Oh, the dreaded inner critic. Every writer knows exactly what theirs sounds like. It’s the soundtrack to your life, impossible to miss. Your inner critic has the power to stop you in your tracks and hold you stuck for days, months, even years, blocking your creative flow and swirling youContinue Reading
It’s not easy to recover from a writing setback. An email pops up. You open it, and yes, it’s a form rejection. Or maybe it’s a bad review of your newly launched book. Dang it. You thought this was the one that would succeed. How you handle this moment couldContinue Reading
If you want to finish your draft, writing more in less time isn’t just a dream—it’s a survival strategy. You may think there’s no way you can find an hour in your day to luxuriate in the creation of your story . . . and on many days, you mayContinue 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
Have you gone through periods where writing feels exhausting? Maybe you wrote a deeply personal essay, tackled a brutal scene, or spent an hour second-guessing every word you typed. You were proud of what you accomplished, but walked away feeling wiped out. Writing is more than just putting words onContinue Reading
You want to keep writing, but sometimes, when it’s time to pull out your laptop, you find yourself suddenly reorganizing your bookshelves, deep-cleaning your kitchen, or staring blankly at the ceiling. Anything else seems far more appealing. Maybe you’re tired. Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself that watching just one more episodeContinue Reading
Want some writing wellness hacks for the New Year? You know how it is juggling creative demands, writing deadlines, and long hours at the computer. It takes a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional health. Improving your routine doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Below are five practicalContinue Reading
Do you like scary stories? I read Beth’s new novel, The Inhabitants, and absolutely loved it. It draws you into a spooky and suspenseful atmosphere, and though you can feel the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, you enjoy the experience. It’s not graphic or overly violent,Continue Reading
If you’re splitting your writing energy, you’re defeating yourself before you even get started. I’m not talking about your physical energy, necessarily, though that can be part of it. I’m talking about the mental and emotional energy that charges your writing dreams. This energy propels you to work on yourContinue Reading
Welcome to the Writing and Wellness annual “writing quotes” round-up! Below you’ll find the best quotes from the authors featured on the site this year. This is the ninth year I’ve put these together. They’ve all been popular posts and I love how they capture certain overarching themes in theContinue Reading
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
I asked writer Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt to share with us her challenges of writing a trilogy—in the middle of writing that trilogy. As a writer dealing with a chronic illness, she has put into place many processes that help her keep her story and her writing on track. It tookContinue Reading