Why joining a writing group matters
One of the most common pieces of writing advice I hear is to join a writing group. And while I wholeheartedly agree with this, it’s a lot easier said than done. First, let’s start with the benefits. Writing groups are a community Writing is a solitary practice. However, by...
Create a Writing Schedule
I’ve learned the importance of having a writing schedule the hard way. For years, I waited for inspiration to strike or to ‘feel’ like writing only to be disappointed in myself for letting time slip away without actually writing. The bottom line is, you can’t be a writer if...
Get Results in 2023
I’m planning to get results in 2023 for goals I’ve put off pursuing, primarily with writing and blogging. Every year, every month, every week time seems to move faster. As of right now, I don’t have any true obstacles to keep me from working on my novel or keeping...
Writing Advice: Don’t Hide Information
Writing advice is never absolute. It often changes with circumstances and sometimes, like now, it’s a straight up contradiction. Of course you’re going to hide information. If the reader already knows what will happen, there’s no incentive to keep reading. Even when the reader expects the ending, like with...
Writing Tips: Reactions
What does this image have to do with writing? It’s a good visualization of a basic story structure. Let’s break it down. The colored balls are stationary representing the status quo. This is what the day to day life is for your main character at the beginning of the...
Write Better, Read More
The most commonly accepted writing advice is reading more will help you become a better writer. Most writers are naturally drawn to reading. For a lot of us, it’s why we want to be writers. Just like people in the film industry like to watch movies, we love to...
Should You Give up Writing?
I often ask myself if I should give up writing. It mostly happens in moments of feeling down, which strike at random. A wound opens up, and I ask myself, am I good enough to keep going? Is it all just a waste of time? This feeling also rears...
Writing Epiphany – Imposter Syndrome
I had an epiphany while writing the blog post about imposter syndrome. The last section about believing compliments made me think about the first time imposter syndrome showed up in my life. I can’t believe this connection just popped into my head. It was a compliment that made me...
When to Give Feedback
I recently saw a tweet asking if you should give unsolicited feedback to a friend. Clearly, the person wanted to be helpful but also wanted to be considerate. You’ve probably found yourself in a similar situation wanting to balance fixing something and keeping your friendship. As you can imagine,...
Tips for Writing Endings
A part of me has always known that writing endings is one of my weaknesses. However, it wasn’t until reading this Writer’s Digest article that it hit home. In tip two, Audrey Wick tells us not to submit stories with “to be continued” endings. That phrase gave me a...