Originally published Wednesday, 12 August 2015.
You’re invited!
For six weeks, I’ll be hosting an online discussion group right here in this space, around topics found in the book, On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life that Lasts, by Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton Craig.
FREE Online Discussion Group, On Being a Writer! Join today!
The book has twelve chapters (one for each habit), and we’ll chat about two chapters per week.
I’ll also include the opportunity for you to link up your own blog posts on the topics we’ll be discussing.
Link-ups will remain open for a month, so you’ll have time to do the exercises and not feel rushed.
Posts and link-ups will go live on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00am EST, from August 17-September 23.
The link-up themes are broad. Feel free to be creative and write about anything that comes to mind within the topic of discussion. I’ve provided some suggestions below.
** It’s NOT mandatory to read the book before participating in the online discussion. We’d love to have you join us and contribute to the dialog around these themes, whether you’ve read the book or not!
Sign up for this FREE online discussion course by clicking here!
Calling all #writers! Join this FREE online discussion group, On Being a Writer!
Here’s the schedule:
Week One: Identify and Arrange
Mon. Aug. 17 — Identify: I am a writer
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Have you been able to call yourself a writer? If so, write about the first time you ever spoke the words aloud, “I am a writer.”
If you haven’t been able to say it yet, reflect on what is holding you back.
In your opinion, what makes a writer a writer? What are the prerequisites before “earning” that title?
Why do so many people who write struggle to claim the identity of a writer?
Wed. Aug. 19 — Arrange: I organize my life — my time, my space, my priorities — so I can write
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
How have you made changes in your life to make space for writing?
What changes would you still like to make, either in creating an actual, physical space designated for writing in your home or office, or carved out space in your schedule to accommodate for your writing?
What have been some of the challenges or discouragements when trying to manage your time and include writing in your list of priorities?
Do you struggle to give writing value and priority in your life? If so, why? If not, how have you managed to overcome that potential struggle?
Week Two: Surround and Notice
Mon. Aug. 24 — Surround: I surround myself with people, activities and books that will influence my writing
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Take a step back and consider what you most often write about. Does it reflect the things you surround yourself with? Does it reflect what you’d like to be writing about?
What new topics or ideas would you like to tackle in your writing life? What can you surround yourself with, in order to make that happen?
What changes should you make to surround yourself with inspiration, when you hit a dry patch in your writing life?
Make a list of places you can visit, music you can listen to, books you can read when you’re lacking ideas for writing content.
What inspires you in relation to your writing? Are there certain writing “voices” you just love? Who are they? What do you love about their style of writing?
Wed. Aug. 26 — Notice: I attend to and record what’s going on around me
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Share a success story about a time you effectively practiced the discipline of noticing.
Share a funny story about a time you failed to notice and observe, and couldn’t remember any details about your experience.
Brainstorm ideas about how you might be able to improve your noticing skills.
Write a poem or essay about a place you visited recently, recording as many details as possible.
Week Three: Write and Send
Mon. Aug. 31 — Write: I sit down and put words to paper
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Brainstorm a list of blog post or article ideas. Write out a list of action steps to incorporate regular writing into your life.
Share some of your personal struggles or frustrations when it comes to writing regularly and fitting the practice of writing into your life.
What does writing mean to you? Is it a hobby? A discipline? A lifeline? Consider writing a letter or blog post sharing what the act of writing means to you.
How open are you when it comes to sharing your current writing process? Do you tend to share your ideas and work early on, or do you prefer to keep it private and held close for a while?
Wed. Sept. 2 — Send: I want to publish what I write
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
If you haven’t sent any work anywhere yet, what is holding you back? What steps can you take to make it happen? What goals do you need to set? What fears do you need to overcome?
If you have submitted work, how did it feel? What was the waiting process like?
If you’ve received a rejection letter, how did you react? What encouraged you afterwards?
Share a success story about a submission. What was it like to have work accepted by another party?
Explain the process you go through to submit work; how do you record your submissions and responses?
Week Four: Promote and Discover
Mon. Sept. 7 — Promote: I want other people to know I am a writer
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Why do you think it’s so difficult for many people to promote their own work?
How do you feel about the tension between not wanting to “blow your own horn,” but also wanting people to read your work?
What strategies have you adopted when it comes to the practice of promotion?
How can we link arms and encourage other writers by promoting one another?
What does promotion look like for the Christian?
How do you reconcile the desire to write and the so-called “need” for a platform?
Wed. Sept. 9 — Discover: When I write, I find myself
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Write an essay or blog post on the subtitle of this chapter: “When I write, I find myself.” What does that mean to you?
What have you learned about yourself as a result of writing?
Imagine someone you love is dying. What would you want them to know? Write it down.
If you could describe yourself through your writing, how would you do so?
Week Five: Engage and Plan
Mon. Sept. 14 — Engage: I interact with other writers, artists, and others who support my writing
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
What struggles have you faced when trying to engage with other writers?
Share some joyful, fulfilling experiences you’ve had while engaging with other writers.
What communities have you found that help you become a better writer?
Describe a lonely period in your writing life.
Have you been blessed to find “your people”? Write about it.
Wed. Sept. 16 — Plan: I am intentional about next steps
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Are you an organized, long-term planner when it comes to your writing, or are you a bit more like a tumbleweed, rolling along with the wind?
Share some of your writing goals, and the steps you need to take to achieve them.
How has planning ahead served you well?
What dreams do you have for your writing life?
Week Six: Rest and Limit
Mon. Sept. 21 — Rest: Sometimes, I stop for a while and do other things
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
Describe your perfect day of rest that will leave you refreshed and motivated to press on in the writing life.
Do you struggle with the habit of rest? If so, why? How can you build rest into your routine?
Do you feel guilty when you take time to rest? If so, why?
How has rest helped you to be more productive?
Describe a time when you took a break from writing. What was it like? Was it intentional, or forced (such as a period of illness)?
Wed. Sept. 23 — Limit: Because I write, I let some things go
Link-up topic suggestions:
Write your own blog post or journal entry on one or more of the following topics:
What do you need to limit in order to have a fruitful writing life?
How can you better balance your writing life with your other responsibilities?
What are some activities you can cut from your daily routine in order to have more time to focus on your writing life?
Do you feel like you’re wearing too many hats, or trying to juggle too many balls? What changes can you make in order to make sure you’re doing at least some things well, to the glory of God?
That’s it!
I know, it looks like a LOT. It is a lot.
But bit by bit, chunk by chunk, habit by habit, we’re going to consider these aspects of the writing life, and hopefully grow substantially as a result.
So glad you’re here! I’m excited to journey forward and dialog with you on these “12 simple habits for a writing life that lasts.”
Sign up for this online discussion course by visiting katemotaung.com!
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