Writing a book is hard work. Everyone knows that. But what most people don’t realize is that it’s also a skill. And if that’s true, it can be learned. That’s why I love teaching my story course. You have to admit, the fact that it’s so easy to email a lesson, show how to apply it, and then evaluate what someone
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The difficulty of consistency in writing is greatly exacerbated by authors fearing that the situations and characters in their heads aren’t quite unique enough or imaginative enough. And this angst can effectively kill an author’s enjoyment of the daily work. The mountain of their vision seems too high to climb. Yet let them close their eyes to the hill and simply
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A robin landed on the deck railing today with the makings of a nest in her mouth. Have you noticed when you slow down long enough to hear them, the little thoughts that come unbidden can be entire new worlds to explore? The difficulty is, of course, slowing down. I’m trying to write today, so I’m procrastinating. But once you’re
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The shortcut to remarkable work is writing every day. I’m convinced this is the truth, but I’m already looking for an easier way. I mean, I believe the work changes you as you write and that’s how you slowly learn to truly live. But I’m 41 and finally beginning to commit to the daily practice of writing, and I think I’ve found a secret
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“We have met the enemy and he is us.” –Pogo, Walt Kelly Reading through my journal I see that back on December 4, I wrote about my process of writing my first new chapter since before I went freelance, over 4 years previous. I wrote it from pieces that started with the basic action and locations, then researched the locations
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