Your Role Models Are Worth Writing With

I came across this pic by accident today. (Isn't a lot of what we come across usually by accident)? Anyway... it made me think for a moment about the writers I have liked reading over the years. Folks like Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, Tim Bete, Bob Baker (and some others whose last names don't begin with a B).

I don't know why it made me think of that, it just did. I had never before thought about looking at other writers as role models before. At least not consciously I don't believe. The closest I came was thinking it would be pretty cool to be able to write humorous things (and get paid for them in the multi-figure numbers that other Dave guy makes).

I didn't think about the whole emulating his writing style or writing out his columns word for word to get a sense of his writing as it was happening nor looking into the life and times of Mr. Barry to see how my life and writing history matched with his. But thinking as I type that now, it is an interesting thought.

So how about you...

• Who do you enjoy reading?
• Who do you wish you could write like?
• Write out word for word a piece of their writing as if you are writing it.
• Look up info about your "role model writer's" bio.
• Who can you be a role model for with what you write?

So, back to rolling out some more stuff.

--David

pic courtesy of http://icanhascheezburger.com/
(Don't tell Shannon or Bruno there is a cat on this blog).


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David Stoddard

Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
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Issues and Milestones and Risks, Oh My!

Is there such a thing as project management for writers? I started wondering that this week while I was in an intro class to project management at the day job.

Now, after the 2.5, (project management connection), day-long class, I am staring to see connections.

Each writing assignment we take on, be it a blog post, article, poem, greeting card verse, journal entry, billboard creation or Twitter post, each has an objective.

During the scope of what it is we do, we often create several requirements which our deliverables must have.

In writing, as in life or that job of ours, there are always issues.

We manage to work our way through the various constraints and potential risks all in an effort to reach various milestones.

More on each of the bolded items in future postings.

But for now......

• What is your objective as a writer?
• What are your requirements of the writing you do?
• What issues do you find yourself dealing with that keep you from writing?
• What constraints are involved?
• Write a 500 word story, article, bio or whatever, of your writing career (as if you have reached the various milestones you wish to reach).

Time for me to go for a little while. I have a project or 2 around the house to take care of.

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David Stoddard
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
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Putting A Mug On A Mug

Conan has one.

Jimmy has one as well.

Regis has new ones all the time.

Kelly uses two hands on hers.

Jay had one (and probably will have one on his next show).

And now, after getting so tired after nearly burning myself from those foam cups, I now have my own mug, (much harder to knock over and spill stuff).

For me, the mug does more than just hold a given beverage of the moment. It is something of my own. It reminds me of who I am and what I do (even on those too frequent times when I wonder just what that is). And the outside words and picture match the inside of the mug.

So, what about you. What would you want on your very own mug? Anyone can have Garfield or Superman or Wonderwoman or Dilbert. Even World's Best Boss or Super Secretary or Able Accountant, but that really isn't about YOU.

• Who are you and what do you do?
• Write about a prized posession
• Go ahead and create a mug of your own.
• Get your own caricature designed how you want it.

Gotta get going. Have fun and be creative.

~~David

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David Stoddard
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
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Christmas In July

I know how he feels, so I won't take up much time and let things get back to normal.

So just get to the assignments:

• Write about holidays taking place in different months.
• As a writer, what gifts would you like to receive?
• As a writer, what can you give as gifts that others may not.
• Write what happens next to our snowman.
• Why a carrot?
  

David here heading for warmer.. I mean cooler temps.

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David Stoddard Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
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Just Cleaning Things Up

Well that was simple for our canine friend. It's not necessarily something he wants and it just stays in his way when he is walking on the road. So get it out of the way for good.

So if Fido here can clean things up, why do we have such a difficult time tossing stuff which isn't necessarily doing us any good or that we are done with and get it out of our way so we can move on?

Last month, I finally got around to recycling the soda bottles which had taken up residence in the office. There were seven (count em... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) shopping bags of 24 oz. bottles around the office.

YES, they were in the way
NO, I wasn't going to use them for anything
YES, I was done with them
NO, I don't miss them
YES, I feel better that they are out of here (made room so I can add more).

Time now for a painful but cleansing set of assignments: (before you take the trash out).

Make a list of what needs to be out of your way
Write about a "friend" or character who keeps everything
Write about a trash collector who throws nothing away at home
Write a story using names of cleaning products throughout.
Write about places for things and things in their places.

Time for me to get cleaned up for lunch. Hope I don't make too much of a mess.

David

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David Stoddard
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Balance your biz-life and your life-life at www.biz-e-life.com Yorkie fan? Check out Terrific Yorkies.com
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The Name Game

This picture says it all when it comes to moments of creative lacking moments. Of course, I might have called it something like "Huh," or "Town."

Heck, a bonus assignment before I get wordy, name a town with no name that pretty much gives it no name.

How do you come up with names for your characters? Names for your articles (yes, I said name instead of title, work with me). How have you named your pets? What do you think they thought of it?

Do you like your name? Do you want to have someone else's? Or do you want a name which hasn' t been thought of yet?

Your (name this assignment) Assignment:

• Name this assignment
• Name that tune
• Name your favorite childhood game
• Form words with the initials of your friend's names
• What would your stripper name be/why
• What would your superhero name be/why
• Name your price
• Do the bonus accidental assignments in the paragraphs above.
  

My name is David and I am done for today.

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David Stoddard Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Balance your biz-life and your life-life at www.biz-e-life.com
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Time Flying

Last week I was on vacation from the day job. Time, for the most part, just ticked by. I spent the days puppy sitting and looking forward to the moment I could get out of the house and do something important (like maybe look at a different street, that would have been nice during the time).

But this past week, (back at the job), time seemed to pretty much fly by. All of a sudden, it was Friday. Where did the time go? How did it go by so quickly, What was happening that made it go by so fast?

Assignments:

• Write about a time when time flew by.
• Write about time ticking by slooooooooowwllyyyy.
• Write about time
• Write about a time.....
• Write about the best of times....
• Write about the worst of times...
• Write about "The Times"
• Write about the times tables
• Write a favorite motivating quote 10 times

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David Stoddard

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Balance your biz-life and your life-life at www.biz-e-life.com
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Rules Of The Road

Driving has rules.

Baseball has rules

Workplaces have rules

Professional wrestling has ru....... ooops, never mind.

Rules are not so much there to keep us from doing things, there are there to guide us in doing what it is we want, need, must, want and care to do. And yes, it would be nice to have a rule where we work 2 days a week and are off the other 5. Will need to work on that someday.

I am sure we all have personal rules and such. You have rules for your home. You have guiding principles in many areas of your life and your activities as well. And writing really isn't all that different.

Technically, in my own mind, writing is one of those things where there are optional rules except 1... writer's write.

The poster above lists 12 1/2 rules of writing which someone believed and put on the poster. But so what. They may or may not fit our rules or thoughts of what it takes to write. It is up to each individual to determine what works and what doesn't.

So here is your assignment:

• Write your own rules for writing
• Write about rules in your past
• Write about a ruler
• Write about a famous ruler
• Why are there so many rulers in my office?
• Write about being slapped with a ruler

Last rule...... stop read this and start writing something.....

---Always write your way.

David


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David Stoddard Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Check out writer gear at the Zazzle shoppe
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Writing By Hand

I have this problem. (ok, many, but not that I have time or space to mention here). The problem is writing by hand.

First of all, I have the handwriting of a doctor. You know what I am saying. Have you seem these prescriptions they write out for you? (I mean before they got to the point of where they are computerized these days).

My 2nd problem related to this is I do not have the deciphering skills of a pharmacist. They have a keen sense of knowing what the person who wrote the prescription was wanting to communicate.

So no, I can not read my own hand writing (nor can pretty much anyone who is around me). On the good side, keeping a hand written journal is a pretty safe thing to have, no one could read it (not even me, so just think about the privacy issues with that).

So how do you write? By hand? By computer? By audio recorder and have someone else type out your words?

Your Assignment:

• Write a single page by hand about writing by hand
• Write about hands
• Write about Hands Across America
• Hand out greeting cards you should be writing to friends & family
• Get your hands on the keyboard and write/type
• Give yourself a hand for making it through today

Write on, Write often, Write well

David

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David Stoddard Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
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Night Owls Write

(Photo credit, Terry Riffey)

Here it is, another night and I am on the computer doing the usual roaming of the Internets, checking email (which this time of night makes no sense), and trying not to get too addicted to any more games of Facebook.

For years, I had been one of those night owls you hear about. I wouldn't go to bed until after Midnight or 1ish. Boy things change as you get a tad older, though I hope to get back to that.

There just is something not as perfect writing during the day for me. And yet that is when one is most awake. I have thought (briefly) about getting thick dark curtains and hang those up to keep the house dark, almost night like. But I am sure that would just make me feel like I am in the Addams Family house, so that's out.

But how about you? Day writer or night owl?

Your Nighttime Assignment:

• Write about the dark
• My first time alone in the dark that I remember..
• Write about your own rhythms of the night
• Your favorite M. Night Shyamalan movie and why

Good night everyone. (or is it morning)?

David

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David Stoddard

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A Farewell to Write About

Today was our chance to take part in everything that was Michael Jackson. (Haters, bad-mouthers, wish-I-was-him-but-wasn't-so-I-bash-him-ers need not read further). And yes, I think there will be several more replays and a lot more coverage of the event (at least for a day or 2 more).

As for the ceremony itself, it was NOT over the top. It was would be expected by those of us who grew up with him in the 80s. There were those who knew him much more personally than we who bought his albums, cassettes, singles and CDs.

Fact is, life as we knew it changed again because of Michael. Music changed. MTV and television culture changed because of him. Videos changed. Our short attention span increased briefly because of his videos. (too bad that didn't last long).

Anyway, I don't mean for this to be a pulpit for anything. On to this writing boost.

For the lovers off Michael Jackson.....

• What MJ song means the most to you?
• What was the first MJ song you heard?
• Visit YouTube, search for Michael Jackson, Write about what you learn or feel...

For the haters (doin my part to be middle of the road).....

• Why do you hate him so?
• What did he do to you?
• Do you wish you had his fame? His money? His potential? his legacy?

For Everybody.....

• No matter what you think of him, Michael left a legacy of a lot of powerful and popular gifts behind. Question to be answered, what are (do you wish) you can/are leaving behind?

And, don't stop til you get enough.

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David Stoddard

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Ok, Let's Start Today

I know what you're thinking. Can't David make up his mind when he is going to write something? Boy, 2 posts in a single day on this blog. Dude, what gives?

I mentioned that 80% of writing success comes from being there, getting started and just writing. Now I can already here the whole premise that you have to be able to write to be successful.. And to that I say yes. But in order to write well, you first must write. There is now real other way around it. (unless you talk what you want to write, I suppose that can count as not getting started per se, though you must start with that as well).

Anyway, before I get even more wordy that what is already been worded, let's set the tone for this blog and what is to follow.

For those who have read this off and on over the past year or 2 or whatever versions my blog(s) have taken, you'll notice they have been a bit all over the place.

I started of writing kinda-sorta preachy posts about getting off our tails to make something of ourselves. That worked for a while until I found myself losing interest in that way of doing things. Hey, there are only so many ways you can advise others (and myself at times) to get off your tail and do what you need to do to get to where you want to go.

So, back to this blog and what the focus is.....

• Writing
• Getting Started Writing
• Learning Through Writing
• Finding Focus Through Writing
• Writing Because You've Always Wanted To Write
• Getting Over Past Feelings Of Writing Failure From Years Ago
  
• Fighting Former Fears Of The Red Pen Police

It's that simple. Kinda.

Together, we will begin...

• Writing more
• Creating more
• Learning more
• Understanding more
• Fearing less
• Stalling less
• Wishing we were writing less

What has be getting focused on all of this (and what is the picture of Bruno doing up there)......

The blog I started for my girlfriend's daughter's dog's Vacation Blog on MySpace. Bruno is writing of his adventures during the past few days. Will it continue after they get back, most likely. Daily, not sure. But more than if he didn't sit and get started in the first place.

Check him out here http://www.myspace.com/bruno_brown_writer

For now, get started with these....

• What I did for the 4th of July......
• What I should have done on the 4th of July.....
• What George Washington would say today.....
• Who 3 people would you most want to go on vacation with... write about it.....

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David Stoddard

Writers with a Kindle, pick up 200 Writing Prompts from yours truly.

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Getting Started Is Half the Battle

Actually, It's more like Woody Allan said, "Eighty percent of success is just showing up." For those who write, it means putting your tail on the chair and being there, writing something... Anything at first.

For me, that's where I have been lacking a bit when it comes to this blog. Ya see, no blog would be complete without the occasional I'm sorry letter for not writing in it as often as one would be expected to. So consider this post just that.

Usually, these sorts of posts of sorryness, (I know it's not a word, but it is what it is), eventually include the "promise" to where the author will spend more time, write more, do what he/she preaches and contributes to the lives of those who are reading what shows up in this space (well, when it shows up, that is).

So yes, the goal, thought, idea, plan, do what I say not what I do of what you will begin to see here is just that. For me to do more, write more, contribute more, type more, advise more and have this be one of those spots on the web of interest to anyone who wants to be more, do more through writing.

It begins by sitting down and doing just that.

So let's get busy. Ummmm, tomorrow ok with you?


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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
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