Don't Break the Chain - Main Page

Don't Break the Chain

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A writer is only worth anything when they take the time to write.

Yet, not all writers can produce constant pieces of fantastic fiction.

This is where Don't Break the Chain comes in. DBTC posts are

writing done for the sake of writing. It keeps them fresh, keeps them

inspired, and can be anything from poems to journals to flash fiction

and more. We hope that you enjoy!

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Dean and Mort's Gym - Flash Fiction 

Repeating Myself - Poem
Looking Ahead - Journal
"Writing" - Flash Fiction
Don't Break the Chain in Favor of Perfection - Journal

Repeating Myself - DBTC

Here I sit,
Laptop in hand,
Keys at tips,
My own tapping band.

Reading and writing,
Beating and rapping,
Creating and typing,
Clicking and tapping,

When I look back at old chapters
and realize with a start
I'm literally re-writing the last one
I've had a damn brain fart

Hours wasted
As I wipe the page clear
I'll have to try again tomorrow
And keep my old chapters a little more near

So sorry for a lack of a Smithy chap
I really meant to put one out
But it seems I'm repeating myself
I think I need to go and pout

Writing - Don't Break the Chain post

    "I can't write." Jeremiah said as he banged his head against his closed laptop.
    With a look of disgust, Kenroy stood up from his own computer and walked across the room to his disheartened brother. Grabbing him, by the scruff of the shirt, he got unpleasantly close to Jerry's face.
    "Do you know how to read?"
    "What?" Jerry responded in confusion.
    "I said, 'Do you know how to read?'"
    "Of course I do."
    "So you're literate, then?"
    Jerry pushed back against his brother. Ken released him without complaint but continued to stare dead into his brother's eyes.
    "Are you literate?"
    "Of course I am!" Jerry snapped, his voice raising angrily. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
    "If you literate, than by definition you know how to read and write. If you know how to write, than clearly that's not the actual problem." Ken's face smeared back into a condescending smirk. "Writing anything worth reading is. Now hop to it, nancy boy."
    Jerry swung for a smack across his brother's ear, but his older brother was too fast. With a snide chuckled, Ken was already making his way back from to his own computer where his video games were writing.
    With a sigh, his attention turned to his closed laptop.
    "I hate it when he's right." he mumbled as he slid the top back open.

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(Hey all. So, per my previous post, I'm gonna try something. If I really don't have anything too worthwhile like an open book discussion, a short story, poem, or another chapter, than I will suffix it as a 'Don't Break the Chain post'. These will serve as identifiers that the post in question is literally ANYTHING and I'm using it to make sure I write that day and not let myself get lazy.

They might be good. They might be bad. They might be nothing at all. It's writing practice at the end of the day. I hope you enjoy!)

Don't Break the Chain in favor of Perfectionism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRtV-ugIT0k

So, I'm going to be upfront here.

I have developed some really bad habits.

Compared to where I was a year ago, I have been writing drastically less. While I keep making excuses and going through small bouts of HOORAH! where I try to write and peter out quickly, I'm generally just not staying motivated. Part of it has to do with stressing about doing something 'right' but part of it comes from simply not keeping focused.

That said, I'm going to be trying something a little different...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiwTq5DV1dA

Also, quick shout out to Dan and Arin. Love you guys!

While I'm not sure about the entire concept behind 'not breaking the chain', I think the idea behind just doing anything to keep the rhythm flowing isn't a terrible one. My thought process is always looking for something that is, for lack of a better term, "marketable". Because of this, I seem to get stuck in a rut of thinking "I should try this" followed by "I can't do it." or "I don't have time." and it just goes into a tail spin of staring at my computer screen and getting nothing done.

Here's what I'm going to try. Of course I will continue to work on my given novel ideas. I believe I will attempt to focus on the Smithy story as I feel particularly attached. But I will also attempt to do Open Book discussions about any relevant writing topics that strike me as well as OTHER writing. This other writing may be big or little (one thing that grabbed me is just snagging a writing prompt and running with it for a short story) but it has to be SOMETHING. This way, it forces me to stay focused.

At the moment, I want to hold myself to four times a week, but I'm not sure if I can maintain it. Maybe three? I'm going to have to see how my work and personal schedules TRULY effect my writing schedule when I'm trying to maintain consistency.

That said, just a quick status shout-out about where we will be going from here. Thanks everyone!