The number of people who are able to do something perfectly the first time—whether we’re talking about writing a book, playing a new sport, learning a musical instrument, or cooking a new recipe—is practically zero. No one is perfect, especially right out of the gate. There’s no reason to expect that your first draft will…
National Novel Writing Month — known as NaNoWriMo to practitioners — is an annual writing challenge in which participants set out to write 50,000 words of an original work in the month of November. While opinions on the event can be quite divided, there’s no denying that this challenge can be highly effective when approached…
While most writers would probably love to be able to focus solely on their creative pursuits, the reality is that no one’s paying you to spend three years writing your novel. Very few can keep the lights on by their pens alone, especially when first starting out. For most, a full-time job is a must….
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…
It’s easy to understand why some people avoid routine. Choosing to do the same tasks at the same time day after day might remove some of the spontaneity that keeps life interesting. Most aren’t too keen on self-imposed boredom. However, creating routines for yourself can drastically improve your life. While going with the flow might…
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…