• Finding the Balance Between Working and Writing

    Take a moment and think of your favorite author. Without even knowing who you selected, I can say with 95% confidence that they had to work a full-time job while writing his or her first or first few books. Writing begins as a passion project for almost all of us and learning how to balance it with all of our other responsibilities is one of the most challenging aspects of writing. Think about it. If we had all day to sit around and write—no work or family responsibilities—we’d be able to crank out at least two books a year. In…

  • How to Create a Writer’s Notebook

    I am always on the lookout for the next it thing when it comes to writing trends. I want to find the magic routine that solves all my writing woes. At the very least, a routine I enjoy enough to turn back to on a daily basis. My desire to find a process that works for me as an individual led me to the writer’s notebook. I told myself that my writer’s notebook would be completely different from a daily journal. In reality, however, my writer’s notebook is in fact just a glorified journal. There is one big difference between…

  • How Your Health Routine Impacts Your Writing Routine

    Health routines are a trending topic in the wellness world, but did you know that the choices you make surrounding your health can also contribute to your writing routine in positive and negative ways? Just as an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise routine can leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated, those unhealthy routines can also negatively impact your writing progress as well. If your writing routine has become nonexistent or the work you’ve produced recently seems lackluster, review your health routines and spot opportunities for improvement that can ultimately impact and positively change your writing routine. 8 Poor Health…

  • Beta Readers: Part 1

    You’ve successfully finished the first draft of your manuscript and are feeling pretty good about your story overall. Maybe you’re ready to take some time off before diving into revisions; or worse yet, you think it’s ready for editing. There is an integral piece of the revision process, however, many writers miss out on—beta readers. After proofreading your first draft, beta readers should be your next step. Who Are Beta Readers? Think of beta readers as test subjects, or guinea pigs, for your book. They are typically the first group of people to read your manuscript in its entirety. When…