I find that I write better when given assignments by a writing course and produce fewer poems the rest of the time. I meet with a critique group about once a month and it helps a but I'd like to write more consistently. How do you keep yourself accountable & productive over time?

Without turning this into a complete therapy session I recently had a couple of pretty intense encounters with a family member of a former friend. It almost got physical. The interaction got me thinking about all the other instances that I got into a fight or almost got into a fight and I started this piece. The working title is "I still love you tho." On the 2nd verse I start to contextualize and speak about the reason why such instances occur but I feel like that is typical of my writing. I want to write about another instance but I feel like I got my point across pretty clear in this initial piece. I"m happy for any feed back. Please keep in mind that this a verse in a rap song so, I'm interested in suggestions on how I can add some nuance to the content. Thank you in advance! The work is below. Heart thumpin quicker with each step// a weak breathe// creeps pass the eclipse my lip pressed// hood 6th sense // I watched em from a block away// 8 or so heads that handle rocks like doctor Jay// bodies on the block minds still locked away// or perhaps it’s just not my day// I see them staring, i'm thinking is there anything that I’m carrying I could use as a weapon// In case these niggas start pressing// luckily I know some one who lives in this section// he just stepped from his porch to give me a dap and a blessing// I stopped for a second// to check in// To make my potential assailants, think I’m not stressing// maybe it was wise, maybe it wasn’t // I walked past, I heard subtle threats but they didn’t do nothin// I put on my headphones and asked why is it always the brothers?

I have lately had the desire to write about my trip visiting my family's homeland of Ecuador... but I've never tackled that story before except when people ask me about it. I keep on telling myself that I just need to get it out--sound and voice doesn't matter in this draft--but I'm cringing so much that my motivation is waning. How do y'all get the VERY FIRST first draft out? How do you psych yourselves out of the idea of needing it to be a particular way in order to be motivated to write it? I know I should just keep my head down and continue... but another part of me is questioning how on earth can I do that when (1) my memory of these events, people, and emotions are vague and (2) it's hard to clarify & dwell on these vague memories? It's not a story based on trauma which is something I'm also not used to doing in craft... it's rather one about finding home, family, and joy in another place. This also adds to my worries that I''m blaspheming my heritage if I don't get it right on the first try...

I've been working on a speculative CNF project that explores motherhood, mental health, and the development of electroconvulsive therapy. As a former ECT patient, reaching into the past has been painstaking work, as I recall an emotional landscape versus one full of memories. To me, music has been key to delving into emotional truth. I've really been into Bjork's Homogenic and the video for her song, "Ancestress." These soundscapes have been the soil that has nurtured my burgeoning project. How does music help to ground, frame, or inspire your project?

Are you trying to write every day? (If you're stuck, I recommend the One-Day Writing Kickstart (https://esmewang.com/writing-kickstart; if you're feeling stressed about building a writing habit, I recommend this class: https://esmewang.com/building-a-writing-practice.) I'm running late on a book I have on deadline, so I thought I'd start this thread to check in with you all about how it's going, and please join in if you think it would be helpful to you as well. I'll try to check in even when I get no writing done. Here we go!