Writing Tips – Book Reviews – Productivity for Creatives
Reading for research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I love discovering new genres and learning what already has been done. It is exhilarating to find a new book to love, something that has happened to me on multiple occasions through this process. I have grown from the "research reading" I’ve… Continue reading Reading for Research
Criticism is a hard pill to swallow. But just as it is important to give criticism constructively, it is important to receive criticism gracefully, even when you don’t ask for it. Because criticism can be your greatest catalyst for growth, here are some ideas for taking criticism gracefully and what to look for in criticism… Continue reading Gracefully Accepting Criticism
Giving and receiving critiques is a critical part of the writing process. It is the secret sauce that helps writers take their prose from rough drafts to best sellers. It is a way that we, as writers, can support each other in our common goal of improving our craft and our work. Giving other writers… Continue reading Constructive Critiques
Finding a good planner for writing can be a struggle. I looked for years and couldn’t find one that worked well with what I needed as a writer. And truth be told, I didn’t really know what I needed as a writer because I was (and still am) trying to figure out my process. I… Continue reading Bullet Journaling for Writers
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the connection between body and mind, specifically as it relates to taking care of the body to enhance or enable creativity. I have set stretch goals for my writing this month, and will need every advantage I can give myself. The last time I set crazy goals like this was… Continue reading Enhancing Creativity Through Physical Fitness
My dear friends, I have finally achieved one of my longest held life dreams. I. WROTE. A BOOK! I typed “the end” on DEMON FALL on June 27th and was happy with my last two chapters on July 3rd. I can’t even describe how good it feels to finally join the ranks of people who… Continue reading The Mental Game of Writing Your First Book
Writer’s block. Arguably one of the greatest banes of a writer’s life. It doesn’t care what kind of a writer you are, how many books or articles or whatever you’ve written. It doesn’t care how long you’ve been practicing your craft. It lurks in the shadows for the right moment to strike. Personally, writer’s block… Continue reading Breaking Writer’s Block
About two weeks ago, I announced I was going to complete a "Twenty Mile March" goal of writing 500 or more words every day, except for Sundays. I committed to being accountable for my word count on social media each of those days. As a quick rehash, the Twenty Mile March was a mindset coined… Continue reading Twenty Mile March: What I Learned from 500+ Words Per Day
This weekend, I had the blessing of getting together with my family to have a birthday party for my sister! It was the first time since Christmas that my nuclear family has been together. I enjoyed being able to have some social interaction with some of the people I love the most, and it got… Continue reading Write What You Know: Basing Characters on Real People
I want to try a different blog post format this week. The past few times I’ve been giving direction and advice, but this time I wanted to make it more about accountability. I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’m 4-5 chapters away from finishing the manuscript for my current novel, but since then, I’m encountering a… Continue reading The Twenty Mile March
The Plotter's Apprentice 