At The Write Practice, we believe deliberate practice is the single best way to learn how to write better. Geoffery Colvin likens it to hitting 300 golf balls with a single club while "continually observing results and making appropriate adjustments." The Write...
Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!
At The Write Practice, we publish a new article each day designed to help writers tackle one part of their writing journey, from generating ideas to grammar to writing and publishing your first book. Each article has a short practice exercise at the end to help you immediately put your learning to use.
Check out the latest articles below or find ones that match your interest in the sidebar.
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Han Solo, Scarlett O’Hara, and Your Characters: What Makes Them Compelling?
I'm so pleased to be introducing our guest today, K.M. Weiland. She writes historical fiction and is the author of three books, including Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success, and has an awesome blog at Helping Writers Become Authors. You can also follow her...
Harry Potter and the Three Types of Heroes
JK Rowling’s journey with Harry Potter began, apparently, when Harry walked, fully formed onto her London bound train. She knew immediately she had been given a brilliant idea for a book. However, it still took her five years to brainstorm and write the rest. Which goes to show that while the hero might be the central character of the book, if you only have him or her, you don’t have much.
The Simple Formula to Write a Book
The formula to make copies is simple: Put the papers in the copier + press COPY = Copies Made Writing a novel, on the other hand, is a series of such complicated, odd hurdles of the mind that it resists any formula but this: (Pain + Time) × dumb luck (i.e....
5 Writing Prompts to Overcome Writer’s Block
Today, I'm excited to introduce our guest, Heather Marsten. I asked Heather to write a post after she mentioned a technique she learned from her writing teacher. I'm glad she agreed because I think you'll enjoy this. Heather writes two blogs, one about healing from...
What’s Your Favorite Winter Solstice Story?
Submissions to Show Off: Winter Solstice are closed. Forty of you battled through your fear of failure and submitted something to the contest. That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment. You should be proud. Submitting work is no easy thing. I once submitted a story to...
You Have to Choose
Once a week, I turn my computer off for twenty-four hours (I wrote this yesterday). I don't check email. I don't do twitter or answer comments. It centers me, reminds me that life is more than what appears on the screen. I have an addictive personality and so I need...
Ennui: The Opposite of Life
On Saturdays, at the Write Practice, we like to do the opposite of what we've done during the week. Why? Because what do we know? We're trying to figure out this writing thing just like you are. The fact that we have a Top 10 Blog for Writers doesn't mean we know what...
How to Catch More Life in Your Writing
The poet-monk, Thomas Merton, said in his New Seeds of Contemplation: If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men—you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a...
“Show Off” Writing Contest: Winter Solstice
Once a month, we stop practicing and invite you to show off your best work. This might be for you if: You want to be published (in print) You want to drastically improve your writing You enjoy a little competition You like the Write Practice You in? Show Off Your Best...
