It's Thanksgiving once again, and I'm feeling grateful. As is tradition on my blog, I'd like to share a poem that captures the spirit of the holiday. This year's selection is "Good Bones” by Maggie Smith. Life is short, though I keep this from my … [Continue reading] about A Thanksgiving Poem
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The Crappy First Draft
Writing a crappy first draft seems counterintuitive. I mean, who wants to invest time and effort into creating something that is subpar? But the truth is, there is immense value in allowing yourself to write a less-than-stellar initial version of … [Continue reading] about The Crappy First Draft
Lessons in Specificity From “Less”
Greetings, fellow wordsmiths and literary enthusiasts! 📚✨ Today, we delve into the enchanting realm of descriptive writing as we unravel the brilliance of Andrew Sean Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Less." This literary gem not only defies … [Continue reading] about Lessons in Specificity From “Less”
Dealing with Your Inner Critic
Recognizing and dealing with your inner critic is one of the most important things you can do as a writer. That little beast will shut you down every time if you can't notice it and choose to set it aside. It's my personal opinion that the inner … [Continue reading] about Dealing with Your Inner Critic
Tracking Progress Beyond the First Draft
As writers, we often set daily goals to keep ourselves motivated and on track, especially during the initial stages of crafting a piece. During the first draft, it's relatively straightforward – you set a word count goal, such as 500 or 1000 words a … [Continue reading] about Tracking Progress Beyond the First Draft
The Value of Unread Books
I only have a few bookshelves. This surprises some people, especially if they've been on a Zoom call with me and seen the bookshelf that lines the wall of my office (and my landing page image on LinkedIn). But what might be even more surprising is … [Continue reading] about The Value of Unread Books
Daily Word Count in Scrivener
Setting daily word count goals is a great way to get that first draft done. It's basic math. Write 1,000 words a day and you'll have a totally respectable first draft in just three months. Even if you only write 500 or 200 words a day, doing it … [Continue reading] about Daily Word Count in Scrivener