Writing a novel can be an overwhelming project, but writing short fiction can be intimidating too. There is nowhere to hide with short fiction. Every word needs to count, but short stories also take less time to complete and even if writing a full novel is your overall goal, writing a short story is a … [Read more…]
If you’re any kind of artist, in particular, a writer, and put your work “out there” at some point you will face rejection and disappointment. When your he(art) is on the line, writer rejection can be soul-crushing. ~~~ There’s always failure. And there’s always disappointment. And there’s always loss. But the secret is learning from the … [Read more…]
Why write? Choosing to be a writer (or an artist of any kind) is fraught with reasons to quit. Many do—the artist’s way is not an easy road. With the constant critique, rejection, and self-doubt, you would have to be nuts to be a writer. Right? Wrong. “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with … [Read more…]
I have been ruminating lately about fear—how it has helped by keeping me sharp and motivated, but also how it manifests as writing anxiety and blocks me. ~~~ “I made a decision a long time ago that if I want creativity in my life – and I do – then I will have to make … [Read more…]
Looking for a new tool to inspire you? Is your current creative toolbox leaving you wanting? Consider a mind map for writing inspiration. What do Leonardo DaVinci, Mark Twain, and Michelangelo have in common? These geniuses kept notebooks, and in them, they recorded notes, keywords, and ideas, drew sketches, and connected their ideas with branches … [Read more…]