Consuming Art to Fuel Your Writing
Today I’d like to share an excerpt from my book, Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing. This is from a chapter titled “Consuming Art.” Consuming Art If we don’t consume art, especially written works, on a regular basis, our creativity will dry up, and our writing will suffer. Art is food for the soul….Read More
Do You Need a Place to Write?
Today’s post is an excerpt from 10 Core Practices for Better Writing. This comes from “Chapter Eight: Tools and Resources,” and it examines a writer’s need for a place to write. A Place to Write “You want to be a writer, don’t know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.” —…Read More
The Benefits of Keeping a Gratitude Journal
A journal is a log, usually with dated entries. Some journals are topical (dream journals, travel journals, freewriting journals), while others are left open to explore just about anything. Many topical journals are meant to improve the quality of life. For example, people who are working to lose weight might keep a diet and exercise…Read More
Holiday Gifts for Writers (2019 Edition)
This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions from qualifying purchases. It’s that time of year again when many of us start thinking about finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones. For those of you who have a writer on your gift list this year, I’ve got some helpful gift suggestions down below. And for…Read More
Poetry Prompts for Fall
It seems like summer always passes too quickly and winter lasts too long. Maybe that’s why fall is a favorite season for so many people. It seems to hang around just long enough. It’s not too hot, not too cold — a mild, colorful, and comfortable season. Every fall, my creativity goes into overdrive, and…Read More
From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Potter Wars
101 Creative Writing Exercises is a book on the craft of writing that is jam-packed with fun and practical writing exercises. You’ll learn useful writing techniques while gathering ideas and inspiration for all your creative writing projects. You’ll experiment with fiction, poetry, freewriting, journaling, memoir, and article writing. Today, I’d like to share an exercise…Read More
Fiction Writing: The Setting of a Story
Today’s post includes excerpts from What’s the Story? Building Blocks for Fiction Writing, chapter three: “Setting.” Enjoy! Setting may not seem as critical to a story as character or plot, yet it is a core element of storytelling and for good reason. The setting of a story helps us understand where and when it takes…Read More
Breaking Grammar Rules in Poetry Writing
Accomplished writers respect the rules of grammar the way an acrobat respects the tightrope — grammar might be intimidating and complicated, but we need it in order to perform. Yet sometimes, an acrobat takes her foot off the tightrope. She does a flip or some other trick of physical prowess that seems to defy the…Read More
Writing While Inspired
Today’s post is an excerpt from Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing. This excerpt is from a chapter titled “Writing While Inspired,” which explores the concept of cultivating creativity rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. Enjoy! Inspired Writing Sometimes, inspiration appears out of nowhere. You’re taking a walk, and you’re suddenly struck…Read More
How to Get the Right Kind of Writing Help
I often receive requests from people who are seeking writing help. Some are seeking professional services; they want someone to edit a book they’ve written or coach them through the process of writing a novel. Other times, I get questions about writing that range from simple to complicated. One person might send me a sentence…Read More
