Creativity coach, writing and creative process instructor, speaker, author of Around the Writer's Block: Using Brain Science to Write the Way You Want (Penguin/Tarcher 2012) and Dancing in the Dragon's Den (Red Wheel Weiser), Teaching Artist at the Loft Literary Center.
Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing… An article in the Wall Street Journal discusses several research studies that strongly suggest that professionals work better when we work less. I believe this is especially true of creative professionals. I have to say I’m not surprised. Creative people must honor the cycles of work AND rest. Go, … More Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There!
That’s our new puppy Kelda with Blue, my agility star. A dog is not something you acquire lightly. I know it’s probably not practical for EVERY writer to have a dog; maybe you could get these benefits from a kitten or a child or a child-like adult. Or you could borrow a friend’s dog every once … More 10 Reasons Every Writer Should Have a Dog
1. Play is fun! We are designed to play; that’s why it’s fun, so we naturally want to engage in it. This should be reason enough. But a lot of us have been scarred (and scared) by the Puritan stigma against play and the false belief that real adults don’t do such frivolous things. So … More Top 10 Reasons to Play
April 6 at 8:00 pm The Works Writing Salon I will present “What Was I Thinking: The Neurology of Writing Resistance or What the Hell Is Going on in My Brain When I Want to Write But Can’t” at Bryant-Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. The Works is “a lively ongoing conversation about writing…. Each night three writers … More Announcements and an Itty-Bitty Brag
What a strange prejudice we have against play. But play is essential to creativity. If you’re feeling stuck with your writing, play is the prescription. … More The P-word
How we use language (grammar) profoundly affects our perceptions of reality. Lori Lake’s guest post clarifies important grammar concepts and Rosanne Bane’s response highlights the significance of grammar to resolving writer’s resistance. … More Don’t Be Passive Part 2
The Two Faces of the Saboteur have doubled. On second thought, I realized the Saboteur has more than two faces and just published the latest issue of Imagination InkLinks with the feature “Four Faces of the Saboteur.” A link to a PDF of the new article is provided. … More Saboteur Alert: 2 Faces Doubled!
Openings and opportunities for writers who want accountability and encouragement to honor their commitments, reach their targets and accomplish goals. … More Openings and Opportunities
Most writers think of the Saboteur as the harsh inner critic, but the softer, more seductive side of the Saboteur is far more insidious. … More Two Faces of the Saboteur
One of the reasons writer’s block is so persistent is because we almost always use the passive voice to talk about it. As long as you have writer’s block or you are blocked, you can’t see what part you play. Writer’s block just happens. You’re passive, you’re a victim. When you shift from pasive to active voice to describe resistance, you can see what you can do to transform the resistance you feel. … More Don’t Be Passive, Get Active!
Bane of Your Resistance 