By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep Some authors swear by writing before the sun is up. Others are nocturnal. And lots don’t have a choice, squeaking in words whenever a spare minute flares up. Which begs the question: is a certain time of day better than others to write? Short answer: Yep. Long answer: The best time to get your word count …
Are You Willing to Declutter Your Fears to Achieve Your Dreams?
by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan I told my husband once I submitted my latest book to my editor on August 31st, then I would make time in my very busy schedule to declutter our basement. Now this is a project and a half, friends. With over thirty years of marriage, and twenty-four of them have been spent in our current home, …
Seven Rules to Get the Feedback You Need
by David Rawlings, @DavidJRawlings Writers are a fragile lot, aren’t we? We beaver away in our imaginary worlds, creating and inhabiting spaces with characters of our own creation. And when we emerge, it can sometimes be daunting to work out if what we’ve created it worth reading. We’re artists – even if you’re trying to make a living from writing, you’re an …
Filling Your Well with Fall Reading
by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay After finishing a manuscript, I feel dry. All my creativity has been spent and I’m a little tired. We all have times in which we need to recharge and that moment is always mine. I believe writers need to be voracious readers. We need to be inundated with stories. But in the last days of writing something new, …
Back to Virtual School: 5 Tips For Productive Writing During This New Season
by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan The new school year has arrived and even if you don’t have children, you’re probably still aware of this milestone event that marks the end of summer and the unofficial beginning of fall. As my own children are adjusting and adapting to the changing landscape of a school year that’s beginning online, I’ve realized now is the …
The Beauty of Learning to Wait
by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan Several years ago, I celebrated a friend’s birthday by attending a pottery painting party at a local studio with our circle of friends. We had two hours to choose a piece of greenware—clay that has been shaped, but not fired yet—and paint it any way we desired. We laughed, ate the most fabulous cupcakes and celebrated …
What Would You Tell Your Pre-published Self?
by Patricia Bradley, @PTBradley1 As I stare at the cursor blinking on the first page of my thirteenth novel, my mind searches for anything to write except what I know I must. I have a deadline looming and I only have one chapter written. The beginning of a book is the hardest for me. I don’t know my characters nearly well …