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 15, 2013 by 91 Comments Writing Life15 Bad Habits That Hold Writers Back
Many aspiring writers unknowingly develop habits that stifle their progress rather than foster it. These tendencies often arise from misunderstandings about what it truly means to be a writer, from focusing too much on external success to avoiding the challenges of the craft. The journey of writing is far more nuanced and personal than simply […]
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 […]
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 […]
March 31, 2013 by 47 Comments Writing InspirationShould You Force Yourself to Write?
When writers ask me for my one, surefire, absolute best piece of writing advice, my prompt answer is, “Write every day.” By that, I mean establish a consistent writing schedule and stick to it, come hurricane or heartburn. Don’t feel like writing today? Doesn’t matter, write anyway. Sick as a dog today? Write anyway. Hate […]
March 15, 2013 by 27 Comments Writing LifeAre You Too Old to Write a Bestseller?
I have a bus pass, ten pairs of spectacles in my sock drawer, and—at age 65—the crotchety disposition that arrives only when you overhear your neighbor describe you as “that funny old fellow next door.” Yes, I am old. But too old to write a bestseller? I’ve just read the autobiography of Susan Hill, a novelist of […]
March 1, 2013 by 30 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Dig for Your Best Story Idea
This post is by Carrie Spencer. I remember the first manuscript I wrote—after I decided to become a romance writer. Do you? I was forty-seven, had a decent command of the English language, and thought, For as many romance novels as I’ve read, this should be a piece of cake. I should have thought, a piece of tripe. Oy. […]
June 29, 2012 by 23 Comments Writing LifeThe Most Important Rule for Writing – Be True to Yourself
This guest post is by Bryan Thomas Schmidt. If you’re a writer or trying to be, you’re probably already aware that one of the most-covered topics on the Internet is rules for writing. Everybody’s got their favorites. Everybody’s got their necessities. The funny thing is no one’s absolutely right and yet no one’s absolutely wrong. Glad I cleared that […]
May 11, 2012 by 23 Comments CharactersBecoming Your Character
This guest post is by G.G. Vandagriff. Can butterflies do somersaults? Where did that thought come from? Have you ever noticed that just before you fall asleep, your mind leaps from ordered thought into a realm that makes no earthly sense? From there it is but a step to your dream life. Natalie Goldberg, in her wonderful resource for writers Writing […]
