Month: October 2023

Presented below is a thought from me on writing, a quote from someone else on writing, an excerpt from that writer, and a discipline/habit to implement… 

We will be focusing on imagination today.

A Thought

“Imagination is the fertile ground where art blossoms.”

– Austin Alford

A Quote

“In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” 

– Ralph Waldo Emerson (Poet & Essayist)

An Excerpt

Ralph Waldo Emerson (the ‘Boston Hymn’ Poem)

The word of the Lord by night
To the watching Pilgrims came,
As they sat by the seaside,
And filled their hearts with flame.

God said, I am tired of kings,
I suffer them no more;
Up to my ear the morning brings
The outrage of the poor.

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

I’m a practical guy as you’ve learned from our previous discussions on how to incorporate disciplines and habits into our lives as writers.

Now, let’s talk about how we can ignite our imagination.

The secret lies in reconnecting with our inner child. And what better way to do that than by diving into a children’s book? It’s like a magical elixir that can revitalize even the weariest, most stressed-out adult mind.

C.S. Lewis once said, “No book is truly worth reading at the age of ten if it’s not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

So, go ahead and pick up a children’s book. Let your right brain work its magic and transport you to a realm of vibrant imagery. I’d love to hear which book captures your imagination!

Put Pen to Paper this week and have fun!

If you want to share this with other fellow writers, just copy and paste this link:

www.austinalford.com/Newsletter

Presented below is a thought from me on writing, a quote from someone else on writing, an excerpt from that writer, and a discipline/habit to implement… 

We will be focusing on settling today.

A Thought

“It’s ridiculously easy for me to settle for the first idea. Not that it’s terrible or anything, but I can’t help but wonder what I might be missing out on if I just scratched the surface a little more.”

– Austin Alford

A Quote

“Never settle for anything less than your best.”

– Brian Tracy (Author & Motivational Speaker)

An Excerpt

Brian Tracy (Page 2 of “Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time”) 

“The Truth about Frogs

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.

Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it. It is also the one task that can have the greatest positive impact on your life and results at the moment.

The first rule of frog eating is this: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

Pretty intriguing, huh?

As writers, we ought to fully embrace the concept of frog eating. Yes, that means tackling the most unsightly frogs (the things we dread doing but must) first so we can get into a writing groove.

Now, you might be wondering how this ties in with settling on an idea. Well, fear not, for I have the answer!

Whenever I neglect to prioritize tasks that require attention and barely manage to squeeze in a writing session, I find myself settling for the first idea that pops into my head. Why? Simply because I’m crunched for time or lacking energy.

So here’s my proposition: let’s strive to devour those frogs that need to be taken care of as soon as possible, giving ourselves more time and energy to dedicate to our creative endeavors.

If this mindset discipline resonates with you, do let me know. I, too, will be diving even deeper into this approach!

Put Pen to Paper this week and have fun!

If you want to share this with other fellow writers, just copy and paste this link:

www.austinalford.com/Newsletter

Presented below is a thought from me on writing, a quote from someone else on writing, an excerpt from that writer, and a discipline/habit to implement… 

We will be focusing on being a learner today.

A Thought

“The more we devour knowledge as writers, the more we craft astute and captivating content.”

– Austin Alford

A Quote

“When I was growing up, my house was filled with books. My mother was an educator, and my father was a history buff, so our home was a virtual library, covering every author from Beverly Cleary to James Michener.”

– Jeff Kinney (Author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series)

An Excerpt

The first page of the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

“Tuesday

First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary. I know what it says on the cover, but when Mum went out to buy this thing I SPECIFICALLY told her to get one that didn’t say ‘diary’ on it.

Great. All I need is some jerk to catch me carrying this book around and get the wrong idea.

The other thing I want to clear up right away is that this was MUM’s idea, not mine.

But if she thinks I’m going to write down my ‘feelings’ in here or whatever, she’s crazy. So just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.”

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

Jeff is an avid reader and a devourer of books.

Reading something like Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not quite like delving into the depths of Lord of the Rings, but it requires a profound understanding of the art of writing, simply by being an avid reader.

The same principle applies to any aspiring writer: immerse yourself in the type of writing you wish to pursue consistently.

Your vocabulary will flourish, you will discern your preferences, you will learn from mistakes, and uncover what works best. Embrace the role of a perpetual learner!

Let’s ask ourselves this week: How often do we read or listen to music or look at paintings, or read poems, or scripts for educational purposes?

Put Pen to Paper this week and have fun!

If you want to share this with other fellow writers, just copy and paste this link:

www.austinalford.com/Newsletter

Presented below is a thought from me on writing, a quote from someone else on writing, an excerpt from that writer, and a discipline/habit to implement… 

We will be focusing on our WHY today. WHY do I write in the first place?

A Thought

“Understanding your WHY as a writer empowers you to write with unshakable determination, no matter what obstacles life throws your way.”

– Austin Alford

A Quote

“I write songs to get past things that cause me pain. And I write songs because sometimes life makes more sense to me when it’s being sung in a chorus, and when I can write it in a verse.”

– Taylor Swift (Singer/Songwriter)

An Excerpt

“Lover” by Taylor Swift (V1, C, V2 only)

[Verse 1]
We could leave the Christmas lights up ’til January
And this is our place, we make the rules
And there’s a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear
Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?

[Chorus]
Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close?
Forever and ever, ah
Take me out and take me home
You’re my, my, my, my lover

[Verse 2]
We could let our friends crash in the living room
This is our place, we make the call
And I’m highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you
I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, but I want ’em all

A Discipline/Habit to Implement

Got a piece of paper handy? A real one you can touch?

Go ahead, jot down your WHY statement for writing.

Here is mine…

“I write songs and stories to spread the word about God the creator and how He has transformed me.”

With your WHY statement you are about to write, stick it on your mirror, fridge, toilet – wherever you’ll see it all the time!

Let your WHY be your inspiration when times get tough and keep that momentum going.

Because we’re writers who know our WHY!

Put Pen to Paper this week and have fun!

If you want to share this with other fellow writers, just copy and paste this link:

www.austinalford.com/Newsletter