It’s a brand new year of writing projects and possibilities, and whether wrapping up old assignments, editing ongoing ones or creating something new – blogs, books, scripts and more, every writer can use a little inspiration. And this week I stumbled upon some of the best writing tips I’ve seen in a while: “Belief and Technique for Modern Prose” by none other than Jack Kerouac.

Perhaps best known for his classic novel “On the Road,” Kerouac was an author, Beat poet and bit of a wild man, who lived – and wrote – on his own terms. So here are a few of Jack’s ‘essentials’ for better writing, in his unique spelling and grammatical style.

I particularly like points # 1, 4, 25 and 29.

1. Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy

2. Submissive to everything, open, listening

3. Try never get drunk outside yr own house

4. Be in love with yr life

5. Something that you feel will find its own form

6. Be crazy dumbsaint of the mind

7. Blow as deep as you want to blow

8. Write what you want bottomless from bottom of the mind

9. The unspeakable visions of the individual

10. No time for poetry but exactly what is

11. Visionary tics shivering in the chest

12. In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you

13. Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition

14. Like Proust be an old teahead of time

15. Telling the true story of the world in interior monolog

16. The jewel center of interest is the eye within the eye

17. Write in recollection and amazement for yourself

18. Work from pithy middle eye out, swimming in language sea

19. Accept loss forever

20. Believe in the holy contour of life

21. Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind

22. Dont think of words when you stop but to see picture better

23. Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in yr morning

24. No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge

25. Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it

26. Bookmovie is the movie in words, the visual American form

27. In praise of Character in the Bleak inhuman Loneliness

28. Composing wild, undisciplined, pure, coming in from under, crazier the better

29. You’re a Genius all the time

30. Writer-Director of Earthly movies Sponsored & Angeled in Heaven

As ever, 
Jack [Kerouac]

[Jack Kerouac. "Belief & Technique For Modern Prose: List of Essentials" from a 1958 letter to Don Allen, in Heaven & Other Poems, Grey Fox Press, 1958, 1977, 1983.]

I love rituals around the new year that help me focus and look forward to the coming months with new energy, dreams and aspirations. Rather than make resolutions, which for me often lack excitement and originality, and have a limited chance of succeeding beyond January 15, in the last few years I’ve taken a simple and effective approach – choosing 3 words for the new year. With careful consideration (and meditation) I select 3 words that will shape my plans, inform my decisions, and guide my actions for the next 12 months.

While many people select a “Word of the Year” to guide their course in the coming months, I like the asymmetry, flexibility and added power of a 3-word theme. And I’ve discovered others like the 3-word approach as well.

My colleague and employee engagement specialist David Zinger uses the 3-word theme as a great planning tool to focus on how to ‘engage’ the year ahead while allowing for room on how those themes are realized… in the workplace or in life.

Social media expert Chris Brogan focuses on 3 words in the new year as a model to improve both himself and his business. He suggests summing up an entire perspective into these words, and using them not only as guideposts for actions in the new year but also as “lighthouses” to direct you through stormy places.

OK, so what are my 3 words and how does this work?

Well, for example, in 2011 my 3 words were: Commitment. Connection. Confidence.  Here’s what happened last year: I joined a business mastermind group of 12 powerful women entrepreneurs, found new clients and new work; met some amazing people and made life-long connections both personally and professionally; took 3 “Avatar” courses that advanced my spiritual and personal growth; and spent a lot of time with my father in the last year of his life, including being with him when he passed on.

My 3 words for 2012 are: Inspire. Ask. Receive. And here’s why I chose them.

Inspire: The word inspire is derived from “in-spirit,” and I believe living with spirit, energy and harmony in our environments, work and relationships will create a much more beautiful world. Stayed tuned for a project I’m working on this year that’s all about my “desire to inspire.”

Ask: As a fiercely independent woman who prides herself on being self-sufficient, I used to think asking for help (or anything else) was ‘weak.” Well, I’m sooo over that. It is only when we are supported, that we can support our selves or others. I’m increasingly learning how to delegate tasks, and ask for help both in business and in life. I’ve learned that the first step in creating what you want is asking for what you need. Look out world…

Receive: As selfish as this might sound, I’m working on my ability to be a better “receiver” and accept help, kindness, money, love and more, with ease and grace. Again, similar to my challenge in learning to ask, I’ve often said “no” (consciously and unconsciously) to receiving things from others. Well, no more! I’ve realized only by being able to receive more, am I able to give more and serve the world in a bigger way. So in 2012, I am open to receive – love, money, creativity, work, fun, help, free coffee — whatever life serves up, with deep gratitude.

So there you have it, my “trifecta of transformation” for 2012 and the 3 words this year that, for me, will change everything.

What 3 words would you choose for 2012?

I’d love to hear about them, share in the comment section below.