Nurturing The Writing Life

I have a new favorite writing book. It is From The Inside Out...discover, create, and publish the novel in you! by Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck. They have a website called My Book Therapy which is a fabulous tool for writers. I got this book in October and it really helped me get my NaNoWriMo project off to a great start.

There is so much to share about this book, but something that really struck me was on page 4, the Four Keys to a Writer's Life.

Writing is much like every other discipline. It takes commitment. After all, as much as we'd like it to happen, those books don't just download from our brains automatically! It takes nurturing. Did you know that your brain has a well of words for each day, and you need to replenish those words after you use them? It takes time (something we're going to figure out how to get!), and it takes a game plan.

I was drawn to the Key of Nurturing and what that entails. Here are three ways to nurture your writing life:

• Spiritual Nourishment: Warren says that writing is a spiritual event. "You are connecting on a thematic level with your reader, and that happens in the spiritual realm." We need to make a habit of spending time with God, whether it is through His Word, or through a devotional book. Whatever feeds us spiritually and inspires us is what we need to be immersing in.
• Research: We need to make sure we know what is going on in the world. "Technology. Medicine. Trends...Know what's happening in culture and politics. Read biographies, current, and past - you'll be inspired with new story ideas...To communicate to our world, you need to understand it."
• Read Up: You need read great writing. Read the Word. Read poetry. Read in your genre. Study books you love and figure out what it is that makes you love them.  "Feeding your mind and your soul will give you the materials you can draw from as you create."

From the Inside Out is especially good for beginning writers, or writers who need a little organization. What I loved most about it was the questions it asked to help you structure your novel and create a great plot with goals and motivations. There are pages you can copy and fill out for those who like a hands on approach. 

It speaks to the writer and his/her writing life and helps to draw out the stories deep within. Check it out! You will love it!

Sherrinda