by Lauri Ellis The dream of many is to be a published author. Those same ones do not realize they may be “published” already, depending on the definition envisioned. The phrase “published author” may make you think of money as a reward for the endless hours of writing and re-writing.Continue Reading
Naysayers are everywhere these days. Writers have to be brave. To achieve the one goal we all share—to find readers—we have to continuously put ourselves out there, not only with our stories and books, but with our websites, blogs, social media posts, podcasts, newsletters, and more. And putting ourselves outContinue Reading
I’ve always thought of myself as a writer. I’ve always been an introvert, and spend a lot of time “in my head.” Writing gives me an outlet, a way to escape, and a way to give a voice to those characters chattering away in my head. The biggest emotional challengeContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ Are you feeling anxious or stressed out? Maybe you’re having a hard time fitting writing in with your busy life. Maybe you’re facing a zillion deadlines right now and you’re running behind. Or maybe it’s book launch time and you’re losing your mind. I heard aboutContinue Reading
It’s not always easy to get into the zone—the writing zone, that is. Have you ever sat down to write, and then 15 or 20 minutes later realized that you hadn’t managed to type a single word? Or maybe you did eke out a sentence or two, but it feltContinue Reading
Writing challenges us on so many levels. Do I have the skills to write a book? Can I stay with it to completion when the going gets rough? Is there enough time in my life to even attempt to write a book? And that’s just for starters. Many writers sayContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ Most writers love the freedom of the blank page. It means we can create whatever we want, however we want. Any type of story, any type of characters. Freedom makes writing fun! But freedom can sometimes get us in trouble. Writing Restrictions Can be Liberating TooContinue Reading
Are you a discouraged writer right now? Did you get a rejection or bad review and feel like you didn’t know what you were doing? Have you thought about quitting writing because you aren’t getting the results you hoped for? Or have you been in the middle of your novel,Continue Reading
I began writing in the ‘70s, and my first book, The Witchstone, was picked up by a traditional publisher the same year my oldest son was born. Parenthood kept me busy until ‘84, when I wrote The Ring of the Dark Elves, a retelling of the Norse legend of SigurdContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ Writers need to be sure they’re drinking water every day. Studies have found that even slight dehydration can lead to fatigue, mood swings, and headaches—things that can make mush of your writing time. Water can fight fatigue, ease stress, and clear brain fog. (Read more aboutContinue Reading
Are you looking for a caffeine-free energizer? It’s not always easy to fit writing into your busy life. Sometimes, you find yourself staring at the page with your eyelids drooping or your mind blanking out. What do you do when that happens? You may use caffeinated beverages like coffee orContinue Reading
by Olivia Jones Inspiration is a fickle beast, as every writer knows well. We do our best to tame it, manage it, and help it flourish, but ultimately it has its own heartbeat and a way of growing or halting to a sudden stop. But among so many things weContinue Reading