Do you have a to-do list? As writers, we spend a lot of time learning what “to do” in terms of plot, characterization, setting, pacing, and more. We also try to learn what to do when it comes to social media, marketing, publishing, and other parts of the business sideContinue Reading
by Heidi DuPree Within a week of publishing my first book, The Other Medicine That Really Works: How Energy Medicine Can Help You Heal in Body, Mind and Spirit, my life was in a tailspin. I had just spent three years writing a lifetime’s worth of information and insights gainedContinue Reading
Did you set good writing goals for the New Year, or did you set goals that will only discourage and delay your progress? I talk a lot about goals in the Writing and Wellness “Start the Year off Right” bundle, which you can download for free here, but I thoughtContinue Reading
What do happy writers need almost more than anything else to enjoy creative and lasting writing careers? It’s not instruction from a bestselling author, a top-notch laptop computer, or a winning lottery ticket, though these can all help. Instead, to manage the ups and downs of the writing life andContinue Reading
A writing comfort zone is…comfortable, but rarely leads you to success. Actor Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) is quoted as saying, “The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.” Yet comfort zones are so alluring! WritersContinue Reading
Usually on Writing and Wellness, we focus on how writers and other creatives can encourage, support, and pump themselves up. We’re our own worst critics, and typically we need to pat ourselves on the back more than we need to kick ourselves in the backside. Writers are humans too, though,Continue Reading
What’s the best way to ensure you continue to succeed as a writer, for years to come? You must learn to celebrate your accomplishments. Really celebrate. If you think back over the past year, you’re likely to remember some of the things you accomplished. Maybe you started a daily writingContinue Reading
It’s hard to imagine that the only person standing in the way of our success in life is ourselves. That’s just too much responsibility! Even harder to imagine that we might actually get something out of avoiding what we most want to do in life. Is it possible? What WeContinue Reading
What does a writer feel when tackling a new project? Excitement? Yep. Challenge? Definitely. Enjoyment? Absolutely. But there’s something else that’s a little harder to admit to. I think most writers with at least one novel under their belts will know what I’m talking about. What are we feeling here?Continue Reading
As writers, we can’t completely control how our writing will be received. We can work to get better at the craft, write and submit frequently, and market to the best of our ability, but in the end, whether our books hit the bestseller lists may depend just as much onContinue Reading
Writing vs. having written—which do you prefer? I’ve heard colleagues say writing is difficult and painful, while “having written” brings achievement, elation, pride. “I asked a Hamline workshop once how many of them actually liked to write and most of them preferred having written: the pride in finishing, the appearanceContinue Reading