Category Archives: Writings about Writing

Thoughts and tips about the craft

Should Fiction be Relatable?

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“Relatability” is a buzzword these days, especially in the storytelling world. People want stories and characters that they can relate to and understand; they want to see aspects of themselves and the world they know in the movies they watch and the books they read. 

This is an important and timeless desire. Even in an “unrealistic” story like a sci-fi adventure or a fantastical fairy tale, we want to see and understand a bit of ourselves and our own world. We want to feel validated, and have a degree of confidence that others might see us in this fictional tale. 

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Inspiring Quotes to Begin the New Year

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New year, new hopes, new goals. Whether you’ve written out a detailed list of what you plan to accomplish this year, or you’re simply praying for a year of less stress and weirdness than 2020, you’re probably looking with hope to what the new year might bring.

While I certainly can’t predict what this year might be like, I can provide a few inspirational quotes from others to help you focus on the all the hopeful possibilities that a new year brings. Here’s to a creative and productive new year!

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A Christmas Story

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We can all agree that it’s been a crazy year, right? And because of that, many of us are not celebrating the year-end holidays in the way that we usually do, or wish we could.

But even so, I believe we should take joy. No matter what’s happened, there’s always something to be thankful for, and something to be joyful about. And so, in that vein, I’m bringing what I hope is a little spot of enjoyment to the holiday with a new Christmas short story!

This is a humorous, frivolous little holiday tale that I wrote several years ago, and finally decided to share with the world. Check it out on Amazon! And merry Christmas to all!

In a town not so long ago or far away, three gentlemen decide to throw a Christmas party. It will be a festival to remember as new friends are made, adventures and troubles are overcome, and much food and frivolity ensues. Join the three merry friends in their hamlet of Ettingswimple for a jolly good time!

Tips and Tricks to Get Yourself Writing Again

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This is sort of a follow-up post to last month’s post about not writing. Writers are notorious for NOT writing; but if we want to be writers, then we need to, you know, write.

So here are some ideas or tips/tricks to get yourself writing. I’ve used (or currently am using) several of these techniques myself.

  • Write five sentences or five paragraphs based off a story prompt. There are hundreds of places to find story prompts – from pictures to phrases to songs. Here’s my Pinterest board of story prompt pictures, as a place to start.
  • Set a time in your calendar. A schedule can help you not only have some writing time, but not waste that writing time by doing everything else but writing. Even if all you have is an hour a week, put it in your calendar or set a reminder on your phone.
  • Make your writing space more comfortable/easier to use. Even if you don’t have a dedicated writing desk or space, make your favorite spot more conducive to writing without lots of prep work. Keep your computer and notes close by, keep your favorite pillow in that spot, make sure your favorite coffee mug is clean before your writing time begins—whatever you need to do to reduce prep time.
  • Find the method that works best for you and stick with it. If you write all your first drafts longhand with a quill pen, then do it. Learning from other writers is good, but if you have a method that works and you like it, don’t mess up your flow by trying every new technique that comes along.
  • Journal or write something unrelated to your current project. For those times that writers’ block hits, you can still write.

Now, go write!

What are some of your tips and tricks to make yourself write? Please share! 

5 Reasons Why Writers Don’t Write (and What You Can Do About That)

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If you’re a writer, then you probably know that one of the hardest things to do is actually write. It’s also one of the easiest things to do, which makes the whole writing thing that much more confusing (to both writers and non-writers alike). Anyway, a common theme I’ve seen on writing blogs and Twitter is writers bemoaning their struggles in writing. And I have certainly experienced my share of not writing. Like, a lot. So, why don’t writers write? Well, here are some of the most common struggles that I know about:

1. No Time to Write

There’s never a good time to write, or ever enough time to write. Even during recent quarantine times, when we were all stuck at home with nothing to do but write, many found it hard to write (myself included). Why? Because I was stuck at home, so I could work on ten thousand other little projects, instead of writing. So what can you do when there’s no time to write? Find a minute here, ten minutes there, and write two sentences, two paragraphs. Just write. Continue reading →