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One writer’s breakthrough and how to look for your true passion with a simple...
Have you had any breakthroughs while doing some kind of challenge? Blogger Christine Bissonnette experienced a breakthrough moment when she went on an artist date as part of a 12-week Artist’s Way...
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An on-the-job lesson in the art of observing
Last week, I was sitting in my cube at work when I heard the squeak and clatter of a cart being wheeled down the aisle near my desk. Since it was on the other side of the wall, I couldn’t see it, but I...
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Writing exercises to help you go deeper
The other day, I was thinking about the types of memoirs I enjoy reading and what it is about them that sets them apart. Mostly, they were memoirs, such as Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy, that...
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Developing character emotions to create resonance
In my last post “Writing exercises to help you go deeper” I wrote about developing a writing exercise to help me delve into my story and focus on what my protagonist learned from her experiences and...
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How to stand out from the slush pile
One of the things I love about reading other people’s work is what I learn from it. So, last year, when I was asked to be one of the judges for a prose competition, I said yes. The competition...
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Original idea & logline: using them to write a better story, part two
In my previous post, I wrote about the importance of writing down your one-sentence original idea. This is the very first idea you had—whether it’s about plot, character, or theme—that got you excited...
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Trust in randomness and mine your subconscious with this writing exercise
Poet and teacher May Swenson said, “The best poetry has its roots in the subconscious to a great degree. Youth, naivety, reliance on instinct more than learning and method, a sense of freedom and play,...
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How momentous events lead to compelling personal writing
What are the big events in your life? Big, life-changing, world changing events can be turning points and crucial material for writing a memoir, autobiography, or essay. Some of the most compelling...
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Write dialogue cues like a bestselling author
At the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference this weekend, I took a series of phenomenal classes from writing teacher and psychologist Margie Lawson. I thought I was a fairly decent writer—I have a few...
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How to create your own “dialogue cue” practice
In an earlier post, I wrote about some of the great tips I learned from writing guru Margie Lawson at the recent Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference. Lawson coined the term “dialogue cues” to...
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A simple prompt that reveals new writing ideas
I believe you have to make your own writing inspiration rather than waiting for it to happen. I’ve found I can generate inspiration by being observant, reading, and by using writing prompts and...
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Rhetorical devices: Your secret writing weapon
When a book instantly grabs me and draws me in, I like to go back later and analyze why. Sometimes, it’s the subject matter. Sometimes, it’s the narrator’s voice. Sometimes, it’s a simile or metaphor...
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How to reveal character personality through speech
Your characters’ speech reveals volumes about their education, personality, and where they grew up. A character who was reared in the deep South will speak with a different accent and use different...
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How writing anything in your notebook is a promise to your muse
If you ever feel stuck, out of ideas, or simply so busy you can’t fit in the writing time you wish for, know this: Your muse will reward you if you write anything at all in your notebook. Something...
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Draw on all five senses when you write a sex scene
In my previous post, I wrote about the “Bad Sex Scene Award” and how NOT to get one. In Elissa Wald’s article “The Do’s and Dont’s of Writing Erotic Fiction,” one “do” is to draw on all five senses...
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Let your short story write itself
Is there a short story you’re struggling to write? Sometimes, you have to let the story write itself. I generally like to have an outline of some sort before I start writing, but lately I’ve...
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One of the best things about writing: The element of surprise
One of the best things about writing is the way it surprises me, the way I sometimes look back on something I’ve written and think, “Did I write that?” This element of surprise reminds me that so much...
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Lessons in character development: parental influences
Our parents give us our first view of the world. We incorporate their lessons into our lives and, sometimes, we spend the rest of our lives trying to unlearn these beliefs and developing our own...
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How to reclaim your life and energy for your art
In my last post, “Busting the writing myth of ‘not enough time,’” I wrote about author Heather Sellers’ belief that this concept of not having enough time is really a misdiagnosis of what ails us as...
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Make your writing stronger by removing filter words
When editing my work, I inevitably discover more of my bad habits. When I do, I add them to my editing list so I can be sure to catch them later. Some of these bad habits are listed in my post, “Edit...
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