April Davila - Author
Trying to write a story while it's still too fresh in your mind can be nearly impossible. If you've been following me for any length of time you know I don't believe in writer's block, but this whole "it's too fresh" thing can often make a writer … [Continue reading] about When A Story Is Too Fresh
I'm writing this week from the shores of Lake Junaluska near Asheville, North Carolina. I'm teaching at the Writers Who Run Retreat and today is our second full day. Each morning we all gather for a run around the lake at 7am. It's three miles, but … [Continue reading] about Writers Who Run Retreat
Color coding Scrivener is one of my favorite little writerly tricks. It's just so freaking handy. Here's how it works. In the binder of your project simply right-click on any item (or selection of items) and move your mouse down the resulting … [Continue reading] about Color Coding Scrivener
I met the poet Dr. Deborah Bayer a few months ago at an online writing group and she was gracious enough to send me an advance copy of her new chapbook, Rope Made of Bandages. Reading poetry is a fantastic way to prime our brains for writing. The … [Continue reading] about Interview Poet Dr. Deborah Bayer
In movies and online, solitary moments spent in front of a blank page are often romanticized. However, the truth is that the journey of a writer can be a challenging and lonely one if not for a vibrant and supportive writing community. Engaging with … [Continue reading] about The Power of Community: Why Writers Thrive Together
A few years ago a dear friend told me about how, when she knows she's going to travel to a place, she likes to get novels that are set in that place and read them before, during, and after the trip. I couldn't believe I had never thought of that. … [Continue reading] about Fiction Makes Travel More Delicious
I am embarrassed to admit that, eight years and countless drafts into writing my first novel, I finally came to truly understand a piece of writing advice I had heard countless times: Make your characters want something. Seriously, I thought? I'm … [Continue reading] about Make Your Characters Want Something