I talk to my wonderful mother on the phone every night. We talk about everything from health to books to psychology to faith to whatever might be making us grumpy at the moment. This week while discussing health and diet, she shared something she’d read that said she was now at the beginning of the […]
September 23, 2019 by 134 Comments Writing InspirationAre You Struggling to Be Creative? This Might Be Why
September 9, 2019 by 28 Comments Writing InspirationWriting’s Secret Formula: How to Write Stories That Matter
“Writing is magic,” notes Stephen King, the most prolific author in history, “as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.” I concur, so much so that it is the featured quote on my website. But is it magic? Is writing so […]
February 25, 2019 by 112 Comments Writer's Help7 Things to Try When Writing Is Hard
Some writers might look at that title and respond incredulously: “When isn’t writing hard?” But as I’m sure all writers everywhere can attest, there are times when writing is hard in the normal sense and times when it’s hard hard. Often, the difficulty lies simply in the unwieldy story—and the need for an ever-evolving understanding and ability […]
July 23, 2018 by 63 Comments Writing Inspiration4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks
Ah, ideas. To a writer, is there any sweeter word? But as we quickly learn whenever we try to trap those ideas on paper, the real magic trick is figuring out how to turn an idea into a story that first works and then rocks. Bar none, my favorite part of the writing process is […]
June 25, 2018 by 53 Comments Writing InspirationWriting as the Art of Thinking Clearly: 6 Steps
As an infamously vivid dreamer, I often find myself waking up with this surging certainty that my subconscious just gave me the best story ever. One of my most memorable dreams featured an end-of-the-world plot. Aliens were coming! Asteroids were coming! Klaxons were blaring. People were running around madly. I think the theme from Armageddon might even […]
January 22, 2018 by 89 Comments Writing InspirationThe Words That Changed Your Life: Discovering What Made You a Writer
For me, it’s almost become a cliché answer: “I write because stories have always been my language. I write because my very first memory is telling myself a story.” “Why do you write?” and “What made you a writer?” are two questions I’m ubiquitously asked in interviews. I can respond to those questions in my […]
January 15, 2018 by 79 Comments Writing Inspiration4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write
It is the nature of writers to wonder. We wonder about others and we wonder about ourselves. We even wonder why we write. For most of us the compulsion to write is so… ineffable. Why do we write? We just do. We desire the stories. We love the words. We are compelled to communicate our wonder with […]
February 27, 2017 by 102 Comments Writing InspirationThe Lazy Author’s 6-Question Guide to Writing an Original Book
Never once have I worried that I might not be writing an original book. Even just saying that kinda sounds like a dirty secret—like maybe the only kind of author who could say such a thing is either one who lacks anxiety enough to care if her stories are original and/or one who lacks integrity enough to check if […]
July 18, 2016 by 66 Comments Writing Inspiration4 Ways to Verify Your Story Concept Is Strong Enough
All story concepts are not created equal. Even once you get past all the boring, been-there, and just plain blah ideas to the point where you’ve discovered something legitimately interesting and cool—that’s not enough either. Many a cool story concept has gone on to be a wasted story. But that’s not going to be you! Today, I’m going […]
February 21, 2016 by 93 Comments Writing InspirationThe 4 Tweaks to Writing Truly Original Stories and Characters
The process of writing original stories is shrouded in mystery. Occasionally, as part of my daily Writing Question of the Day (#WQOTD) on Twitter and Facebook, I’ll ask, “What makes your story original?” It’s a question that tends to get fewer responses than normal, and the responses I do receive are often nebulous or downright uncertain. […]
