Outlining is a typical part of the writing process. Whether you’re working on a fictional project, like a novel or a short story, or you’re writing a long academic essay, having an outline to work from is useful. It can help keep you on track so you don’t leave out anything important. That said, outlining…
Craft books are useful tools to keep on hand. Whether you want to use them as references while writing or revising, or you’re looking for some inspiration from accomplished writers, they’re valuable resources for your writer’s toolbox. Below, I’ve shared my thoughts on my favorite craft books. I’ll keep this list updated and add to…
To outline or not to outline is one of the biggest questions you have to answer when developing your writing process. Personally, I’ve always found it beneficial to do at least a little bit of planning before putting pen to paper. Learning about outlining in Scrivener has been a huge help to me in keeping…
When I’m writing on my laptop, I often find myself reaching for a pen and the journal I keep handy. This is especially true if I’m feeling stuck and can’t work out what should happen next or how to craft the next line of dialogue. I also usually do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work…
When I first starting taking creative writing classes, I was told by multiple professors that I would need to learn to “read like a writer”. I’d been an avid reader my whole life, so it didn’t seem like a particularly difficult goal. However, this somewhat vague directive can be more challenging than it seems. Even…
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…
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…