Guest post by Edward Stern

The Write Stuff: 8 Reasons You Should Have a Writing Journal

To be a writer, one needs to write. Bringing a laptop everywhere is not always feasible, especially for jotting down quick thoughts on the go. Many writers prefer to write consistently at designated writing times, but with a busy schedule, this can be hard to squeeze in.

The solution? Keep a writing journal. You'll be amazed at how helpful it will be for getting your creative juices flowing and capturing inspiration when it strikes. Here are eight reasons why you should have a writing journal.

1. Take it anywhere: A writing journal is a great companion for travel, whether it be by car, bus, train, plane, whatever moves. Make the most of your time commuting to work or traveling for business by taking those often wasted hours and making them productive writing time spent in your journal.

2. Capture inspiration when it strikes: You never know where you'll be when that one little phrase, plot twist, sentence fragment, anything strikes you. Be prepared, and don't lose the moment. Bring your writing journal and a pen or pencil with you everywhere to make your genius turn of phrase does not escape you.

3. Play around with your words: With a writing journal, you can bring past work with you. Oftentimes, it's important to take a step back from your work to be able to evaluate it objectively and to hone your prose. Play with your phrasing until you get it perfect while on your lunch break or whenever it hits you.

4. Record observations: As a good writing exercise, go for a walk downtown or through a park and record observations. Jot down notes on the people you see and the events taking place. Later, sit down and imagine back stories for what you saw. You never know when these could turn into a key character or the plot for your next piece.

5. Make yourself write: To be a better writer, you need to write, obviously. Having a designated journal time keeps you writing even if it's not while working on a specific poem, novel, or other project. Keep your skills sharp by keeping a journal.

6. Keep it informal: If you are writing for a living or investing your heart and soul in a passion project, write in a journal informally about the process of writing, your personal happenings, or just silly fun side efforts. Keep your writing journal a fun place, one where you can relieve stress and where writing is always fun. It will keep you fresh and determined for your other work.

7. Play games: Give yourself prompts, write from other perspectives, write letters you'll never send -- play quick, casual writing games to keep your skills sharp and to try out new things. A little intellectual stimulation will help make you a better, more versatile writer, and may also inspire new directions for your more formal work.

8. Good writers write frequently: To be good at anything, you have to practice, and practice consistently. Keeping a writing journal forces you to do so, especially around a busy schedule.



Edward Stern is a guest blogger for Pounding the Pavement and a writer on online career training for the Guide to Career Education.

Interview with Erica Miner

Violinist turned author ERICA MINER has had a multi-faceted career as an award-winning screenwriter, author, lecturer and poet. A native of Detroit, she studied music at Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music. After experiencing a variety of highs and lows in her quest to forge a career in New York City, Erica won the coveted position of violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Company, a high-pressured milieu but the pinnacle of her field.

When injuries from a car accident spelled the end of her musical career, she drew upon her lifelong love of writing for inspiration. She is the author of two novels, the latest of which, FourEver Friends, chronicles the coming-of-age of four teenage girls in 1960s Detroit. Erica says,"Writing is my passion, whether it be novels, screenplays, poetry or essays. I have so many stories to tell, and I’m thrilled at the thought of other people enjoying them."

Read on for this talented author's insights about the writing process, life lessons she has learned through writing, and advice for writers of all ages.


How did you get the idea for FourEver Friends?

I originally wrote the book as a "love letter" to my three best friends from high school in Detroit and to the school itself, Cass Tech, which provided us an astonishing education. Back then the "Motor City" was a thriving, vibrant place, with an amazing public education system and tons of smart, talented kids. Of course the city has fallen on hard times these days, and so I thought writing a book about its days of glory and the all-important friendships that were forged there might be a compelling way to let people know about this wonderful place. The book is also a window into the 60s, a time that Baby Boomers look back to with nostalgia and subsequent generations have been curious about – a very timely subject for adults and teenagers alike!

How did you first discover your love for writing?

When I was 7 years old and in elementary school, I was placed in a Creative Writing class in an after school program for gifted kids. This was about a hundred years ago - ! - but I still remember the joy and passion I felt for the writing, even back then. I started journaling when I was 13 and just starting high school. Those journals formed the eventual basis for my novel FourEver Friends, and also for my novel Travels With My Lovers. Since then I have journaled and studied writing, even when I was a violinist with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The love for writing still continues.

What is your writing routine?

I do try to write every day, even if only a few words or sentences. My violin teacher used to counsel me to practice every day, even if I only had 15 minutes. I try to keep to that discipline now in my writing. The best time for me is late morning, after I’ve taken care of all my ‘drudge’ activities and my mind and body are totally free and willing to concentrate on the writing. I write almost exclusively at my computer, which is located in our loft upstairs. That’s where I feel completely apart from the rest of the world, which is what I need in order to do my best work.

Is there anything you wish you could tell your younger self about the writing life? What is your biggest advice for writers just starting out?

That is a wonderful way of putting it – to advise "my younger self." Both she and other writers starting out could benefit from two maxims that I try to keep in mind re: writing. The first is to educate yourself and avail yourself of all the writing tools and wisdom that you can find out there; the web is an enormous resource for this. The second is simply to "KEEP GOING."

What is the editing process like for you?

Brutal. For me it’s like practicing and perfecting a piece of music. I go back endlessly and try to make the language - the "notes" - as beautiful, compelling, and succinct as possible. I try to keep in mind Oscar Wilde’s famous comment about spending an entire day putting in one comma and then taking it out. Every word and punctuation mark will count toward making the writing shine. I just do my best to accomplish that.

What "life lessons" have you learned through writing?

If there’s one "life lesson" I would focus on, it would be that no matter what you choose to do in life, you will experience difficulty. Someone once said anything worth having is going to be some trouble. I try to remind myself that no matter how much criticism and rejection you get, ultimately you need to dust yourself off and KEEP GOING. I learned that as a young violinist trying to make my way in the music world. The same holds true for writing. Have faith in yourself and in your talent, find other people who believe in you, and KEEP GOING.

What's next for Erica Miner?

I was fortunate enough to find a publisher, Twilight Times Books, who believed in my story for a suspense novel, Murder In The Pit. The book is coming out this May, and I want to share my excitement about it with your readers. Information about the book will be posted on my website, http://www.ericaminer.com, as it becomes available.

My Trip to Dallas, Texas

I just got home from a wonderful week-long trip to Texas. One of my best friends is from Houston, and she wrote a play that was produced as part of a "Fringe Theater Festival" last Friday, so I used that as an excuse to go visit. (It was a great show -- I'm so proud of her!)

While in Texas, I also visited the Michener Center for Writers at UT Austin, one of the premier graduate writing programs in the United States. They could not have been more welcoming or helpful. Actually, I was blown away by the kindness and friendliness of Texas people in general. I immediately felt right at home.

And, of course, I could not have left Texas without visiting "my city" -- Dallas! I am named after my grandfather, not after the city, but it was still very cool to visit and see my name everywhere. :) I took so many pictures! I also sang karaokee for the first time in front of a very encouraging group of new Texan friends. And the conceirge at our hotel gave us a coupon for free breakfast because she was so tickled that Dallas is my name!

In addition to recharging my batteries, my week-long vacation also did wonders for my creative spirit. Nothing fills my "idea well" more quickly than experiencing new things -- embarking on new adventures, traveling to new places, meeting new people. I was jotting down ideas and notes on scraps of paper all week.

Even if you don't have a vacation or trip planned for the near future, you can still rejuvenate your creative life by trying new things. Learn a recipe for a different type of food than you usually eat. Dabble in a different art form, such as painting or music. Even something as simple as taking a different route to school or work can prove inspirational as you find yourself noticing details you didn't pick up on before.