Two months ago we asked you which new features you wanted. It was a bit of a slug fest, but in the end writing lessons came out on top. We are pleased to announce the release of writing lessons.

For those who have not already noticed, writing lessons can be found in the blue box on the right hand side of the My Account page. We have also added writing prompts just below writing lessons on the My Account page. When you have a chance, please read a lesson or prompt, perform the assignment, submit it for critique, and let us know what you think.

If you are not already a member please join our writing group to access these features.

Jacob

I don’t want to offend anyone, but as writers, I think we’re pretty great at making excuses. Maybe it’s because our creativity makes us better at it than non-writers. Just look at all the reasons we’ve invented not to write: lack of time, too busy, lack of motivation, fleeting muses, and, of course, the dreaded writer’s block.

While I’m sure not all writers make excuses, I’ve met enough to know that most do, me included. My pet excuse is I’m sick of sitting in front of my computer. My job requires me to sit at a computer all day. Then, on top of that, I usually try and put in a couple hours a day trying to get the word out on ”the internets” about Review Fuse. By the time I’m done, the last thing I feel like doing is staring at my computer screen trying to write… and so most days I don’t. However, when I force myself to overcome my excuses and write in spite of them, a funny thing happens, I get so into my stories that I spend hours typing away without realizing how much time has passed until my wife asks if I’m ever coming to bed.

I call this concept “Perspiration before Inspiration.” Despite what Heinz Ketchup or more recently Guinness Beer would have you think, the best things DO NOT come to those who wait (remember those commercials? the ketchup one is quite a bit older, but you should still recognize the actor). Good things come to those who work. Come to think of it, this even holds true with ketchup–after all, Heinz does sell a squeeze bottle now. Maybe that whole axiom was just made up by clever marketers trying to sell products that don’t provide the instant gratification that their competitors’ products did.

Of course, others have expressed this same concept far more eloquently than I. Here are some favorite quotes that get me going when I find myself wanting to make excuses:

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.”
- Frank Tibolt

“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
- Pablo Picasso

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
- Jack London

“Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time… The wait is simply too long.”
- Leonard Bernstein

So what gets you going when you “just don’t feel like writing”? Have you found proven ways to motivate yourself or get new ideas flowing? If so, share your success in the comments.

One thing we’re working on at Review Fuse is putting together a system of writing prompts as well as writing exercises and assignments? When it’s done, will you use this feature? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the suggestion box.

- Clark