Waiting around for inspiration to hit you in the head with a lightning bolt is… dangerous. Go after it with a harpoon and a fishnet! One of the best ways to do that is to learn how to brainstorm. As I talk about in my book Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration, some ways of brainstorming are […]
August 16, 2010 by 16 Comments Writing InspirationWhat Inspired You to Become a Writer? – And Other Questions Answered
Today, I’m honored to be interviewed by Janalyn Voigt on her blog Book Readers Central. Take a peek to discover what inspired me to become a writer, what I enjoyed most about writing Behold the Dawn, and what books I enjoy reading—among other things.
July 25, 2010 by 30 Comments Writing InspirationWhap! Pow! Zing!—How Can You Tell if Your Story Has Emotional Resonance?
The magic ingredient in fiction is that special something that socks readers right in the gut and leaves them breathless with joy or sorrow (or maybe wabi-sabi, the Japanese view of beauty in imperfection). We’ve all read books that were perfectly executed, but somehow lacked that magic. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the word craft […]
May 30, 2010 by 68 Comments Writing Inspiration8 Ways Writing Longhand Amps Your Muse
Whenever I crack open a hefty volume of Dickens, I’m inevitably overwhelmed by the realization this entire 800-page novel was composed by writing longhand. The writer’s bump on my middle finger throbs just thinking about it. Without doubt, our 21st-century technologic additions are a decided blessing. But we’ve also lost some things along the road to […]
May 9, 2010 by 39 Comments Writing InspirationImprove Yourself, Improve Your Writing
In a market as competitive as the writing world, we’re all striving to be the best writers we can be. But would you be surprised if I told you the only way to improve your writing is to be a better person? Remember all those admirable self-improvement goals that always end up on your resolution list? […]
April 28, 2010 by 19 Comments Writing InspirationThe Myth of Being in the Writing Zone
At one point or another, all authors find that delicious groove of being in the Writing Zone. The Writing Zone is that enchanted land, in which you can do no wrong. Your words flow from your fingertips onto your keyboard with lightning speed, every one of them singing with the perfect expression of your intent, every one […]
April 11, 2010 by 53 Comments Writing Inspiration3 Ways to Learn How to Daydream Better
You wouldn’t think you’d have to teach a writer to learn how to daydream. After all, the reason you became a writer was likely a natural outgrowth of your daydreams. Too often, however, in the mad rush of life’s busy work, daydreams are relegated to the shadowy cellars of your mind. You’ll think about them “when you have time.” […]
February 28, 2010 by 59 Comments Writing InspirationHow Writers Can Stop Procrastinating With One Simple Habit
“How writers can stop procrastinating” isn’t just a question of the writing life. Sometimes it’s the question. After all, if you’re not writing, then all the other good writing habits and knowledge you’ve collected are just going to sit in the back of your brain collecting dust. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix. Tell me if this sounds […]
January 17, 2010 by 72 Comments Writing InspirationAre You Called to Be a Writer?
Most of us write for simple reasons: We enjoy it. It gives us personal satisfaction and fulfillment. Maybe it earns us a little money. For most of us, those reasons are good enough by themselves to justify our pouring our time and thought and effort into what is largely a metaphysical pursuit. But at one […]
January 10, 2010 by 79 Comments Writing InspirationWhy Word Count Goals Can Be Destructive
Word count goals are the trusted aids of many a writer. With the ever-present call of duties, relationships, and even just sweet inertia, it’s often comforting to have set word count goals every day. Write 1,000 words, write two pages, write one scene, one chapter—and you’re finished. You can abandon your writing for the day […]
