(5 min read.) This big creative writing advice can help you write work that matters to strangers. It’s also part of why bad books sell so well. Have you read “Twilight” or “Fifty Shades?” How about “The DaVinci Code?” They didn’t tell good stories. But… Read More »Creative Writing Advice: Make Chances to Feel
(3 min read.) During private writing coaching sessions, the question I ask my clients the most often isn’t exactly about writing craft, motivation, habit, style, structure, or anything else complicated. The question is very loving and kind out loud, but in print it seems sort… Read More »My Private Writing Coaching Question that Makes People Cry?
(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… Read More »I LOVE PERFECTIONISTS: Perfectionism is not a Problem
(6 min read.) Repeat your best ideas. This quick creative advice can help make your work more unique, more impactful, and (yeah, I’ll admit it) easier to make. If you do it with some flair, repeating your best ideas can even make people LIKE your… Read More »Realistic Creative Advice: Repeat your Best Ideas
(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… Read More »Nailing the Writer-Reader Relationship
(4 min read.) I’m a huge fan of any low-effort, high-impact, easy-to-remember editing tip for writing. This is one of my favorites because it’s SO simple. If you can only handle three words of writing advice today, make ’em these: STICK THE LANDING. Your story, your… Read More »Stick the Landing: Simple Editing Tip for Writing
(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… Read More »Quick Creative Writing Tip: Start with your Ending
(90 sec read.) Today’s 90-second writing tip can help you focus your voice, find more specificity, and break out of overwhelm. Since you can do anything you want in creative writing, it’s easy to wander around and get lost. If you’d like a simple compass… Read More »90-Second Writing Tip: Write for One Person
(3 min read.) You can use this set of guided journaling prompts for creative writers as a writing warm-up, or as a standalone exercise if you’re feeling blocked or stuck and need some fresh energy and vision. If you’re setting new goals, trying to get… Read More »Guided Journaling for Writers: 21-min Exercise with Writing Prompts
(5 min read.) This is the truth about how I write, plus something at the end that might help you write, too. “What’s your creative process like? What’s your creative writing process?” The creative writing process is not the same for everyone, but we can… Read More »How I Write (Oops, my actual creative writing process.)
Beat Perfectionism with Star Wars (4 min read.) If you want to beat perfectionism, this tip is the closest thing I have to magic. Try it. It might make you laugh, but it also might work. When you think of your favorite movie, is there… Read More »how to beat perfectionism with STAR WARS
16-minute prose writing workout (6 min read) I love using this 16-minute prose writing workout to sharpen core skills. This writing exercise trains perspective, tense, and taste. It has made me more decisive, comfortable, and intentional with my prose on the page. You’ll need a… Read More »16 minute writing workout (prose skills writing exercise)