Acting vs. reacting: What are you more likely to do in your writing career? If you’re like most writers, you’re spending far too much time reacting and not enough acting. Here’s the difference, and how you can start acting to create much more success for yourself. Acting Vs. Reacting forContinue Reading
As someone with anxiety issues, dealing with imposter syndrome and anxiety have been the hardest part of being an author. It’s easy for me to get caught up worrying that whatever step of the process I’m in won’t work out. I would worry that I wouldn’t find an agent, thenContinue Reading
by Sandy Vaile After more than a decade of writing and teaching fiction, I have the luxury of looking back on my journey (thus far) to see where I could have done things differently to heighten enjoyment and expediate my arrival at the place I am now. And I’m goingContinue Reading
Novel writing is an emotional rollercoaster. It begins with feeling overwhelmed. There is nothing as intimidating as a blank page. Then there is the feeling of excitement when ideas begin to flow. Then you feel the satisfaction of creating a world from scratch. Then there’s frustration when you’re hit withContinue Reading
I think that any good writer is emotionally challenged at some level. Otherwise, how could we create and write about the emotionally damaged characters in our stories? Readers expect authenticity in our characterizations. If we haven’t felt things like grief, anxiety, depression, love, and fear, then how can we createContinue Reading
by Jennifer Brown Banks My initial exposure to poetry began at about age 12. Back then, teachers and school administrators chose me to participate in the “Gifted Student Program”–a program for advanced learners. Poetry was a weekly requirement, along with classes in creative writing. I fell in love at firstContinue Reading
I’m thrilled to have Joanna on Writing and Wellness again. She’s been in the writing business for a long time and she knows her stuff. Enjoy her great tips! by Joanna Elm 3 Ways Publishing is Different Today Than It Was In 1996 (Joanna published with Tor/Forge in 1996, tookContinue Reading
Surely there was a time when you said, “I love writing!” Most people feel that way when they start writing. But after years in the writing business, it’s possible for that feeling to fade. If that’s happened to you, it’s natural for you to feel nervous. You may wonder ifContinue Reading
by Noelle Sterne We writers often puzzle (or obsess) over this question: For writing productivity, should I count words or track my time? Successful authors’ self-imposed word count quotas vary greatly, as lists show. A daily word count can be doable (Hemingway 500) or ghastly (Michael Crichton 10,000). Many articlesContinue Reading
by Pauline Wiles It’s an ideal time of year to freshen up both your writing habits, and how you show your work to the world. Your website is no exception: as the cornerstone of your writer marketing, it’s not something you want to neglect. Assuming you would rather spend yourContinue Reading
No doubt you’ve developed some writing habits by now, but are they the best writing habits you can have? After writing professionally for over 20 years with five (and soon six—check it out) published books behind me, I’ve developed some writing habits that have served me well. I’m happy toContinue Reading
This year, I’d like to help you reach your writing goals. I know it’s not easy. See if this sounds familiar: You set a writing goal, go after it with lots of energy, then when life interferes (as it always does), you get sidetracked. Soon you’re making only sporadic (ifContinue Reading