4 Reactions I Get When I Tell People “I Am a Writer”
“I am a writer.”
In America, where so often our job defines who we are, these four little words can throw a wrench into the gears of polite conversation.
3 Ways to NOT Fail at NaNoWriMo
It’s almost time for that annual, month-long festival for writers, NaNoWriMo. Are you going to subject yourself to the excitement and stress of writing a book at least 50,000 words long in a single month?
If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo this year, you may feel a bit nervous about whether you’re going to be able to finish. Honestly, you should be nervous.
Here’s the truth: almost ninety percent of people who start NaNoWriMo don’t finish.
How do you make sure that you don’t fail?
Does it Matter What Your Character Wears?
The first time I wrote a short story (that others would read), I spent a lot of time describing the character’s clothes. This choice received a lot of criticism. It made my character seem shallow. It made the woman seem cliché.
My critics were probably right that I overdid it at the time, but I stand by my response, which was this…
The One Question Every Writer Has To Answer
There is one question every writer has to answer. Yes, only one. It doesn’t matter if you are writing memoir, fiction, non-fiction, or a screenplay, you have to answer this question.
How to Whip Your Muse into Shape
“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” —Somerset Maugham
The Muse has gotten a bad rap for being temperamental and ruling Her artists by cruel whims. But I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be like that.
The Only Habit You Need as a Writer
You’ve probably heard this before and know it deep in your gut. It’s not earth shattering news, but people seem to be struggling with amnesia about it lately, so I’m going to repeat myself.
If you want to improve as a writer, if you want to grow in your craft, there’s only one way to do so. You must…
