Over the next few blogs, I’ll be exploring some of the most common obstacles every writer faces at least once in their career. I’ll begin with the obstacle of time. “I think I’ve got a book in me if I could only find the time to write.” We’ve all heard this statement from would-be writers….
Sometimes it’s surprising where we find wisdom. One of my most profound life lessons didn’t come from scaling to the top of a mountain to hear from an ancient guru. It didn’t come from a doctor, a pastor, a philosopher or professor. It didn’t even come in some quiet moment of deep reflection. It came…
Like most writers, I spend a lot of time alone applying my craft to the stories calling to me. And, like many people, I can lose myself in my aloneness. This is a good thing when I’m creating. But there are times when it’s not a good thing. I tend to be a loner, private…
Stop writing like you’re directing a movie A common mistake I see is when a writer begins to direct his or her character. Rather than taking me deep into a POV, the writer has chosen to tell me about what the character is doing. Walking across the room. Opening a cabinet. Checking email. While…
Many of us have writing quotes to inspire or nag us. Or to nudge us to keep writing. A few of my favorites include: “If my family didn’t want me to write about them, they should’ve behaved better.” Anne Lamott “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” Ray Bradbury “I love…
One given in the writing world is we will get discouraged. An area where I’ve been discouraged is when a story doesn’t work. My fingers are like stones on the keyboard. What seemed like a great story idea flickers like a dying fire. The plot is what my Italian friends call a frittata. The characters…
