If you’re a writer—of books, essays, scripts, blog posts, whatever—you’re familiar with the phenomenon: the blank screen, a looming deadline, and a sinking feeling in your gut that pairs poorly with the jug of coffee you drank earlier. If you know that rumble all too well: this post is for you. Maybe it’ll help you…
Reading and Writing for Pleasure (June 2018) | Douglas Burcham
This is Douglas’ first post in 2018 in his Writing and Reading for Pleasure series with updates on his productive writing activity so far this year. My eight-year journey I am typing this post on Friday 1st June 2018, which is eight years to the day I began writing. As I have commented before,…
Does Self-Publishing Demean the Art of Writing? – Steven Mehler | Guest Post
Every writer understands the attraction of self-publishing. It’s incredibly frustrating to invest a swath of time in a story for it then to be rejected by a dozen magazines and other publishing houses. Even worse, not much later you see stuff published by authors with a recognized name and their content is worse than yours!…
Why You Shouldn’t Limit Yourself to Deadlines When Writing? – Warren Fowler | Guest Post
Whether you are a freelance writer, an author, or a student, knowing how to handle your time is crucial. Tasks can be demanding and time can be short. Thus, asking yourself, “is there anything I could improve in my work approach?” is a good start to developing better work habits. If the answer is “yes,”…
Why Writers Should Invest in Personal Brand – Zoe Carter | Guest Post
A writer doesn’t have a purely economic focus. Writing for the sake of writing is always the first goal. However, if you want to turn this into a profession, then you have to make a living out of it. Sooner or later, you’ll start thinking about the financial aspects of your occupation. Let’s be real:…
Seven Films About Writers That Will Motivate You – Amelia Dermott | Guest Post
Every single writer has moments where they don’t feel like much of a writer at all. It isn’t always easy to sit down in front of your manuscript and let loose into a creative frenzy. Sometimes, you need to step away for a little while in order to come back with a fresh perspective. Try…
Reading and Writing for Pleasure: June 2017 | Douglas Burcham
Douglas writes a follow up to his post in February 2017 in his Writing and Reading for Pleasure series with a reflective post on recent activity. Reading One Thursday I did not go shopping for short stories. My intention is to spend some time on looking at the latest fashions on book cover design…
The Brutal Truth Why You are a Bad Writer – Olivia Ryan | Guest Post
The majority of people don’t even perceive writing on a very conscious level. That’s because it seems so normal, so natural. They know how to do to it because they’ve been thought how to do it, and now they just…have it. Writing is created by language, and language is learned during our youngest years of…
6 Self-Imposed Limitations That Prevent You from Publishing (And How to Beat Them) – Elizabeth Lee | Guest Post
Ask any writer for advice and they’ll tell you that making your work public is critical to growing your career in writing. But many creatives never get to publish their work. Instead, they’re trapped in their heads and restricted by limitations they tend to impose on themselves. Since writing is a very personal activity, sharing…
5 Key Elements of a Great Character – Mary Frenson | Guest Post
Often the difference between a good story and a great story is a well-written character. You can have the best possible plot replete with twists and turns that not even Sherlock Holmes could see coming, but you will waste your efforts unless you have a character as strong as Sherlock Holmes. A strong character is…