Stepping Into Your True Power
May 31, 2024
What does it mean to trust yourself? It sounds like a good idea, but it is often a counter-intuitive process. It is
Writing Resources and Tools
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Try to recall your favorite story. How did it begin? What were the first words? If the first lines of...
Does the word “symbolism” give you unwelcome flashbacks to your high school English classes? The idea is foreign when we...
Previously, I unpacked the theory behind synopsis writing, explored the mechanics of what makes a synopsis work, and defined its...
Without flaws, characters may be admirable, but they don’t feel real. Humans are complex and contradictory. We’re all naturally flawed...
It may sound dry, but at the heart of every story is an argument. The theme (or dramatic question) is...
I suppose everything is easier said than done. The same is true for writing. It’s one thing to say a...
Here’s some advice for first time writers on setting a daily word count. Consistency is the key. Set a writing...
What does it mean to trust yourself? It sounds like a good idea, but it is often a counter-intuitive process....
For years, my students had been asking me when I was going to take them on a retreat. Frankly,...
Below are ten writing suggestions for anyone who is setting out to craft a novel, memoir, or screenplay. Some are...
Sometimes the deeper we get into our story, the more we seek distraction. The internet will suck the life out...
Every writer has their own way of working, a process that has to be developed and honed over many years....
The Internet: A Writer’s Worst Distraction
May 18, 2024
Sometimes the deeper we get into our story, the more we seek distraction. The internet will suck the life out of any
First-Time Novelists: Dealing with Fear
April 12, 2024
Many authors share a similar fear: “What will people think?” It looks slightly different for each writer. What will my parents think when
The Necessity of an Outline
October 2, 2023
“The outline is 95% of the book. Then I sit down to write, and that’s the easy part.” – Jefferey Deaver Many
Why We Go on Retreat
August 10, 2023
For years, my students had been asking me when I was going to take them on a retreat. Frankly, I’d been
Why Writers Get Stuck
August 12, 2022
Einstein says, “You cannot solve a problem at the same level of consciousness that created the problem.” Writers often get stuck because
One Thing Readers Hate
July 29, 2022
One thing readers hate are coincidences. Sure, coincidences occur in our lives every day, but in a story, they are generally a
Take Risks – Advice for First-Time Writers
July 15, 2022
“In order to share one’s true brilliance one initially has to risk looking like a fool.” – Criss Jami Writing your first
Setting a Plan with Purpose
January 7, 2022
Do you often find it hard to stick to your writing plan? How often do “important tasks” distract you and pull you
Finishing Your Story: 5 Tips to Get You to the End
November 12, 2021
For all you writers struggling somewhere in the middle of your manuscript, here are five tips to get you to the end.
Setting a Daily Word Count
September 17, 2021
Here’s some advice for first time writers on setting a daily word count. Consistency is the key. Set a writing goal. Can
Writing Despite Fear of Criticism
April 16, 2021
In 2017, Gustavo Dudamel became the youngest conductor of a major orchestra of his time. I remember an L.A. Times journalist urged
