Do you sometimes feel invisible—like you’ve worked your tail off at writing for years and still no one is paying any attention? Have you tried a variety of ways to get your work out there, only to find that you’re still basically in the same place—with a handful of fansContinue Reading
Writing is hard work. There is no way around it. As much as I love to write, most of the time it’s a struggle to wrestle the ideas out of my brain and onto the page. Your Writing Must Ring True When I’m into a project, my biggest emotional challengeContinue Reading
Do you remember what you read, or do you find it difficult to recall it later? I love it when master writers quote from other writers. I’ve heard it happen many times, usually when the author is answering questions after a signing or as part of a writer’s workshop. I’veContinue Reading
Writing is a solitary process, ideal for introverts, yet there are few actions more extroverted than baring your soul in a novel and sharing it with the world. I wrote for decades, scribbling into notebooks alone in my room often at odd hours of the night, before making the slightestContinue Reading
Is it possible to make this Thanksgiving creative? It might not be easy. First, there’s all that food. Indulge too much and you could feel poofy and lethargic—definitely not in the mood to write after dinner. Then there are the family gatherings. If you’re scheduled to attend, there may beContinue Reading
My biggest, perhaps only, emotional challenge as a writer is motivation/self-discipline/time management. After I transitioned from traditional to self-publishing a few years ago, one of the many benefits was that I set my own deadlines. For my personality type (Ooh, shiny!) this is also the bad news. There are soContinue Reading
Temperatures are getting colder, which means you may be feeling it in your writing nook. I started using my handwarmers about a month ago. Even a slight chill can make my fingers stiff, and then my typing is clunky and slow. (Read more about handwarmers in our previous post, “HandsContinue Reading
by Dr. Brent Wells Absorbed. In the zone. Lost in the words. As a writer, you may often enjoy your work most when you find yourself absent from the rest of the world. Like a runner focused on the goal ahead with no intention of slowing down, you work untilContinue Reading
You know your cell phone can be a distraction, but a thief? It’s true. Every day, if you’re not careful, your cell phone will steal from you. Here’s how, and what you can do to protect yourself. 1. Cell phones steal your boredom. Research shows that boredom is beneficial whenContinue Reading
I’d say separating self from product is the biggest challenge. We put so much time, energy, and love into our books, so we tend to take criticisms of our work personally. I can have hundreds of positive reviews, and if I get one bad one, it’s a little soul crushing.Continue Reading
Do you sometimes feel, when you’re putting words on paper, that there’s someone else in the room? Well it’s Halloween season, so that may have something to do with it, but then again, writers are notorious for feeling sort of…well, haunted. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock HolmesContinue Reading
by Virginia Jensen I first became interested in beadwork because I had moved to a new city and was out of a job. I ended up working part time at Michaels craft store demonstrating products and holding classes in craft work. The beading teacher was unable to continue, so IContinue Reading