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 18, 2013 by 27 Comments Characters6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters
Dynamic, realistic, relatable characters pull readers in, open their eyes, and steal their hearts. Many a poor plot has been forgiven thanks to its amazing characters. You probably don’t start writing until getting to know your characters a little bit. But how can you make sure these characters will also be adored by your readers? […]
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 […]
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. […]
