10 Tricks to Maintain a Consistent Writing Practice
Many of us have made writing goals in the New Year. In these first heady days of possibility and excitement, we may find it easy to stick to our commitment – to write every day, to write a certain number of words per day or week, to finally finish that book that’s been dragging on (and on...).
The Four Burner System of New Year Planning
It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to setting goals for the next year. Even if you’re not a “New Year’s Resolutions” person, you may be thinking about what you accomplished this year, and what you want to accomplish in 2023.
My Most Popular Articles of 2022
As we rush toward the holidays, I realize most of us do not have time to red and absorb lots of articles and new information. But maybe next week there will be a lull... we can hope! So I thought it might be fun to see what my most popular articles were from 2022, and put them all in one place so you can catch up on any you missed. May they bring you inspiration for your writing in 2023!
My Annual List of Gifts for Writers, 2022 Edition
This is my favorite post to compile every year – mainly because I see so many fun things *I’d* like.
The Importance of Letting Your Work Rest Before Editing – and What to Do While You Wait
Some of you have no doubt just finished NaNoWriMo ‘22. Congratulations! The good news is, November is over.
The bad news is, your novel isn’t.
7 Tips to Help You Write Faster
If you’re nearing the end of NaNoWriMo and you’re not quite where you need to be in terms of word count, don’t despair! These simple tricks will help you write faster (and they’ll work whether you’re doing NaNo or not).
Tolerance for Uncertainty is the Prerequisite to Succeeding
I’ve been re-reading Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking – by David Bayles and Ted Orland. It’s a short book, but every page is full of gems of advice for anyone in any artistic field. It’s definitely one to return to over and over, to remind yourself of what you face, and what is at stake, when you sit down to write.
Fear is Part of the Process
One of the advantages of doing a writing sprint like NaNoWriMo is that, if you stick with the plan of writing 50K words in 30 days, it forces you to blow past any fears or doubts. You don’t have time to worry. You just have to hit your word goal, day after day.
Whether you’re currently doing NaNo or not, though, fear will eventually creep up on you. Why? Because you’re doing work that matters to you.
8 Ways to Help You Focus Like a Pro While Writing
Some of you have started NaNoWriMo this week – or some version of a writing challenge. Congratulations! Sometimes it takes a specific challenge to break through that resistance and get us to actually sit down and write. Sometimes knowing it’s for a limited period of time helps us focus. It’s far more effective in terms of meeting your goal to say, “I’m going to write 1,000 words per day for the next month” than to say “I’m going to write 1,000 words per day until I get this novel done.”
Which brings us to today’s topic: Focus.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Final Preparation for the Big Push
If you’re planning to do NaNoWriMo, or any other big writing sprint, you can’t just think about the actual writing. Unless, that is, you have a bevy of servants at your beck and call, ready to bring you sustenance (and coffee!) on demand, clean your house, and guard your writing space like Cerberus.
You may have high hopes and determination to just sit down and make it happen, but a little preparation of your outer world will allow your inner world to do its thing much more smoothly.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Main Tentpole Scenes
This week, we’re going to tackle the basics of your story structure. I say basics because when I work with clients, this part alone can take weeks to nail down if we were to do all the pieces, including feedback. If you’re starting NaNoWriMo on November 1, you don’t have that kind of time. Hence, this quick-and-dirty introduction to figuring out the major story milestones you need to hit, which will at least give you some goalposts to work towards as you write your first 50K words.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Character and Their World
Beautiful language, exciting plots... those are great. But in the end, what we remember most from any story is the Characters. Especially your main protagonist, whose arc has to carry the story. We relate to them – or not. They intrigue us, inspire us, sometimes drive us crazy. The protagonist is the one we go on the journey with. Whether we like them or not, we feel drawn to either see them succeed, or we’re fascinated by how they get away with so much (and in some cases, we can’t wait to see their comeuppance).
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Questions to Consider Before Writing
November is National Novel Writing Month – or NaNoWriMo. The premise is simple: write a novel in thirty days.
Or at least, write 50,000 words of a novel (50K is not novel-length for any but Middle Grade novels). You can formally register at www.nanowrimo.org and get in on all the community aspect of things, which can definitely help during the challenge, because hello, 50K words in one month is more than most people write, myself included. It works out to 1,666 words per day. Which is doable, especially if you are writing fast and focused on just getting that first draft down.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of participating:
How (and When) to Start Your Story
“Lymond is back.”
It was known soon after the Sea-Catte reached Scotland from Campvere with an illicit cargo and a man she should not have carried.
“Lymond is in Scotland.”
Pantser, Plotter, or Somewhere in Between?
As many writers prepare for NaNoWriMo, the age-old question looms: to outline or not to outline beforehand?
Of course, this doesn’t come up only for NaNoWriMo writers. The debate over which works better rages on, with some writers swearing by one or the other, or some middle method. There is no right answer – only the way that works best for you, or even simply the way that works best for your story.
The Difference Between Procrastination and Being Blocked as a Writer
We don’t often think there is a difference, but identifying which one is the real problem can help you figure out a solution – and get back to writing.
Your Fall Writing Plan – How to Get Back into Your Writing Groove
Labor Day weekend is coming up, which signals the unofficial end of summer here in the U.S. My schedule won’t change that much since I’m not teaching at a university right now, and I only have a couple of young student clients. But still, there’s a feeling of change in the air, of the end of a more carefree, slower time and a re-focusing on goals. Vacations are, mostly, over for a while. We have some weeks before the holiday crush.
Here’s how to harness that back-to-school energy to recommit to your writing goals:
What To Do When You’ve Run Out of Ideas
Recently on Twitter someone asked: “What do I do when I run out of ideas for writing? I finished my last book and I don’t know what to write next.”
First of all, as a writer, let me acknowledge that this is a scary one. To think you might be tapped out, done... this is all there is... calls into question whether you can call yourself a writer in the first place.
How to Express Character Thought and Emotion
Many writers struggle with conveying character thought and emotion effectively. For a character to be three-dimensional, we need to see their interiority – what they think and feel, but don’t express; and their exterior expression – what they say or do that reveals (or attempts to conceal) their thoughts and emotions.
I Failed at My Writing Retreat
I spent the last two weeks away from home. The first week I was still doing some work, and spending time with family, and got in a break in the Adirondacks at the place where my family has gone for several generations now. I squeezed in some kayaking, some hiking, a lot of eating, and a little reading. No writing, except for journaling, but that was fine.