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 […]
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 […]
April 12, 2013 by 28 Comments Writing Life11 Ways Stay-at-Home Moms (and Other Busy Folks) Can Find Time to Write
One of the most startling moments of my life was when I realized I was going to like being a working mom.I grew up in the suburban ’80s of leftover-stay-at-home moms, as did my husband. I loved having a mom at home and I vowed that I would be a stay-at-home mom for my kids, as […]
May 27, 2012 by 42 Comments Writing LifeThe Pros and Cons of Writing Routines
Nothing affects our writing more than the routine (or lack of one) with which we implement our writing into our day. If we don’t approach writing routines with just the right mindset, they can cause more harm than good. So let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both writing routines […]
January 15, 2012 by 47 Comments Writing LifeHow I Learned to Write–And How You Can Too
You know that moment when, in the middle of a brilliant novel, you drop the book into your lap, stare at the ceiling, and wonder why God chose to gift this novelist with effortless talent, while you’re left slogging in the trenches of writer’s block and clunky sentences? I rather think most of us have […]
August 7, 2011 by 53 Comments Writing Life7 Ways to Make Family and Pets Respect Your Writing Time
Writing time is precious. Once you’re sitting at your desk, fingers poised over the keyboard as you wait to rendezvous with the characters you’ve been dreaming about all day, the last thing you want is someone barging into your solitude. Picture this: There you are, typing merrily away, the sweet violins of inspiration gliding along […]
May 8, 2011 by 49 Comments Writing LifePictorial Ideas for Constructing Your Own Writing Routine
I’m often asked about my writing routine. What techniques have I found most useful for making the most of my writing time, getting in the groove as fast as possible, and making sure I’m writing to my full potential every day? Although my writing routine evolves in minor ways depending on what’s going on in […]
April 3, 2011 by 48 Comments Writing Life4 Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Writer’s Solitude
We either cherish a writer’s solitude or wish to. Many writers who juggle family, friends, and a day job, along with writing, would often like nothing better than to slam the door against the rest of the world. Ah, solitude! Sometimes the word is a siren song of peace and productivity. But sometimes a writer’s […]
January 2, 2011 by 64 Comments Writing Life10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill Today
Sometimes even the most well-intentioned writing resolutions can end up being whimsical, erratic, and just plain unrealistic. But when you focus on goals that are slightly more achievable, you’re not only more likely to pull them off, but you’ll also feel much better about yourself come deadline time. Following are ten writing resolutions you can […]
December 5, 2010 by 33 Comments Writing LifeWhat Kind of Writer Are You?
Here’s a truth that is both deceptively simple and all too often overlooked: Not all writers are created equal. In fact, all writers are as unique as their fingerprints. Just as our stories are (we hope) distinctive, so are our personalities and lifestyles—and, as a result, our working patterns. In pursuit of bettering our craft, we […]
