• There are 2 approaches to writing: writing a lot & writing well. To produce quality writing you must employ both approaches. Let’s dive deeper:

    Writing a Lot Versus Writing Well

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    I think back to some college literature courses I took, and the required length of papers I had to turn in. It wasn’t uncommon to have to produce an eight-page essay, but hitting that page count was hard every single time. I found myself using filler words, expanding my sentences to take up more space. I traded direct and pointed sentences for ones that were way too long and wordy—and sometimes a little redundant. I think that focus to get as many words on paper sticks with us as writers, but it shouldn’t. In fact, when writing a book, the…

  • In order for a story to stay in your memoir it needs to do one of two things: Provide a deeper understanding, Advance the story forward...

    Choosing Stories for Your Memoir: 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

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    Memoirs are the easiest to write because you have already lived the material, but they are also the most challenging to write because you have to find the balance between what stories you share and what information needs to be left out. Writing a memoir doesn’t mean you have to include every aspect of your life from birth to your current status in life. Instead, great memoir writers know to pick and choose the best, most important stories to include. Oftentimes, memoir writers focus too much on their personal catharsis and less on the end-user: the reader. In order for…

  • 5 Things To Know Before Writing A Novel

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    Writing a novel? Here is a list of 5 things you should know that will help you stay focused, motivated, and organized throughout your writing journey. 1. Deadlines Are Very Important. A deadline will push you to your limits and keep you writing even when you’re not motivated to write. Establish an estimated total word count (most novels are between 50,000 to 100,000). Create monthly, weekly, and daily goals that will help you stay accountable and meet your deadline. Remember to set attainable goals; if you can only write 500 words per hour, don’t make a 2,000-word count goal for…

  • Your writing journey began with feelings of determination & eagerness; getting past writer’s block is about bringing that back. Let's jump into the tips: ...

    7 Tips For Overcoming Writer’s Block

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    If you’ve ever experienced any sort of writer’s block I’m sure you can agree it is a painful state of mind that’s often difficult to overcome. Where does writer’s block stem from anyway? Yale University psychologists Jerome Singer and Michael Barrios followed a group of diverse, “blocked” writers and concluded that there are four main causes of writer’s block: Excessive self-criticism Fear or comparison to other writers Lack of external motivation (e.g. praise and recognition) Lack of internal motivation You probably began your writing journey with feelings of determination and eagerness; getting past writer’s block is about digging deep and bringing…