SWRT 249 | The Writer’s Sketchbook

April 14, 2022

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

Looking for inspiration or want to know you’re not alone in this crazy creative process called storytelling? Curious about how other writers spend writing time outside of drafting?

This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn talk about the ways we make writing our practice and practice our writing. Before launching a project, when problem solving, or developing a new skill, we hone our craft. Just like painters with their sketchbooks, we have our notebooks.

Submit to the Story Works Reading Series today. We want to read your short story or essay!

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

How do we practice our art? (0:55)

Utilize constraints. (3:25)

The importance of feedback. (4:35)

Writer RSI. (8:00)

So how can I practice practically? (9:53)

Don’t just consume information, put it into practice! (10:25)

Ensure your success by reducing your chunk size. (19:00)

Keep it playful! (22:54)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

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About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com