All this summer, I have been working hard on a secret project that combines two of my favorite things: archetypes and guided meditation. Today, I’m thrilled to announce I am releasing six Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! Based on the six transformational character arcs that I shared in my book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs, these meditations […]
September 25, 2023 by 62 Comments CharactersAnnouncing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway)
August 21, 2023 by 63 Comments PodcastHow to Rediscover the Joy of Writing
It’s something of an irony that most of us come to writing because we love it—and, yet, it’s actually really freaking hard. Only somewhat tongue in cheek, I will often advise that if “you can not be a writer, then don’t.” And yet it is abundantly clear that more humans than not need to write. (And […]
May 15, 2023 by 55 Comments PodcastWhy There’s No Such Thing as “Just a Story”
Every so often, I will hear someone say, “It’s just a story.” Most often, I hear this said in situations in which a story is being critiqued. In response to comments that a story failed to reach its potential because it lacked theme or plot structure or strong characterization, a person might insist, “Well, it’s […]
January 16, 2023 by 91 Comments Podcast6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer’s Block
To be a writer, one must do two things: write and, perhaps surprisingly, not write. Usually, we champion the first and demonize the second with much fear and trembling, giving it dread labels such as “writer’s block.” The implication is that, for a writer, not writing is about as bad as it gets. The truth, […]
September 5, 2022 by 58 Comments PodcastDo You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?
We writers like think of ourselves as metaphoric magicians—sitting at our desks, spinning worlds out of nothing but words and imagination. Pour a little research into the recipe, and our alchemy is complete. Yet an ongoing question among writers is the evergreen quandary about whether or not we must “write what we know.” In short, […]
May 16, 2022 by 53 Comments Podcast6 Ways to Find Your Best Ideas Before You Start Writing
For writers, ideas are the primal matter. No ideas, no stories. But sometimes trying to figure out how to find your best ideas is like catching butterflies. They flit in; they flit out. If we aren’t paying attention, sometimes we don’t even recognize that they’ve been there. Even when we do stop short in awe […]
April 25, 2022 by 59 Comments PodcastDo You Have to Write Every Day? 10 Pros and Cons
Should writers make it a habit to write every day? Is that the secret to success? Is that what distinguishes “real” writers? I used to think so. Often, when someone would ask me for my single recommendation for other writers, my go-to response was to reiterate some form of the advice from Peter de Vries […]
April 18, 2022 by 50 Comments PodcastThe 6 Challenges of Writing a Second Novel
Writing your first story is a special experience. It brings many difficulties and challenges, but it also tends to carry itself (and you) along with a sense of passion, fun, and discovery. When we finish it, we may think, Well, it can only get easier from here, right? But as many sophomore writers can attest, writing […]
February 28, 2022 by 55 Comments PodcastShould You Take a Break From Writing? 5 Red Flags
Writers are supposed to write. That’s just how it works. But should you ever take a break from writing? Is that just code for quitting? Is it a sign you’re copping to your own laziness or fear? Or that you’re really not a disciplined, “serious” writer? The short answer: Who knows? Only you know. The more […]
January 10, 2022 by 77 Comments PodcastA Writer’s New Year Reflections: The 6 Gifts I Gave Myself in 2021
Another new year brings another new opportunity for reflection and re-centering. As I talk about nearly every year, my preference for the New Year is to focus less on resolutions for the year ahead and more on reflections of what I experienced and gained in the year past. For me, as I think for many […]
