raynewright

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole-wheat or whole-grain rigatoni or other short cut pasta
• 1 loaf crusty bread, bakery sliced (baguette or ciabatta)
• 1 pound crimini mushrooms, wiped clean
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 to 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 pound pancetta, a couple thick slices, finely diced
• 1 1/2 pound chicken thighs, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium to large onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled
• 2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Marsala, a couple glugs
• 1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes (recommended: San Marzano)
• Couple handfuls fresh baby spinach
• Few grates nutmeg or a pinch of ground
• 1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
• Splash heavy cream
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Handful basil leaves, torn

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook to al dente, drain and keep warm.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Scatter sliced bread on baking sheet, toast until crisp but not too dry, 6 to 8 minutes.

Quarter mushrooms. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Once the mushrooms have started to brown add 3 to 4 large cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped

While mushrooms cook, begin chicken ragu. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Brown the pancetta 3 to 4 minutes then add chicken and brown evenly 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions to the chicken. Grate the carrot and stir in with the rosemary, bay and a couple of cloves of garlic, grated or finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper and cook until vegetables are soft.

Add the Marsala to chicken and vegetables, stir and reduce a minute then add tomatoes and crush with wooden spoon. Simmer a few minutes to thicken and combine flavors.

When the mushrooms are tender, season with salt and pepper. Chop the spinach coarsely then stir in to wilt. Add in a few grates of nutmeg, stir in vinegar then a splash of cream. Transfer the mushrooms to a small bowl and serve with toasted bread for topping.

Toss the pasta with the chicken ragu and cheese. Garnish with some torn basil and serve immediately.

Doing these things can help you become a better writer:

1. Become a blogger.

2. Use self-imposed word limits.

3. Accept all forms of criticism and learn to grow from it.

4. Read what you’ve written over and over, until you can’t find any more problems.

5. Show what you write to a trusted friend for feedback.

6. Outline. And then write to that outline.

7. Edit, and edit again.

8. Live with passion.

9. Be open, curious, present, and engaged.

10. Take a break between writing and editing.

11. Learn a new word a day.

12. Get the pen and fingers moving.

13. Write in different genres: blog posts, poems, short stories, essays.

14. Read grammar books.

15. Write without distractions.

16. Challenge yourself: write in a crowded cafe, write on the toilet, write for 24 hours straight.

17. Take a trip. Road trips, beach trips, bus trips, plane trips.

18. Watch movies. Can you write the story better?

19. Write. And then write some more.

20. Read, think, read, write, ponder, write - and read some more.

21. Read your stuff aloud to anyone who can stand it - including the cat.

22. Go back and cut 10% from your word count.

23. Talk to people.

24. Listen to how people talk.

25. Read lots of books. Both good and bad.

26. Make notes of your (fleeting) brilliant ideas.

27. Start your writing ahead of time - not hours before a deadline.

28. Listen to podcasts on writing tips.

29. Use simple, declarative sentences.

30. Avoid passive voice.

31. Limit your use of adjectives and adverbs.

32. When in doubt, cut it out.

33. Kill clunky sentences.

34. Be inspired by other art forms - music, dance, sculpture, painting.

35. Read your old stuff and acknowledge how far you’ve come - and how far you have to go.

36. Write for publication, even if it’s only for the local newsletter or a small blog.

37. Make writing your priority in the morning.

38. Keep squeezing words out even if you feel uninspired.

39. Tell everyone: “I’m a writer.”

40. Recognize your fear and overcome it.

41. Let your articles rest and then return to them with fresh eyes.

42. Comment on your favorite blogs.

43. Keep a journal to keep the writing juices flowing.

44. Use a journal to sort out your thoughts and feelings.

45. Keep it simple.

46. Practice monotasking. Set a timer for uninterrupted writing.

47. Watch people.

48. Get to know someone different from you and reflect on the experience.

49. Try new ideas or hobbies - the more variety you have in your life, the more likely you are to keep on generating good ideas on the page.

50. Read works from different cultures. It helps keep your writing from tasting stale in the mouths of your readers.

51. Rethink what is ‘normal’.

52. Work on brilliant headlines.

53. Check if your assumptions are right.

54. Join a writing group. If you can’t find one, form one.

55. Write during your most productive hours of the day.

56. Designate time to research.

57. Take time to muse and mindmap.

58. Map out a writing schedule for your project and stick to it.

59. Ask someone else to proofread.

60. Read Zinsser’s “On Writing Well” at least once a year.

61. Break out of your comfort zone.

62. Write at the scene. If you want to write about a beach, get a picnic rug and go write by the sea.

63. Go to the supermarket, the ball game, the class room, the building site. Make notes of the sensuous details, the atmosphere, the people.

64. Start with metaphors and stories.

65. Approach writing with gratitude, not just with a ‘must do this’ attitude.

66. Deconstruct and analyze books and articles you enjoy.

67. Know about story architecture. Many writers don’t. Which is like doing heart surgery or flying an airliner by intuition. Survival rates are low.

68. Socialize with other writers.

69. Stretch or exercise in between writing.

70. Make a note of ideas for further development before you leave a piece for tomorrow.

71.Use mindmaps for inspiration.

72. Take risks - don’t be afraid to shock. You are not who you think you are.

73. [Please add your own suggestion in the comment section!]

I hope that one or more of these suggestions has inspired you. Let me know which ones resonated with you. And please add to the list. I look forward to reading your comments! Thanks to all the Write to Done readers who contributed to this list.

About the Author: Mary Jaksch is Chief Editor of Write to Done. Get Leo Babauta’s free report How I got 100,000 Subscribers: Lessons from Zen Habits.

I kissed your sweet lips
I floated so high
Your eyes looked at mine
The world froze in time
What is this feeling?
I am on cloud nine
Guess I’m still reeling from your body next to mine

It’s a rush I can’t explain
Like you shot something crazy into my veins
And I’m ten feet off the ground
And I don’t want to come down
Don’t want to come down

I know you’re sleeping
I wish you were right here
‘Cause my bed’s so empty
I’d hold you so close dear
And I sang my song to you
Your smile was priceless
What else can I do?
I’m a junkie over you

It’s a rush I can’t explain
Like you shot something crazy into my veins
And I’m ten feet off the ground
And I don’t want to come down

Is it me, or is everything spinning
I’m wide awake but I must be dreaming
It’s like you’re some kind of drug
Try to catch my breath
And see if I’m still breathing
Touch my heart and make sure it’s beating
It’s like I’m falling in love

It’s a rush I can’t explain
Like you shot something crazy into my veins
And I’m ten feet off the ground.
And I don’t , no I don’t, no, don’t want to come down
Don’t want to come down

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.