January 17, 2012

Hi writers!

Thanks for sending back your “yeses.” Here is Issue #2 of The Tuesday Writer. Have good weeks & make some time for writing …

PROCESS: PAVLOVIAN CUES FOR INSPIRATION

Ivan Pavlov, Russian physiologist, trained dogs to salivate at the ring of a bell by first teaching the dogs to associate that ring with food. Writers can use this idea, called the “conditioned reflex,” to train the mind to feel inspired by learning to associate a single sensory thing – a type of tea, warm socks, a track of music, a scent, a certain chair and desk, a ritual, even a place – with creative writing. The more your body associates this pleasant sensory cue with the pleasant creative work, the more likely it will be to “salivate” for writing when it recognizes that cue.

Try this: Choose a sensory cue to get you into writing mode. Each time you write this week, first give yourself the cue, and then sit down and write something short and fun: a response to a prompt, notes for a poem, a character sketch.

FEATURED VENUE: THE IDAHO REVIEW

The Idaho Review, Boise State University’s impressive literary journal, has received a lot of national attention, including having had ten of its short stories selected for honors such as the Pushcart Prize and the O. Henry Award. They are currently accepting unsolicited writing through April 15.

Submission Guidelines here: http://idahoreview.org/submit/

PROMPT:

Got your ten minutes cleared out? Got a comfortable place to write? Got your Pavlovian cue? Okay!

“______ was not designed to grow in this place.” (10min)

Please share The Tuesday Writer with other writers.