Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 102
May 25, 2022
Available Now – The Midwesterner
I’m so excited to announce our newest digital novella, The Midwesterner, an inspirational story about a man known for asking questions. When his life is in shambles, he begins asking a whole lot more, and finding the only answer that can salvage his life and home. Currently we are sharing The Midwesterner as a PruittWrites.com temporary exclusive, becoming available on Amazon later this year.
With this digital first printing of 100 copies, there is a limited supply for our Pruittwrites audience. We hope you are inspired by the people who arrive at Art Russett’s desk, and join him on the journey he takes beyond the show. It was a blessing writing it, and I pray you will be blessed by this Pruittwrites novella.
May 24, 2022
iPainting Redhead
This is an iPainting of a diving duck called a Redhead. During part of the year the feathers of it’s head turn what’s described as either a red or copper color. It’s amazing to me, not only the variety of animals in this world, but how many of them that exist which I had no idea of. God has truly placed wonderful surprises throughout His creation.
Writing Methods
Method is defined as a procedure, technique, or system. Whether it’s a daily routine, a technique you begin with, or a system that you have set up, your writing method can help you to be successful. Think of a method as a writing habit. Just as a habit can be instrumental in changing your life, a writing method can transform your writing.
As with a habit, a writing method can take many forms, and apply to a broad spectrum of people. One of the most successful methods I have seen is to write daily. This practice engages your mind, builds your writing muscle, and furthers your writing goals.
An advanced technique of this method is to write 500 words a day. Did you know that if you did this for 365 days you would have written 182,500 words, or basically two novels? Even if you miss some days, you can see how this practice will advance your writing far more than it sounds on the surface.
With a three year old I understand writing daily may not work for everyone, so let’s look at some other methods briefly. If you wrote 1,000 words one day a week every week, Saturday for example, you would have written 52,000 words by the end of the year. Suppose you only wrote every two weeks, and wrote 2,000 words, that’s still 52,000 words at the end of the year.
In other words, this method of regular, scheduled writing can be a wonderful tool to help you write your book. Perhaps, your goal isn’t to write a book, maybe it’s to blog daily. The same method can be applied to a blog, book, script, or any other writing project.
Another method beneficial for writers is Write 5, Read 1. You would write for the first five writing days/sessions, and only read at the end of the fifth session. A temptation, especially for beginning writers, is to edit as you write. This will not only slow you down, it can discourage you.
The greatest novels of all time, were not all great after the rough draft. Had they all been edited as they were written, a number of them would never have been written at all. I would encourage you to resist the temptation to edit as long as possible.
That does not mean you never edit while writing, there are times for course correction, adjustments, etc, but they come later in the process than the beginning. Write 5, Read 1 is a good safeguard against editing too soon. It will also remind you at the end of a writing week how much you have accomplished in just five days/sessions.
Some writing methods are progressive, some protective, and others are accumulative. These are methods which not only further your current writing project, they build an infrastructure towards a life of writing. You will learn a lot in writing your first book, some of these lessons will lay the foundation for every book that follows.
One accumulative method is to build a structure for writing projects, whether physical or digital. I have a writing software that houses my primary writing projects. I use another program, a digital notebook, to begin ideas in. Last night, I began my checklist for a novella I just completed, brainstorming cover ideas, etc.
All of these methods help me in my writing, even with a full time position, caring for a three year old, serving as a Minister on the Pastoral Staff, and finding time as an artist. Methods, like habits, are wonderful tools, when used. There are a lot of tools in my garage that have dust on them, before I can use them I have to clean off the dust, and stop sneezing. Unused methods are like unused tools, they house unused potential.
I would encourage you today to review your writing methods. If there is something that you think will serve you better, I would suggest trying it. If it doesn’t work, you know what doesn’t work for you, but if it helps at all, it’s a method to consider. When utilized properly, writing methods are your personal assistants to complete your book and to open up brand new possibilities.
Sketch Ruddy Duck
God never ceases to amaze me, especially when I find out about another one of His creatures that I didn’t know about. Did you know there was a duck with a blue bill? Blue is my favorite color, so I found this Ruddy Duck fascinating, here is a quick sketch.
May 23, 2022
What Type Of Writer Are You?
There are numerous types of writers out there, understanding a few of them may help determine which you are, or would like to be. When I say type, in this instance, I’m not referring to genre. I’m speaking more to the mindset of the writer, and the methods they may use.
There is the topical writer. Someone who is inspired to write about current events, and to support a point of view. These writers are on a timetable defined by the topic and corresponding events surrounding them. The urgency of the topic helps to engage them into completing their writing project.
Another type of writer is the passionate writer. This is someone, not necessarily inspired by a current event, but passionate about something which engages them to write. While it may have an event as part of the catalyst, it’s not solely based on a current topic.
A history professor may be passionate about sharing the impact the study of history has had on them. While this would not be topical, a modern event may have been the catalyst inspiring them to write the book. Many biographies are written, tied to an event, but not solely related to it.
The category I was the most excited to look at, is the one we all have been in at some point in our lives. This is the type of the Hesitant or Reluctant writer. There are many good reasons for hesitance or reluctance first off, we lead busy lives.
However, if not overcome, this hesitance and reluctance will prevent you from writing your book. Depending upon you as an individual, this could be good or bad. There are some people who do not desire to write a book. Others may better articulate what they have to teach through their own lives, or a different vehicle such as speaking.
While I believe writing is a multi-terrain vehicle, it’s not an all terrain vehicle. There are times when words are not only unnecessary, but harmful. In those instances, writing is not the answer. Most of the time however, writing in the proper form, is a wonderful vehicle to travel in.
People from every walk of life, educated and uneducated, known and unknown have written something that made an impact. How many times has a historian turned to a diary of an unknown individual to shed light on an era in history? Had they not have written it down, we would know less about our heritage.
I do hope in reading this you ask yourself, am I a hesitant writer? Is there something I know that, if shared properly, could improve someone’s life in some way? If that question is yes, you can move very quickly from the hesitant writer to the passionate one. Whether it’s an instruction manual on how to build a table, or a book about survival, you know something valuable.
This knowledge can transform a life, and if that’s the case, isn’t that reason enough to stop hesitating? For me, once I realize that I can share something which will be impactful to others, I feel a sense of urgency to share it.
Writing alone is not for everyone, though we don’t really write alone. Most of us have input, either before, during, or after the rough draft. Some of us do better writing the rough draft by ourselves first, others love to write with someone. These are what I call a collaborative writer.
You do not have to take this journey by yourself. I have written over thirty titles on Amazon myself, and encouraged others in their own writing. I can tell you it is not only possible to write a book, but to write one in far less time than you might expect. While some books can take a year, others can take as little as 5 months or less, depending on the methods and tools you utilize.
You see collaboration in books, songs, scripts, almost any type of writing allows for collaboration. If you have a desire or an urgency to write, but are struggling, one option is collaboration. Whether it takes the form of a co-writer, or a writing coach, collaboration is a very powerful writing tool.
Tomorrow I would like to briefly share with you some methods that can help you in your writing. A few method changes can take you from wanting to write, to having written. No matter what type of writer you are, you can see your idea both take form, and help to shape someone else’s world in a better way.
Watercolor Chestnut Stallion
I did this watercolor in anticipation of watching the Preakness the next day. These amazing animals show both God’s creativity, design, and the amazing strength He grants all of creation.
