Process
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Maybe I know what I want to write, need to write, planned to write—but I just can’t get the words out. Somewhere between my brain and fingertips, the words got clogged up, and all I can produce are feeble phrases.… Read more
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External pressure is one thing, but sometimes, even self-imposed pressure can become overwhelming. Perhaps I set the goal to respond to 60 writing prompts in 30 days, the month is half over, and I’m not even halfway to the goal.… Read more
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What do you do when the sentences stop streaming, the plot ceases plodding ahead, the characters quit cooperating, enthusiasm takes an exit? Experiment #15: Pivot Work on something else. Write something new. Rewrite something old. Revise something. Edit something. Take… Read more
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Invariably, issues will arise: plot problems, stakes struggles, conflict concerns, dialogue deficiencies, character crises, pacing pitfalls, calendar contradictions, quest quandaries, structure snags, title troubles, beginning blunders, middle mishaps, ending errors. Experiment #14: Talk it out Find a fellow writer or… Read more
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Is your digital habitat supporting your writing practice, or is it keeping you from getting words on the page? Experiment #13: Change your (tech) environment Is your keyboard comfortable for your fingers and wrists? Does your mouse work properly? Do… Read more
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Is your typical writing habitat supporting your practice, or do you dread even sitting down at that table, in that uncomfortable chair, in that crowded coffee shop, beside that window? Experiment #12: Change your environment Test out a local library,… Read more
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Sometimes, composing beautiful, elegant, precise sentences is like carving intricate designs into rock with nothing but your two hands and a toothpick: difficult, frustrating, time-consuming, seemingly impossible. Experiment #11: Write the silly version Whether this is your first draft or… Read more
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Remember when more TV shows had theme songs and title sequences before each episode? Experiment #10: Build a custom playlist Maybe a song reminds you of your plot, a character, a relationship dynamic, a setting, a conflict. Add these songs… Read more
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My favorite piece of equipment on the playground as a kid had to be a swing. There was something about the predictable motion, the view of the world at the apex, and the independent experience that really grabbed me. I… Read more
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However you describe yourself as a writer—a planner, pantser, plantser, plotter, organic, gardener, architect, explorer, archaeologist, sculptor—at some point, you have to make choices about your story. The way forward isn’t always obvious. Experiment #9: Map it out Create a… Read more
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Maybe I know exactly what I want this scene to accomplish, what I want my characters to say and do, where I want to end up—but my characters just won’t do I want and need them to do. When characters… Read more
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Are your characters not cooperating, or are they not the kind of characters who would do what you want them to do? Experiment #7: Take personality quizzes There are probably as many personality quizzes as people in the world. Some… Read more
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Sometimes, the companionship of your characters, an external or self-imposed deadline, or your passion for the project is not enough encouragement to keep writing when the shiny newness of a project starts to dull. Experiment #6: Don’t go alone Find… Read more
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There will be occasions when a writer needs a nudge, palate cleanser, exercise, challenge, shift of perspective. Experiment #5: Writing prompts Prompts are everywhere if you go looking for them. Here are a handful: Your exercises could turn into something… Read more
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In the day-to-day of working on a big project, it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture: the project isn’t finished. It probably won’t be done today, and probably not tomorrow, and probably not the day after that.… Read more
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One of the earliest pieces of advice most writers receive is this: write what you know. You likely know enough to start writing, but you might need to verify a little—or a lot—before you can finish a story. Experiment #3:… Read more
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Mental clutter is as easy to accumulate as emails in an inbox. My inboxes fill with a steady stream of advertisements, coupons, news, newsletters, webinar reminders, submission rejections, spam, the increasingly rare casual correspondence. Every time I refresh, there’s another… Read more
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The brain is good at creating ideas, not holding all of them all at once. There is a lot going on in my brain at all conscious times. Trying to remember all the ideas, to-dos, questions, observations—all the time—is exhausting.… Read more
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Most of us started making up stories because we discovered storytelling and writing are a lot of fun. Limited only by our imagination, with a few pen strokes, keyboards taps, or spoken words, we can weave new worlds filled with… Read more
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When I was in high school and undergrad, I often wished that I had the option to write an essay instead of taking a test. When I was regularly writing essays, I could sneeze most of them into existence. Essays… Read more
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Writing brings me a lot of joy. It’s one of my favorite activities. I love telling stories and exploring what could be. I love building effective, clear, precise, simple sentences. I love writing about writing. And yet, that doesn’t mean… Read more
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I’ve long wanted to become a better and better writer. I’ve sought to learn more about the craft and process of writing. So, it made sense for me to major in English and creative writing in undergrad and grad school.… Read more
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The tricky part about calling anything “of the month” is that it creates the expectation that the months that follow will also get their own thing. My theme for January was about celebrating every accomplishment. In February, I was encouraged to just start,… Read more
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There are many things I wish I could have told my younger self years ago before she started the largest project she had ever completed on an immovable deadline. Back when I was working toward my MFA in Creative Writing,… Read more
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It’s hard to believe that the sun has already set on the 2025-2026 NHL season. Just a few weeks ago, I thought I’d be watching the Colorado Avalanche battling for the Cup this June. Instead, it’s the offseason, and the… Read more
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If you’re just joining me, I’ve been watching a lot of, first collegiate, then NHL playoff hockey recently. Not long after the Denver Pioneers won their 11th national championship, the Colorado Avalanche began their playoff run. The Avs just finished… Read more