Have you always loved to read and wished you could write? Want to say something but have no idea where to start? Here are five surprising tips to get you thinking like a writer.

1: Listen

Record a conversation, then type it word for word. My grandfather used to press “record” on the tape machine at dinnertime. He captured hilarious conversations and preserved the preciousness of youth. He also built, for me, an ear for dialogue. Audio re-play lets you hear patterns of speech and catch nuances of meaning you may not hear in the moment. Before you know it, you may have the voice of your next character in your head.

2: Read

Imitation is more than the highest form of flattery. It is how we learn. Read what you love…novels, articles, poems. Then practice writing in the very same way. How? Paraphrase: Start with a paragraph. Read it. Re-write it in your OWN words—not great big flowery words or fierce competitive diction, just write what you think it means. Repeat. This will get you thinking like the author of the piece you love, and get you noticing their styles and techniques. Start small. Keep going. Eventually, input equals output.

You’re racked with guilt.

Whatever you did last weekendis killing you.

Whatever you said-to whomever you didn’t mean to say it-has your head inches from the oven.

First, step away from the oven. Don’t fret! You need an exorcism. Luckily, you can get one without a prescription, in five simple steps…

Step 1: Perspective Saves Lives

When things go bad, the most important thing to get is perspective. ASAP. Before the weekend began, you probably liked yourself just fine. But whatever you did has you feeling villainous and cruel. This exercise will bring much needed humor to the havoc of your feelings.

Step 2: Exile The Villains On Paper

The intent is to identify each of the voices in your head that are tearing you down. And then let them talk amongst themselves—on paper.

Step 3: Give a name to each voice

The one that calls you a screw-up when you walk past the mirror? Name it. Is that Betty? Clothilde? Raul?

Step 4: Write down what each voice says

That incessant curse, the sad defense, write them all down next to the names of the voices speaking them.

Step 5: Now for the best part

Let them hash it out on paper. Write the dialogue of what they say to each other. Don’t think, just let it out. They will have plenty to say without your invention.

Let them go until they have exhausted themselves. When you let your guilty voices out of the prison of your head, you defuse the self-conflict that is feeding them. Chances are good you will be laughing at their originality and wit, and then voila. Perspective gained. Try it. Writing yourself free is salvation.

Recommended and Related

Escaping Toxic Guilt, by Susan Carrell.

Photo by Robyn Gallagher.

If you are looking to take yourself on an adventure this holiday season, cities are treasure troves for the curious: sprawling parks, bookstores, museums, best-kept-culinary-secrets, local haunts. Whether you’re Downtown San Diego, Midtown NYC, Stumptown Portland, or Gastown Vancouver, B.C., you can lose yourself in the romance of a city’s hustle bustle. Well thought out gear will keep you comfortable, and free to follow whim and inspiration. Equipping yourself with the basics will make the day effortless.

The Perfect Tote

Don’t leave home without it. Next to comfy kicks, this is your most important tool in the city. Choose one that is roomy but still easy to carry. Words to live by: Your bag is a smart accessory, not your smallest piece of luggage. Queen Bee Creations are made with smart-girl-on-the-go fashion sense. (They also have stylish baby-on-the-go gear for mom and dad.) Check out “other views” on this Edith Re-wool bag to see the roomy construction, over-the-shoulder-coziness, and inside pockets for lip gloss, earbuds, wallet and maps.

The week before the U.S. presidential election, I received a Zen-inspired email called “Obama Meditation.” It envisions America eight years into the future: Barack Obama is the outgoing president. He is reviewing his tenure in office, the challenges, rewards and overall successes that he and the country pulled off together. The end of the email asks the reader to meditate on this vision several times a day, calling a peaceful presidency into action with these positive thoughts…oh, and then forward the email to everyone in your contacts.

My friend, Ro, responded after the election like this: “Yeah, meditation is good to lower your blood pressure. But Obama wouldn’t be president-elect right now if he just thought it was a nice idea, or if he only sat down and meditated on it ten minutes everyday.”

Talking For 10 Minutes

She suggested countries and communities would be a lot better off if people TALKED 10 minutes a day about what they wanted, rather than sat in their happy places and imagined it. Ro draws the line at woo-woo and offers action steps instead.

Have you always loved to read and wished you could write? Want to say something but have no idea where to start? Here are five surprising tips to get you thinking like a writer.

Listen

Record a conversation, then type it word for word. Audio re-play lets you hear patterns of speech and catch nuances of meaning you may not hear in the moment. Before you know it, you may have the voice of your next character in your head.

Copy

Imitation is more than the highest form of flattery. It is how we learn. Read what you love…novels, articles, poems. Then practice writing in the very same way. How? Paraphrase: Start with a paragraph. Re-write it in your own words—not great big flowery words or fierce competitive diction, just write what you think it means. Repeat. This will get you thinking like the authors you read, and get you noticing their styles and techniques.