Pep Talk for Writers

Editing Starts Sooner Than You Think

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 01:00:00 -0700

Writing is mostly editing, but editing doesn't need to be dry and lifeless. It's actually where a lot of sparks and innovations can occur. You just have to be willing to break apart what you think is precious.

Write to peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

Visit www.nickjaina.com

How to Write a Prayer

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0700

I didn't grow up praying, but I've found it to be a great way to reconnect to what I'm grateful about, and ease some of my fears and worries.

Music by Nick Jaina

Workshops, books, and albums at www.nickjaina.com

You Can Write About the Good Times

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0700

It's okay to write about the good times. I give you permission. You will write plenty about the bad times. But give the good times a try today.

Music by Nick Jaina

Workshops, books, albums at www.nickjaina.com

Throwing A Bomb In There

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0700

Here's a fun way to approach tension in your writing.

Start with the MOST tension you can imagine and then ground that tension at an appropriate lever for your characters and your world. I'll explain.

Email peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

My new album CREDO is available for pre-sale now.

Books, music, workshops at www.nickjaina.com

How Is A Raven Like A Writing Desk?

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0800

How can we make connections between disparate things? That skill is really important in writing and it's actually something we can work on and improve. Let's try a fun exercise, based on a non-sequitur from the Mad Hatter.

Email peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

My new album CREDO goes on pre-sale on March 12, 2021

Books, music, workshops at www.nickjaina.com

Can We Remove Judgment From Our Writing?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0800

I want my writing to be strong and multi-dimensional. I want it to face difficult truths. Can I do all that and also remove judgment from my writing? Why should I try to do that? Let's explore.

For my writing workshops, my books, and my music, go to:
www.nickjaina.com

My new album CREDO goes on pre-sale on March 12, 2021

The music in this episode is by Nick Jaina

Reading and Watching Like a Writer

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800

We can learn something from every TV show and film we watch, and every book we read. Some quality that our writing doesn't have, that we can perhaps carry over to our work. It just takes switching on a part of our brain to consider what is drawing us in to a particular work, and try to dissect the mechanics of how the writer has done this.

Write to Nick at peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

More about Nick Jaina and his books and workshops at www.nickjaina.com

Music by Holland Andrews www.hollandandrews.com

What Do I Really Want to Say?

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800

So many times with writing, we got lost in language and cleverness and wanting to sound smart. How can we get back to the point? Often I give myself a simple prompt to re-set myself.

Write to Nick at peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

More about Nick Jaina's book Hitomi, his workshops and his music at www.nickjaina.com

Music by Nick Jaina

Before and After

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800

Containers can help us to focus our writing. When I was faced with the big expanse of writing a novel, the first step was to start dividing things in half. Even though I didn't know what journey the characters would go on, I at least knew there would be a before and an after, and I could start filling those containers.

Write to Nick at peptalkforwriters@gmail.com

Learn more about Nick Jaina, the books he writes, and the workshops he teaches at www.nickjaina.com

Music in this episode by Dustin Hamman. His band is Run On Sentence. www.patreaon.com/dustinhamman

Everyone Thinks They're Bad At Writing Dialogue

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800

What if we think of dialogue not as something we add to our story, but as a tool of divination, a way that we learn to understand ourselves and our characters? Writing is a relationship, and we need to prove ourselves reliable and serious by showing up regularly and listening. Writing can be about quieting our world so that we can receive ideas from wherever ideas come from.

Learn about Nick's books and classes at www.nickjaina.com

Music in this episode by Nick Jaina

Let's Start With Your Current Emotional State

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0800

One asset we always have when we sit down to write is our current emotional state. Whatever it is—even if it feels annoying or negative—it has power, and we can potentially use that power to generate some writing.

Good luck.

Learn about Nick's books and classes at www.nickjaina.com

Music in this episode by Nick Jaina

Something Too Small to Mention

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0800

How do you write on those days when you don't feel like writing? Here is a way to start. Just write about something that is too small to mention. Shrink the frame of engagement to something so tiny that there is no pressure in getting in right. Let go of any other obligations you feel with writing, and just tell us about this small thing.

Good luck.

Learn about Nick's books and classes at www.nickjaina.com

Music in this episode by Nick Jaina