Writing Secrets

I’ll share some of my secrets

This works for me. Maybe it will help your writing.

Here are my secrets for writing.

They might work for you.

Or, they might not.

I worked in an industry where I had to write things quickly.

There were deadlines.

Assignments had to be completed quickly.

Secret №1: Sometimes you just have to start writing.

Don’t wait until you have all the ideas ready to go.

Sometimes it’s necessary to just get started.

Let momentum build so you free yourself from inertia.

Once your brain starts working, it will light all of your creative neurons.

For me, it seems the act of doing leads to ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Take the action.

The story will follow.

Secret №2: Read things that inspire you.

I’ve been reading Jimmy Doom and every time he writes something it inspires me.

I remember one of the first stories of his that I read that connected with me was one about a college student doing a research paper at a bar with a reputation in “Before You Die.”

The girl sauntered back. Her head was doing the talking to gnats thing again, like she wanted to scope every inch of the bar. Not necessarily paranoid, but not comfortable. She made eye contact with Stormy, who sent her a friendly, stuck-together-on-a-bus-seat, might-as-well-not-make-it-uncomfortable smile. The girl returned it with a pure sympathy look.

— Jimmy Doom, “Before You Die.”

Reading Jimmy’s works make me want to include more local color in my writing. I live in a colorful area where rural red America mixes with immigrants from all over, where great cities have died and rusted away, and world-class Alpha centers of world power are only 45 minutes away.

I used Jimmy’s inspiration and channeled some Elmore Leonard to write a little story using one of the steel mills that dominates my region.

I hit the road and headed north on Broadway up to US Steel’s Gary Works.

My source said Covidien was there in the plant. Hiding somewhere.

I headed over to Grant and went up into the truck entrance just north of the toll road below the bridge warning that any 13'6" semi-trailer pulling trucks would get stuck if they proceeded any further. All the trucks going into the plant that way were shorter than the bridges — or they’d be jammed into the Indiana Toll Road deck making the INDOT people mad.

— Chris Hedges, “Chaos at the Steel Mill.”

Secret №3: Listen to Inspirational Music

I like to listen to music when I’m writing.

Your musical tastes may vary from mine.

It doesn’t matter.

Listen to something that makes you happy.

Or, listen to something that make you sad.

Or, listen to something that makes you feel romantic.

Or, gets you fired up!

I am also inspired by a lot of other writers. You should take a look at their works because I gain a lot of inspiration from their writing.

Tell us your secrets of how you build your inspiration to be creative. A few tags to those I love: Beautiful Gurpreet Dhariwal, Wise wordsmith and counselor Bridget Webber, vivacious traveler Britni Pepper, the amazing Christine Stevens (I’m going to figure out sales funnels — thanks for the tips!), challenging secret agent Kat Lehmkuhl (“Fight the Power!”), plus the wonderful Sherry McGuinn. 💗💗💗💗💗

🦄 Chris Hedges, BA, JD, loves writing, photography, imaging love, and exploring the possibilities of creativity.