The Deadline Myth
July 28, 2010
Writers do NOT write better when a deadline is looming. Deadlines do NOT make people more creative. Deadlines make people more resistant. … More The Deadline Myth
Month: July 2010
The Time Myth
July 20, 2010
We think we need hours and hours to really get into our writing and the only way we can imagine getting that kind of time is to multitask like crazy the rest of the day. The truth is that you don’t really need hours and hours to be creative.
Announcements: Group Discount on Fiction Class
July 19, 2010
The Instant Fiction 4-day intensive workshop I’m teaching at Madeline Island School of the Arts August 16 – 20 needs more students. This will be a really fun class with lots of in-class writing to generate energy and ideas for either new material or stories and characters you’re already working with. We’ll meet in … More Announcements: Group Discount on Fiction Class
Squirrel!
July 13, 2010
One of the primary forms of writing resistance is distraction. And one of my favorite illustrations of distraction is in the movie Up when the dog Dug explains how his collar vocalizes his thoughts: “My master made me this collar. He is a good and smart master and he made me this collar so that I … More Squirrel!
Please Don’t Pay Me! (Why Write Part 2)
July 6, 2010
Several studies may explain why money isn’t top of mind for writing students. Offering an extrinsic reward for a creative task actually decreases performance. … More Please Don’t Pay Me! (Why Write Part 2)
Why Do You Write?
July 2, 2010
I figured my writing students were thinking of publication and making money someday and just didn’t want to say so. But now, I’m not so sure. … More Why Do You Write?
Bane of Your Resistance 