The site for writers of all genre, and the readers who love them. Find what you want to know.
Inspiration & Motivation
Inspiring or motivating a writer involves a blend of practical strategies, emotional support, and self-care. Key approaches include setting clear goals, building a supportive community, and incorporating various sources of inspiration.
- Practical Strategies and Mindset: Set Clear, Manageable Goals: Break down large projects into smaller, short-term and long-term goals. Celebrate each milestone to maintain momentum and a sense of progress.
- Establish a Routine/Discipline: Writing consistently, even for short periods daily, builds the habit and keeps the project top-of-mind. As the saying goes, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work”.
- Change Scenery: If feeling stuck, a change of location—a different room, a café, or a walk in nature—can provide a fresh perspective and spark creativity.
- Experiment with the Process: Break from a formulaic process to reinvigorate creativity. Try writing the ending first, using a visual prompt instead of a headline, or just free-writing a “stream of consciousness” without judgment.
- Embrace Self-Care: A healthy balance between writing and overall well-being is vital to avoid burnout. Encourage activities like exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones to recharge.
- Seek Inspiration and Connection: Read Widely: Immersing oneself in excellent literature, across different genres and styles, can provide fresh ideas and remind the writer of the power of storytelling.
- Engage with Other Arts & the World: Music, paintings, movies, and simply observing the world and people around you can provide an endless well of ideas for characters and storylines.Overcoming Obstacles
- Acknowledge and Tackle Self-Doubt: Self-doubt and the “inner critic” are common enemies of creativity. Using techniques like the “This is Shit” technique (typing critical thoughts in brackets and moving on) can help manage these voices.
- Remember the “Why“: Reconnecting with the initial passion and purpose for writing provides a driving force through difficult patches.
- Research and Exploration: Deep diving into research about a subject, setting, or characters can transform a feeling of being stuck into a new avenue for inspiration.
Ultimately, the goal is to help the writer cultivate an environment that fosters creativity and discipline while being kind to themselves during the challenging yet rewarding writing journey.
Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
Shirley Jump
When I first started writing, I thought I wanted to be the next Jane Pauley. I could just see myself, leaping after the big story, landing the big headlines and the cheers of the newsroom. Then, after a few years at a city newspaper, I realized I didn’t have what it took to be an investigative reporter. I didn’t like butting into people’s lives, I didn’t like stirring up trouble and I especially didn’t like hunting down a story that didn’t want to be found.
The Literary Food Chain
Sharon Horton
In the world of acting, the Food Chain is well defined. Theater actors look down upon Movie actors. Movie actors look down upon Television actors. Television actors look down upon Commercial actors and I suppose Commercial actors look down upon Infomercial actors. Everyone has an opinion as to what is legitimate within the Thespian World. It is the same within the Literary World.
How Not to Procrastinate
Shirley Jump
I have a confession to make: I procrastinate as much as the next person. I’ll avoid a pending deadline by cleaning out the bathroom cabinet, taking a trip to the mall or simply overdosing on junk TV. The problem is that I’m a working writer, and I’m responsible for a sizable chunk of the household income, so procrastination is not a good idea.
Finding Time to Write
Shirley Jump
I have become the queen of finding time I didn’t think I had, LOL. I’ve pasted a few tips below, that always work for me:
Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
Shelle Castles
You may moan and groan at the prospect of going to a writer’s conference. It’s too much money, you may complain. It’s too far away, you mumble to yourself. I don’t need to go to a writer’s conference, you may try to convince yourself.
How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
Shirley Jump
The Art of Perseverance or How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists . Many years ago, I spoke at a writer’s group in Pennsylvania. I was a little daunted. It was the biggest group I’d ever spoken to, and many of the writers there had credentials I could only dream of having. But as I told my story–my journey as a writer–the room got silent. Why? Because everyone in that room, published or not, could relate to the tale I told.
The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
Sharon Horton
Okay, everyone who has received one of the above intriguing [see article] and informative form letters raise your hand. Wow, what a breeze that caused.
A Dream Realized
Cheryl Wright
We are dreamers dreaming dreams. Pursue your dreams passionately and you will eventually achieve them. As a child I was fascinated with books and their writers. I spent many nights sniffing between the pages of my new school texts. The scent was so intoxicating.
Five Ways to Promote Yourself
L.J. Bothell
You’ve been honing your craft and doing all the right things: generating solid work, placing your bio strategically in your cover letter, keeping the submissions going out, sending queries, etc. Maybe you’ve even been published numerous times, yet you haven’t achieved the next level. There’s so much competition, and while you know that being the best at what you do is supposed to be the key, it doesn’t always seem to work.
Rules for Writers
PPW (Panhandle Plains Writers) Amarillo, Texas
A cheeky set of incorrect grammar usage to help you learn and laugh.
High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
Margaret Terhune
Beginners are by nature inexperienced and prone to making mistakes. Part of any learning process involves working through trial and error towards achievement. Novice writers are no exception. There are, however, many common mistakes the beginner can avoid. I have grouped these into three main categories: not researching enough, not writing enough and not revising enough.
A Guide to Assessing Writing Contests
Kerry Hanslits
Did you know that entering a writing competition is your best opportunity to achieve publication, payment and recognition for your work? Most writers don’t know this and many will only enter writing competitions that do not charge a fee, but following the majority in this instance means that you will miss out on opportunities to give your work an edge in the marketplace.
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