Formal writing courses are, of course, incredible experiences, but I think there’s also something to be said for self-taught craft. That is, putting together your own curriculum to explore during your writing-adjacent time, especially for those of us who aren’t in a position to go back to school. Even if you attend an MFA or regularly get into prestigious workshops, those experiences will take up only a fraction of your life. Are you really not going to learn more and stretch the boundaries and capacity of your writing talent in the off years?
What follows is a bit of advice on building a self-taught writing curriculum, which is then rounded out by a bulleted list of resources I’ve found useful in my own writing life and the lives of my writing friends and clients. I hope it’ll help you, too.
Read MoreWriting workshops can be wonderful. They can connect with other writers, build community, and add strong points to your writing CV.
But workshops can also be perplexing and downright frustrating. Whose feedback, if anyone’s, should you prioritize? Do you have to take every suggestion into consideration, even the ones with which you disagree? Read on for Jessica Hatch’s best tips—gleaned from attendance in adjudicated workshops in three different countries—on making the most of your time in the Cone of Silence and beyond.
Read MoreWe come to writing from all points on the compass. Some of us have been obsessed with stories since before we could read; others love films and TV shows more than books; some couldn’t care less about writing until they find their own story to tell.
Regardless of how we get to the point of calling ourselves writers, one of the shared elements of our journey up that mountain will be finding our individual narrative voices.
Read MoreI want to begin by asserting that it is not absolutely necessary that every writing session be focused on cranking out new words. There’s something to be said for creative play. Some of the greatest melodies of the twentieth century came from talented musicians noodling around on their guitars for an afternoon! However, if you’re up against a deadline or you’ve had several writing sessions in a row that you could call a wash, here are four ways you might be able to bribe yourself into creative focus and productivity.
Read MoreBook publicity and marketing are oh so crucial to publishing a book these days, and if you’re an indie author, you have to take these actions—or assemble a team to take these actions for you—all by your lonesome.
Feel lost and overwhelmed already? Don’t be. This list of free and paid resources should help you get off on the right foot.
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