Are you ready to dive into the self-publishing game, but not ready to get a novel out there? Writing your manifesto could be the perfect first step to whet your publishing appetite and help you learn the ins and outs of the tools and skills you’ll need. A manifesto is “a public declaration of policy […]
December 6, 2013 by 24 Comments Writing LifeHow to Think Away Writing Distractions
Life can be one big distraction. Emails, phone calls, text messages, tweets and posts can quickly eat away at the hour or less of writing time you’ve carved out for yourself. And those are just the digital distractions! They don’t account for the mental, physical, and emotional distractions you have to deal with. Writing distractions […]
November 17, 2013 by 39 Comments Outlining Your NovelHow to Write an Awesome Book: 25 Key Elements for Success
Millions of words have been strung together on the subject of how to write an awesome book. A book is always going to be a tremendous undertaking that can feel more than a little complicated sometimes. But what if you simplify the process to just twenty-five ingredients? Previously, I wrote a post about the Top […]
November 15, 2013 by 22 Comments Writing Inspiration6 Tips to Come Up With Great Ideas for Writing
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 27, 2013 by 106 Comments Writing Life3 Signs It’s Time to Give Up on Your Story
Giving up on a story is like giving up on a relationship. It hurts. It can make you feel like a failure. And it can leave the near future seeming pretty blank. Giving up on a story can seem like an entirely negative experience—like the only good thing about it is the sudden lack of […]
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 […]
October 4, 2013 by 31 Comments Writing Life10 Things I Love About Writing
It’s hard to to decide what’s best about about the writing life. Here are ten things to love about being a writer! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! What do you love most about writing? Tell me in the comments!
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 […]
