Inspiration Archives - alanwatt.com

Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Scapegoat: Why Your Characters Need Someone to Blame

Typically, we view a scapegoat simply as a plot device — an innocent bystander blamed for a criminal act, or the black […]

Alan WattJuly 10, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction

Words Have Power

You might see the philosophical, inspirational phrase “words have power” written on coffee mugs or in cards handed out at graduations. People […]

Alan WattJuly 5, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration

Trust Your Wild Imagination

Thoughts on writing, creativity, and meditation Writing and meditation have so much in common. After my husband, Peter, and I attended a […]

Diana McKeon CharkalisJune 18, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Short-Form Articles for Substack

If you’re like me, and wondered if being on social media and doing book promotion was even compatible with the serene state […]

Rachel RoseJune 14, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Memes: Why Writers Love Sharing Them (And What They Secretly Teach Us)

If you spend enough time with writers on social media, you’ll soon learn one thing — we enjoy writing memes. The writer […]

Alan WattJune 6, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Overcoming Procrastination: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

There’s a quiet moment every writer knows. You sit. Open the page. The cursor blinks . . . waiting. Then your phone […]

Alan WattMay 29, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Memoir, Resources

6-Word Memoir

Writing a 6-word memoir might feel impossible at first, too restricting, maybe even unfair. You might think, How do you tell a […]

Alan WattMay 11, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Resources

10,000 Hour Rule on Mastering Skills

“It takes 10,000 hours to truly master anything. Time spent leads to experience; experience leads to proficiency; and the more proficient you […]

Alan WattMay 3, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Tips for Writing a Novel

Master these tips for writing a novel by embracing messy first drafts and creative warmups. Learn how to silence your inner critic and finish.

Alan WattApril 15, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Memoir

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning

Explore the transformative power of writing as a tool for healing trauma, finding self-acceptance, and discovering meaning beyond the search for fame.

Rochelle SquiresApril 8, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Resources

Writing a Foil Character

Unlock your protagonist's depth using foil characters. Learn how to use contrast and dilemmas to highlight key traits and drive your story forward.

Alan WattApril 6, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Resources

How to Become a Better Writer

How to become a better writer? Establish a consistent routine that prioritizes showing up. Practice, rest, and refill your creative tank.

Alan WattApril 3, 2026

Blog, Free, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Screenwriting

Satire: Turning Humor into Insight

Understand satire, a technique that allows you to smuggle truth into critiques of power by critical construction of context and story.

Alan WattMarch 29, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction

Follow the Dog: On Persistence and Self-Trust

Tess Callahan details her journey through authorship and publishing her manuscripts--the difficulty of not feeling enough as a writer and ultimately getting the break she owed herself.

Tess CallahanMarch 25, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Resources

Intertextuality

The active usage of intertextuality prevents passivity in archetype, story, and statement to give an author singular purpose through historical context.

Alan WattMarch 24, 2026

First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration

4 Tips for Writing a Novel

Monica Lourens shares tips on how to write a novel and find one's individual strength to finish their work.

Monica Bergers LourensMarch 22, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Memoir, Novel / Fiction

Authoring – and Other Writerly Pursuits

Maida Korte explores 5 critical tenets to help writer's prove their authorship and create unabashedly in a piece on her background and work.

Maida KorteMarch 17, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Rewriting, Screenwriting

Invocation of the Muse: Cultivating Inspiration for Serious Writers

The idea of a Muse, inspiration, spirit, or genius, is present in any civilization in which great literature exists. When we read […]

Alan WattNovember 27, 2025

The Scapegoat: Why Your Characters Need Someone to Blame

Words Have Power

Trust Your Wild Imagination

Writing Short-Form Articles for Substack

Writing Memes: Why Writers Love Sharing Them (And What They Secretly Teach Us)

Overcoming Procrastination: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

6-Word Memoir

10,000 Hour Rule on Mastering Skills

Tips for Writing a Novel

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning

Writing a Foil Character

How to Become a Better Writer

Satire: Turning Humor into Insight

Follow the Dog: On Persistence and Self-Trust

Intertextuality

4 Tips for Writing a Novel

Authoring – and Other Writerly Pursuits

Invocation of the Muse: Cultivating Inspiration for Serious Writers

Workshops

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