Spend too much time away from writing, and it can be tough to get back into it. When you’re writing every day or at least every other day, you’re regularly working your creative muscles. Your brain learns how to deliver new ideas and gradually becomes more reliable at providing thoseContinue 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
During tough times, it can be hard to stay motivated to write. All the bad news can drag you down, and if your routine’s been upended, it can be difficult to find or maintain any sort of writing rhythm. You don’t feel like writing, even when you have the time.Continue Reading
Where were you as a writer 10 years ago? What was important to you then? And how does it compare to what’s important to you now? I got to thinking about this the other day after watching a TED talk by Dan Gilbert called “The Psychology of Your Future Self.”Continue Reading
Fear is blocking your writing…if you’ve made any of these statements recently: Oh man, I’m just sooooo busy, I haven’t had time to get that story done. Those stupid editors! They don’t know what’s good anyway, so I’m not going to try submitting. Why do I feel so tired lately?Continue Reading
How can you improve your writing life? After over 25 years as a full-time professional writer, I’ve learned some things about that. Whether you’re writing part- or full-time; fiction, nonfiction, or freelance; it doesn’t matter—the bottom line is you’re spending a lot of time using your creative brain, as wellContinue Reading
Are you sabotaging your future success before you even begin? I’ve spoken at several writer’s conferences and events over the last few years, which means I’ve talked to a lot of aspiring and experienced writers. Many come to me with questions about one facet or another of their writing careers.Continue Reading
The biggest emotional challenge for me as a writer is guilt. This emotion completely derails my forward momentum. It’s as if I’m sneaking time to write in between day job, laundry, and cooking for a husband and our two boys. Add to that the guilt of leaving my characters inContinue 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
You’ve been working on your latest writing project for a while now, and your motivation is waning. You still believe in it. You still want to take it all the way through to “the end,” but lately the fire has dimmed in your heart. What’s happened, and how can youContinue Reading
Do you have a creative writing sweet spot? You get to choose what to work on, when to work on it, and where and how. With all that freedom, you’d think that finding your creative sweet spot would be easy. Unfortunately, it often isn’t. As ancient Greek philosopher Thales ofContinue Reading
Congratulations Mel and Celia! You are the winners of Jadie’s giveaway. Watch your email for details and thank you to all who entered! by Jadie Jones When Colleen asked me if I would write a post for her about time management… I laughed at the idea that I—a mom ofContinue Reading