What to Do when You’re Stuck

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I wrote a post some time ago about overcoming writer’s block, but this post is a little different. What do you do when want to write, you’ve got plenty of ideas, you’re excited about your WIP, but you just don’t know what to do next?

This is the position I’ve found myself in a lot lately with the historical fiction that I’m writing. What’s got me stuck is figuring out what the next few scenes should be and how to get my characters to the place they need to be by the end. As I was jotting down thoughts, I realized that I have come up with several ways of getting myself past these stuck points – and so I now want to share them with you. Continue reading →

Talent or Persistence – Which is more Important for a Writer?

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses, Writings about Writing by

Most people would agree that writing well takes talent. Some people are gifted with a great singing voice, some people are gifted with a mind for numbers and equations, and some people are gifted with words.

But is talent or gifting the only requisite to becoming a great writer – or even an average writer? The most talented singer out there had to learn how to carry a tune, the most talented mathematician wasn’t born knowing how to count to one hundred. And the most talented writers started out by scribbling down a poorly-spelled variation of “It was a dark and stormy night.”

Talent is important for an inherently artistic pursuit like writing – whether you’re writing poetry, science fiction, or blog posts. But you’ll probably never be a great writer – or a famous writer – without persistence. Continue reading →

The Value of Attending a Writers’ Conference

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Last year I attended the James River Writers Conference for the first time, and I was excited about going again this year. I won’t make this a long conference review, but I do want to share my thoughts about why it’s important to attend something like a writing conference:

  • You realize you’re not alone. Even if you’re part of a local writing group or an online forum, writing is still a solitary venture. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who loves writing like you do, or struggles with fears and doubts.Getting around several hundred other writers can help you realize that you’re not actually weird or crazy – you’re just part of a great group of people! Continue reading →

The Creativity of Autumn

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I love fall. As much as I love winter, I think autumn is probably my favorite season. I love the colors, the crisp air, finally getting to wear hoodies and boots. The dramatic change of the season energizes me with a promise of new and better things to come. I’m always inspired by the outdoors and nature, but autumn for me is the most inspiring of all. Continue reading →

Sequel Syndrome – It’s not a New Thing

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses, Writings about Writing by

You know that awesome movie or book that becomes a sudden best-selling blockbuster? Everyone loves it, so what’s the next thing that happens? Yep – a sequel. And frequently, the sequel is nowhere near as excellent as the first one. Sometimes, if the sequel isn’t a total bomb (or even if it is), then an entire series is spawned out of something that probably should have remained a one-shot. (Anybody remember sequels that shouldn’t have happened, like Jurassic Park II and III, or many of the Disney animated direct-to-video sequels of the 90s?)

This is known as “sequel syndrome,” and it’s not actually something created by Disney or 90s adventure movies.It’s been a thing for about as long as we’ve had commercial entertainment. Continue reading →