Use your five senses to fill the blank page #writingprompts
TweetA blank page is a terrifying sight. What will you write? Will it mean anything? Will anyone want to read it? Yeah, I know, people often tell you “Just start writing,” but that’s easier said than...
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Five important reasons travel makes you a better writer
It’s barely two weeks since I got home from Nicaragua, and long gone is the sweet smell of dragon fruit I ate for breakfast or the sticky heat that pricked my skin all afternoon in the sun. I’m home...
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The simple truth that will help you finish writing your book!
Do you worry that you’ll never finish writing your book? How does that make you feel? Frustrated? Alone? Blocked? Insecure? Confused? Overwhelmed? If you’re like so many writers I know, these feelings...
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Follow this 8-step writing process to write a book
You want to write a book? “I just have bits of scribbles on paper. I don’t know what I’m doing,” Adriana said on a call one day. We’d been working together only a short while, and she was frustrated....
View ArticleNEW editing hack series attacks the hardest part of writing
Welcome to the first edition of my new editing hack series. I’ve created it for one simple reason. Editing is the hardest part of writing. Yes, I know placing your butt in a chair to crank out those...
View ArticleUse your five senses to fill the blank page #writingprompts
A blank page is a terrifying sight. What will you write? Will it mean anything? Will anyone want to read it? Yeah, I know, people often tell you “Just start writing,” but that’s easier said than done....
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How-to write when you have a full time job
It’s hard finding time to write, especially when you work full time and have family, friends, a dog and a laundry list of other responsibilities vying for your attention. There’s always something else...
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This is why you need a shitty first draft!
You know what I’m talking about. A Shitty First Draft. It’s when you sit down to put your first version of your book on paper and everything feels like it sucks. I didn’t coin the term. Shitty First...
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11 lessons NaNoWriMo taught me about writing
I wrote my first NaNoWriMo novel in 2016. That’s National Novel Writing Month for those of you who haven’t heard of it. The goal? To write a fifty thousand word book in one month. I wrote a young adult...
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9 Character Writing Prompts to Move Your Story Forward
You know when you meet someone and think, “What a character!” Because they’re inspirational. Or funny. Or have lived a life of adventure. Or have had so many bizarre things happen in their lives, you...
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I’m not wearing pants and 6 other self-care writing tips
Not everything that supports your writing is about writing. Those of us who work from home face particular challenges you don’t see in an office. You can get away without wearing pants. You can eat six...
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How-to write compelling scenes that make your readers want more
“I’d like to see this as a scene.” I’ll almost definitely request of you if we ever work together to write your book. I ask for scenes when I’m reading a page that leaves me wanting more. It means...
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Editing Hacks: Finish a Draft Before Editing
I mean it. Finish your draft before you dive into the editing process. You’d be amazed how many writing problems finishing a draft will solve. Still, your instinct will tell you to ignore this piece of...
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People don’t want to know the truth
This was going to be a very different post, but then Anthony Bourdain killed himself the same week Kate Spade killed herself. I thought about many things in the aftermath, but more than anything, I...
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New year resolutions don’t work. This is what to do instead.
Think back to your last new year’s resolution. How did it go? Did you start a new writing habit? Are you still doing it? If you’re like 92% of people, your resolutions have melted along with January...
View ArticleWhat’s the difference between a pitch, submission and query?
Pitch, submission and query. Do these terms leave you scratching your head? You’re not alone. And if you feel silly speaking out in a workshop or Facebook group to let everyone know that you don’t know...
View ArticleBoost your cashflow with copywriting in 7 proven steps
“What the hell is copywriting,” you’re asking yourself. And why should you do it? Juli Anne Patty, a copywriting veteran who has run her own business for 15 years, joined me in The Workshop, my online...
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Should you hide your memoir by writing fiction instead?
You want to write a memoir, but you’re wondering if you should instead change your experiences into something fictional. It’s a question almost every memoir writer I’ve known asks. You don’t want to...
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How to find beta readers and make the most of their feedback
If you’re reading this page, you probably want to know more than just how to find beta readers. You’re in luck. I’ve pulled together all the questions I’ve been asked over the last five years about...
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How-to choose the right word for your sentence
There’s a fine line between diction and verbiage. One is choosing the right word for the right moment. The other is stuffing your sentences full of long windy words in the hope you’ll maybe hit on...
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