How do you write a novel? One word at a time. Or one bird at a time, according to Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.
I don't know about you, but I find it very helpful to translate written words into pictures to understand it better. Sometimes those pictures are in my head, like when I'm reading a novel, but when I'm trying to learn actual techniques, I like to draw out my understanding. So here are some key nuggets pulled from Lamott's book on mining your childhood and creating a writing routine tied to a specific workspace at a specific time of day. I do not currently have a place where I sit down and pour (or trickle) out my creative thoughts but I think I'm gonna give this one a try. I'm going to try this cafe a block from my home with the backup of a cafe near my kid's school for days that I drop her off.