At The Write Practice, we publish a new article each day designed to help writers tackle one part of their writing journey, from generating ideas to grammar to writing and publishing your first book. Each article has a short practice exercise at the end to help you immediately put your learning to use.
Check out the latest articles below or find ones that match your interest in the sidebar.
And make sure to subscribe to get a weekly digest of our latest posts, along with our free guide, 10 Steps to Become a Writer.
I’m often asked,”How did you become a writer? Did you always dream about being a writer as a kid? How did you actually make it happen?”
If you’ve ever wanted to become a writer, today I want to share my personal experience of becoming a writer. I especially want to explore the writing habits I had to develop to become a professional writer. The most important habit required of a writer might surprise you.
Ah, the dreaded “e” word! Are you ready to learn how to edit your book as well as you possibly can? Hold on tight. This is one of those things that seems so simple, yet can be incredibly difficult to actually accomplish.
I promise it’s worth the effort. If you learn to self-edit, your work will shine like the top of the Chrysler building (i.e. very shiny).
The world needs more silly. That’s why we want to invite you to please join us for The First Annual Wacky Writing Prompt Scavenger Hunt. We will randomly choose three participants to win a new Moleskine notebook, a brown paper bag, or a wooden hanger.
Literary devices can be great tools in your writer’s arsenal to help you illustrate your stories and points in a way that invites engagement and reflection.
And yet what’s the difference between a simile and a metaphor? Metaphor and personification? How much of that English 101 class can you really remember?
Eventually, like the entrepreneur, as a writer, you will have to ask for an investment from others. By asking people to buy and read your book, you’re requesting that they invest their time and money into your ideas and skills—and your characters.
It’s easy to fall into a rut. I’ve done it plenty of times, using the same kinds of characters in the same kinds of plots with the same kind of genre. For a while it’ll be nothing but sixteen-year-old orphaned heroines in a fantasy world or talking animals who always get into trouble. But as much as writing your favorite stories is fun, it’s a fine line between safe and stale.
The beloved classic To Kill A Mockingbird has a sequel. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee was released on July 14th. In its first week of publication, Go Set a Watchman sold 1.1 million copies, the most ever sold in a week by Harper Collins.
Would you like to write a classic children’s book? One that will be read my millions of children? I think you would like to. However, I will admit, I can’t read your mind. So I am making assumptions. Maybe you don’t want your book made into movies, or read by children all over the world, or have the main character sold as a plush toy in stores.
But, I have discovered The One Secret, the missing ingredient that takes a story from good to great.
No matter who you are, no matter what kind of writing you do, or how long you’ve been doing it, writer’s block is going to occasionally strike. There’s no reason to kick yourself over it. Sometimes you just get stuck. It’s an inevitable part of the creative process.
Fortunately, you don’t have to just sit there and take it—there’s ways to take matters into your own hands and give your creativity a jumpstart. Yes, I’m talking about writing prompts.
I’m not sure how it happened. I was working away on the first draft of my latest novel…until I wasn’t.
I had to fight and claw my way to get my writer’s groover back.
Let me save you the time and trouble.