Friday Forum: Stickability

What, you may ask our heroine, dear Reader, is “stickability?” Well, @BenDawe used it this morning in reference to one of the links I’m including below. I love this word! How do you keep going when you’re dragging, when your story is dragging or quite simply the world is just dragging around you? STICKABILITY!

Today seems like a great day to start a new year with a new attitude. (Day after my birthday, for what it’s worth.) I’m delighted that @BenDawe came out with this wonderful word on this wonderful day. Thank you, Ben!

We’re going to look at articles that specifically speak to keeping yourself going, your attitude strong and your story in motion. We’re also going to check into sites that in general are upbeat with clever ideas. No Pollyanna stuff here, it’s not my style. There’s an eclectic mix of sites over there in my blogroll, check them out some time. I’ll be mentioning one or two here as they’re geared in this direction.

BookEnds, LLC – A Literary Agency has a great blog. The recent article Never Give Up fits today’s topic perfectly. I suggest you read it, bookmark it and refer to it regularly if you get to feeling overwhelmed by the odds of the publishing world. It’s the link that inspired @BenDawe to use the word Stickability, by the way.

@Buckeye_BethM has a blog I enjoy called Writer-In-Progress. Check out this article titled Tip: Creatively Stuck? Try Something New. Lots of ideas to help you bust out of that rut, get that dragging up and running again.

The First Person Plural blog had an article I really enjoyed. Guest Blogger: C. M. Mayo on How to Hang in There and Finish Your Novel: 12 Tips. Need a kick in the pants that’s creative and truly helpful? Give this article a look.

I found this article to be helpful as well. The Book Deal: An Inside View of Publishing‘s article Ask The Editor: Help! I Can’t Seem to Finish My Book is a knowing look at the issue we all face from time to time. Ever go deer in the headlights? I have.

And some blogs in general….

@johannaharness is known on twitter for creating the hashtag #amwriting, a terrific, supportive community. I also love her blog. Johanna’s Blog: I blog when I absolutely can’t say what I need to say in 140 characters. Wonderful ideas, great attitude and side stories as well.

Andy Shackcloth, aka @Le_Shack, has a cool site. I particularly love his Sunday Wash-Up. It contains various and sundry links to sites which were pointed out on Twitter during the previous week. You’re bound to find something inspiring there. I always do! That’s not to mention the educational info as well. Give it a look each week – or if you miss a week, you can catch up with the links on the side. (And thanks, Andy, for the support of the Friday Forum!)

One of the most clever and supportive people I know on Twitter is @DebraMarrs. Her site’s a delight called Your Write Life. It is just what you’d expect from someone I described that way. Give it a look.

And so I invite you to find your way to STICKABILITY. However you do it, whatever you use as inspiration, that’s the right thing for you. (I would avoid the illegal or generally bad for you unless we’re talking about chocolate.) Please, share your techniques here. Got a link to pass along? Shout it out. Motto, book, person you follow on Twitter? This is the time and place to let us know.

Thanks to everyone who helps me with my Stickability. Each of you contributes by stopping by. I appreciate you!

Tagged: author, blog, challenges, fiction, Friday Forum, links, momentum, novel, stickability, writer, writing