Inspiration Archives - alanwatt.com

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