Why Writing Prompts Work
In college, I dreaded the assigned writing prompt. Shouldn’t my professor trust my creativity? Did my professor doubt my ability to come up with a decent story on my own? After begrudgingly accepting my writing…
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Credit: relationshipsloveandmarriage.com What Do Your Characters Really Know?
The art of Shakespeare lies in the use of miscommunication between characters. The tragedy between Romeo and Juliet, Othello and Desdemona, Hamlet and Ophelia all depend on characters communicating undependably. In other words, a lot…
Credit: redstaplerchronicles.com A Creative Writer’s Guide To Surviving The Cubicle
Landing a job that celebrates our writing creativity is the dream. But it’s not always realistic or, at first, attainable. So we settle for calculator punching jobs with days full of screen staring and afternoon…
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I once worked in a beautiful space. We each had our own corner with our desks facing each other in a circle. And one wall was a full window, letting in the sun’s positive rays…
Procrastinate Like A True Writer
Search procrastination online. Chances are you’ll find how-to-get-over-it articles that boil down to this list: Step 1: Make a to-do list Step 2: Conquer X on your list, no matter what X is Step 3:…
Time Is An Excuse, Not A Reason
I finally had time to read the first issue in my subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine. A half hour before bedtime, I sneak in an article or two (read in order, of course) before I…
Credit: noisworlddotcom.wordpress.com Big Ideas Start With Beer
Struggling with a new story idea? Can’t get over your writer’s block? Time to get down to business—and pop open a beer. No, it’s not time to take a break. And it’s not too good…
Explosions! Or, Why Your First Word Matters
A recent blog post got me thinking: “People need that first page—no, first line. NO, FIRST WORD to grab them, or they won’t read another. The? Not an explosion. It’s? Not an explosion. Explosion? THE MONEY…
Why Millennials Are Great Writers
I’m standing up for my generation. Millennials have a bad rap. We’re called lazy, impatient, narcissistic. Generation Me Me Me. #notcool We’re not a bunch of grown-up kids obsessed with memes and social media. We…
When Your Character Is Really Ready For Change
Is your character stuck? It doesn’t make sense. The character has supportive friends and family. The environment is nurturing and providing opportunity. No nemesis stands in the character’s way. Yet your character doesn’t budge. So…