Christy Shuler

Happy blog hop day everyone and thank you so much for stopping by mine. By the time you're reading this, we will be well into the month of July and I will have officially begun my Camp NaNoWriMo project. I'm writing this post at the end of June while preparing my plan of attack over the next 31 days in which I plan to write my first ever spec script for television. If you're not familiar with Camp NaNoWriMo, you can check out this blog post where I go into more detail. In essence, it's a month where writers worldwide dedicate themselves to a particular project of their choosing. But personally, I like to think of it as a giant pause button. NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo have become my sole excuse to put down my novel with its seemingly endless revisions and pause for a month to focus on something new. Somehow doing so under the established framework of NaNoWriMo is easier for me than simply picking a random month of my own choosing, which I know I would never do if...

From time to time, it's inevitable that in between those days of ever-flowing creative genius, writers are bound to hit roadblocks. Whether big or small, tiny bits of dialogue, or entire scenes and chapters, sometimes it can feel like an impossible task to carry on. We're just stuck. And while we will eventually work through it, I've discovered through my bouts of feeling stagnant, that there are often ways to accelerate our creative process. For this month's Author Toolbox Blog Hop topic, I'm compiling a list of 20 creative writing exercises to get unstuck. 1. Try another scene and come back later. A number of things could be affecting your ability to write a certain scene, including your emotional state, health, sleep, etc. Sometimes the answer is to simply take a break and return when you're in the right frame of mind. 2. Take out a sheet of paper and write by hand. Writing by hand is known to engage the entire brain, which is why journaling is so of...

The new year is officially here and like many, I have committed myself to several new goals I want to accomplish in my life and writing career. And while I think goal-setting is admirable, setting achievable goals with a specific, direct path to success is even better. The link between time-management and writing might not be an obvious one, however I find that so often it is the obstacles in my daily personal life that prevent me from advancing in my writing. There have been many lessons I've learned in the past few years that have helped me take control over my schedule and carve out time not only for writing, but related activities that have propelled my writing to the next level. I've compiled a list of time-saving ideas that can reduce time spent on the mundane activities of everyday life. Hopefully some of these will inspire some changes to help you master your schedule this year and spend more time on what you love. Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash Simp...

Now that Christmas is over and 2019 is nearly wrapped up, there's no better time to start planning your goals for 2020! This past year has been full of new experiences for me that have helped me grow so tremendously as a writer that I wanted to share some of them as resolution ideas for other writers. Whether you're just starting out or you're looking to reignite your passion for writing this year, I hope this list gives you some inspiration. 1. Join a local writer's group Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash Not only is a writer's group a great place to make friends with like-minded people and pick up a few new tips and tricks, it's a great way to get out of your own little writing bubble. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor and it's nice to be reminded that we're not alone. 2. Host a live write-in Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash Streaming live is a great way to build your confidence when it comes to public spe...

I recently attended my very first writer's conference and let me tell you, it was a decision years in the making. For so long I had entertained the idea. I'd heard such great stories from other writers about how much there is to learn and all of the great connections one can make. Still, whenever it came time to purchase a ticket, I always held myself back. If you are anything like me, an introvert with socially anxious tendencies, then the idea of a writer's conference probably sends a chill down your spine. Socializing with a large group of strangers, participating in discussions, and generally putting yourself,  not to mention your work , out there can be intimidating. However, over the years I've found that preparation is an excellent coping strategy for such nerves and will ultimately ensure a much more positive and productive experience. It was through my preparation that I ended up having the BEST time. Talking to agents, participating in sessions, and making s...

I often look back on my days in college as the most productive time I have ever had when it comes to my writing. In college you are faced with both deadlines and feedback from your peers that can be encouraging, disheartening, or sometimes a little of both. In either event, it is usually constructive and you learn a great deal from it. I have found since graduating that, without the peer group, my ability to push myself to that same level of productivity comes in waves. Sometimes I'm able to keep my self-imposed deadlines and strict writing routine, but it can often feel like I'm banging my head against the same impenetrable wall over and over, hoping with each impact to break through. I started to wonder if perhaps I was making the same decisions in my writing over and over and expecting different results. Over the years, I've debated whether or not I would benefit from joining a local writer's group. Since I am such an introverted person, the thought of physic...

Let us all rejoice for reaching the third week of February! I say rejoice because it's almost over and because February is the month I've come to refer to as the "blah" month. At least where I live, it's the month where the temperatures reach their most frigid and all that beautiful snow you were hoping for at Christmas time now finds its way to earth. Only now you don't get a White Christmas, you get slick roads without a merry excuse to stay home. What I find most interesting at this time of year is how motivations begin to decline. Goals that a lot of us set at the end of last year begin to lose their luster. For me, February weather has an especially powerful effect on my creativity. This time of year, I just don't have the same kind of creative mojo and motivational energy that I feel in the warmer months. When you think about it, it kind of makes sense. When the weather gets crummy we hole ourselves up for protection and as a result we can get a ...