The role anxiety plays in our lives and how to show it in your book
There are two ways we cope with anxiety—worry and avoidance. Your job is to figure out how you’ll reveal this in your manuscript.
To move your story forward, think about oppositions.
Often, change happens in opposition. When we understand the things working in opposition in our stories, we can use them to maintain our story’s tension.
Lead with your ambition, not your anxiety, by doing this.
Leading with anxiety comes in two tight and not-so-helpful packages. But here’s the solution.
Create symmetrical scenes to strengthen your story arc.
Jane Alison encourages us to envision our writing not as a tsunami of story, but instead as a series of smaller waves that propel your story arc forward.
Is an internal no affecting your writing life? Consider this.
A new moon, a new quarter, and a birthday offer you a chance to explore your goals. To choose the best ones, identify your internal yesses and noes.
Need a new character development technique? Consider the Big Five Personality Test.
When building our characters we sometimes hack away at attributes, hoping to unearth something that will engage readers. Instead, do this.
Lost your writing mojo? Here’s why your projects still matter.
Yesterday morning, I woke to an NPR story that made me wonder if I needed a bunker. I once wrote an essay about my childhood bunker dreams and how I’d used them to cope with both a scary home and world. I thought those days were behind me, but Russia’s attacked on Ukraine has reignited them. I had a completely …
Lost your writing mojo? Here’s why your projects still matter. Read More »
Want to build great characters? These four qualities are essential.
So much of character development is about the push and pull between what our characters want and their biggest flaws.
If you’re struggling to believe in your ideas, try this.
Last Monday, Julia Cameron was interviewed on NPR. As a huge fan of The Artist’s Way, I dropped everything to listen. When she said the words new book I started placing an order. Seeking Wisdom: A Spiritual Path to Creative Connection arrived a few days later. I knew I would love her book, but I had no idea how much I’d need …
If you’re struggling to believe in your ideas, try this. Read More »
Writing is a form of self-love. Here’s why you need to practice it.
Self-love isn’t selfish. It’s an opportunity to fill your cup so you can serve others with greater joy and abundance. Your writing life is a part of it.
To create a strong opening, identify your SUCK.
Strong beginnings have common attributes that can be boiled down to one word–they all SUCK.
Worried something’s sidelining your dreams? Do this.
Dreaming of the life we want to lead is only half the battle. to reach your goals, you need to examine the beliefs that could sideline them.
To crush your first draft, you’ll need these skills.
Baking a pie while blindfolded is a lot like writing a first draft. It’s messy, and even when you’re not sure what you’re doing, you must trust the process.
Want to nail your New Years Resolutions? It all comes down to this.
While setting goals and intentions are important, what really matters is how you see yourself. It impacts the goals you choose, how you approach them, and what you allow yourself to achieve.
#Giveaway4Good Week Four: Here’s Why Saying Thank Is an Essential Part of Your Creative Health
Saying thank you isn’t just something nice to do. Expressing gratitude supports your ability to take risks.
Giveaway4Good Week Three: Why Supporting Independent Bookstores Is an Investment in Your Writing Career
Here are a few reasons why supporting independent bookstores is an investment in your writing career.
#Giveaway4Good Week 2: Four Self-Serving Reasons to Join James River Writers
Perhaps you live far from Richmond, and you’re wondering why you should support James River Writers. I’ll give you four self-serving reasons.
#Giveaway4Good Week 2: Why Supporting Organizations Like Hippocampus Benefits You
With just $10, we can ensure conferences like HippoCamp are here for years to come, and by doing so, you can win some fabulous prizes.
#Giveaway4Good Week Two: Why supporting literary organizations is an investment in your writing life, and how doing so can help you win prizes.
Maybe you’re wondering why you should give to a writing organization when there’s so much else going. But where would you be without them?
#Giveaway4Good Week One: Support Charitable Organizations and Win Prizes Every Writer Will Love
It’s once again Giving Tuesday. During each weekly #Giveaway4Good challenge, I’ll ask you to give away some of your treasure in exchange for prizes you won’t want to miss.