We’re a nation who loves to eat. Not only eat, but snack, graze, piece, munch, drink, savor, and slurp. And a lot of that is done while we’re writing. We don’t think about how it affects our tummies…until it does. Then we complain. Stupid stomach! Who has time for bloating,Continue Reading
Typical writing session: Write sentence. Stare at screen. Get up, go to fridge, open fridge, stare inside, close fridge. Sit down. Write another sentence. Get up, go to cupboard, take out box of crackers, eat crackers, sit back down. Delete last sentence. Stare at screen. Repeat process. Consuming something whileContinue Reading
by Anne Goodwin Along with a keyboard and a good dictionary, fingers, hands, and arms are essential items in a writer’s tool bag. But long hours in the company of QWERTY can result in significant strain that, if ignored, can lead to permanent damage. In days gone by, this mightContinue Reading
Time off, or downtime, encourages creativity. A number of studies have shown it to be true. One published in 2014, for example, reported that a vacation could increase creativity by boosting cognitive flexibility when employees returned to work. Other studies have reported that catching up on sleep, getting “away fromContinue Reading
by Sally Crum I met Sally at a writer’s gathering in Colorado. She’s written a series of children’s books along with some adult books about the Native Americans who lived in the Western Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico regions. These are educational, but fun—the perfect combination for any reader! HavingContinue Reading
by Patty Somlo As someone who was a journalist for 10 years before trying my hand at fiction, I have long been interested in stories and novels that, in some way, address important issues of contemporary life. The last several years I worked as a journalist, I focused on immigrationContinue Reading
If you’re working in a creative career, you know the drill— everything relies on your brain. I grew up on a ten-acre ranch, and when I get the chance to go back home for a few weeks, I’m always amazed at how easy it is to get things done evenContinue Reading
My biggest physical challenge as a writer is definitely not getting enough exercise. But on top of that I drink WAY too much coffee. Five cups of (fully caffeinated) coffee is an average day for me. I know it’s excessive so I’ve cut back on the amount of sugar and creamer IContinue Reading
by K. K. Allen Inspiration for me usually comes in the form of nature and art, which is probably why my favorite place to write is outside, or looking out my second story window. Up in the Treehouse, in particular, was actually inspired by a storyline in The Descendants (BookContinue Reading
Creative people often need to say “no” when they say “yes.” Do you know Meghan Trainor’s hit, simply called “NO?” Personally, I can’t help but sing along with the tune. But beyond its catchiness, the lyrics got me thinking: Writers too often say “yes” when they should say “no.” ThisContinue Reading
Writing is a very solitary endeavor. It’s easy to feel lost, to doubt yourself, to feel like you’re wasting your time creating something that no one will read, and if they do, won’t like. Add to that how close the kitchen is and before you know it, half—who am IContinue Reading
by Laura Drake I’ve always known I’d write this story. It just took twenty years for me to believe that I was a good enough. See, it’s a sister-story, dedicated to my younger sister who I lost to cancer at the age of 32. We had a special bond, andContinue Reading