Often it’s hard for writers to commit to the long project, the novel — ‘The End’. There are just so many blank pages, so much story… so much doubt. For me, passion is the secret ingredient that makes all things possible in writing. In fact, I like to develop my ideas over months or yearsContinue reading “How to Turn Your Passion into a Published Book”
Category Archives: Writing
Why I Write Fantasy: A Post About Possibilities, Magic, and He-Man
“Why did you pick that genre? Why fantasy?” It is almost a strange question to me, like ‘Why do you breathe air?’ Though of course, sometimes I don’t breathe air — sometimes I hold my breath and swim deep into the seas of historical fiction or Gothic romance. But I always resurface soon enough, alwaysContinue reading “Why I Write Fantasy: A Post About Possibilities, Magic, and He-Man”
What’s Your ’10’ Career?
Just a couple of days ago I sat down to make a business plan while waiting in a Chinese restaurant for my takeout order to cook (tip: if you can’t figure out a surefire plan for your business in ten minutes, then why bother? 😉 The only thing I had time to do was make aContinue reading “What’s Your ’10’ Career?”
The Inelegant Balance Between Being Right and Becoming Better
Now, we all want to be right — to be smart, admired, to think for ourselves and not let anything sway our convictions. But at a certain point does certainty inhibit progress? I’ve been asking myself this question a lot this year. Firstly, as I move forward toward becoming a professional writer, I have startedContinue reading “The Inelegant Balance Between Being Right and Becoming Better”
How to Tune Out the Noise
I recently led a class about ‘How to Reevaluate Your Life’. Some readers will remember that I’ve talked about this topic a couple of times before and so I felt pretty confident. I printed handouts, talked for over an hour, and thought I’d covered my bases pretty well. Then — during the Q & AContinue reading “How to Tune Out the Noise”
2015: 10 Things That Are Inspiring My Writing
Even though the year isn’t over yet, I’m so excited about the things that are exhilarating me and moving my writing forward that I just had to share them (note: no real spoilers here, just a few lines of non-revealing dialogue) — #1 — Hannibal Hopefully season three isn’t the end, but if it wasContinue reading “2015: 10 Things That Are Inspiring My Writing”
The SELF-PRINTED 3.0 Splash
As anyone who is interested in writing and has ever been trapped with me in a elevator, car, or coffee shop meeting room knows, I’m a HUGE fan of Catherine Ryan Howard. When I was getting started in self publishing, I realized I was still stuck in the ‘vanity press’ mindset of old and didn’tContinue reading “The SELF-PRINTED 3.0 Splash”
What Inspires You Most?
When I saw author Rob White‘s list of books that have influenced his writing most (in no particular order), I knew I had to make my own list. And I encourage you to do the same. Whether you’re a painter, writer, musician, etc, the way you create today probably owes a lot to something youContinue reading “What Inspires You Most?”
A History of a Writer
I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember and, as I’m turning 35 in a few months, it looks like the odds are good I’ll be telling them for the rest of my life (not just gonna yell ‘That’s it! I’m done!’ as I blow out my birthday candles). But howContinue reading “A History of a Writer”
How To Write a Book (Part 2 of 2)
Here’s the second half of my guide to book writing — How to Write — a Practical Timeline Here’s the nitty-gritty of how I get to ‘The End’: Get an idea. You might be reading a news article, or a another novel, watching a film, or daydreaming a ‘what if’ and it gets you —Continue reading “How To Write a Book (Part 2 of 2)”
Stay Extraordinary 