When writing becomes a lifeline, it starts to mean something deeper than sales, recognition, or whatever rung you thought you were supposed to be climbing next. I was listening to a Tom Jones interview the other day, and it really stayed with me. My mom used to play his recordsContinue Reading
Building writing momentum is about starting now, not waiting for the new year! If you’ve ever promised yourself that this year would be your year as a writer, only to find November and December rolling around to once again bring disappointment, you may be tempted to throw up your handsContinue Reading
It’s time to spring clean your writing nook! Spring is here, and while many of us will be focused on scrubbing floors and organizing closets, as writers, we also have another version of spring cleaning to tackle. You’ve probably heard that a cluttered writing space—either physical or digital—can stifle creativityContinue 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 going to have a good writing year this year? A lot depends on how you start. Sure, you can make changes along the way. But if you get on it first thing, you’ll have a much easier time building on your momentum than if you try to catchContinue Reading
This year, I’d like to help you reach your writing goals. I know it’s not easy. See if this sounds familiar: You set a writing goal, go after it with lots of energy, then when life interferes (as it always does), you get sidetracked. Soon you’re making only sporadic (ifContinue Reading
Usually, when we think of writing goals, we think about setting them at the beginning of the year. But here we are nearing the end of the year, and I’m challenging you to set some goals NOW—ones that you can accomplish before the end of the year. There are severalContinue Reading
How do you reward yourself for a job well done? You reached your word count for the day. You plotted your novel, finished a chapter, or sent your book off for edits. It’s time to celebrate! So what do you do? Reach for that frosted brownie? Indulge in a bowlContinue Reading
Facing writing difficulties is something every writer must do. How you face them determines whether or not you succeed. No matter what struggles you may be having—and we all have them—one thing is true: If you want to make progress toward your writing dreams, you have to get clear onContinue Reading
We writers rely on our emotions. They propel our stories. They help us empathize with our characters. They pave the way to story themes. Our emotions keep us dreaming big. They provide the rich tapestry from which our creativity emerges. Without emotion, a writer is no more than a wordsmith.Continue Reading
Setting goals for the New Year isn’t as popular as it used to be. A decade ago, if you looked for information on goal-setting, you’d find all sorts of advice on “how” to set the right kind of goals—those that were more likely to bring you success. Today, if youContinue Reading
I don’t think there’s been a day where I haven’t felt overwhelmed since I started writing. I think this is largely because I struggle with a number of emotional challenges that all pile on top of each other. There’s the self-doubt that what I’m writing is any good. Flagging motivationContinue Reading