Neil Gaiman on the antidote to rejection
In this video, best-selling author Neil Gaiman talks about rejection and how to handle it. Continue reading Neil Gaiman on the antidote to rejection
Category: Advice
My problem with “was”
The word “was” is an easy fit when writing in the past tense. Along with “had” it is easy to use the word so hard and often that it becomes a distraction. While “was” is a good word and sometimes … Continue reading My problem with “was”
5 hard-won editing tips
Editing your writing can be a hard process. At least, it is for me. Here are five tips that I think might help your editing and have certainly helped mine. 1. Identify your overused words My overused words include “was” … Continue reading 5 hard-won editing tips
A conversation with a journaling coach
Recently I had a web-based conversation with a journaling coach. I was able to ask questions about journaling and learn more about the art. This is that conversation. What is journaling? Has it been around long? Journaling is the act … Continue reading A conversation with a journaling coach
25 words most writers should avoid
In the game of writing, not all words were created equal. Here are twenty-five weak words writers should avoid. I have included stronger alternatives. Remember that while these words may be commonly used, it’s not necessarily that they are always … Continue reading 25 words most writers should avoid
How to use templates
On our tools for writers page, we offer a number of templates. These are helpful tools for planning characters, plot, and other aspects of writing. However, it might not always be apparent what to do with those templates. These templates … Continue reading How to use templates
The Power of Visual Descriptions
One of the things I have been exploring lately is ramping up my descriptions. Especially when setting a scene. While I am far from an expert in this regard, I would like to share what I have learned so far … Continue reading The Power of Visual Descriptions
Writing Strategy: On Getting Inspired Everyday
By Larry Icabandi Nabiong Getting inspiration from anything within reach is just a piece of cake for other writers. The rest suffers from what we call the-alibi-not-to-write- a-single-word thingy. Yes, for not all the time we have the energy to … Continue reading Writing Strategy: On Getting Inspired Everyday
This is how you stop character names giving you writer’s block
For some writers, character name selection can cause massive writer’s block. Naming your characters can seem like the most pressing issue you have as a writer. What if I told you it did not matter? This is how you stop … Continue reading This is how you stop character names giving you writer’s block
Glenn Gers: If you can’t answer these 6 questions you don’t have a story
Glenn Gers shares the six questions that all stories must answer. Who is about What do they want Why can’t they get it What do they do about that Why doesn’t that work? How does it end Glenn Gers’ Interview Continue reading Glenn Gers: If you can’t answer these 6 questions you don’t have a story
Do you make these two newbie writing mistakes?
These two writing mistakes which a particular pet peeve of mine. No matter how well everything else is written, these (more often than not) let the whole text down. They both sound too much like “writing” to be good storytelling. … Continue reading Do you make these two newbie writing mistakes?
Trap doors, off-ramps, and the monsters in waiting
This post is about a writing theory I have – a theory I call trap doors, off-ramps, and monsters in waiting. This is a theory about sequential writing. What is sequential writing? Sequential writing is a form of story telling … Continue reading Trap doors, off-ramps, and the monsters in waiting