The Writing Process

Most popular posts

Freytag's Pyramid Feature Image

The 5 Core Stages of Freytag’s Pyramid

In this article, I explore story structure with Freytag’s Pyramid, who structures a story into five main components that allow...
Featured image for author Maida Korte's guest blog

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...
Typewriter with some cameras around, how to write a logline for the collaborative medium

How to Write a Logline

A strong logline can determine whether anyone reads your screenplay. Learn how to craft a one-sentence pitch that highlights your...
paradox

Paradox in Writing: Revealing Truth Through Contradiction

“The way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test reality we must see it on the tight-rope.”– Oscar...

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....

dramatic opening

How to Outline a Dramatic Opening

Structurally, a dramatic opening functions as a hook. Emotionally, it needs to do more than just attract attention. When an...

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

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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

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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

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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

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Trusting the Process
Novel / Fiction
Alan Watt

Trusting the Process

Be open to possibilities When I wrote my first novel Diamond Dogs, I had the idea that my hero, a high school senior,

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playing on the page
Blog
Alan Watt

Playing on the Page

When there is a story problem you can’t solve, or there appears to be no way out for your characters, remember one

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Recent posts

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...

There are No Ugly Trees

There are No Ugly Trees

“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”...

Stay Out of the Result

Stay Out of the Result

For any writer, here’s a question to ask yourself: “Why do I want to write this?” A student told me...

Certainty

On Certainty in Writing

There is a particular comfort that comes from being certain. We can shut out the world, with all of its...

How to Master Storytelling

How to Master Storytelling: Ask the Right Questions

“It is a parable of art that, to be universal, you must be specific. Otherwise, you are just talking about...

Writing When You Have Nothing to Lose

Writing When You Have Nothing to Lose

Have you ever experienced great loss? Whether it was a parent, spouse, or friend, the experience pulls you sharply into...

Myths that Prevent You from Writing

Myths that Prevent You from Writing

There are myths that prevent you from not only completing your story, but keep you from even getting started. Some...

You Are Uniquely Qualified

You Are Uniquely Qualified

It seems it should go without saying that you are uniquely qualified to write your memoir. And yet, the voices...

Discovering Your Process

Discovering Your Process

Finding Your Way As you write each day, you discover your own process. You begin to see there is no...

But That's What Really Happened

But That’s What Really Happened

“I’ve given my memoirs far more thought than any of my marriages. You can’t divorce a book.“—Gloria Swanson Sticking to...

Trusting the Process

Trusting the Process

Be open to possibilities When I wrote my first novel Diamond Dogs, I had the idea that my hero, a...

playing on the page

Playing on the Page

When there is a story problem you can’t solve, or there appears to be no way out for your characters,...

Surrender to Your Story

Surrender to Your Story

Our story asks everything of us. If it didn’t, we would never surrender. How often do we live our lives...

Writing Without Distraction

Writing Without Distraction

You’ve begun working in earnest. The story is alive, your cylinders are firing. You’re getting up every morning and putting...

Creativity is Your Birthright

Creativity is Your Birthright

Creativity is your birthright. We live in a culture that is invested in our believing otherwise. I frequently hear folks...