Over 11,000 writers attended AWP 2015 here in Minneapolis. Other writers conferences might bring together less than a hundred. Whether the conference is huge, medium or micro, being in the presence of other people who are passionate about writing and committed to their craft is exciting, energizing, inspiring and thought-provoking. It is also fraught with … More After the Writers Conference #AWP2015
Writing is hard. Certainly it’s not too much to ask that your spouse/partner refrain from sabotaging you. Surely, you should be able to expect your spouse/partner will give you the support you need. That’s part of the deal, right? But does your partner know what that means? Support comes in many forms from different people. … More Does Your Partner Know How to Support Your Writing?
Steven Pressfield’s latest post was so on target, I’m taking the liberty of using it as a launch point. Please come back after you read Love in the Time of Resistance. Have you ever felt your writing was sabotaged by your partner? I know it happens, but I haven’t experienced it. So I have a … More Does Your Partner Support or Sabotage Your Writing?
What’s GEMO? a) Tickle Me Elmo’s cousin b) a command for sled dogs meaning go right (Gee) even more (Mo) c) a motto that will get your writing unstuck and keep you moving If you answered c, you’re correct. If you answered a, you’re going to have a hard time finding GEMO at ToysRUs. If … More GEMO Ends Writer’s Resistance
In January, I returned to working on the actual manuscript of my novel. [In previous posts, I reviewed how I added new scene cards to my novel and used a Word table to restructure the novel at the level of those scenes.] As I added scenes featuring Kat, my new POV character, I read the … More New Book Update: How Potato Chip Chapters Made My Novel Leaner
When Cia McAlarney, one of my coaching clients, shifted a Jane Austen quote to reflect our current obsession with electronics and what it does to us as writers, I knew I wanted to feature her insights on the topic in this guest post. Cia is editor of the Riverdale Hamlet Hub, an online news service. … More What Must We Be in Want Of? Guest Post by Cia McAlarney
It’s all about the habit…
If you don’t know where to start or where to go next in your writing, congratulations! That means anything is possible. Any old random thing can be your launching pad. Of course, a part of you will think “I can’t throw just anything into my writing. It wouldn’t make sense. It would be stupid.” That’s … More Random Cures for Writer’s Block
A sustainable writing habit is more important than luck or talent, more powerful than discipline or will power. Your writing habit begins with commitments and the will power to honor your commitments — not hopes, good intentions or vague promises of “Someday when I have time.” Eventually, you create a habit, which is the neurological … More From Commitment to Writing Habit
To an editor, a trustworthy writer is one who delivers what s/he promised by the due date, has confirmed the accuracy of the content and skillfully crafted it. To readers, a trustworthy writer is one who delivers what they expect. But what does it mean to trust yourself as a writer? You need confidence in … More Are You a Trustworthy Writer?
Bane of Your Resistance 