[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]You love to write stories, but you’re not sure if you’re doing it the right way. I mean … Maybe you have great basic concepts but aren’t sure how to build those into a cohesive…
Category: Writing Tips
Can I Write a Novel? Probably, But …
“Can I write a novel?” If you’re a writer, that’s a question you’ve probably asked yourself thousands of times, whether you’ve vocalized it or not. Whether you admit it or not. And it’s no surprise that this question keeps popping into our minds. It’s a manifestation of the sorts of doubts that creep in any…
173 Active Verbs — and Their Synonyms — to Make Your Writing Pop!
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Ahh … verbs! They carry your character from place to place, and from predicament to predicament. They put the action in your tale. They’re the engine that makes your story *go*. But verbs can cut both ways, can’t they? No matter how exciting your soccer-playing,…
Treat Your Writing Sessions Like Business Meetings — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Look, I get it — you’re a creative person. You’re a writer, for Pete’s sake! You want to tell stories and birth characters and create entire worlds. Maybe you outright begrudge the other things that modern writers “have to” do: building a website, engaging in social media, making book covers,…
30-Day Writing Challenge Can Change Your Life — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] I don’t often proclaim my affections in public, but … I love NaNoWriMo! (“National Novel Writing Month,” if we’re being formal.) There. I’ve said it. In case you’re not familiar with this beauty, NaNoWriMo invites you to spend the month of November writing the first draft of your novel. In…
How to Use Marinara Timer to Boost Your Word Count Every Day
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] One of the best ways to move your writing forward when you feel stuck is to set a timer and just write your butt off for 15-30 minutes at a time. Don’t check your email, don’t stop to edit, and don’t even pause to think….
Build a ‘Cone of Silence’ to Boost Writing Productivity — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Writer’s have faced a myriad of distractions for centuries, but the modern breed is arguably more besieged by distractions than any of our predecessors. From televisions to screaming children to cell phones to the lure of the Internet on our laptops, the next writing roadblock is never more than a…
Nuke Writing Obstacles to Reach Your Dreams — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] No matter what your goals are in life, you’re going to encounter obstacles. If you want to become a doctor, for instance, your list of hurdles might include: Pulling good grades in high school Nailing the SAT Getting into a good college Financing college Getting good grades in college Nailing…
Trust Your Intuition to Avoid Paralysis by Analysis — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] A lot of what passes for writing advice, and much of what I’ve written in this series, falls squarely into the category of planning. And that’s for good reason. You won’t get very far in life or in your writing career without a plan of some sort. And, unless your…
Optimize to Make the Best Techniques Better — Quick Writing Tip
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] There is probably at least one area in life where you would consider yourself an expert. For example, hopefully, you see yourself as an expert in some aspect of your chosen career field. Maybe you’re really good at computer programming or project management or driving a truck. Or maybe it’s…