The Writing Process

Most popular posts

A photography montage to demonstrate the parallel to creating a montage in the visual medium of a screenplay.

How to Write a Montage in a Screenplay

Learn how to write a montage in a screenplay to condense time and show character growth. Master the format and...
A woman in a red dress looking pensively to the corner of the frame to dramatize the difficulty of how to plan a novel

How to Plan a Novel

Learn how to plan a novel by balancing creative intuition with a structured 90-day schedule, from initial inquiry to finishing...
Three windows on a yellow wall opened to different lengths, a visual metaphor to represent the progression in a rule of three

The Rule of Three

Master the rule of three to create satisfying patterns, memorable character trios, and a rhythmic story structure that resonates with...
A ship's mooring in a snowy part of the world to give a frosty visualization of Unmoored

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...
Someone reading a book in the darkness at a café on a very sunny day, emotional themes of relaxedness

How to Publish a Book

Master the path to publication. Learn how to polish your manuscript, query literary agents, handle rejection, and weigh the pros...
A woman set in foil and pins to her face to quickly visualize the concept of foil characters

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...
Blog
Alan Watt

Exponential Growth

“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.”– Albert Allen Bartlett, physicist Whether it is

Read More »
We Are All Connected
Blog
Alan Watt

We Are All Connected

“No one is free until we are all free.”– Martin Luther King Jr. It is human nature to search for absolutes. Joe is a

Read More »
Never Give Up
Blog
Alan Watt

Never Give Up

I was a half decent 800-meter runner in high school, not great, but I ran with a lot of heart, and sometimes

Read More »
Loyalty
Blog
Alan Watt

Loyalty

Do you feel loyalty pulling at you in your story? Isn’t it interesting how guilt emerges when you speak your truth? Why

Read More »
Why Writers Should Embrace Doubt
Blog
Alan Watt

Why Writers Should Embrace Doubt

Doubt exists in each of us much of the time. We are unsure about our futures, our relationships, our new tile in the bathroom, our car insurance, etc. Doubt is the cradle of conflict, both internal and external. In the heart of every character lives a dilemma. As you become curious about that dilemma, it will lead you to what is universal in your story.

Read More »
What is Success?
Blog
Alan Watt

What is Success?

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates Years ago, I was on the phone with a prospective student, and he

Read More »
The Writers Place
Blog
Alan Watt

One True Moment

“Where did that come from?” I believe there is something we writers are collectively seeking. We are all attempting to convey an

Read More »
What Do I Write Next?
Blog
Alan Watt

What Do I Write Next?

Writers frequently come to me and say: “I have three ideas. Which one should I write next?”In the 90-day workshops, one of

Read More »

Recent posts

creative writing

What is Creative Writing? How to Shape Ideas into Art

Creative writing invites writers to move beyond facts and formulas, using imagination and craft to shape ideas into compelling stories....

how to start a story

How to Start a Story: Crafting Openings That Captivate

In the best stories, the reader’s attention keeps in sync with the rhythm of the prose. It’s like a snowball...

stream-of-consciousness

Stream-of-Consciousness Writing: Tips for Creative Expression

There’s rhythm in prose. The rhythm might be intentionally terse, like a Charles Bukowski novel, or dense and languid like...

morning pages

Morning Pages: A Daily Habit to Boost Creativity

“Morning pages” is the term coined by Julia Cameron in her work The Artist’s Way used to describe the habit...

how to start writing a book

How to Start Writing a Book: The No-Fluff Starter Guide

Welcome! And congratulations! If you’re reading this, you are about to begin a creative journey that can bring satisfaction and...

writer's block

Getting Past Writer’s Block: Causes and Proven Cures

Writer’s block can feel like a brick wall in your mind. The words stop flowing and the page seems impossible...

personal narrative

Personal Narratives: Shaping Real Life into Compelling Scenes

All writing carries something of the writer within it, but few forms are as intimate as the stories we tell...

writing process

The Writing Process: Learning to Trust the Work

Writing is an act of magic. Out of thin air you’ve conjured something and put it onto the page. People...

Exponential Growth

“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.”– Albert Allen Bartlett, physicist Whether...

We Are All Connected

We Are All Connected

“No one is free until we are all free.”– Martin Luther King Jr. It is human nature to search for...

Never Give Up

Never Give Up

I was a half decent 800-meter runner in high school, not great, but I ran with a lot of heart,...

The Price of Joy

The Price of Joy is Grief

As human beings we tend to seek positive experiences, but as writers and storytellers we understand that the purpose of...

Loyalty

Loyalty

Do you feel loyalty pulling at you in your story? Isn’t it interesting how guilt emerges when you speak your...

Why Writers Should Embrace Doubt

Why Writers Should Embrace Doubt

Doubt exists in each of us much of the time. We are unsure about our futures, our relationships, our new...
What Do I Do When I Get Stuck In My Story

“Why Do I Get Stuck?”

When writers come to a dead stop there can be a tendency to panic. It’s important to remember that your...

What is Success?

What is Success?

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates Years ago, I was on the phone with a prospective student,...

The Writers Place

One True Moment

“Where did that come from?” I believe there is something we writers are collectively seeking. We are all attempting to...

What Do I Write Next?

What Do I Write Next?

Writers frequently come to me and say: “I have three ideas. Which one should I write next?”In the 90-day workshops,...