“Don’t Waste Your Talent” and Other Lies
Are there times when you're unwilling to say you're a writer?
The Importance of Creativity When the World Goes Dim
Write. Paint. Create. Don't let the darkness of this world stop you. Every time you pick up the pen, you're pushing it back by inches.
Your Muse is a Liar, And This is a GOOD THING.
When your muse to you, it's giving you the tools to become a great writer. Let me show you how.
How to Kick 2017 in the Ass: WRITE.
This year, you need to write. The power you hold as a storyteller is without measure.
Everybody Hurts: How Forgiveness Applies to Your Character
Pain changes your character. It's important you know how that character handles it.
When Writers Freeze
Writer's freeze: when you know where you need to go, and maybe how to get there, but when you sit down to write it, your brain just stalls.
Making Your Villain 3D: What’s His Favorite Food?
Weird question, isn't it? But if you don't know the answer, your characters might not be 3D.
Location As a Character
Your location affects your other characters and plot every bit as much as your protagonist, antagonist, awesome sidekicks, eponymous heroes, or sarcastic love-interests.
A Better Way to Think About “Show, Don’t Tell”
This is a really simple, helpful way to understand "show, don't tell."
(And Yet More) Beating Writer’s Block
Writer's block can be summed up in two ways: Being afraid to write because we think it sucks, and not knowing what to write next.
How to Figure Out Who Raised Your Hero (and Why You Need to Know)
Your characters didn't appear the moment you write the first page. Just like in your own life, they were influenced by someone else—for good or ill. Understanding why your characters respond the way they do is crucial to character development, and knowing who influenced them is a key part of that.
Arm Yourself: You’re Allowed to Be a Beginner
Bear with me. As I write this post, I'm more than a little mad. And I don't mean "crazy," either. I encountered a fellow the other day who spoke things so poisonous, so deadly to the creative mind, that I suspect he's already left a battalion of writer-corpses in his wake. And I'm not staying silent about it anymore.
No One Can Tell Your Story But You
Writing is a strange thing, filled with emotional roller-coasters and storms and deserts. Who would ever put themselves willingly through this? Well, you (and me). Why? Because you have something to say. The only person who can tell your story is you.
Why You Need to Write What Scares You
What would you write if you knew you couldn't fail? I promise I'm not setting you up for failure. There is a very good reason I'm asking this question.
Let’s Talk About Fear, Part Two
Practice your tools to fight fear now, while the sun still shines, or you'll be fumbling to find them in the dark.
Let’s Talk About Fear
According to last week‘s responses, failure is the number one fear that writers face. Maybe we should start by defining it.
How Did They Justify THAT?
Why does this matter? Because if you're not writing your villains with the awareness that in their head, they're not the villain, you may be writing a flat, 2D character.
Award: Top 50 Writing Blogs For 2016
Thank you, Bryan Hutchinson! I'm so glad my post inspired you. :) Your book, Writer's Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing (and What You Can Do About It), inspired me,…
Why I Left Smashwords
I've made a scary Indie-pub decision: I'm leaving Smashwords. Let me break down precisely why.