Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# How to Write Something

Writing Coach Megan Cohen: Words Come Easier & Hit Harder

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [megan's newest writing tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/blog/) - I'm a $120/hr writing coach but I know not everyone can afford that, so I'm sharing my best writing tips for free. I'm writing 100 posts in 2024. This is a series of short posts with practical advice.
- [My 24 Hour Writing Marathon: Survival Tips & Creative Stamina.](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/my-24-hour-writing-marathon-survival-tips-creative-stamina/) - Every year, I do a 24 hour writing marathon. I write for twenty four hours straight and try to beat last year's word count. I've done it four times and failed once. Here's my schedule, survival tips, how to stay awake and productive, plus a cheat sheet for how to build creative stamina all year
- [October Journal Prompts. Get a Hopeful F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/october-journal-prompts/) - Want to feel more hope and open space? These daily October journal prompts ask you to see things differently. If we haven't met, I'm an award-winning author..
- [September Journal Prompts. Fall Into a F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/september-journal-prompts/) - Want a fresh perspective? These daily September journal prompts ask you to risk new insights onto the page. See if you can answer the questions honestly.
- [August Journal Prompts. Have a Surprising F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/august-journal-prompts/) - Ready to jump into a new feeling? These daily August journal prompts ask you to let yourself be SURPRISED by what comes out on the page. I'm an award-winning...
- [July Journal Prompts. Have a Sunny F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/july-journal-prompts/) - Could you use a break from being acceptable? These daily July journal prompts invite you to get refreshingly honest. In the words of the great Madeline L'Engle: “If you want..."
- [Writing Burnout is a Gift (Practical Burnout Recovery Tips)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-burnout/) - Writing burnout is a gift. It's not a gift anyone asks for. But it can permanently change your creative life for the better. Let's get practical...
- [June Journal Prompts. Have a Shiny F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/june-journal-prompts/) - These daily June journal prompts ask you to look closer. Reflect, clarify, and enjoy yourself on the page.. In the words of the great Anais Nin: “In the journal I am at ease.” If we haven't met, I'm Megan. I'm a trained facilitator, respectful writing coach, and award-winning author. I journal daily-ish. It's not magic,
- [How to Beat Perfectionism with STAR WARS](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/how-to-beat-perfectionism-with-star-wars/) - (5 mins) If you want to beat perfectionism? Fall in love with what you're best at. Then fight like hell for its right to be seen. Star Wars taught me...
- [May Journal Prompts. Have a Personal F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/may-journal-prompts/) - These daily May journal prompts welcome change and growth. In the words of the great Susan Sontag: “In the journal, I do not just express myself..."
- [Flow State Writing (My Chill Million Words a Year)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/flow-state-writing/) - Hey, I'm a trained deep work and flow state facilitator and I write a million words a year. It's chill. Here's my informal guide to flow state writing.
- [April Journal Prompts. Have a Rainy F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/april-journal-prompts/) - Listening to the quietest voice inside you can change your life (and maybe the world)! My April journal prompts: honesty, growth, and just enough fun to keep...
- [Practical Tips for the Perfectionist Writer (I really live this way.)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/practical-tips-perfectionist-writer/) - (5 mins.) If you're a perfectionist writer, I'll tell you right now that it doesn't have to f*ckin' matter. You can keep your perfectionism and still do this.
- [On Writing Consistently](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-consistently/) - (2 mins) Writing consistently isn't about showing up every day. It's about always coming back to the page, no matter how long you've been gone. Here's science.
- [March Journal Prompts. Have a Wild F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/march-journal-prompts/) - The page belongs to you and nobody can take it away! The focus of my March journal prompts: getting curious, getting free, and getting real. If we haven't met..
- [Guided Journaling for Writers: 21-min Exercise with Writing Prompts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/guided-journaling-for-writers-21-min-exercise-with-writing-prompts/) - Guided journaling prompts for creative writers from an award-winning writing coach. Use as a writing warm up exercise or beat burnout by setting creative goals.
- [December Journal Prompts. Have a Festive F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/december-journal-prompts/) - Thoughts and/or feelings? Let's work 'em out with daily December journal prompts. Words can solve problems, so let's get honest in our journaling practice.
- [February Journal Prompts. Have a Chill F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/february-journal-prompts/) - Alive in this timeline? Work it out with my February Journal Prompts. If we haven't met, I'm Megan. I'm a trained facilitator, respectful writing coach, and award-winning author. I journal daily-ish. f you’d like to join me this month, here are my Megged-up February journal prompts.
- [How to Beat Writer's Block: Write Like You're Getting Paid](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/how-to-beat-writers-block-write-like-youre-getting-paid/) - (2 mins) Here's my quick pep talk to beat writer's block. Would you still have writer’s block if you got paid a hundred dollars a word? Or could you FIND A WAY?
- [I'm not writing.](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/not-writing-today/) - (1 min read.) I'm not writing today. This blog post was written and scheduled days ago. Today, I'm with my loved ones and I'm eating snacks and taking naps. My projects are languishing on a hard drive, no new words are getting written, and nothing "important" is being made. I don't write every day. If
- [How to Build a Writing Habit Without Burnout (My "Four Easy" Rule)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/how-to-build-a-writing-habit-easy/) - (2 mins.) You don't have to write every day. I promise this is better. It helped me build a writing habit without burnout, and now I write a million words a year.
- [Three quick fundamentals to write more and write better.](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/three-quick-fundamentals-to-write-more-and-write-better/) - (1 min read) These are simple ideas but I love to repeat them. To myself. Because sometimes I forget. When my focus drifts, I bring it back here. These are a North Star that takes me back to my page. 1) Tell the truth. You can write lies if you want to (it’s your page!)
- [Nailing the Writer-Reader Relationship](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writer-reader-relationship/) - (3 min read.) Ok, here's my real tea on the writer-reader relationship. I'll give you four practical rules to write by at the end, but first I need to explain why they matter. The Core Writer-Reader Relationship Your reader owes you nothing and you owe them everything. That's the basis of the contract. They can
- [January Journal Prompts. Have a Brand New F*ckin' Breakthrough!](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/january-journal-prompts/) - Are you alive? Work it out with my January journal prompts. (If we haven't met, I'm a trained facilitator and award-winning author.) Let's write.
- [16 minute writing workout (prose skills writing exercise)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-workout-writing-exercise-prose-skills/) - I love using this 16-minute writing workout to sharpen prose skills. You'll need a timer or stopwatch. This writing exercise trains perspective, tense, and taste.
- [7 Journal Prompts: A Week of Happiness on the Page](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/free-journal-prompts-happiness-week/) - Try these journal prompts daily for a week. They use science-backed approaches to precisely target the dopamine that helps your brain enjoy the act of writing.
- [We Love a Cozy Breakthrough! November Journal Prompts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/november-journal-prompts/) - Having thoughts and/or feelings? Try my November journal prompts to open up some breathing room. Free printable and cozy journaling music playlist.
- [This Matters (Writing in Hard Times)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/this-matters-writing-in-hard-times/) - (7 min read.) We are writing in hard times. It’s 2024. The dog is barking, the oceans are boiling, fascism is gnawing on our doorknob, income disparity hasn’t been this bad since before the French Revolution, low-rise jeans are back, and there are at least three genocides happening right now (with varying degrees of media
- [Ooops, It's Time To Save the World by Writing?](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-can-save-the-world/) - (3 min read.) If you can read this, it might be time. (I'll take this post down once we've succeeded.) It's our job to save the world. By writing. And I don’t mean some touchy-feely “creativity helps us save ourselves” hand-knit pottery crap, I mean we’re gonna save each other. In practical terms. Like firefighters
- [I Love Perfectionists (Perfectionism is not a Problem)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/i-love-perfectionists-perfectionism-not-a-problem/) - (5 min read.) Perfectionism is awesome. I’m a professional writing coach and I heart perfectionists. Being perfect is not an unattainable standard. Some of us ARE perfect. (At least some of the time.) People have made perfect books. There will be more perfect poems. There will be more perfect stories and essays. You could be
- [Realistic Creative Advice: Repeat your Best Ideas](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/realistic-creative-advice-repeat-ideas/) - Repeat your best ideas. This creative advice is backed by neuroscience and can help you please readers and build a fanbase. It also makes writing easier.
- [5 Writing Tips to Restart an Unfinished Draft: How to Finish a Half-Finished or Abandoned "Work-in-Progress" (WIP)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/how-to-restart-unfinished-draft-5-writing-tips-for-a-half-finished-or-abandoned-work-in-progress-wip/) - (5 mins.) Here are my 5 best tips for restarting an unfinished draft of your writing project. The neuroscience on half-finished creative projects suggests...
- [90-Second Writing Tip: Write for One Person](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/90-second-writing-tip-write-for-one-person/) - Ready to try something new in your writing practice? Today's 90-second writing tip can help you focus your voice. When you write for an audience of one instead of writing...
- [Quick Creative Writing Tip: Start with your Ending](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/quick-creative-writing-tip-start-with-your-ending/) - (2 min read.) Today’s creative writing tip can help you add momentum and urgency to your writing. Not sure where to start your story? Try writing the ending first. Why this Creative Writing Tip Works For creative work, I'm a huge fan of doing the most important part you can as soon as you can.
- [Writing a First Draft: How to Do It, Y'all (5 Tips & What to Avoid)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-a-first-draft-honest-tips-what-to-avoid/) - 5 mins. Writing a first draft is a thrill. I've written thousands in my 20+ year career as a writer. Here are my honest tips for what to do (and what to avoid.)
- [Need a Mantra for Writer's Block? (My Actual Solution)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/mantra-for-writers-block/) - (3 mins) My honest mantra for writer's block. I'm a trained deep work facilitator and award-winning author who writes a million words a year. Borrow this.
- [Overwhelmed by Creative Writing Advice? (It's a vibe.)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/overwhelmed-by-creative-writing-advice/) - (3 mins.) There's as much creative writing advice on the internet as there is plastic in the polluted ocean. As a writing coach, I see this doing damage.
- [Free Journaling For Writer's Block: Unstuck In One Week](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/journaling-for-writers-block-free-guided-journal-prompts/) - When in doubt, journal it out. Get unstuck in a week with the prompts in my free journaling for writer's block challenge. (PS. I'm a million-words-a-year author.)
- [Creative Writing Advice from 6 Genius Authors](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-advice-from-genius-authors/) - (3 min read.) Here's some of my favorite creative writing advice from people I actually trust. Each of these folks have written books that won awards, sold like hotcakes, AND made me gasp, laugh, and/or cry. I love these quotes and I thought you might like them too. Kurt Vonnegut: TO HECK WITH SUSPENSE (In
- [Creative Writing Advice: Make Chances to Feel](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/creative-writing-advice-chances-to-feel/) - (5 mins.) This big creative writing advice can help you structure your story and write work that matters to readers. Have you read "Twilight" or "Fifty Shades?"
- [How to Edit a First Draft (Forbidden Writing Tips)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/how-to-edit-a-first-draft-while-write/) - Here's how to edit a first draft WHILE you write. Joan Didion and Roald Dahl did it. I do, too. It makes my writing better to edit before I finish a first draft.
- [My Private Writing Coaching Question that Makes People Cry?](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/best-question-private-writing-coaching/) - (3 mins.) During private writing coaching sessions, the question I ask clients the most isn't exactly about writing craft. It's simple but people sometimes cry.
- [How I Write (Oops, my actual creative writing process.)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/creative-writing-process/) - (5 mins) Here's the filthy laundry on my actual creative writing process. I'll show you the messy truth, then sum it all up in four tidy words at the end.
- [don't give up (writing pep talk)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/dont-give-up/) - If you want to give up on your writing, read this 2-min pep talk instead. I'm a $120/hr writing coach and this is how I remember to keep going on the page.
- [Oddball Writing Tip (Backed by Science): Change your Clothes](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/oddball-writing-tip-science-change-your-clothes/) - (90 secs.) Like many of the writing techniques here on my blog, this oddball creative writing tip is backed by science. For better creative performance, change your clothes.
- [Stick the Landing: Simple Editing Tip for Writing](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/stick-the-landing-editing-tip-for-writing/) - I’m a huge fan of any low-effort, high-impact, easy-to-remember editing tip for writing. If you can only handle three words of advice today: STICK THE LANDING.
- [Forgot Your Creative Idea? (Pep Talk: Good Ideas Can't Be Lost.)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/forgot-your-creative-idea/) - (3 min read.) "It all made sense at 2am but I forgot it when I woke up." Lost your creative idea? Here's some comfort from me and from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. If you had a good creative idea and feel like you lost it, that's fine. It's okay to let a good idea go. If
- [55 Ways to Stop Procrastination (and Write it Now)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/procrastination/) - Here’s my massive master monster list of 55 ways to stop procrastination using neuroscience, realistic strategies, and respectfully supportive dirty tricks.
- [10 Tips a Private Writing Coach Wants You to Know](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/10-best-writing-tips-writing-coach/) - (5 mins.) Ten of the best tips I give writers in sessions as a private writing coach. Wrote 'em up as a fast free read. Hope it saves you some trial and error.
- [What Does a Writing Coach Do?](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/what-does-a-writing-coach-do/) - (4 min read) What does a writing coach do? What does a writing coach NOT do? Here's what to expect in a session with me as a private writing coach.
- [100 Blog Posts in 2024 (100 valentines for my friends)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/100-blog-posts-start/) - I’m publishing 100 blog posts in 2024. They're all about how to write more, how to write better, or why to write at all. Every Monday and Wednesday at 9am PT.
- [write like you drive (you might write better)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/write-better-drive/) - (2 mins) Want to write better? Get in the driver's seat. In my work as a writing coach, I find this metaphor a useful shortcut for a quick mindset shift.
- [don't write every day](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/write-every-day/) - (4 min read) Do you write every day? I don't write every day, and I'm a million-words-a-year author. Writing every day is fine if that’s your kink. I'm not a..
- [one-minute poem (quick writing prompt)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/minute-poem-quick-writing-prompt/) - (4 min read) I’ll take a few minutes to explain this quick writing prompt, but it takes less than a minute to do. As a writing coach, I use this creative warmup
- [think "words per minute" to write better](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/think-words-per-minute-to-write-better/) - (3 min read) Not how fast you write. How fast they read. Thinking in "words per minute" helps you connect with the reader. You'll write better and edit smarter.
- [tell the truth](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/truth/) - If you lie to people, writing will make you feel lonely. This is my #1 advice as a writing coach. Want to know how to write better? Try to tell the truth about...
- [How to Let Go of Perfectionism: a Pig Who Farts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/perfectionism/) - (3 min read) To let go of perfectionism, focus on the highlight of your work. I’m not an artist. I can’t draw for squat. When I drew a pig who farts...
- [why does the world exist?](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/exist/) - why does the world exist? Does the world exist to be loved by us? Or does the sun hurt our eyes to teach us to keep our filthy eyes off the sun? (I'm just asking questions.) Why do you think the world exists? Have you ever tried to write about it? If you're feeling a
- [quick procrastination fix (do a birthday gift)](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/quick-procrastination-fix/) - (5 mins) This quick procrastination fix is how I've survived my whole writing career. I even used it to write this post! Here's how to overcome procrastination.

## Pages

- [What do you want in a writing coach?](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/) - Award-winning author who writes a million words a year and isn't burned out. Friendly creative writing coach with sliding scale prices. Free writing tips blog.
- [Really Quite Helpful Creative Writing Tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/creative-writing-tips/) - These (hopefully) really quite helpful creative writing tips offer what I've learned as an award-winning author who writes a million words a year.
- [About Me](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/about-me/) - Megan Cohen (she/her) is an adventurous writer celebrated for "searing smarts and a seemingly bottomless capacity for feeling." In her 20-year career...
- [writing resources and tools for writers](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/writing-resources-and-tools-for-writers/) - As a writing coach, I have some favorite writing resources and tools for writers who want inspiration and distraction-free focus. Every day, I use FLOWN online.
- [contact megan cohen](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/contact/) - email me or follow one of my platforms. contact megan cohen (writing coach) on facebook, instagram, twitter, patreon. join my monthly (or less) mailing list.
- [Attribution](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/attribution/) - This site has been created with the help of many different people and companies. This site was built on a powerful, Inspirations based web builder called BoldGrid. It is running on WordPress, the most popular content management software online today. Web hosting support is provided by DreamHost. Additional functionality provided by: WP Canvas - Gallery
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/privacy-policy/) - If you want to get more informed and educated about digital privacy in general, we suggest you check out the resources provided by the 501(c)3 Electronic Frontier Foundation at eff.org Who we are Our website address is: https://www.howtowritesomething.com. This site is owned and operated by Megan Cohen, citizen of the U.S.A. and copyright holder for

## Categories

- [writing](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/writing/)
- [motivation](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/writing-motivation/)
- [write more](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/write-more/)
- [write better](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/write-better/)
- [writing workouts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/writing-workouts/)
- [try this](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/try-this/)
- [journaling](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/journaling/)
- [creative pep talk](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/creative-pep-talk/)
- [editing](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/editing/)
- [quick writing tip](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/quick-writing-tip/)
- [first draft](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/first-draft/)
- [forbidden writing tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/forbidden-writing-tips/)
- [writers block](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/writers-block/)
- [story structure](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/story-structure/)
- [best of meg](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/best-of-meg/)
- [procrastination and perfectionism](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/category/procrastination-and-perfectionism/)

## Tags

- [quick writing tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/quick-writing-tips/)
- [lists](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/lists/)
- [procrastination](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/procrastination/)
- [why write](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/why-write/)
- [write more](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/write-more/)
- [all my feels](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/all-my-feels/)
- [write better](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/write-better/)
- [massive monster posts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/massive-monster-posts/)
- [perfectionism](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/perfectionism/)
- [writing coach realness](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/writing-coach-realness/)
- [quick writing prompts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/quick-writing-prompts/)
- [writing workouts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/writing-workouts/)
- [try this](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/try-this/)
- [journaling](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/journaling/)
- [creative pep talk](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/creative-pep-talk/)
- [editing tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/editing-tips/)
- [first draft](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/first-draft/)
- [forbidden writing tips](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/forbidden-writing-tips/)
- [writer's block](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/writers-block/)
- [writing challenge](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/writing-challenge/)
- [writing prompts](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/writing-prompts/)
- [printable](https://www.howtowritesomething.com/tag/printable/)