowledge than anyone I’ve met, asks, “What are you up to this afternoon, Renee?”

Suddenly, gamboling by myself through Manhattan sounds excruciatingly lonely, and I respond, “Walking to Chelsea Market and Washington Square Park. Wanna come?”

I hear the eagerness in my voice, but I’m keen for the company of another book nerd.

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How to Feel More Focused & Alert in Writing by Syncing to Your Chronotype
How to Feel More Focused & Alert in Writing by Syncing to Your Chronotype

When’s the best time to write? That depends on one thing: YOU! Fighting your body’s natural biorhythm is a recipe for disaster.

By disaster, I mean: depression, anxiety, procrastination, fogginess, and all the other juicy goodies awarded with sleep deprivation.

When you study the data, you’ll quickly find that not all great writers rise at 4 or 5 AM to work. Looking closely at their routines, productive writers align themselves with their body’s natural sleep schedule (called a chronotype) and capitalize on the peaks and valleys.

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