Update: If you’re in the middle of your novel and it’s going slow, these tips will help: Stuck With Your Novel? Get Unstuck! NaNoWriMo is almost here! On November 1, writers around the world will start tapping keyboards like crazy to complete a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. Granted, you’ll need … Read more
Need to kick-start a writing session or break through writer’s block? Photo prompts are a great way to go. If you’re a creative writer, you’ve probably heard of them and might have used them. If you’re a non-fiction writer or a blogger, especially if you’re just getting started, it might be a new thing. But … Read more
Dreaming of writing—and publishing—your own book? You envision a novel, a children’s picture book, or maybe a memoir. The book has a gorgeous cover, and right under the title is your name. Woo! You’re not the only one. Lots of writers just like you have the same dream. But compared to the number of dreamers, … Read more
Update: Check out 10 Tips to Prepare for National Novel Writing Month for 2015! You’ll get far more than 10 tips and loads of details and links. Once again, it’s that time of year. Thirty days and nights of literary abandon. Thirty days and nights of writing our little fingers off. Thirty days and nights … Read more
Once upon a time, I was an assistant chef. I worked at a small but busy restaurant with the head chef, a few helpers, dishwashers, and about a dozen servers. For breaks and meals, everyone kicked back in a little storage room just off the kitchen. A big table and folding chairs made it our … Read more
Do you love poetry? Hate it? Feel indifferent? Every writer should read poetry and take a stab at writing it. Even if it’s not really your thing, your prose writing will improve if you’re at least acquainted with the basics of poetry and the more well-known poets. Some people think poetry is boring or stupid, … Read more
Do writers need a college degree to be successful? Can you get writing skills without college? You’ve probably wondered about that if you’re an aspiring writer who never went to college. Or maybe you majored in something practical like business or computer science, or you earned a two-year technical degree. But now you want to … Read more
Have you ever heard of a musician or a singer who doesn’t practice? I haven’t, and writers are no different. It doesn’t matter if you’re a blogger just starting out or you’ve been blogging for years. It doesn’t matter if you’ve published magazine articles or short stories or poetry or you’re dreaming of that novel … Read more