Anyone seeking to craft stories, essays, or full-length manuscripts dreads writer’s block. This infamous hurdle can leave you staring at a blank page instead of seeing your work in print. Not only will this likely result in hours of frustration, but it could also lower your confidence. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time for…
Sure, emails can be annoying. Filling up your inbox every day with dozens of promotions and marketing content isn’t ideal. However, you may want to reconsider when it comes to writing newsletters. Newsletters often contain valuable resources that can help you improve your craft, find publication opportunities, and even pin down your next read. Being…
New year’s resolutions tend to get a bad rap. Most people focus on what they didn’t achieve, and it’s pretty rare to hear anyone talk about actually accomplishing what they set out to do on January first. However, setting goals for the coming months is still a popular tradition, including for practiced and aspiring writers….
When December rolls around and the hunt for holiday gifts begins, it can be difficult to come up with unique presents your friends and family members will appreciate. If you’re seeking ideas for what to get the writer or book-lover in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find ten holiday gifts…
There are almost as many tools of the writing trade as there are writers. Journals, typewriters, loose sheets of paper, index cards, outlines, story boards, Microsoft Word, smart phones, desktops, coffee shop napkins, Google Docs, laptops, Pinterest boards — you get the idea. Despite this great variety in personal preference, I believe Scrivener is an…
I have pretty mixed feelings about maintaining any type of routine. It can be hard to account for unexpected interruptions or to take advantage of a beautiful day with an unplanned trip to the zoo if you have a strict schedule to keep. That said, I have a lot on my plate, and keeping up…
In the wake of the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work boomed as lockdown was enforced. Many people who had always gone into an office got to experience working from home, and all the perks and drawbacks that come with that arrangement. I started working from home in 2018. It was my very…
Going into undergraduate school, I only knew I wanted to be a writer. But writing a book was a lot harder and took a lot longer than I expected, and I knew I needed to find some way to pay my bills until my publishing dreams came true. The two most popular career paths for…
When it comes to writing—or any art—criticism is part of the package. For those new to their craft or unused to feedback that points out serious flaws in their work, it can be hard to listen to readers rip into the result of hours at the keyboard. Hearing favorite scenes picked apart and adored characters…
When it comes to writing advice, most people think of one-liners from On Writing or quotes from authors like Hemingway. However, I recommend taking advantage of the benefits of having a dog. Traditional writing advice often only applies to what we put on the page. I think it’s unrealistic to expect your writing and your…