This post is by Gene Perret. Having a book idea on a topic you’re passionate about is a glorious feeling. You begin work on such a project filled with passion and zeal. You’re eager to pass your thoughts on to your readers. However, writing a book is a daunting, time-consuming task. It’s important to maintain […]
July 24, 2011 by 34 Comments Writing InspirationWhat The Story Knows Best Really Means
When writers start talking about the autonomy of their stories, non-writers are likely to give us looks that range from confused to concerned, especially when our comments include the following: “The story knows best.” Or— “Nothing was working for me until I quit fighting my story and let it do what it wanted.” Or— “I […]
May 1, 2011 by 48 Comments Writing InspirationUnderstanding—and Accepting—the Reasons You Write
What are the reasons you write? This is a favorite question in writing forums, polls, and interviews. Sooner or later, all writers must answer this question, either for themselves or some curious second party. It’s a simple enough question, but it can be surprisingly difficult to answer. Even after we’ve answered it, we sometimes find […]
February 13, 2011 by 38 Comments Writing Inspiration8 Signs You’re Stuck in a Writing Rut—and Why You Should Care
Laziness and fear—a writer’s two great nemeses—do their best to keep us stuck in the writing rut. Usually, it’s a very comfortable rut. All our characters are down there with us, keeping us company, cooking up tea, playing chess, and just generally having a happy ol’ time. Life isn’t very difficult, since we never have […]
January 30, 2011 by 52 Comments Writing InspirationThe Good News? Writing Never Gets Any Easier
First-time novelists often believe their first novels will be the most difficult writing of their lives. Once they’ve stamped finis on Novel #1, our writing worries will be over. By that point, surely we’ll have a handle on this writing gig, and everything from here on out will get progressively easier. But… not so fast! […]
December 15, 2010 by 26 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Flip Clichés on Their Heads
Originality is hard work—mostly because there’s nothing new under the sun—and it’s difficult to make something out of nothing. But here’s a nifty trick for taking seemingly worn-out ideas and turning them on their heads to create something fresh and vibrant. In a nutshell, all this trick involves is grabbing a cliché, acknowledging it’s a […]
November 14, 2010 by 22 Comments Writing InspirationWhy Are You Writing This Story?
Pretend you and I are face to face. Pretend I’ve asked you what you’re writing right now, and you’re telling me the title and the plot and maybe a little about the characters. When you’re done, I look you in the eye and ask, “Why are you writing this story?” What’s your answer? Probably, you […]
November 6, 2010 by 19 Comments Writing Inspiration10 Essentials for an Inspired Author’s Life
The romance of a tortured artist’s life aside, we are all in search of the secrets that will allow inspiration to flow through our lives. In my book Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration, I discuss the best ways to keep Madame Muse at your beck and call—rather than the other way around. But for today, […]
November 5, 2010 by 13 Comments Writing Inspiration5 Ways to Seek Multi-Media Inspiration for Your Writing
We live in a world saturated with artistic creativity. For writers, this means inspiration is all over the place. All you have to do is open a magazine, read a book, turn on the television, or switch to a new radio station. In my book Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration, I specifically touch upon how […]
October 28, 2010 by 15 Comments Writing Inspiration13 Places to Find Inspiration
Today, I’m honored to be hosted on the Conquering Writer’s Block & Summoning Inspiration blog tour by Matt Delman. Be sure to stop by his blog to read the guest post “13 Places to Find Inspiration.” Below is a sneak peek: People are always asking writers where they get their ideas. My typically trite reply is, […]
