Note From KMW: Over the years, I’ve learned there is a difference between cultivating discipline as a writer and forcing it. Like many writers (especially those of us who came of age during the early years of the indie boom), I spent much of my career believing success required constant hustle. Push harder. Write faster. […]
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 […]
April 13, 2020 by 65 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Get Some Writing Done: Discipline vs. Enthusiasm
Sooner or later, most writers discover that the most difficult part of writing isn’t dreaming up characters or perfecting our sentences or learning story structure. No, the hardest part of getting some writing done is just… doing it. Procrastination is a hot topic (and a self-deprecating joke) among writers for the very reason that almost […]
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 […]
September 13, 2013 by 16 Comments Writing Life7 Tips for Shaping Your Writing Career
Seven tips that have helped shape my writing career—and may help you with yours too! 1. Engaging passion To be an author you must have something to say, a story you believe in, passionately. Nothing less than passionate belief in your subject will carry you through periods of self-doubt and dejection. Once you have decided […]
January 25, 2013 by 35 Comments Writing Life7 Ways to Speed Up Your Writing
Most of us don’t have the luxury of spending years and years penning our next literary masterpiece. Multiple writing assignments, looming deadlines, and . . . well . . . life in general tend to kick our butts on a daily basis. How is a writer to manage all these things? Writing faster is the most obvious solution, but it is much […]
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 […]
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 […]
