How to Write a Book Without Losing Your Mind
Expert advice on ending procrastination and finishing that manuscript, dissertation, or other big project A few months ago, I promised some nice people in New [Read More]
Advice from Writers
Writer’s Block. Could it be Caused by Your Own Expectations?
Yesterday I read a brilliant answer on Quora. The question was from a teenager who wanted to know how he could get over his inability [Read More]
4 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Poetry Published
I wrote my first full-length novel when I was 22 and received at least that many rejections before I put it to bed forever. Last [Read More]
Find Yourself a Muse (Preferably Nude But Clothed Will Do) – and 9 More Writing Tips
Rosemary Jenkinson: ‘The great thing about being a writer is you will develop gluteal muscles that could crack a pine cone.’
1. If your writing’s not flowing, rip it up. For me, the most successful pieces are always the most free-flowing. If it’s a struggle, be aware that a reader will intuit that too, so pull the plug. After all, Robert Louis Stevenson started 393 works only to finish 27 of them. I honestly can’t think of any job other than writing that involves as much waste – it’s worse than working in an effluent plant!
2. Keep fuelling your brain as you write. As I write this, I’m eating Baked Beetroot & Golden Linseed Tortillas which masquerade as healthy, a bit like myself, but are probably as bad as Monster Munch. While my right hand clicks on the mouse, my left dips more industriously into the tortillas. Testifying to the fact that I’ve just given birth to a new play, I need to lose a few pounds which leads seamlessly into…
11 Smart Tips for Brilliant Writing
Do you sound smarter when you use big words? According to a study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology , the answer is no. In fact, complex writing [Read More]
6 YouTube Channels That Will Help You Finally Finish That Debut Novel
Reading brought me immense joy as a child, but I truly fell in love with crafting stories. With an overactive imagination and inflated ego from [Read More]
Writer’s Block? These 5 Tips Will Reignite the Spark
Some creative writers argue that “writer’s block” is a myth, and that writers who insist on it are lazy ones who are looking for an [Read More]
Quick time management tips for writers
Self-employment often implies performing all kinds of tasks that otherwise would be divided among several people. For example, if you’re building your business on social [Read More]
How to Write Cunning, Clever, and Crafty Characters
My NaNoWriMo novels are full of clever characters, which has baldly reminded me just how difficult it is to write crafty people. I can just [Read More]
Writing Wisdom from Anne Carson:
Anne Carson is unique in the literary world. First of all, no one knows what to call her—she’s a poet, a verse-novelist, an essayist, a [Read More]
Less Words, More Often (How to Stay Motivated to Write Every Day)
You can’t become a concert pianist practicing only once a week. Just like you can’t become a proficient writer writing only once a week. Those [Read More]
595 Power Words That’ll Instantly Make You a Better Writer
“Power words” are the answer, and you can put them in place in a matter of minutes. This post gives you a reference lists of [Read More]
Gina Barreca: Get A Good Job And Other Tips For Writers
I have an old friend who is starting a course in creative writing. I thought he could use some advice and, because I store writing [Read More]
What’s Stopping You From Publishing?
One of the biggest hurdles writers say they must leap is their fear of an editor’s letter of rejection or a decision that the manuscript [Read More]
Why Authors Should Not Use Social Media
As an author, you’ve probably been told that being active on social media will help you sell your books. And maybe you’ve been doing all [Read More]
The Best Books on Writing, According to Novelists, Poets, and Writing Professors
Welcome to Reading Lists, comprehensive book guides from the Strategist designed to make you an expert (or at least a fascinating dinner-party companion) in hyperspecific or [Read More]
Want to Publish a More Gripping Blog? Try These 3 Power-Writing Tips.
Too many blog commentaries and internet pieces sound the same, whether they talk about how to landscape your yard, lose weight, lease an apartment, conduct [Read More]
How to Write a Book: 10 Ridiculously Simple Steps
Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.–Mark Twain As the bestselling author of five books, I can tell [Read More]
5 Things That Happen When You Start Calling Yourself a Writer
There can be very set ‘wrong’ and ‘right’ ways of being a writer – or so we’re led to believe. Historically, you’d need to have [Read More]
How to Write a Hook That Captures Attention
A good, hooky first line of a novel is found in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cryroburn, which starts, “Angels were falling all around.” You have to [Read More]