The Writing Process

Most popular posts

round character

How to Write Round Characters

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a character who jumped off the page and felt so alive that you...

theme in literature

Theme in Literature

Theme is a mysterious and often misunderstood term. Simply put, a theme is a unifying or dominant idea explored in...

how to start writing a book

How to Start Writing a Book

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

screenplay format

Screenplay Format: Tips & Essentials

Getting your screenplay format down right matters more than you might think. You could write the most brilliant story ever...

worldbuilding

Worldbuilding

Crafting a compelling story comes with several responsibilities. You are in charge of creating the plot, the characters, the prose,...

thematic statement

What is a Thematic Statement?

 Your story’s thematic statement is the central argument that drives your narrative. Writers sometimes obsess over their plot to the...

how to start writing a book
Blog
Alan Watt

How to Start Writing a Book

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

Read More »
personal narrative
Blog
Alan Watt

Personal Narratives

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

Read More »
writing process
Blog
Alan Watt

The Writing Process

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

Read More »
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

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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.

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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

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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 »
Choose Love
Blog
Alan Watt

Choose Love

In every story, love is the mystery that is always on the table. In the beginning of your story, the question may

Read More »
Passion
Blog
Alan Watt

Passion

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein What do you feel passionate about? What is your

Read More »
The Inner Critic
Blog
Alan Watt

The Inner Critic

“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs

Read More »
Hope
Blog
Alan Watt

Hope

Have you ever seen a dog waiting for their master at a window — their wet nose pressed against the glass, eyes

Read More »

Recent posts

how to start writing a book

How to Start Writing a Book

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

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

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

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,...

Choose Love

Choose Love

In every story, love is the mystery that is always on the table. In the beginning of your story, the...

Passion

Passion

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein What do you feel passionate about? What...

The Inner Critic

The Inner Critic

“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the...

Hope

Hope

Have you ever seen a dog waiting for their master at a window — their wet nose pressed against the...