Idea creation may seem a random and even mystical process, but there are simple and practical ways to increase your chances of how to come up with great ideas for writing. All writers know it’s impossible to have great ideas all time. Sometimes you feel stuck, and it frustrates you, doesn’t it? What is an […]
November 10, 2013 by 58 Comments Writing Inspiration7 Suggestions for How to Choose Your Next Story Idea
The most important decision a writer will ever make is which story to write. Sometimes this will be an easy decision: the “right” story will be staring us in the face. But sometimes the choices can be overwhelming, and we find ourselves wondering how to choose our next story idea. If you’re like me, you […]
November 1, 2013 by 9 Comments Writing InspirationUsing Genre to Help You Brainstorm Unique Story Ideas
Ideas are essential for fiction. What seems like a new idea to you might be an ancient idea to everyone else. You have to examine the background or meta-story of your chosen genre. However, all is not lost, as you can mashup genres to revitalize classic or cheesy story ideas. Why Have New Ideas? The […]
October 25, 2013 by 14 Comments Writing InspirationWhen Chaos Creates Writer’s Block—Is Your Life More Hectic Than It Needs to Be?
Note: The winners of Chrystle Fiedler’s book A Scent to Kill are Alicia Rades and E.M. Bahnsen. Congrats! Organization may be difficult for the naturally creative person. Often, when we’re swept up in our latest creation, everything else falls to the wayside. Time spent cleaning is clearly not time spent writing. And if you have little kids […]
September 4, 2013 by 31 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Make Your Readers’ Heads Explode
As writers, our ultimate goal is to captivate our readers so completely they can’t help but become obsessed with our stories. We don’t just want them to appreciate our craft or admire our prose from a distance. You want to make your readers’ heads explode by igniting a fierce passion for your story. This kind […]
August 30, 2013 by 26 Comments Writing Inspiration7 Ways to Build Your Writing Confidence
How confident are you about your writing? Ideally, you feel a happy certainty that you’re a good writer. You realize your first draft won’t be perfect, but you’re confident you can improve on it. You’ve know you’ve got a message worth sharing or a story worth telling. If you’re like many writers, though, your confidence […]
August 7, 2013 by 25 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Make Sure Your Story Lives Up to Its Potential
The first thing I have to tell you today is that I’m going to try really hard not to gush about Guillermo del Toro’s blockbuster Pacific Rim. The second thing I’m going to tell you is that I’m probably going to fail. This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. It was […]
June 16, 2013 by 70 Comments Writing InspirationAre You Overthinking Your First Draft?
First drafts are a writer’s agony and ecstasy. This is where your glistening ideas spill onto the page. This is where you get to play around with your ideas, see your characters grow and your themes mature. First drafts are fun. They’re your creative playground. But when you start overthinking your first draft, that’s where […]
June 14, 2013 by 21 Comments Writing InspirationUse Your Passion to Fuel Your Writing
Natural remedies have been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my mother practiced natural cures such as tea bag baths for sunburn, homeopathic remedies for colds and allergies, arnica oil for sprains and bruises and, of course, chicken soup with garlic was always a staple. I’ve used this passion […]
April 19, 2013 by 3 Comments Writing Inspiration10 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Write
Writers write. No brainer, there. We write not just because we have to, but because we love it. And yet the irony is that sometimes getting ourselves to write is about as easy as dragging a kid into the dentist’s office. As marvelous and freeing as creativity is, it’s also a difficult and even frightening […]
