If you’re a writer, it’s bound to happen. You’re in one of those treasured sweet spots where your story is all but writing itself! Then, without warning, it’s over, and you’re up against it. Now what? There is a way forward, a way to emerge victorious and keep your characters doing what they need to do. Leave, But Don’t Stop This might be a good time to leave whatever mode you’re writing in and give your mind a change of … Read More »

If there’s one piece of writing advice I hear more than anything else, it’s that to become the best writer you can be, you have to write every day. To improve your work, you have to buckle down, focus, drown out distractions, put your butt in the chair, and just write — every single day. Do whatever you can do to keep yourself accountable. But what happens when you hit a block? Not just a small hurdle in what to … Read More »

In my experience, having a good list is the best reminder of what I’m aiming to do. I especially like lists that help my writing life. Remember back in school the letter “D” on a test returned from your teacher signified far less than stellar work? For fun, let’s turn that on its head and say “D” can stand for good things, too. Good D words For instance, ideas symbolized by words that start with “D” can drive your writing … Read More »

It’s that time of year again. The humidity of hurricane season with its heavy heat is peaking and the dread seeping from kids (and teachers!) long at summer play is palpable – school is right around the corner. Before jumping into the chaotic maelstrom of another academic year, I find it useful to take stock of my writing life for fear that I lose sight of it over the next ten months. First, I assess where I’ve come this year … Read More »

Do you write by hand in a journal or notebook? Do you compose first drafts on yellow legal pads? Does your desk hold pens and pencils crammed into coffee cups, into spinning organizers, or jumbled in drawers? If you answered yes to any of the above, it’s a sure bet you like to create the old-fashioned way: using a pen or pencil to lay down, in your unique penmanship, one word after another. You let words flow from your mind … Read More »

Since the pandemic and forced time at home, I frequently turn to my writing for comfort and creativity. My composing was going so well for a few weeks, writing chapter after chapter for a new book in record time. Then it ceased. Silence. I became incredibly withdrawn. The virus continued to spread, but my writing groove diminished. After weeks of moping around, I finally took action to uplift my mood and my writing from a dark place. Challenge Accepted I … Read More »