We've talked about writing rituals before in our "Top 12 Tips for Introverted Writers" post, but the truth is that creating little rituals and habits are a great tool for any writer. 

First off, what are writing rituals?
Rituals are actions you do in a specific order in a certain way. In the case of writing rituals, they can be linked to a certain story or for a specific type of project (like blog posts), and are usually done as a series of small habits before you begin writing. They're usually more important because of their purpose rather than the actual performance of it, and can become mental links to your writing.

Why are writing rituals important?

• They help you shift your mind to the task at hand. Creating habits are an amazing way to begin connecting certain actions together, so every time you do one you immediately get in the mindset to do the other. This works because as you complete writing rituals, your brain will automatically realize it's writing time.
• They give you space to transition into work. It's always important to give yourself some time to go from your everyday to your work. Trying to jump straight into work can be difficult, or even lead to burning out quicker. Doing some rituals makes this change more seamless.
• They can be encouraging and inspiring. Not only are rituals psychologically useful, but they can also help you feel more inspired and excited about your work. If you feel good about your projects and you're truly eager to get to work it just makes everything easier and so much better.
• They connect you to your novel. Whether you have rituals that get you into character or simply reconnect you with the heart or even details of your book, writing habits that allow you this opportunity are incredibly valuable. They can help your writing become richer, more dynamic, and even get you writing more.
• They help you immerse yourself and minimize distractions. By going through a few rituals, you can clear your headspace and even what's going on around you physically so that you can focus better in the long run.

So now you agree that this all sounds like a good idea, but perhaps you're not really sure what kind of habits or actions to utilize-- or even what would make good rituals. Well, keep reading!

Ideas of writing rituals:

1. Lighting candles. Lighting candles is oddly inspiring. Whether it is the cozy atmosphere it gives or the action of lighting the flame, candle lighting is a simple but effective ritual to consider.
2. Making a specific coffee or tea inspired by your novel. Every writer needs a good go-to drink, but have you considered drinking something inspired by your novel? It's not only important keep yourself hydrated and focused, but by being creative with it, you can make it quite enjoyable. You can make something straight from your novel so you can really step into your character's world, or you can create a drink based off your main character's personality.
3. Turning on twinkle lights. Similar to lighting candles, this one is especially great if you are a writer who is highly impacted by your current setting and atmosphere.
4. Playing specific ambience. This could come in the form of recreating the sounds of places where/when you find yourself productively inspired such as a cafe or using rainstorm sounds, or you can play ambience inspired by your novel's setting. We went into more detail about this in our post for Extroverted Writers and it's full of helpful links so be sure to check it out! 
5. Starting your novel's music playlist. It's a pretty common fact that music playlists are incredibly useful for writers for a number of various reasons. In fact, we talk about it a lot here. By turning this inspiring tool into a ritual by always turning on a certain playlist for certain projects, you can really help get yourself into the writing mood.
6. Rereading your last few paragraphs. If you stopped in the middle of a project (as is often the case when writing a book), rereading what you wrote at the very end of your last session can be a great habit to get into. Not only does it catch you up on where you were and the immediate action happening, but it's also pretty inspiring to see what you've written.
7. Reviewing notes. Taking a few moments to go over your outline, notes, or research is a good way to get prepped for your writing session. Reviewing mind maps, vision/mood boards, character bios, or even just touching in on your theme are other things you could do.
8. Freewriting for five minutes in a journal. We will never stop talking about freewriting here, and that's because we think it's such a versatile and effective writing exercise. For a quick ritual, set a timer of five minutes and do a bit of journaling. This can be an actual personal journal, a writing planner journal, a brain dump notebook, or even a journal from the point of view of a character. (Bonus points if it's your antagonist!).
9. Writing down your daily goal on sticky notes. A quick but useful technique for getting more words written, but also a pretty good ritual to use is writing numbers down on sticky notes and attaching them to your wall, desk, side of your laptop, or a notebook. You can go in increments of 500 words or 1,000-- the point is that every time you hit that number you tear one off and rip it up. This is an interesting ritual because not only are you completing an action before you start writing, but you are also doing something at landmark goals along the way.
10. Starting your pomodoro timer. Get your pomodoro timer set up and going! It's so simple it's almost ridiculous, but even the act of just getting your timer started can be a part of your rituals. Our favorite pomodoro timer online is this one! We like it because you can customize every single aspect of the timer, plus they have a couple pre-made options, a to-do list section, and the ability to enter in a daily hour goal-- all of which are awesome for entrepreneurs and those working at home.
11. Turning off your phone, or using apps like Forest or Donut Dog. The act of either turning off your phone/wifi or starting an app like Forest or Donut Dog is a quick way to get you in the mood to work, because you can't be distracted by your technology. 
12. Grabbing a specific blanket/item like a crystal, specific pen, or a paperweight. Placing an object nearby like a crystal, paperweight or a specific pen is a ritual that is more lighthearted and simply for fun. Another idea we like is having a specific blanket, hat, sweater etc for only creative endeavors.
13. Write a word on your hand or nearby you. Whether you write it on your hand, have a whiteboard/chalkboard on your wall, or even just doodle it onto a sticky note and put it on your wall or a bulletin board, picking a word for your work day to motivate and encourage you is a really positive ritual. If you want to take this idea in a more educational direction, you could look up the word-of-the-day on online dictionaries and add to your vocabulary-- or challenge yourself to use it somehow in your writing!
14. Get into character (Lipstick, piece of clothing). If you're working on a novel, you are telling a character's story, so it's really vital to understand your character and even possibly put yourself in their shoes. An interesting way to do that is by adding little rituals that incorporate this idea into you habits before writing. This can be by putting on a particular lipstick, throwing your hair in a bun, always wearing a particular ring or necklace, stacking their favorite books around you, sitting on the floor, chewing a certain flavor of gum, and so on.
15. Put on your blue light filtering glasses. Your wellbeing is always important to remember, and one way you can create a ritual as well as take care of yourself is by putting on a pair of blue light filtering glasses. These help prevent headaches and tired eyes and are quite inexpensive. By using them every time you work, you'll begin to connect the putting on of the glasses as a signal that it's time to get writing.
16. Open up a typewriter app. If you are the kind of person who likes a minimal, distraction free writing program, or maybe you just like the aesthetic, opening up typewriter app can be a great addition to your writing rituals. Our favorite online typewriter is very customizable-- down to changing the background color and the typewriter sound, it saves your work so you won't lose it, and it has great typewriter noises. The zipping, clicking sound that plays when you open the app becomes a well-loved auditory trigger that signals you're about to be creative.
17. Start an essential oil diffuser. Essential oils not only smell good but they can be used therapeutically for various uses. If you're sensitive to chemical scents or you just enjoy the natural benefits, putting on an essential oil diffuser on is a wonderful ritual. You can put focus-oriented oils in if you're working on blog posts, or for an inspiring twist, you could create an oil blend for your book or particular characters. We love Plant Therapy for affordable, quality oils and an amazing customer service and community. (This is a referral link, so I may collect points at no cost to you if you purchase an item). 
18. Put on some noise-cancelling headphones. Or just regular headphones, if that's what you have, but we find that a pair of good noise-cancelling headphones can seriously cut off distractions and get your super-focus on. Often, just the act of connecting the bluetooth/ plugging it and putting them on sends the message to yourself that you're about to do some serious work.
19. Recite some mantras/affirmations. It can be really uplifting and motivational to take a moment to read through or recite some of your personal mantras or affirmations. Your mindset is the most critical aspect to your success, so making sure you are in the right brain space is important. This can be positive phrases, or it can even be motivational quotes or inspiring Scripture.
20. Make sure you have everything you'll need accessible. Whatever rituals you decide to do, one of the most important ones is making sure you have everything you need accessible and ready to go for your writing. This prevents you from having to get up and break your work flow just because you forgot something, and it allows you to jump in faster with purpose.

So there you have it! Writing rituals ultimately come down to what makes you most inspired, happy, and ready to write. We listed our top 20 ideas, but we'd love to hear yours too, so drop a comment below and let's share ideas.

Stay Fearless! 

If you're an indie author, you know that there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on to keep your journey moving forward. One of those things is a newsletter. You may have seen the posts out there about growing your subscriber list and the tips and tricks to do that, but today let's take a more personal approach. Newsletters (especially for writers) aren't just a quick route to get more of an audience. Instead, they can be a way of connection and communication with real people who are interested in your work.

So why should you have a newsletter?

• It can be a personal way to keep your followers up to date. As a writer, those who enjoy your work are going to want to be knowledgeable about your releases, your projects, and your progress. A newsletter is a great way for you to be able to keep your committed followers in the know.
• You can share your recent blog posts, as well as insider news. A lot of people naturally assume newsletters will often promote recent blog posts, because that's often what you see. It can't be denied, though, that it is a great way to share your articles and posts with people who are already interested. You can also use this to give out some news that perhaps isn't shared in the blog post-- a perk for those who are interested and following you and your journey.
• You can share subscriber only tips and tricks. A great way to show your love to those on your subscriber list is to offer special things just for them. Not only does this give back to your supporters, but it also shows them how much they are appreciated. If you want some ideas on what to share with your subscribers, we go into this more below!
• You can open up and be more YOU then you might be able to in articles. Especially if you're presenting professional level articles, most indie authors don't share as much personally in blog posts, so the newsletter can be a chance to open up and show yourself for you a little bit more. While it's always important to protect your privacy and also stay on brand, sharing more personal stories in your newsletter helps you connect on a human level and also allow your followers a closer, more down-to-earth look at you.
• It's your way of communicating directly with those who follow you. Ultimately, a newsletter is just a way to communicate directly with those who are your followers. It's important to have this avenue of communication for several reasons: not everyone has social media accounts, and even if they do, there can be a lot on social media that never even shows up for your fans. A newsletter gets your conversation straight to their inbox, allows them to reply directly and privately to you, and won't disappear if they don't look at it right away.

Now that we know why, here are some tips for basic formatting!

• Logo, header, body, links. The most important things to remember to include in your newsletter are these items. It doesn't matter how you style your newsletter or what you put in it, you have to have these things. Your logo (or a branded image or a name), an email header with the title for the email, your main body in an easy to read format, and easy to access, up to date links.
• Free templates or build your own. Having a template you use can help keep things streamlined, and it can be an easy way to get the same look over and over again. You can either create your own or build off of free templates available online. If you want to get more in depth about templates, there's more about it below!
• Remember to keep things simple and clean. It is so important to keep your newsletter readable and easy to navigate. It's your job to make it simple for the reader and also keep their attention. This means easy to read fonts, short and to the point sections of text, and highlighting important parts in some way to make it easier to skim.
• Use your brand. Like with anything you do, always keep your brand in mind when styling your newsletter. It helps make your newsletter stand out as yours, as well as keeping everything cohesive. If you want help with author branding, check out our brand kit services!
• Think of creative ways to draw attention to various important items. Think outside the box when it comes to how you draw your attention to important parts of your newsletter. The simplest way to go is by using a bold type, but you can also do things like inserting photos, making side-bar boxes, breaking up things with lines or color boxes, or using contrasting colors.

Need to know more about how to use templates?

• You can create your own or use one designed by MailChimp. I have been using Mailchimp for years, and the cool thing is that they give you both layouts and template themes you can use as a base to get started. If you're not interested in spending all the time to build your newsletter from scratch, you can start with a theme and just tweak it to make it yours. (The Fearless Type is not affiliated with MailChimp, but we do like their service). It's a good way to get started, though, especially if you aren't really into design.
• Think about colors, fonts, style, and more. Simple changes can have big impact. Think about your brand's colors and fonts, and infuse your template with your brand's personality. Are you simple and chic? Friendly and down-to-earth? Bold and modern? Use your brand to customize your template for your future use.
• You can reuse the same template every time and reduce the amount of work that goes in to it. It's super easy on Mailchimp to use the same template every time you send out a newsletter, or even duplicate past emails and just change what's necessary. Not only does this save you time each newsletter that you don't have to spend formatting and designing, but it also makes sure your look is the same continually.
• Make sure you double check links are accurate and update all the info you need to. A big thing with using templates is making sure you update every link and all the info needed each time you use it. You don't want to end up linking to a past post instead of your new one, or have a mistake in the news you give! So be sure to double check the links and make sure everything is up to date.

Want to share something just for your newsletter audience? Here are some ideas!

• Personal updates and accounts
• Free short stories
• Free worksheets
• Share your favorite apps or websites
• Coupon codes
• Advance news/opportunities
• Beta-reading chances
• Giveaways only for subscribers
• Links to your favorite articles or videos

Lastly, make sure you decide on a system:

• Choose how often you will send a newsletter out. A lot of people send out a weekly newsletter, or just whenever they have a blog post, while others opt for a monthly newsletter. It all depends on what works for you. Take some time to figure out what fits you, and then commit to that. Here at the Fearless Type we've found that a bi-monthly set-up on Thursday works the best for us, because it allows us to invest into creating more quality content versus more quantity but not as thorough. We prioritize having posts that are in-depth and well thought out, and we strive to include that same goal in our newsletters. On the other side, though, you don't want to go too long between newsletters or else you run the risk of people either forgetting who you are or just feeling unconnected.
• Encourage feedback and make it easy to do so. Create space for a conversation in your newsletter, either by asking a question or requesting feedback. Make it easy to reply to you-- pop in your email address or link to messages-- just be sure that if you encourage communication that you make it possible.

That's it for today, creatives!
Let me know in the comments what you like to receive in newsletters, and how you do yours!

Stay fearless.

Writer's block is intimidating, and many authors dread it. Some let it have control over the writing lives, letting it stifle their inspiration and keep them from writing, while others contend that it is a myth or just a mental obstacle, and force themselves to stay disciplined and push through it.  There are problems with both of this. In the first instance, you find writers waylaid by the writer's block and unable to write at all. Too often, these writers give up for a time hoping that when they come back to it later they will magically have the inspiration and drive needed to continue. Unfortunately, this isn't often the reality of the outcome. The writers of the latter mindset, however, power through-- often at the expense of their book. In an effort to keep going they sacrifice quality or occasionally even deviate from the story's heart just so they get those words out.

If you're the first: it's time to take back your power in your writing life.

If you're the second: try viewing the problem from a different angle, one with compassion towards yourself and a willingness to understand what the real issue is and work through things with an open mind.

Whatever side of the fence you fall on, most of us can agree that writer's block is definitely a struggle to face at times, and it can crop up at the most inopportune times--including in the middle of your project when you're supposed to be in the flow. (If you find yourself struggling with a lack of inspiration, check out our master list of ways to get your inspiration back here!). So how do you banish writer's block and overcome those mid-way blues without sabotaging the quality of your content?

First off, do a quick personal check:

• Is there anything outside of writing that is causing me to be distracted? If so, what is it, and what should my response to this be? Sometimes this is as simple as organizing your workspace, or it can be as large as reevaluating your life goals.
• Am I in a healthy place (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually)? This might mean you need to go on a walk for some physical movement, take a nap and rest your brain and body, do some journaling to process thoughts and feelings, or reconnect with God or meditate on Scripture.
• Do I accept that I'm struggling with writer's block and am I willing to do what needs to be done? The last question to ask yourself is one that a lot of people don't want to even answer honestly. It's hard sometimes to admit you're in the middle of a writer's block, because it can project a lot of negative thinking into your mind. Before you let that happen, remember: there is nothing to be ashamed of, and if you want to win in your writing journey you need to be both honest and gracious with yourself. Just the act of allowing yourself to admit you are not having an easy go can be enough to relieve you of the pressure of perfection and help you be able to focus on what you can do to fix the problem. Perfection is a hard master, so make the commitment to patience and progress instead.

Now that you are at the place where you are ready to tackle writer's block head on, it's time to look at our favorite tactics to truly overcome it and keep writing with your best effort.

• Remind yourself how much you love your project. Sometimes discouragement can cloud our passion for something. If this is a project you love and are excited about, take a moment to think about the reasons why this is important to you and how much you love it. Sometimes writing these thoughts down can help you refocus with more energy, and occasionally it will help reveal a piece you've been missing that will give you the inspiration to continue.
• Immerse yourself in your world. Taking some time to revisit your world is always a great way to get your mind back in the game and over that writer's block. Whether you review your world building notes, check over some historical research you've collected, look at your mood board, or brainstorm some more setting/world details, it's a great way to get you out of your own head and into your book again.
• Reconnect with your characters. Ultimately a book is telling your character's story, so if you are struggling with writer's block, there may be some elements to your character's tale that you are missing. It's important to be not only familiar with your characters, but friendly. Listen to who they are and what they are trying to say, and allow them to speak without being smothered by the words on the page.
• Try some word crawls. If you haven't heard of word crawls, it's something you need to check out right now. The beauty of word crawls is that it's a way to get you writing, but at your own pace. Sometimes writer's block is simply that you are having a hard time translating your ideas from your head to the page, and with a word crawl, it makes it easier.
• Set small word count goals within your larger ones. Writer's block can often come from overwhelm, so if you are looking at your project and see only the giant number goal instead of the story you need to write, think about breaking up your larger objective into smaller steps. This can relieve some of the pressure and help you focus more on the writing for the novel itself, rather than just to get words done.
• Reread a portion of your story. Rereading parts of your story can be an intimidating thing to do if you're not very confident in your abilities, but while there are bound to be some cringing with your first drafts, it can also be, surprisingly, a serious motivator. Not only do you get to see the parts where you did it right, but it also is a great refresher for how to continue your novel based on what's already been written.
• Go over your notes and outline. Especially if you are a planner or a pantser-planner mix, it can be eye-opening to go back to your notes and your outline and just study them for a bit. It helps you reconnect with your original vision, which can allow you to correct where you've gone off track or even tweak major story points based on how inspiration is hitting you now. Even if you're a die-hard pantser, reviewing the notes you do have can really help you focus.
• Relocate to a different writing environment. Sometimes writer's block is simply a matter of boredom. The best part about this, though, is it is an insanely easy fix. If you're getting distracted by your current environment, or you just find that you're struggling to feel inspired, move locations. It can be to a different part of your house or a totally new location-- the trick is just to shake up your environment a bit so that your writer's block disappears.
• Get in the mood with your novel's music playlist. If you already have a playlist, take some time to just listen to it and get in the mood. You'd be surprised how much it can affect your writing. If you haven't created a music playlist, stop for a few minutes and make one. Take into consideration your time period, settings, character, and the mood of the book, and craft an inspiring playlist that will always help get you ready to write.
• Revisit your writing routines, or create new ones. Take time to get back to your writing routines if you've forgotten them, or if you feel like your current routines just aren't cutting it, make some new ones!
• Tell a friend your story and get some accountability to continue. Simply sharing your story idea and the passion you have for it is often enough to get you out of writer's block and back to the computer, but the double benefit of sharing with a friend is that it creates an element of accountability that can help propel you forward.
• Do a dramatic reading of some scenes (out loud!). Performing parts of your novel with a dramatic flair is one of the craziest but most effective ways to get through you writer's block. The act of getting into character in of itself is inspiring and can help you connect with your characters, but it can also open up new trains of thought you didn't have before.
• Freewrite your character's thoughts. Step into your character's shoes and freewrite as if you are them. This helps you take a step back from the plot line while still driving you forward to a better understanding of your characters, while also getting you in the flow of producing words. If you're not really sure how to freewrite, or you want some ideas, check out our post all about it here!
• Challenge someone to a word war. If your writer's block comes down to you're simply not motivated and feeling a bit lazy, it's time to grab a writing friend and challenge them to a word war. The competition helps get you focused on doing what you're supposed to be doing, and the accountability is a great way to keep you going.
• Change the color or font of your document or text. Last but not least, this tip is extremely random but ridiculously effective. If you have the story in your head but you're struggling to formulate sentences, or that blank screen is just really intimidating you: change the color and font of your document. This flips some switches in your brain that allows you to look at your project with fresh eyes, which in turn allows you to get things out better. It's a weird tip, but it's one that's tried and true.

So there you have it! You're now well-equipped to fight your writer's block and win!

Let me know in the comments what kind of experience you've had with writer's block and what your usual response to it is.

Stay fearless!