Ready to make 2025 your most productive writing year yet? In this video, we’ll explore how setting specific, accountable goals can transform your creativity and keep you on track. Watch now to unlock your best writing year ever!
Write Your Best Year Yet: How to Set Specific, Accountable Goals
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Incorporating Prep Time into Your Writing RoutineIncorporating Prep Time into Your Writing Routine
You know, writing is a lot like baking a cake. You don’t just throw all the ingredients into the oven and hope for the best, do you? No, you measure, you mix, and you prepare. So, why should your writing process be any different?
Today, we’re going to look at one of the most overlooked yet crucial ingredients in the recipe for a compelling family history narrative – prep time. Just as a chef sharpens his knives before cooking, a writer must also hone his thoughts, ideas, and research before setting pen to paper.
Where You Are in Your Writing Journey & Next StepsWhere You Are in Your Writing Journey & Next Steps
Lynn Palermo’s Storylines presentation categorizes writers into five types based on a quiz: scene collectors, over explainers, solo scribblers, idea hoppers, and perfection paralyzers. Each type has distinct challenges and tailored next steps, such as focusing on story structure, practicing show-not-tell, seeking feedback, committing to a single project, or timed writing without editing. The presentation encourages writers to recognize their stage and offers the Story Foundations Learning Center as a supportive resource.
Next steps and outcomes:
- [06:59] Writers identified as scene collectors need to focus on story structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- [07:45] Over explainer writers are advised to practice show-don’t-tell techniques by rewriting scenes focusing only on actions and dialogue.
- [08:38] Solo scribblers should seek constructive feedback by sharing their writing with trusted peers or joining writing groups.
- [09:34] Idea hoppers are encouraged to choose one story, set small goals, and maintain accountability over 4-6 weeks.
- [10:25] Perfection paralyzers should practice timed writing sessions without editing to overcome writing blocks.
- [11:44] Invitation to join the Story Foundations Learning Center for ongoing support and community.
Chapters:
Introduction and Quiz Setup
- [00:05] Introduction to understanding writing journey stages
- [01:33] Writing is learned in stages and tips may no longer suffice
- [02:23] A quiz is provided to determine writer type
Quiz Questions and Writer Type Categorization
- [02:36] Quiz questions A to E categorize writing behaviors and challenges
- [05:56] Tally results to identify writer type as scene collector (A), over explainer (B), solo scribbler (C), idea hopper (D), or perfection paralyzer (E)
Scene Collector Writer Type
- [06:29] Scene collectors collect scenes but struggle with story structure
- [06:59] Recommended next step: learn story structure basics and use frameworks like three-act structure
Over Explainer Writer Type
- [07:26] Over explainers write full drafts relying on telling rather than showing
- [07:45] Suggested practice: rewrite scenes using only actions and dialogue to enhance show-don’t-tell technique
Solo Scribbler Writer Type
- [08:00] Solo scribblers write but lack reader feedback
- [08:38] Need constructive feedback and community support; advised to share work and join writing groups
Idea Hopper Writer Type
- [09:01] Idea hoppers start multiple stories but rarely finish
- [09:34] Need project focus and accountability; advised to commit to one story with small goals
Perfection Paralyzer Writer Type
- [10:07] Perfection paralyzers are stuck with endless revising or not writing at all
- [10:25] Need permission to write messy first drafts; advised timed writing sessions without editing
Support for Writers and Next Steps
- [11:04] Recognizing writing stage helps growth; writing progresses in small steps
- [11:44] Introduced Story Foundations Learning Center for structured support and community
- [12:02] Learning center offers practical tools and support at all stages
February sounds like lots of fun. Need to learn more about posting to the FB group and the other group which I still haven’t been able to access.
Yes indeed, Lynn, you’ve set an exciting (dare I say challenging) February Challenge to celebrate the 15 years you’ve run it. Congratulations.
Looking at my records, I see I bought ‘Getting Ready to Write’ and ‘Authentic Ancestors’ in 2014, and timidly joined my first February Challenge in 2015! My 11th Challenge.
‘#John’s Story’ became The Primrose and The Lion, a family trilogy.
Three books, Primroses for Toppy, Bwana Simba and Lake Naivasha, are bound within one cover.
It is formatted now, and my daughter is helping me to fulfil all the requirements to self-publish on the Amazon platform. All overwhelming for my foggy mind. Thank you Lynn.