New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

How to Write a Story Without an Outline

I have been opposed to outlining since childhood. I distinctly remember a time in middle school when I was required to write essays and turn in my outline as well. I couldn’t do it.

The necessity of the outline had a paralyzing effect on me—I couldn’t write anything if I had to know everything I was going to write beforehand. I took bad grades on good essays because I refused to do the outline. (To me, that’s like taking points off a bicyclist at the Tour de France for not using training wheels, but my teacher didn’t see it that way.)

I know many writers who say they can’t write without an outline. While it can help people organize their thoughts, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for anyone.

Why Do We Write?

by Kellie McGann | 52 Comments

I had always dreamed of making it as a full-time writer. Somehow, here I am, every day waking up and driving to a coffee shop to write a book.

In the midst of that, as I’m filled with amazement that I’m actually doing this writing thing, I have to ask myself—why? Why do I write? Why do any of us write? Why write?

I used to think I was writing to make a name for myself. I thought I was writing to one day sell lots of books and make money. But while it’s only been a couple of years since I’ve become a “full-time” writer, each day I come to realize more and more that writing was never about the prestige or money.

I want to take a minute to reflect and remind us why we write.

6 Ways to Let Go of Past Writing and Create Something New

by Pamela Fernuik | 67 Comments

Our past writing can keep us from writing now. We may feel discouraged and not write if we think our past writing was horrible. Or maybe we think we were brilliant and not write because we feel we can never write that well again. Or maybe we think we are better at being typists for our cats than we are at writing our own stories.

I met a writer last week, Sheila, who destroyed her past writing. She told me she had just shredded everything she ever wrote—journals, poetry, and short stories. I asked her if she still had the shredded paper. I wanted it.

4 Tips to Find Your Thoughtful Spot and Get Inspired

by Jeff Elkins | 36 Comments

Ever sit and stare at the page, unsure what to write? It happens to me at least once a week. You sit down to write and draw a complete blank.

Panic sets in. You worry, “Will I ever think of anything worth writing again.” Your mind screams, “Has the well run dry? Is the journey over? Woe is me; the world is coming to an end!”

Then, I take a deep breath and go to my Thoughtful Spot.

Use this One and “Only” Hack and Never Confuse Your Readers Again

by Guest Blogger | 27 Comments

I’m pretty confident most of you know how to write a decent sentence: subject–predicate, noun–verb. However, when it comes to getting fancy, ambiguity can happen. And you can confuse your readers to boot.

Let’s take “only,” “both . . . and,” and “either . . . or,” for example. Where do you put them? And why does it matter?

Your Character’s Three Faces

by Ruthanne Reid | 49 Comments

People are complicated, and much of what makes us who we are is hidden beneath the surface. As we interact with different people, we reveal different layers of ourselves. The same is true of your character—they will express themselves differently depending on the people around them.

Who is your character when people are watching? Who is your character when they’re not?

What Marathon Training Taught Me About Writing

by Monica M. Clark | 33 Comments

Running a marathon is a lot like writing a novel. Both are long-term goals that require incredible patience and discipline to achieve. In fact, I find myself applying lessons from my marathon training to novel writing all the time.

When I first decided to train for a marathon, the idea of running a million miles was overwhelming. It was enough to make me want to quit on the spot.

You might feel the same way about writing a book. Apply these marathon training lessons to your writing, and you’ll be able to persevere to the end.

Book Deadline Challenge: Week 7 Update

by Joe Bunting | 6 Comments

Seven weeks ago, I accepted a challenge to finish my book by September 2, and if I miss my deadline, I have to give $1,000 to the presidential candidate I despise. More on the challenge and other productivity hacks for writers here.

Today, I’ll share an update on my progress, and what I’m learning through the process.

12 Writing Lessons From Hamilton

by The Magic Violinist | 14 Comments

If you haven’t at least heard about Hamilton, you’ve been living under a rock. But if for some reason you still don’t know what it is, I’ll give you a brief introduction.

Hamilton is the rap/hip-hop musical that long-time Broadway fans and Broadway newbies alike are talking about. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a crazy good dramatic portrayal of our first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton.

Alexander Hamilton also wrote. Like a lot. And there’s a ton we can learn from him and the musical Hamilton. Here are twelve of those things.

3 Reasons to Write About the Worst Experience of Your Life

by Kellie McGann | 80 Comments

It’s been proven in many scientific studies that we writers are significantly more emotionally healthy than the general population.

Why is that?

Because we write about the hard things of life. We write about the things that haunt others’ souls. We write about our pain, share our torment. We write about the worst experiences of our lives.

While the rest of the world lets their agony steep, we write.

Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!