No one would argue this year has been a tough one. Book launches were canceled or delayed. Workshops shifted from the fun and inspiring in-person variety to the less personal and not-as-exciting online variety. Book signings disappeared almost entirely. Agents and publishers closed their doors to new submissions. But weContinue Reading
Did you know that November 1st is National Author’s Day? How cool is this? We authors get a special day to ourselves! We have to take advantage of it. Below you’ll find 20 ways to celebrate this unique occasion. Have fun! Where Did Authors’ Day Come From? Nellie Verne BurtContinue Reading
It could be that parts of your writing personality aren’t serving you. In the spirit of Halloween, it’s time to tap into your inner murderer. Dark thoughts are welcome here because you’re not going to be hurting anyone, not even yourself. Instead, this is a cleansing process, an exfoliation ofContinue Reading
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but as writers, we all need one skill perhaps more than any other: patience. Below are five reasons why, along with five tips on how to develop yours. The Health Dangers of Being Impatient First, let’s be clear about what patience is. According toContinue Reading
Here’s what we writers tend to do: We work super hard for long periods. We strive, push, try new things, spend our nights and weekends learning and writing and editing and publishing, take classes, go to conferences, write and write some more, blog, present, do public readings, and on andContinue Reading
I’ve been writing for over 25 years now, and I did some reflecting recently. As they say, hindsight is 20/20, and I can see now where I made some important mistakes early on. I’m sharing those mistakes with you here, in the hopes of saving you from making the sameContinue Reading
Have you made the “one decision” as a writer? For years, I worked on writing while in a state of indecision. I was committed. I stuck to a regular writing routine; read books, magazines, and online posts about craft; tore apart my stories to figure out structure; and hired aContinue Reading
Have you ever gone on a date with your writing? After you’ve been writing for a while, you can begin to look at it differently. You may start to see it as an obligation, and show up for sessions with an attitude of, “Hopefully things will go well today.” YouContinue Reading
Need some inspiration for a new year of writing? It’s become a yearly tradition on Writing and Wellness to gather some of the most inspirational, thought-provoking, and encouraging quotes from this years’ author features into one grand end-of-the-year post. If any of the quotes grab you and you want toContinue Reading
Whatever your experience as a writer, there are certain things you learn along the way. Perhaps the most famous lesson is to “develop a thick skin.” We’re told early on that we need to embrace criticism so we can learn to be better writers, no matter how difficult it isContinue Reading
Jokes about writers. Have you heard any? Laughter is the best medicine, they say. Studies have proven it to be true. When we laugh, we ease stress and anxiety, boost the immune system, improve mood, support heart health, burn calories, and even relieve pain. Laughing at ourselves might be evenContinue Reading
by Sienna Tristen It took me five years to write my debut novel, The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming, and I credit it with both the total loss and the safeguarding of my sanity. It would be a different kind of writing, I knew from the start—slower, more introspective, more SocraticContinue Reading