New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

How to Integrate Travel into a Story

I’m not a big traveler. If I want to take a trip, it’s usually to visit family or friends—or to soak up the sun on a beach. Backpack across Europe? Adventure through nature? Not exactly my idea of a vacation. Taking a road trip? Navigating the airport? I usually find it boring, annoying, or downright awful.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about the idea of a journey. Travel is more than just the destination. The process of getting somewhere is often rich with new and memorable experiences. And it has the power to transform us—or in the case of our stories, it’s an opportunity for our characters to reach a turning point, learn, and grow.

Sandwiches [writing prompt]

by Katie Axelson | 66 Comments

Write for ten minutes. There must be a sandwich included in your story.

How to Write With an Accent

by Liz Bureman | 42 Comments

Liz here! Greetings from the Lone Star State! I’m taking a week off work and spending it in Houston and Austin visiting some dear friends. In honor of this trip, we’re taking a detour off our regular defined path of grammatical bliss.

We should all know by now how important spelling and grammar and punctuation are for a writer. There is an exception, however: writing with a dialect. Since I’m in Texas, let’s take a trip down the southern-accent highway.

A Guide To Unique Writing

by Joe Bunting | 76 Comments

Writers, like all artists, are egotistical. In the good sense of the word, because this characteristic makes you work harder on getting better. However, on the other end of writers’ emotional processes is the feeling of intimidation. There’s always someone far greater than yourself, who’s raising the standards to an impossible level.

So, you’re moving from a territory of being completely intimidated, paralyzed with fear, to Herculean efforts to push through, and you enjoy occasional moments of bliss and satisfaction with your work.This is hard and exhausting, but also necessary.

The 7 Basic Plots: Bonus Plots!

by Liz Bureman | 7 Comments

So we went through Christopher Booker’s seven basic plots, and maybe you’re feeling a little sad. What’s left? That surely can’t be all!

You’re in luck. It’s not.

How to Fall In Love With Writing Again

by Joe Bunting | 56 Comments

Do you ever feel burned out, not just on writing but on life? That’s how I felt earlier this week.

How do you fall in love with writing again, especially when writing is your job?

Earlier this week, after checking my email for the 452nd time that day, I tried again to write the article I had been putting off. I couldn’t write another word. I stared into space for six minutes, and while I stared, I made a realization.

I realized I had a whole lot of things I had to write, but I was putting off the things I wanted to write.

Four Ways to Find Writing Time

by Joe Bunting | 40 Comments

Something is always going to get between you and writing. If you don’t make writing a priority, it’s going to be ousted from your day.

Where Does Writing Come From?

by Joe Bunting | 55 Comments

‘I don’t know what I think until I write about it’. The first time I heard this statement, it sounded a bit ridiculous. Then I heard many other variations of it, and it got me thinking.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized it does make sense.

7 Green-Light Steps to Write for TV

by Joe Bunting | 2 Comments

Writing for television is very different to writing a novel.

Of course plot is still important, along with character development, drama, conflict, and resolution. But dealing with a visual medium presents a whole new set of challenges.

If you have a big idea for a TV show, the seven steps below will help you write a script that connects with a tv audience, and may even get a green light from a network executive!

How to Keep Writing When No One is Reading

by Joe Bunting | 32 Comments

How do you continue believing you have a message worth telling, when no one seems to want to listen?

How do you justify all the hours spent alone working on your craft, when the rapidly slamming doors all seem to say, “Keep your day job!”

I’ve wrestled with these doubts for years. If you have too, I’m honored that I have the opportunity to help you ease this frustration and amplify your message.

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