Anyone who's tried to pen the Great American Novel, come up a catchy slogan, or craft non-fiction articles knows that writing doesn't always come easily. Sometimes the words flow freely, like margaritas on Cinco de Mayo, and other times it feels like your muse is on permanent sabbatical.
But as writers, it's up to us to find the motivation to keep at it, even when we're feeling overwhelmed or uninspired. That's the philosophy behind Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen's new eBook, 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire) the Muse: How to Write Even When You Don't Wanna, or Think You Can't . (Don't you just love that title? I do.)
It follows the same format as Pawlik-Kienlen's blog, Quips and Tips for Successful Writers, but includes a wealth of information and inspirational quotes beyond what's available on the blog.
Drawing on the collective wisdom of several dozen professional and emerging writers, Pawlik-Kienlen breaks down many of the excuses that keep writers from getting published or otherwise reaching their goals, including classic refrains like "I don't have time to write!" and "What if I'm not good enough?" She deconstructs each roadblock and offers practical tips on working through them.
Since 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire) the Muse shows readers how to overcome obstacles that prevent them from writing, rather than how to actually write , it appeals to a wide range of wordsmiths, from novelists and poets to journalists and copywriters.
Pawlik-Kienlen is like the Jillian Michaels of the writing world, cheering readers towards the finish line and administering doses of tough love. 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire) the Muse also contains shades of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird , the inspirational and instructional book that graces many a writer's bookshelf.
While we're on the topic of creativity, inspiration, and the occasional pangs of self-doubt, I couldn't resist mentioning the song, Die Vampire Die. It seemed appropriated, because I kept hearing that phrase in my head as I read this eBook (warning: the song makes liberal use of the F-bomb). Anyway, 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire) the Muse shows readers how to slay feelings of inadequacy, overcome "writer's block," and make writing a priority. It's available through Pawlik-Kienlen's website, The Adventurous Writer.
FTC disclosure: the author provided a review copy of this eBook.