When you stop writing, it usually feels like the most reasonable, grown-up choice you can make. Life gets overwhelming, the schedule explodes, and most writers do the same thing. We push the writing aside, promising that we’ll get through the chaos first and then come back to the writing whenContinue 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
Writing seasons show up in every writer’s life, and the sooner you recognize them, the easier it gets to keep going without beating yourself up. I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years, and publishing books for more than a decade. Over and over, I see the same pattern: progress comesContinue Reading
Are you ignoring your mindset type? Imagine this: You walk into your neighborhood gym. Bright lights. Rows of machines. And then he appears—your personal trainer. His name is Chad. “All right,” he says. “Here’s your plan: Wake up at 5:00 a.m., work the treadmill for three miles, no excuses. Don’tContinue 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
by Miles Oliver Most writers are all too aware of the many things that can get in the way of a writing routine. From day-to-day life situations like errands, social matters, and busywork to your own mind getting in the way of your creative writing flow — it’s quite easyContinue Reading
As is so common with writers, there were years and years of work with barely any acknowledgment, interspersed with plenty of self-doubt. Writing is such a lonely pursuit, which is why when you finally get writers together at a conference, we are all practically panting with excitement to be aroundContinue Reading
The poet Robert Frost once said, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” This sums up the emotional challenge of writing for me, which is to place myself so entirely in the world of my characters that readers experience their joy and sadness. A recent example fromContinue Reading
Getting the writing done. It’s not easy. We all have the best of intentions. We set up new schedules. We plan writing times. But then months go by and we realize we’re behind, or that we haven’t accomplished nearly as much as we wanted to. We blame ourselves. We lackContinue Reading
For the best writing productivity, we all need a balance of routine and novelty. But how do we get it? When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to change the furniture around in my room. I’d take an hour or so, close the door,Continue Reading
A good writing routine can save a writer. No matter what else is going on in your life, if you have a set time to write and you’re used to writing at that time, the sheer force of habit will increase the odds that you’ll actually get your writing done.Continue Reading
If you want to keep writing during the holidays, we have 10 tips to help you out on another post. But what if you just want to rest and recharge? Will that help or hurt your writing when you do return to it? Guest author Lorrie Thomson shares her thoughtsContinue Reading