Do you have a comfort zone? If you’re anything like me, you know what you’re good at. And you like to stick to what you’re good at because you know how to do it and there’s not going to be any risk of doing it badly, or worse, doing it wrong. But if you want … Continue reading »
Summer is the season of vacations and fun. But now we’re heading into fall again, so new projects are starting and new opportunities are becoming available. If you’re like me, fall is the time where you work harder than ever — both at your day jobs and in your writing. If you’re lucky, your writing … Continue reading »
More experienced writers may tell you that television isn’t good for your creativity; they’re obviously watching the wrong shows. As writers, you’ve probably realized by now that there are reasons we watch our favorite programs and why even people who aren’t fans appreciate them. Read: Dive into writing; leave insecurities in the dust The plots … Continue reading »
You’ve probably heard the whispers about a completely insane program called National Novel Writing Month, and yes, it is completely insane. But it’s also amazing, and I wanted to tell you everything I’ve learned about the program in the four times I’ve participated and won. Yes, I’ve successfully written four manuscripts, each just over 50,000 … Continue reading »
Everyone sometimes has wacky dreams, and as writers, your writing dreams are probably crazier than most. There may be dinosaurs, flying carpets, talking cats and celebrities—all in one dream. Our instinct is to just let the dreams fade out of our minds lest someone find out we had a dream about the president wearing a … Continue reading »
A routine may seem like the opposite of creativity, but it is absolutely essential harnessing special writing power. I didn’t accept that routines and scheduling were so integral to a writer’s life until well into my college education, but once I figured out my routine, the amount of writing I can get done is astonishing. … Continue reading »
For those writers who haven’t had the opportunity to attend classes or writing seminars, the term “workshop” is foreign. And for those of us who haven’t ever shown anyone our work, it can be terrifying to open yourself up to any kind of critique, especially from strangers. This is how I felt when I entered … Continue reading »
As writers we all have a tendency to want to do nothing but write all day, but something has to pay the electric bill to keep your laptop charged, and that’s where the day job comes in. Now, if you’re anything like me, the idea of a nine-to-five job fills you with a sense of … Continue reading »