Image by JenDigitalArt from Pixabay
We all know about characters’ strengths, but how do we use their weaknesses to our advantage to make a story stronger?
Weakness as a Resolution
Show the weakness at the beginning of the story and then show the same weakness toward the end. The weakne…
Image by DarkmoonArt_de from Pixabay
These days, many people write blogs. As an aspiring writer, it’s important to know the reasons starting a writing blog may be in your best interest. Here are some of the reasons you should start a blog and how it can impact your writing journey.
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Image by José Manuel de Laá from Pixabay
Getting into the flow of writing was hard enough but stopping the flow at a good spot is something that writers seldom consider. When is a suitable time to end your writing sessions? Let us take a look at our options.
Stopping in the mi…
Middle-grade books are like cake—they have many layers and are deliciously digestible. Like the different varieties of cake, middle-grade books can fall into a great range of age groups over a span of many genres. Let us eat cake and find out what makes a middl…
Image by Artturi Mäntysaari from Pixabay
Chapter books can range from 3,000 to 10,000 words. The age range can be as young as six or as old as ten. Largely seen as series, they have illustrations on most pages but not all. Chapter books are for kids going from picture books to middle gr…
November and December are the toughest months to write. So many holidays plus the end of the year sluggishness. Don’t forget all the food taking up your attention. This blog post will delve into how to make it more manageable, what you can do when you really want to finish something, and how to not …
It’s hard to feel as though you’re doing anything when every day it feels like you’re getting nowhere in your project. Here are some ways to feel accomplishment as a writer even before ever getting published.
Creating Deadlines
Have you ever had to write a paper for school? T…
The similarities between writing and running are interesting to dissect. How could two different activities have so much alike? Physically, they don't. Mentally, they do. Let's cut open this frog.
Mind over matter
Anybody who has ever run for the first time or for a longer dist…
Writing fears can range from fear of failure to fear of success and something else in between. Fear stops us from accomplishing a lot of things in life, but when it affects your writing there are ways to combat fear. Here are some of the top fears writers have and the steps to overcome them.
What is negative space and why should you care? Artists who draw know this as the space on the page that you don’t use (or so the viewer may think). It is the background around the subject. For writers, negative space is the words on the page that you don't say. Writing in the negative space can…
Ever wonder how to write true-to-life characters packed with authenticity? Finding out what makes them tick is one way but getting in their head will give you all the details. Here are some suggestions:
Play Pretend
What are your characters’ likes, hobbies, favorite foods, or clothes…
Coming up with creative ideas can be tough. If only there were ways to trigger idea after idea after idea, like the turnover rate in a factory. Although everybody has different strategies, here are some to get you started.
Writing in general has its own sets of challenges. Writing with kids is a whole other story. This a list of writing challenges and suggestions on overcoming them while having kids in your lives. (This list does not include day jobs, college, or any other kinds of challenges added to our lives whil…
Oh, where did that passion go? The one that got you started on writing in the first place. It could be ruminating in a glass of self-doubt or lost in the jaws of busy schedules. Wherever it is, here’s how to find it and get it back into your writer’s life.
The Writer’s Life
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Writing in a public place like a coffee shop or library can either be liberating or anxiety-ridden. The same goes for writing from home tucked away in a cozy office or at a messy desk. Here are some things to consider when deciding to write in the public eye versus privately at home.
Breaks
Ever wonder where that darn writing muse goes when you need her? Maybe yours is a guy who doesn't show up for the dates you make. Both silly and kind of true, this post may spark some creative way to coax the muse on YOUR time.
Sit Very Still
You know that saying, "You can always …
There are many goals on the path to a finished story. Goals that help with writing more often . . . or not. It may sound absurd, but some goals can stop you from achieving progress. These are the goals that make you want to stop writing altogether and, for certain types of writers, should be avo…
There are many advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing. The focus here is on the positive ways self-publishing can push the boundaries of your writing life and help you launch a career as an author. This is not a self-publishing vs. traditional publishing argument. Whether you want to se…
*Note: Blog posts are currently monthly.