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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/9131-Heres-to-a-Creative-Year.html
Action/Adventure: January 09, 2019 Issue [#9131]




 This week: Here's to a Creative Year!
  Edited by: NaNoKit Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Are you struggling to get back into the flow? Why not set yourself a challenge?

This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about getting ready for a year filled with creativity.

NaNoKit Author Icon


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

How is your new year so far? Are you still recovering from the holiday season, or are you back into action? I’ve entered some activities on the site already because, frankly, last year was a terrible year for my writing. I think I wrote one story and a couple of not-very-good poems, and that was it.

If you, too, are struggling with your writing, I can recommend entering an activity where you’re signing up to write X amount of items within X amount of time. For example, I have entered a blogging challenge where I am supposed to write 30 blog entries within 30 days, an activity where I’ll be entering one contest a week, and an activity where I’ll be entering one contest every month. So far that has led me to write seven blog posts and two poems – not a bad start to the year at all. I will leave you the links to these activities in my item highlights section, in case you are interested in signing up for a current round or, if you don’t feel ready now, a future round.

We all have years in which we don’t achieve much in the fields that we love, and years where we’re soaring. A bad year doesn’t mean that you have lost your touch. Life, simply, is like that. I hope that a good start to this year means that I will have a good writing year. It’s probably too early to tell, but I do feel that my creative spark is returning.

Maybe it’s good to have a break sometimes. It could be that it’s similar to eating your favourite meal too many times in a row – we lose the taste for it, at least for a while. Or you simply run out of steam. Or you’ve finished all the projects that you wanted to and haven’t yet any ideas for your next one.

The good thing here on Writing.Com is that there are prompts to be found everywhere. The home page has a prompts section that you can go through. There are a wide variety of contests available at any time, in a variety of genres. Whether you’re a short story writer, a poet or a novelist, there is always something going on.

I find it difficult to write without prompts sometimes, but then I’ll flick through these items and something clicks. It can be a single line, or a brief mental image, and I’ll open up a new document and off I go.

I’m not really a planner. I know writers who write character sheets and plot outlines before they set out on a new writing journey. I mostly just begin to write and see what happens. Either way is fine – whatever works best for you.

If you’re reading this and feel hesitant about trying something new, well, what have you got to lose? And if you feel shy signing up for an activity, or about entering a contest, please, don’t worry. You might lose, but that’s no big deal. I have lost plenty of contests, but I still had a new item in my portfolio and learned something new. And when you win a contest, that’s great! It feels good and you get prizes! There have been times when I thought there was no way that I would win something, and I did, and a pleasant surprise of that kind feels even better.

This isn’t the kind of community where you’ll be looked down upon if you lose a contest or if you run out of steam for a while. There will always be people willing to offer you feedback, offer you a hand, or simply offer you encouragement. If you haven’t discovered the newsfeed option yet, I encourage you to post. You’ll find a world of writers ready to welcome you. You will also discover newsfeed contests and challenges for more inspiration.

Writing.Com is a place where you get out what you put in. Despite my slow year last year, it’s helped me enormously – all the way to publication and guest slots on national and international radio shows. It’s helped me with my English, too, as I am not a native English speaker.

Why not step forward, then, and write something new? See what happens. You never know... good things might come your way. *Smile*

NaNoKit Author Icon



Editor's Picks

Some contests and activities to inspire you:

Image Protector
FORUM
The Contest Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Join by entering a contest a month for 12 months--Win Badges! Catching up is allowed!
#2109126 by Schnujo's Doing NaNoWriMo? Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS Open in new Window. (13+)
WDC's Longest Running Blog Competition - Hiatus
#1786069 by Fivesixer Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
I Write in 2019 Open in new Window. (E)
Write and review once a week for all of 2019
#2173943 by NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by Sophurky Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
Rebel Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
Open for March 2024
#2112615 by Warped Sanity Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
Shadows and Light Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Do you love the challenge and creativity of free verse poetry? This contest is for you.
#1935693 by Choconut Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
NOVEMBER: Comedy... Thanksgiving with the Family
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
FORUM
a very Wodehouse challenge Open in new Window. (E)
Special 24th WDC Anniversary Special Event! Come test your fortitude!
#1280691 by iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2085863 by Not Available.


And don't forget:

 
Image Protector
SURVEY
Dear Me: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (E)
What are *your* goals for the new year? Think it over, write a letter and win big prizes!
#597313 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


 
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

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Ask & Answer

The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! *Smile*

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team



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