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

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

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.

What Marathon Training Taught Me About Writing

What Marathon Training Taught Me About Writing

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

Book Deadline Challenge: Week 7 Update

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.

How to Write a First Draft

How to Write a First Draft

Do you have a book inside of you?

No, I didn’t mean, “Did you eat a book?” I meant, “Is there a book you have always wanted to write?”

I have several books inside of me. And they will stay inside of me until I can figure how to write a first draft.

No Writing Is Wasted

Have you ever seen an expert do something so brilliantly that they made it look easy? Writing is like that.

Here’s the thing: when our favorite authors write, they sit down and they write and they make it look easy. We see (or imagine) their facile skill with words and phrases, and we think, I want to do that. For a while, we even feel like we can do that. But when we put words down . . . well, they just don’t come out like that.

The truth is, though, no writing is wasted—not even your worst words, the pages that will never see the light of day.

Announcing Write a Book in 100 Days

Announcing Write a Book in 100 Days

In the last few weeks, we asked you to tell us about what you’re writing. Many of you are in the middle of writing a book, and many more would like to start one. Writing a book is an awesome goal, and we want to support you in every way we can.

That’s why we’re so excited to announce our brand-new program: Write a Book in 100 Days.

This program is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Let me explain how it will virtually guarantee that you finish your book in 100 days.