Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

AI writing apps, programs, and tools are all over the news. People are reacting. They’re writing articles and opinion pieces, they're recording podcasts, they're discussing it in Twitter threads. Some say don't worry, AI writing tools can't write like humans. Others claim this is an inkling of what's ahead—they're going to surpass our skills. You'll find articles suggesting we sign up and use the tech as a free writing assistant to help with researching, drafting, and writer's block. Of course there are those imagining worst case scenarios, but it's not all gloom and doom. In fact, for a glimpse of what's possible now, check out my "interview" with an AI writing app that's making the headlines: ChatGPT. The first thing I asked: Why should writers bother with learning the craft of writing when we can now use AI writing apps like ChatGPT? Here's what ChatGPT wrote in response: While AI writing tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for generating ideas or suggesting potential phrasings, they should not be seen as a replacement for learning the craft of writing. AI writing tools are limited by their programming, and they are not able to fully understand or replicate the creativity and nuance of human writing. What do you think? It's pretty good, isn't it? Let's continue. My questions are bold. What should writers do to learn the craft of writing? ChatGPT: There are many ways that writers can learn the craft of writing, including: Reading widely and critically to develop an understanding of different styles and techniques Studying the works of successful and influential writers to learn from their approaches Taking writing classes or workshops to learn from experienced instructors and receive feedback on your work Practicing writing regularly to improve your skills and develop your voice Seeking out and implementing feedback from others, such as beta readers or writing group members Being open to learning new things and trying out new techniques to find what works best for you. Is it better to write conversationally or to infuse our writing with literary techniques? ChatGPT: It ultimately depends on the context and purpose of the writing. Writing conversationally can be effective for making the text more relatable and engaging for the reader, while incorporating literary techniques can add depth and complexity to the writing. In general, it is important for writers to consider their audience and their goals when deciding how to approach their writing. What kind of audience would prefer a conversational writing style? ChatGPT: A conversational writing style is often preferred by readers who are looking for a more relatable and accessible text. This style can make the writing feel more personal and engaging, and can help to establish a connection with the reader. It is often used in informal writing, such as in blog posts or social media posts, where the goal is to engage the reader and invite them to participate in a conversation. What kind of audience or reader would prefer a literary style of writing? ChatGPT: A literary style of writing is often preferred by readers who are looking for a more complex and sophisticated text. This style typically incorporates literary techniques such as figurative language, symbolism, and other devices to add depth and complexity to the writing. It is often used in formal or academic writing, where the goal is to convey complex ideas or to engage the reader on a deeper level. Name three things a writer can add to her writing that will make it stand out compared to AI-generated text. ChatGPT: Some things that a writer can add to their writing to make it stand out compared to AI-generated text include: A unique and personal voice that reflects the writer's own experiences and perspective Creative and original ideas that go beyond what an AI tool would produce

AI writing apps, programs, and tools are all over the news. People are reacting. They’re writing articles and opinion pieces, they're recording podcasts, they're discussing it in Twitter threads. Some say don't worry, AI writing tools can't write like humans. Others claim this is an inkling of what's ahead—they're going to surpass our skills. You'll find articles suggesting we sign up and use the tech as a free writing assistant to help with researching, drafting, and writer's block. Of course there are those imagining worst case scenarios, but it's not all gloom and doom. In fact, for a glimpse of what's possible now, check out my "interview" with an AI writing app that's making the headlines: ChatGPT. The first thing I asked: Why should writers bother with learning the craft of writing when we can now use AI writing apps like ChatGPT? Here's what ChatGPT wrote in response: While AI writing tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for generating ideas or suggesting potential phrasings, they should not be seen as a replacement for learning the craft of writing. AI writing tools are limited by their programming, and they are not able to fully understand or replicate the creativity and nuance of human writing. What do you think? It's pretty good, isn't it? Let's continue. My questions are bold. What should writers do to learn the craft of writing? ChatGPT: There are many ways that writers can learn the craft of writing, including: Reading widely and critically to develop an understanding of different styles and techniques Studying the works of successful and influential writers to learn from their approaches Taking writing classes or workshops to learn from experienced instructors and receive feedback on your work Practicing writing regularly to improve your skills and develop your voice Seeking out and implementing feedback from others, such as beta readers or writing group members Being open to learning new things and trying out new techniques to find what works best for you. Is it better to write conversationally or to infuse our writing with literary techniques? ChatGPT: It ultimately depends on the context and purpose of the writing. Writing conversationally can be effective for making the text more relatable and engaging for the reader, while incorporating literary techniques can add depth and complexity to the writing. In general, it is important for writers to consider their audience and their goals when deciding how to approach their writing. What kind of audience would prefer a conversational writing style? ChatGPT: A conversational writing style is often preferred by readers who are looking for a more relatable and accessible text. This style can make the writing feel more personal and engaging, and can help to establish a connection with the reader. It is often used in informal writing, such as in blog posts or social media posts, where the goal is to engage the reader and invite them to participate in a conversation. What kind of audience or reader would prefer a literary style of writing? ChatGPT: A literary style of writing is often preferred by readers who are looking for a more complex and sophisticated text. This style typically incorporates literary techniques such as figurative language, symbolism, and other devices to add depth and complexity to the writing. It is often used in formal or academic writing, where the goal is to convey complex ideas or to engage the reader on a deeper level. Name three things a writer can add to her writing that will make it stand out compared to AI-generated text. ChatGPT: Some things that a writer can add to their writing to make it stand out compared to AI-generated text include: A unique and personal voice that reflects the writer's own experiences and perspective Creative and original ideas that go beyond what an AI tool would produce

People wonder about Stephen King’s pencil. Writers (including me) want to know what writing instrument he uses. Why? Maybe we all harbor a secret hope that if we get the same pencil as Stephen King, we'll end up as prolific and successful as Stephen King. Or if we discover what Annie Dillard writes with, we'll produce the same type of literary prose as Annie Dillard. Or if we use the same writing program as, well...fill in whatever writer you admire. If you use the same pencil, pen, writing program, or paper as your favorite writer, do you imagine you're becoming a little bit more like them? Stephen King's Pencil I poked around, and it sounds like King's favorite pencil is the classic Blackwing 602, favored by such luminaries as John Steinbeck, Vladimir Nabokov, and Truman Capote.1 But while researching Stephen King's pencil, I realized I wanted to hear from you—real writers at work. What do real writers use? Through social media, my newsletter, and a coaching call in my writing community, I asked: What's your favorite writing instrument? And you told me. I found out: There's no one perfect pen for all writers. There's no one perfect program for all writers. There's no consensus on the best tool or writing instrument out there for every single writer to use. Everyone's simply using what they love. Your favorite writing instruments People seem evenly split between pens and pencils, and some weren't picky at all. Any old ballpoint pen was fine with them, even the kind they swipe from one of the businesses they frequent. Others were more precise on brand, color, and tip, preferring fine, medium, or thick. Curious to hear what these real writers use to do the work? Your favorite pens Let's dive into the pens. Ballpoint pens are at the top with BIC. Yes, that common brand is a favorite option. They're easily found, they're really cheap, and they come in fun colors. And a lot of people prefer one particular color, like blue, or one particular tip, like fine point. Coming up right after BIC is the PILOT brand. The PILOT Precise V5 seems to be the favorite. Good gel pens are adored by a lot of people (and hated by a few). TUL pens are also coming in hot with a lot of writers who are addicted to them. I also heard from writers who love Paper Mate InkJoy, Sharpies, and Flair pens, as well as a couple of fountain pen users. If you're curious, when I grab a pen, I like the Pentel RSVP pen in black, fine point. They're easily found and affordable, kind of like the classic BIC ballpoint. Your favorite pencils As for pencils, well, again, BIC comes in strong with their mechanical pencils that a lot of people mentioned. Others love mechanical pencils in general and aren't particular about brands. The Blackwing 602 is used by a few people who tracked it down and love it. And a lot of people said they don't have a preference—they'll snatch any pencil within reach and start writing. More specifically, I did hear about Paper Mate's Mirado Black Warrior. A writer heard it recommended by author Daniel Silva and had trouble finding it, but once she did, reported that it's excellent. Someone mentioned they love writing with graphing pencils. What are people writing on? Whether they're using a pen or a pencil, people are writing in all kinds of notebooks, and a few people love the freedom of writing on scrap paper with no lines. Your favorite writing programs Now let's switch to writing programs. Microsoft Word and Scrivener are neck and neck. A lot of writers are using one or the other and sometimes both. After you export a Scrivener document as a Word document—and send it off to your editor—it's much easier to track changes in Word. Google Docs shows up as the next most popular option. A few people use Open Source LibreOffice, and one person mentioned using Final Draft for screenplays.

People wonder about Stephen King’s pencil. Writers (including me) want to know what writing instrument he uses. Why? Maybe we all harbor a secret hope that if we get the same pencil as Stephen King, we'll end up as prolific and successful as Stephen King. Or if we discover what Annie Dillard writes with, we'll produce the same type of literary prose as Annie Dillard. Or if we use the same writing program as, well...fill in whatever writer you admire. If you use the same pencil, pen, writing program, or paper as your favorite writer, do you imagine you're becoming a little bit more like them? Stephen King's Pencil I poked around, and it sounds like King's favorite pencil is the classic Blackwing 602, favored by such luminaries as John Steinbeck, Vladimir Nabokov, and Truman Capote.1 But while researching Stephen King's pencil, I realized I wanted to hear from you—real writers at work. What do real writers use? Through social media, my newsletter, and a coaching call in my writing community, I asked: What's your favorite writing instrument? And you told me. I found out: There's no one perfect pen for all writers. There's no one perfect program for all writers. There's no consensus on the best tool or writing instrument out there for every single writer to use. Everyone's simply using what they love. Your favorite writing instruments People seem evenly split between pens and pencils, and some weren't picky at all. Any old ballpoint pen was fine with them, even the kind they swipe from one of the businesses they frequent. Others were more precise on brand, color, and tip, preferring fine, medium, or thick. Curious to hear what these real writers use to do the work? Your favorite pens Let's dive into the pens. Ballpoint pens are at the top with BIC. Yes, that common brand is a favorite option. They're easily found, they're really cheap, and they come in fun colors. And a lot of people prefer one particular color, like blue, or one particular tip, like fine point. Coming up right after BIC is the PILOT brand. The PILOT Precise V5 seems to be the favorite. Good gel pens are adored by a lot of people (and hated by a few). TUL pens are also coming in hot with a lot of writers who are addicted to them. I also heard from writers who love Paper Mate InkJoy, Sharpies, and Flair pens, as well as a couple of fountain pen users. If you're curious, when I grab a pen, I like the Pentel RSVP pen in black, fine point. They're easily found and affordable, kind of like the classic BIC ballpoint. Your favorite pencils As for pencils, well, again, BIC comes in strong with their mechanical pencils that a lot of people mentioned. Others love mechanical pencils in general and aren't particular about brands. The Blackwing 602 is used by a few people who tracked it down and love it. And a lot of people said they don't have a preference—they'll snatch any pencil within reach and start writing. More specifically, I did hear about Paper Mate's Mirado Black Warrior. A writer heard it recommended by author Daniel Silva and had trouble finding it, but once she did, reported that it's excellent. Someone mentioned they love writing with graphing pencils. What are people writing on? Whether they're using a pen or a pencil, people are writing in all kinds of notebooks, and a few people love the freedom of writing on scrap paper with no lines. Your favorite writing programs Now let's switch to writing programs. Microsoft Word and Scrivener are neck and neck. A lot of writers are using one or the other and sometimes both. After you export a Scrivener document as a Word document—and send it off to your editor—it's much easier to track changes in Word. Google Docs shows up as the next most popular option. A few people use Open Source LibreOffice, and one person mentioned using Final Draft for screenplays.

Bryan Collins relies on a simple system that captures notes and ideas that flow directly into his projects when he sits down to write. His writing routine doesn't take all day yet achieves significant results. Find out how he works and test it out. When you combine that with his simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects, you'll be on your way to completing a full manuscript. Ready to do the work and write the truth? Learn from Bryan: how to “green-light” yourselfhow to capture ideas with easy, daily systemsthe magic of building your body of work in a surprisingly small pocket of timehow to find time for writing—even during hectic seasons of lifehow to regularly review your notes from other sources alongside your own ideashow to break out of writer’s block Meet Bryan Collins Bryan Collins is a USA Today best-selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity, This Is Working, I Can’t Believe I’m A Dad! and a best-selling series of books for writers. He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, Lifehacker and Fast Company. Today he runs his website Become a Writer Today, with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year. And he hosts a popular writing podcast by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times best-selling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink. Resources: Become a Writer Today, Bryan's websiteBecome a Writer Today, Bryan's podcastI Can't Believe I'm a Dad, Bryan's book (affiliate link to paperback)Bryan's interview with me: Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing with Ann KroekerZettelkasten SystemDay One appambient noise on noise-canceling headphones (to minimize distractions)brain.fm (for focus and flow)otter.ai,rev.com (for transcription/dictation)Medium Wattpad for fictionWriting Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (affiliate link for 30th anniversary paperback ed.)Twitter for microbloggingStory by Robert McKee (affiliate link to Kindle ebook)Choose Yourself, by James Altucher (affiliate link for Kindle ebook, on sale at the time of publishing this interview; about green-lighting yourself)Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (affiliate link to paperback ed.)Inspiration: singer Nick Cave (here's his interesting website) and author Stephen King Listen to the interview, or read the transcript below. Bryan Collins Interview This is a lightly edited transcript. [00:00:00.190] - Ann Kroeker How would you like to develop a simple writing routine that doesn't take all day to achieve significant results? And what if you could combine that with a simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects? Today I have Bryan Collins of Become A Writer Today on the show, and he is sharing his one-two punch of a system-routine combo that turns out an impressive body of work. I'm Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back. I'm sharing my best tips and training skills and strategies to coach writers to improve their craft, pursue publishing, and achieve their writing goals. Bryan Collins is a USA Today best selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity this is Working, I Can't Believe I'm a dad, and a best selling series of books for writers. He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, LifeHacker and Fast Company. Today he runs his website, Become A Writer Today with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times bestselling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink. Let's hear his practical advice for writers. Ready to do the work and write the truth? [00:01:32.770] - Ann Kroeker Well, we have Bryan Collins on the show today.

Bryan Collins relies on a simple system that captures notes and ideas that flow directly into his projects when he sits down to write. His writing routine doesn't take all day yet achieves significant results. Find out how he works and test it out. When you combine that with his simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects, you'll be on your way to completing a full manuscript. Ready to do the work and write the truth? Learn from Bryan: how to “green-light” yourself how to capture ideas with easy, daily systems the magic of building your body of work in a surprisingly small pocket of time how to find time for writing—even during hectic seasons of life how to regularly review your notes from other sources alongside your own ideas how to break out of writer’s block Meet Bryan Collins Bryan Collins is a USA Today best-selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity, This Is Working, I Can’t Believe I’m A Dad! and a best-selling series of books for writers. He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, Lifehacker and Fast Company. Today he runs his website Become a Writer Today, with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year. And he hosts a popular writing podcast by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times best-selling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink. Resources: Become a Writer Today, Bryan's website Become a Writer Today, Bryan's podcast I Can't Believe I'm a Dad, Bryan's book (paperback version, Amazon Affiliate link) Bryan's interview with me: Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing with Ann Kroeker Zettelkasten System Day One app ambient noise on noise-canceling headphones (to minimize distractions) brain.fm (for focus and flow) otter.ai,rev.com (for transcription/dictation) Medium Wattpad for fiction Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (affiliate link for 30th anniversary paperback ed.) Twitter for microblogging Story by Robert McKee (affiliate link to Kindle ebook) Choose Yourself, by James Altucher (affiliate link for Kindle ebook, on sale at the time of publishing this interview; about green-lighting yourself) Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (affiliate link to paperback ed.) Inspiration: singer Nick Cave (here's his interesting website) and author Stephen King Listen to the interview, or read the transcript below. Bryan Collins Interview This is a lightly edited transcript. [00:00:00.190] - Ann Kroeker How would you like to develop a simple writing routine that doesn't take all day to achieve significant results? And what if you could combine that with a simple system for collecting inspiration for all of your writing projects? Today I have Bryan Collins of Become A Writer Today on the show, and he is sharing his one-two punch of a system-routine combo that turns out an impressive body of work. I'm Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back. I'm sharing my best tips and training skills and strategies to coach writers to improve their craft, pursue publishing, and achieve their writing goals. Bryan Collins is a USA Today best selling author whose books include The Power of Creativity this is Working, I Can't Believe I'm a dad, and a best selling series of books for writers. He was a journalist and copywriter for years and has contributed to publications like Forbes, LifeHacker and Fast Company. Today he runs his website, Become A Writer Today with the help of a team of writers, attracting several million visitors each year by the same name, where he deconstructs the writing processes of New York Times bestselling authors like James Clear and Daniel Pink. Let's hear his practical advice for writers.

With inspiration from Mark McGuinness, you'll integrate poetry into your writing life as a pleasurable practice that elevates your prose. In this interview, Mark describes the vision for his podcast and his own poetic beginnings, and he urges writers (and readers) to simply enjoy poetry. You'll see ways poetry intersects with and impacts prose—you can even play a literary game he describes at the end. Learn from Mark: How a mouthful of air is a perfect image for poetry and podcastsHow can we translate metaphor into our other forms of writing (without being weird)The metaphor that comes to his mind when describing himself and his writingHow poems "mug" Mark and he drops everything to chase them like leprechaunsThe importance of getting input on your work and finding a writing mentorPlus, play his writing game (bring your prose)! Listen to episode 245 and check out excerpts in the transcript below. You’ll be inspired by his warm, encouraging advice. If his subtle persuasion succeeds, you may embrace poetry as the next step in your literary journey. Meet Mark McGuinness Mark McGuinness is a poet based in Bristol, UK. On his poetry podcast A Mouthful of Air he interviews contemporary poets about their writing practice and draws out insights that can help any writer become more creative, expressive and memorable. Mark also takes classic poems apart to show us how they work and what we as writers can learn from the examples of poets including Yeats, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Chaucer and Edward Lear. Links: Visit amouthfulofair.fmListen to A Mouthful of Air on Apple PodcastsTwitter: @amouthfulofairInstagram: @airpoets https://youtu.be/bu0LwCeNlQw Mark McGuinness Interview This is a lightly edited transcript. [00] - Ann Kroeker With inspiration from my guest Mark McGuinness, you may find yourself integrating poetry into your writing life as both a pleasure and a practice. I'm Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back. I'm sharing my best tips and training skills and strategies to help writers improve their craft, pursue publishing and achieve their writing goals. Today I have Mark McGuinness on the show, a poet from Bristol, UK. On his poetry podcast, A Mouthful of Air, Mark interviews contemporary poets to discover their writing practice and draws out insights that can help any writer become more creative, expressive and memorable. Mark also takes classic poems apart to show us how they work and what we as writers can learn from the examples of poets like Yates, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Chaucer and Edward Lear. Listen in on our conversation. [00:54] - Ann Kroeker I am so excited to have Mark McGuinness on the call today on our show and we are going to talk about a lot of different things related to the creative life, the writing life, even the poetry life. Mark, thanks for being on the call. [01:09] - Mark McGuinness Thank you. It's lovely to be here, Ann. [01:12] - Ann Kroeker I am looking forward to learning more about how you approach your own creative life and how you use and enable poetry to be part of what feeds your creative life, how you inspire others with poetry, because that seems to be a big part of your life. Can you tell the listeners and viewers, can you tell us a little bit more about who you are and what you do? [01:37] - Mark McGuinness Sure. I am a poet living in Bristol, in the southwest of England, in the UK. I've been writing poetry quite a while and in my typical group of friends, I'm usually the one who reads poetry. I've always been quite aware that most people don't read poetry most of the time. There are a lot of people who are very literate, very well read, very avid readers, but who will generally read anything but poetry. And to my point of view, it's not that hard. I think a lot of people get put off at school,

With inspiration from Mark McGuinness, you'll integrate poetry into your writing life as a pleasurable practice that elevates your prose. In this interview, Mark describes the vision for his podcast and his own poetic beginnings, and he urges writers (and readers) to simply enjoy poetry. You'll see ways poetry intersects with and impacts prose—you can even play a literary game he describes at the end. Learn from Mark: How a mouthful of air is a perfect image for poetry and podcastsHow can we translate metaphor into our other forms of writing (without being weird)The metaphor that comes to his mind when describing himself and his writingHow poems "mug" Mark and he drops everything to chase them like leprechaunsThe importance of getting input on your work and finding a writing mentorPlus, play his writing game (bring your prose)! Listen to episode 245 and check out excerpts in the transcript below. You’ll be inspired by his warm, encouraging advice. If his subtle persuasion succeeds, you may embrace poetry as the next step in your literary journey. Meet Mark McGuinness Mark McGuinness is a poet based in Bristol, UK. On his poetry podcast A Mouthful of Air he interviews contemporary poets about their writing practice and draws out insights that can help any writer become more creative, expressive and memorable. Mark also takes classic poems apart to show us how they work and what we as writers can learn from the examples of poets including Yeats, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Chaucer and Edward Lear. Links: Visit amouthfulofair.fmListen to A Mouthful of Air on Apple PodcastsTwitter: @amouthfulofairInstagram: @airpoets https://youtu.be/bu0LwCeNlQw Mark McGuinness Interview This is a lightly edited transcript. [00] - Ann Kroeker With inspiration from my guest Mark McGuinness, you may find yourself integrating poetry into your writing life as both a pleasure and a practice. I'm Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back. I'm sharing my best tips and training skills and strategies to help writers improve their craft, pursue publishing and achieve their writing goals. Today I have Mark McGuinness on the show, a poet from Bristol, UK. On his poetry podcast, A Mouthful of Air, Mark interviews contemporary poets to discover their writing practice and draws out insights that can help any writer become more creative, expressive and memorable. Mark also takes classic poems apart to show us how they work and what we as writers can learn from the examples of poets like Yates, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Chaucer and Edward Lear. Listen in on our conversation. [00:54] - Ann Kroeker I am so excited to have Mark McGuinness on the call today on our show and we are going to talk about a lot of different things related to the creative life, the writing life, even the poetry life. Mark, thanks for being on the call. [01:09] - Mark McGuinness Thank you. It's lovely to be here, Ann. [01:12] - Ann Kroeker I am looking forward to learning more about how you approach your own creative life and how you use and enable poetry to be part of what feeds your creative life, how you inspire others with poetry, because that seems to be a big part of your life. Can you tell the listeners and viewers, can you tell us a little bit more about who you are and what you do? [01:37] - Mark McGuinness Sure. I am a poet living in Bristol, in the southwest of England, in the UK. I've been writing poetry quite a while and in my typical group of friends, I'm usually the one who reads poetry. I've always been quite aware that most people don't read poetry most of the time. There are a lot of people who are very literate, very well read, very avid readers, but who will generally read anything but poetry. And to my point of view, it's not that hard. I think a lot of people get put off at school,

Writers working on projects that are destined to be published—to be read—can struggle with nerves. We edit our words before they have a chance to breathe on the page. We hold back our true feelings and opinions. We forget to play with language. Serious Writers Need to Play I tend to encourage my clients to move toward practical goals, to create work that is going to be published. But at the same time, I also encourage writers to play, to get past the gates we put in front of ourselves and try to tap into those first thoughts without fear of being misunderstood. If you're a writer taking yourself a little too seriously, I have just the thing for you today—a writing exercise you can play with in your writing journal, where nobody will see it. The Creative Writing Exercise: A Three-Line Poem This one comes from Imaginative Writing by Janet Burroway. When you're done, you'll end up with a three-line poem (24). Each of the lines has a template you can follow. ➤ Line 1: abstraction + verb + place ➤ Line 2: describe attire ➤ Line 3: summarize an action Here's one of her examples. Hunger yells in the hallway, draped in cymbals; he stomps and shouts, "Hear me now!" Notice how she plays with the template. Line 1: "Hunger" is the abstraction"Yells" is the verb"In the hallway" is the place Line 2: "Draped in cymbals" is her way of describing some attire. Line 3: "He stomps and shouts, 'Hear me now!'" describes action. It's okay if your poems come out a little weird or kooky. That's part of the fun of it. Your Turn: Try It! You're putting together ideas and images and creating something fresh—have fun with it! Don't overthink the noun, the verb, or the action. Simply play. Join Others in The Art & Craft of Writing This offers a taste of some of the exercises we are going to play with in The Art and Craft of Writing. If you're reading this before August 29, 2022, you have a chance to sign up for a fall intensive I'm running: an eight-week program designed to help you get input on your writing while you learn literary techniques and put them into practice. You'll get eyes on your work from peers in the cohort and from me, as well! If you're coming across this information after the fact, go to annkroeker.com/acw, which will take you to the page where you can sign up if it's live or get on the waitlist if it's not. You don't have to wait for that or even be in the program to play with writing. You can start today, with this three-line poem. While you're playing with your own words in your writing notebook, you don't have to share anything with anybody. It's just a chance to warm up—to get the creative juices flowing. Creative Writing with Your Coach That said, maybe it helps to know that this writing coach loves to play with words. Would you like to see what I came up with, just for fun? Here's one: Ideas skid across my path; jaunty in their tilted caps and leprechaun-green suits, they dance a jig, daring me to catch them. Here's another: Time slithers under the bedroom door,its wrinkled skin sloughing offas it scrapes the wood and leaves me behind, guilty of pressing snooze once more. Experiment, Play, and (if you want) Share Your Poem If you end up writing your own three-line poem and like the way it turned out—and you wouldn't mind sharing it publicly—drop it into the comments below. Or you could share it with me privately via email. I'd love to see what you come up with. As writers, we do the work of writing, but by experimenting with a creative writing exercise now and then, we can also play. Footnote: Burroway, Janet. Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft. Pearson, 2015. Page 24.

Writers working on projects that are destined to be published—to be read—can struggle with nerves. We edit our words before they have a chance to breathe on the page. We hold back our true feelings and opinions. We forget to play with language. Serious Writers Need to Play I tend to encourage my clients to move toward practical goals, to create work that is going to be published. But at the same time, I also encourage writers to play, to get past the gates we put in front of ourselves and try to tap into those first thoughts without fear of being misunderstood. If you're a writer taking yourself a little too seriously, I have just the thing for you today—a writing exercise you can play with in your writing journal, where nobody will see it. The Creative Writing Exercise: A Three-Line Poem This one comes from Imaginative Writing by Janet Burroway. When you're done, you'll end up with a three-line poem (24). Each of the lines has a template you can follow. ➤ Line 1: abstraction + verb + place ➤ Line 2: describe attire ➤ Line 3: summarize an action Here's one of her examples. Hunger yells in the hallway, draped in cymbals; he stomps and shouts, "Hear me now!" Notice how she plays with the template. Line 1: "Hunger" is the abstraction"Yells" is the verb"In the hallway" is the place Line 2: "Draped in cymbals" is her way of describing some attire. Line 3: "He stomps and shouts, 'Hear me now!'" describes action. It's okay if your poems come out a little weird or kooky. That's part of the fun of it. Your Turn: Try It! You're putting together ideas and images and creating something fresh—have fun with it! Don't overthink the noun, the verb, or the action. Simply play. Join Others in The Art & Craft of Writing This offers a taste of some of the exercises we are going to play with in The Art and Craft of Writing. If you're reading this before August 29, 2022, you have a chance to sign up for a fall intensive I'm running: an eight-week program designed to help you get input on your writing while you learn literary techniques and put them into practice. You'll get eyes on your work from peers in the cohort and from me, as well! If you're coming across this information after the fact, go to annkroeker.com/acw, which will take you to the page where you can sign up if it's live or get on the waitlist if it's not. You don't have to wait for that or even be in the program to play with writing. You can start today, with this three-line poem. While you're playing with your own words in your writing notebook, you don't have to share anything with anybody. It's just a chance to warm up—to get the creative juices flowing. Creative Writing with Your Coach That said, maybe it helps to know that this writing coach loves to play with words. Would you like to see what I came up with, just for fun? Here's one: Ideas skid across my path; jaunty in their tilted caps and leprechaun-green suits, they dance a jig, daring me to catch them. Here's another: Time slithers under the bedroom door,its wrinkled skin sloughing offas it scrapes the wood and leaves me behind, guilty of pressing snooze once more. Experiment, Play, and (if you want) Share Your Poem If you end up writing your own three-line poem and like the way it turned out—and you wouldn't mind sharing it publicly—drop it into the comments below. Or you could share it with me privately via email. I'd love to see what you come up with. As writers, we do the work of writing, but by experimenting with a creative writing exercise now and then, we can also play. Footnote: Burroway, Janet. Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft. Pearson, 2015. Page 24.