How we doing, fellow writers? Are you hanging in there? Everywhere I look in today’s creative landscape, I can’t help but sense that more and more writers are burning out, and my opinion is that this isn’t caused simply by too much work with too few vacations. At least some of the strain is coming […]
February 17, 2025 by 21 Comments Writer's Help5 Proven Ways to Conquer Self-Doubt in Writing
Self-doubt is one of the biggest obstacles a writer will ever face. It creeps in at the worst moments—undermining confidence, stalling progress, and making you question whether your stories are even worth telling. Conquering self-doubt in writing isn’t about eliminating it altogether; it’s about learning to work with it. The key is recognizing self-doubt for […]
February 3, 2025 by 20 Comments Writer's HelpThe Writer’s Road to Creative Burnout Recovery
Creative burnout can feel like a wall between you and your writing goals. Whether it’s the result of stress, distractions, or feeling creatively drained, creative fatigue and even injury is something many modern writers experience. Because writers are generally a solution-forward bunch, we often think we can ten-step our way out of the problem. However, […]
June 3, 2024 by 40 Comments Podcast5 Strategies for Writing the Parts You Don’t Like
For all writers, there inevitably comes a time when we encounter aspects of the craft that, for one reason or another, we just don’t like. Whether it’s meticulously constructing a setting, creating the intricacies of dialogue, or grappling with a specific writing style, we all encounter elements that trigger a sense of dislike or resistance. […]
August 21, 2023 by 64 Comments PodcastHow to Rediscover the Joy of Writing
It’s something of an irony that most of us come to writing because we love it—and, yet, it’s actually really freaking hard. Only somewhat tongue in cheek, I will often advise that if “you can not be a writer, then don’t.” And yet it is abundantly clear that more humans than not need to write. (And […]
January 16, 2023 by 91 Comments Podcast6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer’s Block
To be a writer, one must do two things: write and, perhaps surprisingly, not write. Usually, we champion the first and demonize the second with much fear and trembling, giving it dread labels such as “writer’s block.” The implication is that, for a writer, not writing is about as bad as it gets. The truth, […]
January 2, 2023 by 90 Comments Writing LifeLooking Back on 2022: 5 Reflections on a Year of Healing
For the past five years or so, I have opened every new year with a post looking back on the lessons I have learned in the previous year. What began as just another idea for a blog post has become one of my most treasured rituals. Every year when I sit down to write this […]
February 28, 2022 by 55 Comments PodcastShould You Take a Break From Writing? 5 Red Flags
Writers are supposed to write. That’s just how it works. But should you ever take a break from writing? Is that just code for quitting? Is it a sign you’re copping to your own laziness or fear? Or that you’re really not a disciplined, “serious” writer? The short answer: Who knows? Only you know. The more […]
November 23, 2020 by 116 Comments Podcast7 Steps to Stop Overthinking Your Writing
It’s a question I’ve received countless times from readers over the years—and one I’ve found myself asking of late as well: How do you stop overthinking your writing? Writers are often known as thinkers. Indeed, we’re often proud of the connotation. We spend a lot of time in our heads. We love to read. We […]
June 8, 2020 by 71 Comments Writer's Help6 Writing Excuses Busted (Or How an 11-Year-Old Published Her First Novel)
Writing excuses are easy to come up with. Easy to justify. But to publish, you’ll need to learn how to avoid using at least six of them—maybe more. My goal is to help you avoid using these six writing excuses by showing you how I overcame them to publish my first novel shortly after my […]
