New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

How to Read a Poem: One Secret To Unlock the Mystery

by Sue Weems | 8 Comments

Happy Poetry Month! My students often scowl when I announce we’ll be reading a poem or covering *heaven forbid* an entire unit on poetry. Poetry often bothers people—it certainly bothers me in the best possible way.

Sometimes poetry feels lofty and pretentious and seems to say, “I know something you don’t know,” which is obnoxious, like an older sister taunting us. Some poetry makes us scratch our heads and say, “What the heck was that all about?”

But if we keep reading, poetry often moves us in ways a paragraph can’t. It requires a compression of language and meaning, tucked inside precise words that create concrete images. Poets, with a wink and a wry smile, trust us to read well. (Writers of all genres: we can learn so much from the poets!)

Elements of Fiction: Master the 6 Ingredients of Powerful Storytelling

by Ruthanne Reid | 29 Comments

Much of writing is instinctual, but there are some tools every writer needs to make their story professional and effective. Today, I’m talking about the elements of fiction: character, plot, setting, point-of-view, theme, and style.

3 Bad Writing Habits Preventing You From Writing (And How to Break Them)

by Sarah Gribble | 0 Comments

Let’s be honest: it’s hard breaking habits, especially when it comes to bad writing habits. Writing is a career that requires a lot of self-motivation. In other words, it’s the perfect breeding ground for procrastination, distractions, and a world of other bad writing habits stalling your time to write.

But there’s hope! The best way to break bad writing habits is to first recognize that 1) you have them and 2) put forth the conscience effort needed to protect your time for writing. Here’s what I consider the three worst writing habits—and how to break them.

How to Write a Story: 10 Steps to Master the Art of Storytelling

by Joe Bunting | 371 Comments

Writing isn’t easy, and writing a good story is even harder.

I used to wonder how Pixar came out with such great movies, year after year. Then, I found out a normal Pixar film takes six years to develop, most of it on the story.

How do you write a story, and more importantly, how do you write one that’s good?

Top 10 Book Planners: Can These Planners Help You Finish Your Book?

by Joe Bunting | 1 Comment

Writing a book is a bit like going to war. It takes blood, sweat, and tears, often over the course of years to finish writing a book.

And when going to war, it’s important to spend time planning for battle. As Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”

But how do you plan? What makes a good plan to write a book? And are there any materials that can help make it easier?

Good news: there are now plenty of practical and user-friendly planners, both physical and digital, specifically tailored for the needs of writers.

In this article, we’ve listed some of our favorite book planners, both physical and digital, created with authors and writers in mind so you can create a strong plan for your book that you can actually finish.

Literally and Figuratively: Definitions and When to Use Each

by Liz Bureman and Sue Weems | 68 Comments

The English language is full of idiomatic phrases and figurative expressions that often take on new life in casual conversation. One of those expressions that often irks grammarians is the use (or misuse) of literally and figuratively. Have you noticed the overuse of literally in everyday speech? Today let’s look at these two terms and how to use them to our advantage as writers.

The 5 Best Questions About Writing to Get You Into the “Write” Mindset

by Joe Bunting | 35 Comments

I often hear the same questions from writers, questions like, “How do I make a living as a writer?” or, “How do I write a bestselling book?”

These are the wrong questions, and that’s a huge problem because I believe the questions you ask yourself can change your mindset and how you approach your writing.

What are the right questions? In this article, I’m going to share the five essential questions every writer should ask themselves.

What is World Building? 6 Elements Every Writer Needs

by Guest Blogger | 0 Comments

World building refers to the process of creating a fictional or imaginary world for your story. It involves constructing an entire universe, complete with its own history, geography, culture, and society. This world must be believable and immersive enough to transport your readers into it.

To effectively build a world, you need to consider various elements such as the physical environment, the political system, social structure, norms, values and more.

Writer’s Burnout: 6 Helpful Ways Any Writer Can Use to Overcome Burnout

by J. D. Edwin | 2 Comments

Have you ever started writing a book with a burst of energy and enthusiasm? Did you feel like your fingers were flying off the keyboards, and then somewhere in the manuscript…they stopped. Have you ever become a victim to writer’s burnout?

At some point in the writing process, every writer feels exhausted.

It’s hard work writing a book, let alone working full time, caring for children or pets, and any other additional responsibility you have in life.

Nothing is more frustrating than when, for one moment, you felt fully emerged in your story. The next day you’re tempted to give up on your story altogether. You’re tired. You need a rest.

First, this is normal. Second, you can overcome it!

In this article, I share my personal experience with writer’s burnout. I also suggest six helpful ways to overcome it so you can get back to writing—and not regret the time you spend with your story.

In Medias Res: Definition and Examples To Start a Story in the Middle

by Liz Bureman | 22 Comments

Beginning writers often start stories with a ringing alarm clock, following the protagonist’s daily routine. But what if there’s a better place to begin the story? One that will hook your reader and keep them turning the page? Ancient storytellers understood the power of beginning in medias res. Let’s find out what it is and how you can use it for your story today.