I 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 MoreAsk the Editor: "Help! I have too many book ideas!"
Do you have too many book ideas and too little focus? How will you ever complete one project if these shiny, new concepts get in the way?
In this blog post, explore the pros and cons of being a multi-concept writer and learn four ways to work around this “good problem to have.”
Read MoreHow to Use All Five Senses—Not Just Sight and Sound—to Bring Three-Dimensional, Immersive Description to Your Book
We as novelists and memoirists, due to the nature of our medium, can manipulate more of the five senses than screenwriters can. There are three other senses we can take advantage of that haven't necessarily worked well for cinema before: smell, taste, and touch. Read on to learn more.
Read MoreSometimes, It’s Not About You: A Pep Talk
In case of rejection, dear writer, might I offer you this pep talk?
Read MoreFour Reasons We Descend into the Underworld: Lessons from Margaret Atwood, Part 2
One of the most pivotal things I gleaned from reading through Negotiating with the Dead was Atwood’s four reasons why we descend into the underworld (i.e., why we write). Last week, I covered the first two: material wealth and to do battle with a monster.
Here, we round out the last two, and hopefully with them, challenge your sense of self as a writer.
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