New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

How to Find Time to Write When You’re a Parent

You want to write. Your newest idea or draft has been sitting there for days, accumulating dust and regret.

You have to write.

But you also have a family. The kids need picked up, dinner needs cooking, and that living room isn’t cleaning itself. Your spouse has an event tonight (that you forgot you agreed to go to), and don’t forget the children need help with their ever-increasing load of homework.

How can you ever hope to write a book and be a parent at the same time?

Is it hopeless? Or is there a way to pull it off?

How to Handle Rejection: 4 Things NOT to Do and 3 Things to Do After You’re Rejected by a Publisher

by Jeff Elkins | 0 Comments

Rejection may be one of the hardest parts of writing. After pouring our lives into our manuscripts, it feels personal when someone tells our work isn’t good enough. Even if we know in our minds how to handle rejection, our hurt and disappointment can make us want to lash out.

Additionally, when we are submitting something the size of a novel, we are offering up something that represents years of our lives. To have it dismissed with a form email may make you question if you’ve been wasting your time.

When we are feeling rejected, we may be tempted to lash out. But that’s not a healthy way to process rejection. Here’s what to do (and what not to do) instead.

Vote for the Winner of the Fall Writing Contest

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

Last week, hundreds of writers submitted their stories to the Fall Writing Contest. Right now, our panel of judges is reading through each story, looking for the ones that will make it to the winners’ circle. And while they’re hard at work, I have an invitation for you, too.

I’m inviting you to step over to the judges’ side of the submission table. I’m inviting you to try reading like an editor and decide which story you would choose as the winner of the Fall Writing Contest.

Flash Fiction: Mastering the Art of the Shortest Short Stories

by The Magic Violinist | 0 Comments

In the writing world, flash fiction is like an appetizer. These “short short” stories may be small and end quickly, but they can be so satisfying. The trick isn’t to treat them like a short version of a longer work, but rather as an art form all its own. That’s not to say it isn’t challenging to write, because it is, but there are several strategies you can use to help you perfect your work.

Characterization: How to Write a Eulogy to Get to Know a Character in Your Novel

by Sarah Gribble | 0 Comments

Every great novel has great characters. Great characterization includes a background, flaws, habits, tics, and redeeming qualities. The characters have a life.

There are plenty of ways to get inside your character’s head. You can journal from their point of view, write a character study, or fill out questionnaires about your character. Those methods are awesome but can seem impersonal or just plain tedious at times.

If you need a quicker, more succinct way of getting inside your character’s head, you might consider writing their eulogy.

Inside the Mind of an Author Writing a Book

by Joe Bunting | 1 Comment

Are you writing a book? If so, you might be surprised by some of the things you’re thinking and feeling. Writing a book can be an strange, emotional experience! You might even wonder if some of the things you’re thinking and feeling are normal.

Today, I want to give you an inside view of my thoughts and emotions as I write a book so that you can see that even after being a professional writer for years and writing seven books, I still struggle with insecurity and self-criticism. Plus, I’ll share how I deal with negative feelings without getting derailed by them.

Let’s Celebrate the Winners of the Summer Writing Contest!

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

In July, we hosted the Summer Writing Contest in partnership with Short Fiction Break literary magazine. Entering this writing contest was a huge accomplishment for all our writers, and we want to celebrate the winners here on The Write Practice.

How to Adjust Your Writing Process and Embrace Your Writing Season

by Sue Weems | 0 Comments

Writer’s anxiety is often caused by a belief that I MUST BE WRITING ALL THE THINGS ALL THE TIME. It simply isn’t true. Even those who write full time recognize that there are seasons to writing, just as there are seasons of life.

7 Day Creative Writing Challenge

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

How do you stay disciplined? You’re ready to commit and focus on your writing (or refocus). Where do you start?

That’s where our 7 Day Creative Writing Challenge comes in!

6 More Creative Ways to Strengthen Your Story Idea

by Joslyn Chase | 0 Comments

Nearly every story you care to name has bits and pieces or elements from other stories. It’s unavoidable, since we’ve been telling stories from the dawn of human existence. Most of your story ideas are going to resemble existing stories in some way.

So, how do you take the seed of a story that feels too much like it’s already been done, and make it your own?

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

How to Find Time to Write When You’re a Parent

How to Handle Rejection: 4 Things NOT to Do and 3 Things to Do After You’re Rejected by a Publisher

Vote for the Winner of the Fall Writing Contest

Flash Fiction: Mastering the Art of the Shortest Short Stories

Characterization: How to Write a Eulogy to Get to Know a Character in Your Novel

Inside the Mind of an Author Writing a Book

Let’s Celebrate the Winners of the Summer Writing Contest!

How to Adjust Your Writing Process and Embrace Your Writing Season

7 Day Creative Writing Challenge

6 More Creative Ways to Strengthen Your Story Idea

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