Fire Up Your Writing Brain by Reynolds, Susan -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Chapter 1: What Your Writing Brain Can Do For You

It’s All in the Wiring Mapping the Human Connectome What Your Brain Can Do For You Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis Getting Down to Brain Facts How It Affects Your Writing How Your Brain Writes The Role Handwriting Plays The Role Cognition Plays The Role Conceptual Networks Play The Perils of Multitasking Take Care of Your Brain's Health

Phase One: Prepping Your Writing Brain

Chapter 2: Awaken Your Writing Brain

It Requires Devotion It Begins With a Love for Language Do You Have an Affinity for Writing? Why Writers Write Why Writers Create in a Certain Medium Understanding the Gender Component Understanding the Emotional Component Why Do You Write? Writers on Craft

Chapter 3: Identify Your Writing Brain

What’s Your Choice Method of Storytelling? Are You This Way or That Way? What’s Your Preferred Genre? Are You an Inventor, a Master, or a Diluter? Are You a Fox or a Hedgehog? Are You a Top or a Bottom Brain? Are You a Plotter or a Pantser? Are You a Basher or a Swooper? Are You a Macro or a Micro? What Kind of Writing Brain Do You Have? Writers on Craft

Phase Two: Your Idea-Generating Brain

Chapter 4: Reinforce Your Writing Brain

Read Things Similar to What You Want to Write Read Things the Opposite of What You Want to Write Practice Divergent Thinking Read Books That Make You Think About Writing Read a Novel to Stimulate Brain Connectivity Develop Your Craft Analyze Successful Writing Find the Metaphor Practice, Practice, Practice … and Then Practice Some More Study How Other Writers Approach Writing Listen to Other Writers Build a Better Template Writers on Craft

Chapter 5: Jumpstart Your Writing Brain

Summoning Your Brain’s Ingenuity Clarify Your Intentions Choose a Topic That Excites You Brainstorm Ideas: Give Your Brain Free Rein Brainstorm the Width and Breadth of Your Novel, Memoir, Screenplay, Etc. Use Brainstorming to Narrow Down Specifics Writers on Craft

Phase Three: Your Brain at the Beginning

Chapter 6: Nurture Your Writing Brain

Purposefully Invite Your Brain Into Your Writing Space What is This Work Really About? Write Detailed Character Bios, Specify Each Character’s Arc Create a Detailed Plotline and/or Outline Visualize Characters, Scenes, Settings in Motion Create an Organizational System That Fits Your Writing Brain Maximize Your Brain’s Organizational Skills Create a Concrete, Flexible Game Plan for Completion Create Specific, Attainable Goals for Getting Underway When it Comes to Goals, Start Small The Joys and Perils of Word Counts Consider Your Brain Programmed Writers on Craft

Chapter 7: Fire Up Your Writing Brain

Create the Best Setting to Write Create the Best Environment Clear Brain Space for Writing Enter With Intention Use Meditation to Fire Up Your Neuronal Network Meditation’s Long-Term Benefits Make Writing a Meditation Employ Mindfulness to Improve Your Focus Use Music to Fire Up Your Writing Brain Use Music to Reinforce Motivation Mine the Complexity in Music Try Symphonic Writing Time to Write Time for Your Editor to Depart Writers on Craft

Phase Four: Your Brain in the Middle

Chapter 8: Fuel Your Writing Brain

Selectively Focus Your Attention Get Into the Habit of Writing Work Up the Grit to Achieve Mastery Create the Mindset to Write Envision Yourself a Writing Superhero When Writing, Practice Active Sitting Foster the Flow That Comes When Writing Goes Well Avoid the Opposite of Flow Bring Back the Flow Focus on Something Else for a While Why Your Brain Responds to Art Find Other Ways to Stimulate Creativity Writers on Craft

Chapter 9: Refresh Your Writing Brain

You’ve Lost Your Way Your Passion Has Waned You Need a Muse You’ve Spent Too Much Time Alone Your Expectations Are Too High You’re Creating Your Own Anxiety You Are Burned Out You’re Too Distracted Your Brain Has Shut Down Pamper Your Writing Brain Writers on Craft

Chapter 10: Sustain Your Writing Brain

Bolster Motivation Brainstorm on Where to Go Review Your Plot Look at the Broad Strokes Inspire Your Writing Brain Get Moral Support Get Back to Work Recharge Your Batteries, as Needed Writers on Craft

Phase Five: Your Brain at the End

Chapter 11: Reward Your Writing Brain

Visualize Yourself as Someone Who Finishes Print Out Your Manuscript Recognize and Reward Yourself Plan the Big Celebration Write It Wrong if You Must, Just Write It When Your First Draft is Complete, Celebrate! Save the Editing for Another Day Writers on Craft

Phase Six: Your Editing Brain

Chapter 12: Call in Your Executive Brain

Time for the Editor’s Cap View the Work More Objectively Conduct a Macro-Edit: Focus on the Work as a Whole Proceed From a Macro- to a Micro-Edit Refine and Rewrite Scenes Refine and Rewrite Dialogue Using Proven Neuroscience to Review, Refine, and Rewrite Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite Gear Up for Marketing Writers on Craft

Appendix