3 Habits to Improve Your Writing

Rosemi Mederos: 00:01

If you have plot bunnies coming out of your plot holes, it’s time for a writing break.

The Muse is with you once again, and in this week’s episode of Writing Break, we’ll wax poetic about rising book prices, writing during wartime, and, well, poetry. I’ll also share three habits to pick up if you want to improve your writing.

The Writing Break cafe is open, so settle in while I catch you up on some publishing news.

Draft2Digital is acquiring Smashwords. The US-based distributors appear the same at surface level, but they have different strengths, and the self-publishing community seems optimistic that the acquisition will merge the best of both companies.

ease in print book prices for: 2022

Penguin Young Readers announced a new imprint called Rocky Pond Books, which will "publish books for two through teen, both fiction and nonfiction, with a focus on mental health and social-emotional learning and on seeking out exceptional debut authors and illustrators."

Links to these articles can be found in the show notes of this episode and on writingbreak.com.

Before we head to the bookstore, let’s take a moment to strategize on the Overthinking Couch. I’d like to touch upon writing during wartime. This has been on my mind lately, and my reasons for this will go unspoken, but maybe a smart listener like yourself has been thinking about it too. I would like to equip you as best I can for any skirmishes that might arise. When carrying equipment into battle, portability is key, and this is where poetry has the greatest advantage over prose when we're down in the trenches. You can write an entire poem on a scrap of paper and memorize a soul-sustaining poem or two.

Write whatever you want to write, and if you find yourself weary and battle-worn, unable to progress on your current creative project, try poetry, either reading it or writing it. It can, at the very least, plug your ears until the next ceasefire.

And now that I’ve unfurled my “I Heart Poetry” flag, would you be so kind as to accompany me to an independent bookstore?

ge, Massachusetts. Founded in: 1927

According to Grolier's website, they believe that poetry "has a lot to offer if only readers can learn to tap its powers by allowing themselves an openness to receive the gifts of its miraculous hand."

Let's find that openness as we stroll around the shop.

If there is anyone who can open your heart, it's international poet Charlotte Brady. As Silence Is Your Witness, the first in her The Golden Passage series, is available in ebook, print, and audiobook formats. The audiobook is read by the poet, and if you find her voice as soothing as I do, I encourage you to listen to her guided meditations on the Insight Timer app.

Let's get all three books in The Golden Passage series and head back to the Writing Break cafe for three habits that will improve your writing.

I’m listing these 3 habits to improve your writing in no particular order.

1. Read something every day.

If you think you don't have time, try audiobooks, short stories, and poetry (see what I did there?).

2. Write something every day.

Even if you're just writing for yourself, daily writing will improve the quality of your writing, which increases your confidence, which, again, improves your writing.

3. Stop comparing yourself to other writers.

You have your own unique voice that deserves to be heard. It is possible—and liberating—to admire others without wanting to be them.

Listenership—if that’s what it’s called in the podcast world—is up for Writing Break, so thank you. Keep spreading the word and let everyone know that you were on to this show first.

If you would like us to visit your favorite independent bookstore, feature your favorite independent author (even if it’s you), or discuss something you’re overthinking about, please email me at podcast@writingbreak.com.

Thank you for making space in your mind for The Muse today.

Writing Break is hosted by America’s Editor and produced by Allon Media with technical direction by Gus Aviles. Visit us at writingbreak.com or contact us at podcast@writingbreak.com.