In between the uncertainties and fears is a place where the only thing happening is right in front of you. The only action you can take is the next one. The only moment that matters is the one you’re currently in. 365(ish) Days of Writing: A Place Called "Now" I've got a new series going, … Continue reading 365(ish) Days of Writing: A Year of the Ups and Downs of Creativity
writers
You Can Attend Writing Conferences Every Month without Spending a Dime—Here’s How
Being a pro writer doesn't have to mean emptying out your entire savings account. As a writer who loves to learn but is also on a tight budget, I'm always on the lookout for free or cheap resources. I know I'm not the only one out there who doesn't have a spare $5k sitting around … Continue reading You Can Attend Writing Conferences Every Month without Spending a Dime—Here’s How
The Key to Creating Memorable Characters: Lessons from a Fan Favourite
If you want to take your story from good to great, you need to get serious about creating memorable characters. No matter what genre of fiction you write, good characters are key to your story's success. It can be the one thing that elevates your book, movie, or game from "pretty good" to cult classic. … Continue reading The Key to Creating Memorable Characters: Lessons from a Fan Favourite
Why You Should Be Writing Short Stories (And How to Do It Right!)
You want to write better. You want to publish a book. You want to make money with your writing. It all starts with short stories. Many of the self-published authors I’ve worked with had a book idea, wrote it, and wanted to publish it. This is great—except that most of these people had never written … Continue reading Why You Should Be Writing Short Stories (And How to Do It Right!)
The One-Stop Shop for All Your Writing Needs
It's Thursday, and usually that means I bring you a great post from another blog or website. Don't worry—reblogs aren't going away, but today, I want to introduce you to something special. My reblog posts are a great way for both me and you to discover new writing blogs. But there are some resources that … Continue reading The One-Stop Shop for All Your Writing Needs
Why You Need a More Flexible Writing Schedule
Last week doesn't count. That's what I keep telling myself this week as my work is compounding because last week did not go according to plan. It was one of those scenarios where everything decided to happen at once. I woke up on Monday to find that a hurricane was approaching. And so ensued hurried … Continue reading Why You Need a More Flexible Writing Schedule
5 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases (According to an Editor)
The English language is a funny thing. Ask any two people about a specific word or phrase and they'll probably say or explain it differently depending on where they're from and how their family says it. Some people grow up not even knowing that they've got their phrasing or spelling wrong, and those mistakes then … Continue reading 5 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases (According to an Editor)
From E.J. Robison to The Story Canvas! 🎉
So...funny story. Remember when I asked you all to vote on a blog title last week? Well, I really meant it. I promise I did. But the plain ol' truth is that I'm terrible with titles. After asking around and searching all over the internet, these five were the best I could come up with: … Continue reading From E.J. Robison to The Story Canvas! 🎉
Don’t Skip the Grammar Lessons!
If you’ve been around for a while, you know there are two main things I talk about a lot: characters and grammar. It may not seem like it, but they’re similar in a few ways. Mainly, they’re both often overlooked, and yet they’re integral to a good book. Yesterday I talked about characters, so today … Continue reading Don’t Skip the Grammar Lessons!
Writing Resources: Daniel David Wallace
Let's be honest: there are a lot of people teaching writing skills online. And in many ways, that's a good thing. You have so many choices for advice about plot, character, narration… Why spend your time with me? Another way of asking that question is: what is "character-first writing," and why should I care about … Continue reading Writing Resources: Daniel David Wallace
The Story Canvas 