The start of a new year always feels like an invitation, doesn’t it? A clean page. A chance to pause, take stock, and set intentions for the writing life you […]
Writing Through a Fog: When Life Is Too Much
There are times when sitting down to work feels like writing through a fog. The words don’t come easily, or at all. Your thoughts feel scrambled. Your motivation, distant. The […]
Why Writing 500-Word Chapters Might Be the Best Way to Draft Your Novel
If you’re looking for a way to gain momentum and maybe even finish a draft, let me offer one small, surprisingly effective idea: Write 500-word chapters. Yes, just 500 words […]
Revising as a Tender Act: Writing with Self-Compassion
There is a certain kind of heartbreak that comes with deleting a scene you once loved. Or realizing that a beautifully written passage you spent hours crafting no longer belongs. […]
A Thanksgiving Poem
As is the tradition on this blog, I like to share a poem on Thanksgiving. This year’s Thanksgiving poem comes from the new book Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop As Mindfulness by […]
What to Do When You Can’t See the Whole Picture
Every writer I know has experienced that moment when their draft feels like a pile of puzzle pieces. You have scenes, characters, maybe even whole chapters, but the larger picture […]
Choosing Between Past and Present Tense in Fiction
Have you ever paused mid scene and wondered whether your characters walked across the room or are walking? You are not alone. Many writers wrestle with tense. If you’ve ever […]