If there’s one thing I know about writing, it’s that not all techniques work for every writer. Not only that, but what works for one writer one time may not work the next time. The system you use to write your novel the first time out just doesn’t fit the next time out. The way […]
What are your priorities as a writer? Do you have a firm sense of them? Knowing what comes first in your career and life can help you take hold of your time management. I started thinking about this after reading an article in the May 2018 issue of the Romance Writers Report, the magazine of […]
Writing, at heart, is simple. All you have to do is put pen to paper, one word at a time. As Margaret Atwood says, “A word after a word after a word is power.” And yet, we make it hard. We resist that power. We make judgements about ourselves and our pages. Which, of course, […]
While I’m in France, teaching writing, sitting by the Mediterranean, eating good cheese and bread, and drinking lots of wine, I’m offering either a collection of writing prompts, story starters, or exercises each week. Today I have a couple of writing exercises for you. I hope you will use them to jump-start your writing! Sometimes […]
While I’m in France, teaching writing, sitting by the Mediterranean, eating good cheese and bread, and drinking lots of wine, I’m offering either a collection of writing prompts, story starters, or exercises each week. This week, I have something a little different—a journaling technique you might find useful. Enjoy! So here goes. My current favorite […]
In ten days I’ll board a plane to Paris (well, I’ve got to get to L.A. first). And I’m excited. Through some great, amazing stroke of good luck, this will be my second trip to France this year. (The first one was for a writing retreat, and this time is to teach.) I think, because […]
“Everything I learned about human nature I learned from me.” Anton Chekhov So, in November, I’m going to have surgery on my left hip. I’ve never had surgery on anything before, never been checked into a hospital (not even for birthing my babies). So this is a bit daunting for me–but I’m ready, because I’m […]
I had a phone conversation with my dear friend Terry Price this morning. (FYI–he and I are planning a creative writing workshop in Nashville November 2nd and 3rd, so mark your calendars if you’re in the area). We started talking about ritual and how each of us has heard fledgling writers ask questions such as: […]
Here we are, two weeks into the new year. How are those resolutions going for you? Like, say, the one where you promised yourself you would improve your writing? Perhaps improve it so much that you’d nab yourself a publisher—or feel confident enough to publish your work yourself? Don’t despair if you feel you haven’t […]
One day this week, I rose at 5 AM. I worked for an hour and a half—nailed the organization of a book project—and then drove to my son’s house for emergency babysitting duty at 6:30. By 9 AM that morning I’d knocked a big item off my to-do list, watched George, eaten breakfast and done […]
