Writing the first word (and why it’s so hard)

Writing the first word (and why it’s so hard)

Apr 2, 2018 | Writing

This post started as a blank page. I wrote the title first. When I came back to look at what I’d written, I forgot I hadn’t even written the first word beyond the title. Opened the file. There sat a blank page. Again. Ugh. Why is it so hard to write the first word?...
I’m not wearing pants and 6 other self-care writing tips

I’m not wearing pants and 6 other self-care writing tips

Mar 19, 2018 | Writing

Not everything that supports your writing is about writing. Those of us who work from home face particular challenges you don’t see in an office. You can get away without wearing pants. You can eat six tiny meals of avocado toast washed down with your seventh...
9 Character Writing Prompts to Move Your Story Forward

9 Character Writing Prompts to Move Your Story Forward

Mar 12, 2018 | Writing

You know when you meet someone and think, “What a character!”  Because they’re inspirational. Or funny. Or have lived a life of adventure. Or have had so many bizarre things happen in their lives, you can’t possibly believe them. Or because they annoy you so badly you...
11 lessons NaNoWriMo taught me about writing

11 lessons NaNoWriMo taught me about writing

Mar 5, 2018 | Writing

I wrote my first NaNoWriMo novel in 2016. That’s National Novel Writing Month for those of you who haven’t heard of it. The goal? To write a fifty thousand word book in one month. I wrote a young adult sci-fi novel just because I wanted to write it. God,...
This is why you need a shitty first draft!

This is why you need a shitty first draft!

Feb 13, 2018 | Writing

You know what I’m talking about. A Shitty First Draft. It’s when you sit down to put your first version of your book on paper and everything feels like it sucks.  I didn’t coin the term. Shitty First Draft belongs to Anne Lamott. She wrote about it in Bird...