Writing is such a personal and intimate thing. I always liken writing with the intent to publish to be like singing in front of a crowd. It’s a very vulnerable thing and so you can be very susceptible to the little whispers of self doubt. You really can be yourContinue Reading
Are you frustrated at your lack of writing success? I often hear about this frustration from writers. Some tell me that they’ve been pitching agents for years and have yet to receive an offer for representation, so they’re ready to give up. Others say that publishing houses aren’t looking forContinue Reading
My biggest emotional challenges of being a writer can change depending on where I am in the process. Overall, I would say it’s coping with depression as that has been a struggle most of my adult life. It affects so many areas, like whether I can talk myself into writingContinue Reading
How do you make your writing better? If you’re asking this question, congratulations! Pat yourself on the back. So many writers focus on selling lots of books, winning awards, and living the fantasy writing life (complete with a cabin on an island). Those who focus on making their writing betterContinue Reading
I have a thick skin. Having a large family can give you that! That doesn’t mean I don’t get upset. I do. I’m crushed every time I get a rejection but…I give myself a very short grace period to be hurt, and then I do the proverbial “get up andContinue Reading
When life interferes with writing, it’s frustrating. You want to get the writing done, but you don’t know how. Everything is crazy. You’re super busy. Things seem to be in chaos. How can you possibly write? Try these five approaches. They can help you get some writing in, which forContinue Reading
by Lea Storry The story I often tell about becoming a writer is a true tale. I just can’t escape my last name: Storry. As a child I was teased and asked to “tell a story” or I was simply called “Storrybook.” However, I wanted to be an astronaut orContinue Reading
Have you seen any good movies about writers recently? I just happened to get a chance to watch one a few weeks ago (listed first below). I had seen it before, but it was a long time ago and I didn’t remember a lot of it. It impressed me again,Continue Reading
by Shane O’Donoghue It’s 5:00 a.m. when the upbeat percussion and trumpets in “Walking on Sunshine” blast from my alarm clock. While those sounds are usually enough to lift anyone’s spirits, it’s not the case when the rays of light hinting at the promise of a new day haven’t evenContinue Reading
Surely there was a time when you said, “I love writing!” Most people feel that way when they start writing. But after years in the writing business, it’s possible for that feeling to fade. If that’s happened to you, it’s natural for you to feel nervous. You may wonder ifContinue Reading
by Noelle Sterne We writers often puzzle (or obsess) over this question: For writing productivity, should I count words or track my time? Successful authors’ self-imposed word count quotas vary greatly, as lists show. A daily word count can be doable (Hemingway 500) or ghastly (Michael Crichton 10,000). Many articlesContinue Reading
One of the things writers have to be concerned about is sitting too much. I’ve written a lot about this on Writing and Wellness. That’s because it can lead to a lot of problems, including: Back pain Neck pain Shoulder pain Hip pain Knee pain Circulation problems Swelling (edema) FatigueContinue Reading