The Writing Life Archives - Page 2 of 3

Just Write It

As you all know, I teach writing, and I coach writers and I write about writing on this here blog. There's seven years worth of posts here–over a thousand of them last time I looked–and they all have something to do with writing. In truth, I don't write a whole lot about the actual mechanics […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 11 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life

Thursday Obsessions

My granddaughter, the lovely Olivia, who at 14 months is learning to walk quite efficiently, is here today and so no deep thoughts on writing. While she naps, I'm compiling this post of things I'm currently loving (with thanks to Beverly for the inspiration). 1. Suddenly, I'm all about writing practice. I'm working on a […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 11 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life

You Are Allowed…To Be a Writer

You are allowed to get so engrossed in your writing you forget to cook dinner (but set an alarm so you don't forget and leave children stranded in odd places). You are allowed to follow the peaks and valleys of the creative process. You are allowed to passionately practice your writing every day. And, you […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 11 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life

What Do You Give Up to Write?

Funny story: I've had this blog post in mind for the last few days. And then when it was time for me to sit down and write it, my blog host, Typepad, had two DOS (denial of service–I looked it up) attacks, on Thursday night and Friday morning. So I had to give up the […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 12 years ago11/03/2015

Reading The Writing Life

Rain or Shine Readings

My business partner Debbie and I have volunteered to take over the organization of a local reading series. It was begun last year by a mystery writer and when he moved away, one of our local writing groups, the Oregon Writer's Colony, took it over. The series is held at a coffee shop close […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 12 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life

The Perfect Storm

Friday. I felt like crap. My stomach ached and rumbled and just didn't feel right. Outside, snow fell, the second round of our first big snowstorm in five years. (People always think we get a ton of snow here but we just don't.) Inside, my two-year-old grandson roamed about the house doing what toddlers […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 12 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life

The Writing Life: Berry Picking

When you're a writer (or any kind of creative person) you link everything back to your writing. At least I do, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. It's the nature of the creative process to become a sponge for everything around you. This is particularly true when you're in the middle of […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 12 years ago11/03/2015

Novel Writing The Writing Life

Making the Magic Happen: Committing to a Writing Schedule

Writing is magic. We think up an idea, and put it on the page. Whole worlds spring to life beneath our fingers. And all we need to do this, at base, is a pen and paper. Oh, sure, a typewriter or computer helps, but if worse came to worse you could do without one and […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 13 years ago11/03/2015

inspiration The Writing Life

Clarity for Writers

So, there's clarity for writers, and clarity about writing. In a post about writing clarity, I'm being clear as mud. So let me explain. A few days ago, I was sitting in the backyard of a friend. Gorgeous summer night, and the surroundings were gorgeous, too: neatly mowed lawn and perfectly weeded and edged garden […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 13 years ago11/03/2015

The Writing Life Writing

Balance vs. Excellence

A Post Wherein I Explore Two Approachs to Writing and Confess I Don't Know Which is Best. Let's begin with balance. It has been a bit of a massive buzz word the past few years, with experts telling us we need it in our lives and offering advice on how to achieve it. Seems it's […]

Charlotte Rains Dixon 14 years ago11/03/2015

Charlotte Rains Dixon

Category: The Writing Life

Just Write It

Thursday Obsessions

You Are Allowed…To Be a Writer

What Do You Give Up to Write?

Rain or Shine Readings

The Perfect Storm

The Writing Life: Berry Picking

Making the Magic Happen: Committing to a Writing Schedule

Clarity for Writers

Balance vs. Excellence

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