Writing and characterization is all about knowing human nature. Psychologist Melissa Burkley has some suggestions to help you make sure your characters act realistically. by Melissa Burkley, Ph.D. Over a decade ago, I was invited by Psychology Today to write my own blog for their website. I was a professorContinue Reading
Are you overly concerned about your number of social media followers? Writers used to think that to sell more books, they had to increase their number of followers on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. But actually, the number of followers you have may not mean very much when it comes toContinue Reading
In all honesty—and without sounding like a Pollyanna—I haven’t encountered any emotional challenges in my writing, or in my life, for that matter. I suppose I owe much of that to a lifetime of meditation, over some fifty years now, which has kept me on an even keel through anyContinue Reading
Easily, the biggest emotional challenge of being a writer is the rejection. No one likes rejection, no matter the circumstance, but with creative arts such as writing, it is unavoidable and painfully frequent. It’s Hard Not to Take Rejections Personally Since falling back in to writing in 2014, I’ve queriedContinue Reading
Have you dreamed about being a travel writer? If so, check out Jeremy Bassetti’s story and tips below. I have been interested in travel and writing as independent things for most of my adult life. But I came to travel writing—or travel literature—later in life, when I moved to SpainContinue Reading
When was the last time you gave yourself a writing progress checkup? Now is a good time. It’s hard to believe, but we’re already more than halfway through the year. Before you know it, we’ll be doing our holiday shopping and celebrating the arrival of the New Year. How isContinue Reading
Are you a writer who struggles with imposter syndrome? by Beth Biss My writer friends often tell me about their struggles with it. I commiserate with them as best I can, but I have a dirty secret. When it comes to writing, I don’t deal with imposter syndrome. How canContinue Reading
Productivity tips for authors from a productivity author? Sounds good to me! by Laura Vanderkam I began writing for local newspapers during college as a way to make money. Many wanted coverage of campus events. I did journalism internships during the summers, culminating with a year-long internship at USA TodayContinue Reading
Have you ever tried mind mapping to help you brainstorm writing ideas? Freelance writer Mia Barnes has some suggestions for how this technique can jumpstart your next writing project. by Mia Barnes One of the most challenging parts of a writing project is getting started. You have a story youContinue Reading
Getting a writing rejection is never fun. The email shows up in your inbox. You notice that it’s from a publisher or agent. Your pulse quickens. This is it. You’re half excited, half breaking out in a stressful sweat. The message that email holds will either make your day orContinue Reading
If you’re thinking about hiring an author’s assistant, consider these tips from Linda Dunn—an author assistant herself! My career started when I had the opportunity to work for an editor. The time spent with the editor offered insight and hands-on experience to the preparation of a manuscript for publication andContinue Reading
Hands down, rejection and self-doubt have been my biggest emotional challenges. Of course, those are intertwined. The more rejections I get, the more self-doubt I experience. Writing is so full of rejection –after probably 80 queries I finally found an agent, but then the agent queried 25 editors and receivedContinue Reading