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What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Dan Rowinski, Mobile Editor of ReadWrite.com

What’s Your Name? Dan Rowinski

What’s Your Twitter Handle? @Dan_Rowinski

What’s your job title + a short bio?

Mobile Editor, ReadWrite.com.

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Everywhere. Listening to what people talk about on the train or the pub. Watching my Twitter feed. Talking to people. Responding to emails or identifying trends and patterns. News events. Research, research, research.

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

There is no such thing as writer's block. Only unprepared writers.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

Almost always. If I write one article and the commenters and social media responses are curious about another aspect of that topic, I will do my diligence to answer their questions. Always remember that a page view is a person on a computer somewhere looking for information.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

Beginning and end of the work day (8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.). Least inspired, almost always, at 2 p.m.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

Define: writing tools. My general thought is that with my brain and your brain, we can make beautiful music.

What’s your favourite tune for writing?

Depends on the time of day and what I am writing. Always able to zone out and tune in when playing The Lumineers.

Thanks to Dan for participating in our Q&A!

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series too?

Fill out our interview!

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Neil Murray

What’s Your Name? Neil Murray

What’s Your Twitter Handle? @neilswmurray

What’s your job title + a short bio?

Founder, Entrepreneur and Blogger. Experimenting with life, work and words through a variety of ventures and mediums.

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Predominantly from my own experiences.

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

I only write when I am feeling inspired, so luckily I don't encounter writers block too often. When I do hit an obstacle in my flow, my trick is to come back to that particular thought later, and continue to write and capture other thoughts in order to keep my flow and beat the block.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

Yes, I use HelpMeWrite and my Twitter account to test ideas and engage with readers.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

Mornings are normally the best time for me to capture ideas and start capturing my thoughts around a topic. Then, in the evenings, I am more in the mood to edit and structure what I had written earlier.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

I am a big fan of Medium, and feel that it has really contributed to my rekindled love for writing, with the ease of which you can write, edit and involve other people in your writing. Also, the platform it gives your writing is not to be underestimated. I also like using Trello to capture blog posts ideas, and then keep track of which I have started working on. And, I love HelpMeWrite, as it is perfect to see which topics could be of most interest to people, before you have even started writing.

What’s your favourite tune for writing?

Sebastian Tellier- Kilometer

Thanks to Neil for participating in our Q&A!

You can find him on HelpMeWrite here.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series too?

Fill out our interview!

editorialhell-deactivated202503

These are not ideas or techniques I created, just what I have observed working the best. I have been arranging editorial reviews for projects for over a decade and so have had a chance to see first-hand the sort of feedback that authors and editors really cherish and find...

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Katie Poole

What’s Your Name? Katie Poole

What’s Your Twitter Handle? @KatherinePoole

What’s your job title + a short bio?

Social media marketing manager; loves gin and yoga, but not at work ;)

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Everyday life and situations.

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

I used to struggle with writers block when I didn't write all the time. Now I write every day and I don't have any problems with writers block anymore! I like to think of writing like a muscle: if I don't stretch it regularly, then it gets cramped up and loses its flexibility. Likewise: using it regularly makes it stronger.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

Not really, but only because I usually know what I want to write about next....but I am excited to have a play with Help Me Write to see what my audience thinks of my ideas.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

Whenever I'm in the middle of something else! I'll face a challenge at work or in my personal life that I notice I've got questions about or an opinion on; that makes me want to write. Other times I'll be reading (a book, the newspaper, a magazine, someone else's blog...) and it's flick on the light bulb and I've got an idea of what I want to write about. What's tough is holding on to those ideas until I have a chance to write them down!

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

Well, my tools are yoga and meditation; they help me get over any inhibitions I have about writing, sharing my opinions, or what someone else may think of me because of what I write. Without yoga and meditation, I am too nervous to write anything.

What’s your favourite tune for writing?

I don't have one - I get distracted much too easily to have music or a TV on while I write!

Thanks to Katie for participating in our Q&A!

You can find her on HelpMeWrite here.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series too?

Fill out our interview!

5 Pieces of Practical Advice For New Writers

Are you completely new to putting pen to paper or are you trying to become (more of) a professional writer?

Read on, student of words, for we've outlined some practical tips and a healthy dose of reality for you, the new writer.

1. Your Writing Is Terrible And You Know Rejection

Sorry, was that too harsh to start out with? The truth is, if you're brand new to professional writing, your works will need a lot of work. While we're sure you'll point out 1-2 undiscovered child prodigies, for most new writers, this is the reality. For many it's a matter of developing your unique writing voice and paying attention to your audience. This is a frame of mind that will develop over time.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

As mentioned previously, you'll develop a successful writing style over time, but not without a bit of work. You must write regularly. Every day, if you can. Don't tell yourself you don't have enough “time” for regular writing practice. Posting your writing on a blog or in public places like Medium is an even better way to practice. Don't let things sit on your hard drive - instead, publish on the Internet where you can get feedback, input and critique.

3. Read! Explore! Discover!

The subject of “writers block” is a controversial one, but should you ever experience such a thing, you probably need to step away from your laptop. Read a book. Plan an adventure. Do a handstand. Learn about whatever you are passionate about by attending conferences, meeting people and absorbing more knowledge that you can write about!

4. Publish It!

Pitch your best writing to professional publications. If it gets rejected, publish it anyway. Publish all of your writing. Winnie Lym, a designer at Medium, wrote this brilliant article about why you should write even if you think nobody is reading.

5. Keep Swimming

Being a writer isn't easy. There is always something new to learn. There is always room for improvement. You'll probably get knocked down – but you'll keep going. Writers aren't writers because they have to be. Writers are writers because they need to be.

*We were inspired to write these 5 pieces of advice after reading this article for teenage writers.

Inspired to write yet? Submit your own idea and gauge interest from the Help Me Write community.

Why not get started tonight? Give yourself a nudge by joining our #SundayPost group, where we all make a commitment to write every Sunday.

Until next week!

Cheers, The Makeshift Team “I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.” —Harper Lee, WD

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Travis Lee Street

What’s Your Name? Travis Street

What’s Your Twitter Handle? @travisleestreet

What’s your job title + a short bio?

Head of Web at BioBeats Inc. Designer. Developer. Blogger.

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Business experience.

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Always bullet point everything out and fill in the gaps later when you're feeling inspired / had enough coffee.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

I decide my content based on the amount of engagement my posts get.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

The morning is the only time I can write. another other time, its a struggle.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

None, I just write and edit then edit some more.

What’s your favourite tune for writing?

I have my own personal radio station at http://ex.fm/comeintoland that has over 900 songs. I just put them on a loop.

Thanks to James for participating in our Q&A!

You can find him on HelpMeWrite here.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series too?

Fill out our interview!

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with James Pember, Co-Founder of SwedishStartupSpace.com

What's Your Name? James Pember

What's Your Twitter Handle? @thestartupspace / @jamesepember

What's your job title + a short bio?

Co-Founder of SwedishStartupSpace.com. Aussie based in Stockholm, Sweden. Trying to bring the startup community together by creating an online meeting place for entrepreneurs in Sweden.

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

By checking what's happening on Twitter in our #sthlmtech & #swedentech hashtags. Everyone involved in Swedish tech/startups uses these to bind information together.

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

All the time. I talk to entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs provide us with our content every day. They always have great things to say and generally give you some great inspiration.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

Yes - by using HelpMeWrite mostly.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

Before 9am is the best time to get going. Coffee on, music on loud!

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

HelpMeWrite, & Feathr!

What's your favourite tune for writing?

Toto - Hold The Line

Thanks to James for participating in our Q&A!

You can find him on HelpMeWrite here:

http://helpmewrite.co/people/thestartupspace/ideas

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series too?

Fill out our interview!

courtbean

A Tip for Writers

Quote of the day:

Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you’ve said.

- Carnegie, Dale

How does this apply to you? It’s the same in writing. Tell your readers what you are going to say — the main point of your article — by the end of the 2nd intro paragraph.

Then take 3+ paragraphs to SAY IT always making sure that you are supporting the main point of your article.

Then, tell them what you said. DRIVE THAT POINT HOME.

What’s Your Writing Process? An Interview with Designer Cole Peters

Interview by CBM

Name: Cole Peters

Twitter Handle: @cole_peters

Job: Designer

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Generally speaking, my ideas come from places of inspiration, frustration and curiosity — and largely within the realm of design, culture and tech.

Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

All the time. I either stubbornly try to write through it, or trade my draft for a glass of scotch.

Do you currently engage with your readers to help you think of writing topics?

Yes, but primarily just through Help Me Write. I've found it to be a great tool to gauge interest in my ideas.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? And what times of the day do you feel least inspired?

I'm most inspired late at night and about an hour after lunch. Yeah, that last one's weird. I'm generally least inspired whenever I'm trying to make myself feel inspired.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

iA Writer, Medium, and other writer's writing.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series? Fill out our interview!

This Summer’s Bright Ideas

While summer in London winds down and we prepare to send our kids back to school, we relish in the thought of all the little bits of free time we'll find between tying shoelaces, packing school lunches and tucking them into bed.

We know you're right there with us, so we've gathered up a handful of our favourite ideas that you shared on Help Me Write over the summer. Now is the time to get back to reading and writing. In many ways, autumn brings a back-to-school nostalgia for us all. If you fancy reading any of the ideas below, be sure to let the writer know by clicking "I'd like to read this" and supporting it on their idea page. And if you have any ideas that you'd like to get down on the proverbial paper, make sure to add them to your Help Me Write profile.

Author Zadie Smith

1) So you have a startup idea. Now what? by Ryan Hoover

“We all have several startup ideas but how do you know which one to pursue? In this essay I will share three different ideas I tested, my process/learnings validating these ideas, and reasons why I decided not to pursue them further." I'd like to read this

2) The One Controllable Happiness Metric by Angus Woodman

“After years of research, I finally found the one (controllable) stat with the biggest correlation to my happiness. Then I set out on a three-month experiment to see if it was actually true.”

I'd like to read this

3) 10 people in the UK startup scene you should know by Chloe Nicholls

"Who are the most influential people in the tech/startup scene in London? And how do you evaluate their influence? Their success? Number of Twitter followers? Their commitment to giving back to the community?"

I'd like to read this

4) The Medium Effect by Mikael Cho

"I've been writing on Medium for about the last month and I'm all in. I'd like to share data from being featured and how it helped spread my content to other sites like LifeHacker and Fast Company."

I'd like to read this

5) A Year of Open Source by Erin Jo Richey

"Every month for a year I'm going to explore what's it's like to replace something in my daily life and environment with an open source alternative. Some months I'll focus on more common things like computer OS and apps and online services, and other months I'll look at things like open source fashion, cars, healthcare/medicine, gardening, etc."

I'd like to read this

6) Let My People Write! by CBM

"I've heard of several tech startups having strict media policies for employees, not letting them publish their ideas.. Founders, you're doing it wrong. Let me tell you why."

I'd like to read this

7) Notes from Silicon Valley, notes from Scotland by Ben Werdmuller

"I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Edinburgh, Scotland two years ago. I grew up in Britain, and *appear* to be British, but am more American than anything else. These are some notes from my move, about being a fish out of water, and on the differences in attitude I've encountered in both places."

I'd like to read this

8) Don't Find A Job. Make A Job. by Sanjay Poyzer

"Too many talented graduates struggle to find work that they enjoy, when really all it takes an attitude change."

I'd like to read this

9) Why I'm Not Learning to Code. by Nick Marsh

"Seems like everyone working in internet / software wants to learn to code. Apart from the effort / time required to get my circa 2006 HTML / CSS skills up to speed, there's a lot of other good reasons why I'm choosing not to learn to code, despite working in a company full of creative hackers."

I'd like to read this

*Bonus*

Need some help getting started? From our top published ideas from Help Me Write this month, we suggest you read:

Blog First Startups

From a Wufoo form and Mailchimp newsletter to revenue in 3 months

Accelerated Serendipity

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Deputy Head/Teacherpreneur Stephen Lockyer

Interview by CBM

Name: Stephen Lockyer

Twitter Handle: @mrlockyer

Job: Deputy Head/Teacherpreneur

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

I can't turn my brain off for ideas! Lots come from a variety of things - filling gaps in schools, solving problems in life, seeing one solution and forking it for another (usually educational) purpose.

Do you get writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Only in a time sense! I have a very full time job, several projects on the go, a wandering mind and four young children, so I write when I can, and wish I had more time to write!

Do you currently engage with your readers to think of writing topics?

To a certain degree, although it makes sense to find out what they want to read. I wrote up a talk I gave on something quite dull and pedestrian (in my mind at least) and it got a huge response, for me at least, with over 100 retweets and 2,000+ reads online in the first few days, and I could never have predicted that.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? Least inspired?

I sleep very lightly, but prefer working in the evenings or at weekends.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

I use the brilliant app Notesy on my phone, which syncs with my Dropbox account, so I will write on that, or make notes for writing ideas, and I know that they are secure. By and large, I use my lovely kitchen table and Chromebook to write, often surrounded by scraps of paper and post-its. I like the ephemera of my own writing process to be honest!

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series? Fill out our interview!

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Senior Designer Craig Dennis

Interview by CBM

Name: Craig Dennis

Twitter Handle: @craigmdennis

Job: Senior Designer

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Usually it's something that I've noticed and not many people have or something that irks me. I find inspiration comes at the strangest of times so I have a list in my phone of topics that I think might make a good article. I use Writer for Mac and that syncs to my other devices by Dropbox so I can always add to it.

Do you get writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?

I tend not to get writers block. If I have a topic, then I write out roughly what I want to say and some bullet points about things to cover. The hardest part is coming up with new ideas.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? Least inspired?

Least: The morning Most: The wee small hours with nothing but the light of my monitor flickering away

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

I use Writer for Mac. Allows me to write in Markdown and give basic styling while focussing on the content. It's the only way I write now; distraction free.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series? Fill out our interview!

10 Writing Tips Everyone Should Know

What are the basic skills, tips and tricks that all writers should be aware of?

It's Sunday, which means its time for us to get down to writing our weekly Sunday Post. Inspired by this brilliant thread on Quora, The Help Me Write team has picked some of our favourite tips from friendly writers, authors, entrepreneurs and creatives.

Read, Read, Read

Reading is not just important to help you become a better writer, it is essential in helping you become a better thinker to gain a deeper understanding of the world around you. Expanding both your knowledge base and your vocabulary will enable to see the world in a new light.

Photo by CBM

Forget the clutter

The most basic skill a writer can have is the ability to describe things simply and clearly, which means either painting a concrete picture or making a clear argument. It also means using easy but exacting words and to-the-point syntax.

Know your audience.

Know their patience, their reading level, how much of their valuable attention they're likely to give you at the outset, their knowledge of the subject. Your decisions about things like sentence length, vocabulary and whether or not to put the bottom line up front is informed by your audience.

Push your audience, gently.

Write at the level that the majority of your audience can just manage. Stretch them, but only a little.

Keep it spicy

Write as if your reader is about to get bored and stop reading at any moment. If you’re writing about something complex, make sure the reader cares enough to go on.

Photo by Harris Graber

Have a notebook handy

Write things down! Rather than trying to remember ideas, snippets of overheard dialogue and inspiration, make sure you’re jotting them down in a notebook. It means they can't be forgotten, and scribbled notes might trigger a new idea when gone back to with fresh eyes.

Don’t go it alone

Every writer needs an editor.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

No learning process is finite. Actively solicit feedback, harangue others to critique your pieces and note down what they feel. You may not think they are right, heck, they may not even be "right". But even if they think they are right and not really are, it is still your fault. Your communication needs improvement. The onus is always on the writer to engage his readers.

Photo by Andrew M Lance

Keep going

Consistent output is the easiest way to reach your writing goals.

Just do it

Don't think too much about it. Don't try to make it perfect in the first draft. Just write and see what comes out.

All quotes are extracted from this post on Quora by contributors Marcus Geduld , Roman Skaskiw, Dave Larsen,Michael Hochster, Aman Anand Harish Aditham, Dan Watters, Cheryl Stephens, Daren Smith and Alexandra Goodman.

We hope you enjoyed that. We sure did. Please join our Sunday Post group when every Sunday we make time to write. Still don't know what to write about? We've got an app for that. Check out our Help Me Write community.

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” ― Mark Twain Cheers, The Makeshift Team

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with JavaScript Developer Ben Howdle

Interview by CBM

Name: Ben Howdle

Twitter Handle: @benhowdle

Job: JavaScript Developer

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Everyday experiences, feelings that I've been brooding or mulling over for a few days. I feel a lot better after articulating my feelings into writing, helps me make sense of my feelings and emotions.

Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

I don't overcome it. Writers block is very frustrating and is called "block" for a reason. I guess my approach is to lay off attempting any writing for a few days. I guess people's worry is that unless you're creating something everyday, then you're failing yourself, but sometimes, you just can't output like a machine. Humans need mental recuperation.

Do you currently engage with your readers to think of writing topics?

Well I do now with HelpMeWrite, certainly! I often find that a spontaneous article is often the best, but gauging initial interest from potential readers is always handy.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? Least inspired?

Most inspired - between 11pm and 1am. Least - middle of the day. Distractions man! Mornings?? .....I don't try and do anything at that time.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

Never been a pen and paper kinda guy. Medium is a beautiful writing experience.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series? Fill out our interview!

rrhoover

This essay first appeared on Fast Company.

You have a great startup idea. Enthusiastically, you exercise your technical chops and begin coding. After weeks of long, caffeine-fueled nights, you release your product to the world with anticipation. But no one cares.

We’ve heard this story...

What's Your Writing Process? An Interview with Author, Entrepreneur, Traveler and Co-Founder of Asymmetrical Press Colin Wright

Interview by CBM

Name: Colin Wright

Twitter Handle: @colinismyname

Job: Author, Entrepreneur, Full-Time Traveler. Co-Founder of Asymmetrical Press.

Where do you get your writing ideas from?

Life. Meeting new people and experiencing new things. Learning all I can about everything, always. Novel places and historical events. Technology. Art.

Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Very seldom, mostly because I never start writing until I've outlined and written most of the book in my head before I put it down on (digital) paper. That way, by the time I start typing, I can focus on how I tell the story, not the story I'm telling. If I ever do get stuck, though, I take a walk. Or draw something. Or engage in some other activity that allows me to pull away from the writing process for a bit, so I can come at it clean in an hour or so.

Do you currently engage with your readers to think of writing topics?

Sometimes, though not directly. It's usually more about conversation. I'll bring up a topic I think is interesting and share it with my audience, and I'll get some interesting question or perspective back. That will spark something and it'll evolve into a plot point or twist that no one sees coming.

What times of the day do you feel most inspired? Least inspired?

Because of how I live my life — moving to a new country every four months, and hopping from place to place in between — I've had to grow accustomed to writing anywhere, any time. I'll go a week writing as soon as I get up in the morning, then a few days only at night, then sometimes the early afternoon is my productive time. It really varies, and so does where I write.

What writing tools do you love that help you feel more creative?

I'll usually take notes about a project as I'm working out, either in a small notebook or on Evernote. I write my outlines (and eventually the book) in Scrivener, but if the plot points are complex, I'll take a few dozen letter-sized sheets of paper, pay them out on the floor, and trace the trajectory of all the characters over the course of the book. Being able to see it all at once really helps figure out what to hint at, what to tell, and what to keep in the pocket.

Want to be featured in our What’s Your Writing Process series? Fill out our interview!

Our Top 10 Picks From Sunday Post

We were in deep with our new product Help Me Write. We were supporting posts and putting down great ideas left and right. But when it came down to putting the proverbial pen to paper, we decided that we could all use a little help from our friends. So Stef created this tiny project where once a week a group of us promise to write a blog post. Once a week doesn’t sound that hard, but how time flies, right? We now have 178 people signed up to our Sunday Post event series. We've had hundreds of amazing pieces written on various publishing platforms,especially on Medium. We've plucked out 10 of our favorite Sunday Posts below for your viewing pleasure. If you want to get involved, sign up here + start this weekend!

Our Top 10 Sunday Posts

Why I love Twitter but hate Facebook by Kaleb Butt A fourteen year old's view on two of the world's most popular social networks On a Difference Between TV and Radio Online by Paul Rissen Why, historically, radio has tended to have a much closer relationship with Web teams. Can startup people ever switch off? by Emily Quinton No matter how hard you try, startup people are going to be startup people, but what happens when you have a family? Code Club, one year in… by Jamie Bullock Thoughts on the Code Club project after a year of volunteering Why is it so hard to switch off? by James Allen It’s clear that switching off email and mobile phones helps us focus on creative thinking. So why don’t we do it more? Why do so many of us find it so hard to switch off? This post will look at some of the reasons why and suggest ways of beating your online addiction. Makefulness by Stef Lewandowski Is seeking a state of flow what work is really about? Moving Beyond Code by Ali R. Tariq Why the Future Does Not (Exactly) Belong to Coders Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect by Stephen Lockyer How I learned to embrace the Wabi Sabi philosophy The power of the startup community by Neil Murray From 0 to 1000+ friends in 6 months From Kanye to Hemingway by Adam Muller 9 Ways To Spark Creativity

Hope you enjoyed this! And most importantly, we hope we inspired you to take some time to write this weekend. Join our Sunday Post group, because we all need a little help from our friends to get started.

Don't know what to write about? We've got an app for that. Check out our Help Me Write community. "What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye Cheers, The Makeshift Team P.S. We found this when searching for #SundayPost on Twitter.

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