More Than a Logophile
My first short story “I’m afraid the reason the doctor let Nicole come on this trip is because it doesn’t matter anymore. It breaks my heart to even think of it that way, but she isn’t doing well. Her legs were hurting with just the little bit she had to walk today. She’s resting now, … Continue reading We Could’ve Grown Old Together
Ideas, development, and drafting. Seems like that should include the hardest amount of work. And for some, it does. Personally, I find most of the drafting process to be drudgery. I also love editing. Development is creativity and organization. Drafting is pure creativity and discipline. In editing, there is problem solving and decluttering. We all … Continue reading The Rewrite
Before becoming a writer or even before finishing a writing project, it’s easy to think about the finish line. “I just have to write this, this, and this, and then I’ll be done.” The reality, however, is that the work of writing is a never-ending loop. Always Learning As writers, we are constantly learning. Whether … Continue reading A Writer’s Work is Never Done
Most of the writers I know personally are either pantsers or plantsers. I’ve always considered myself a plotter, but none of the well-known methods worked for me. I can’t use a synopsis to plot because my brain no longer cares about the story by the time I’m done. The snowflake method felt too messy and … Continue reading The Many Stages of My Plotting Method
Every storyteller has a certain passion. A specific love in crafting stories. A well deep inside that feeds their inspiration. That inner passion is held in place by two things: the person you are and the person you want to be. Before you read on, I want you to think about why you write. Is … Continue reading The Fire Within
When someone starts a project, they usually have a goal in mind. When a writer starts writing, they usually do, too. As with everything in life, goals can change or be postponed. There’s nothing wrong with that. You just need to be able to identify your goal and accept when it needs to change. There … Continue reading Is Publication the Goal?
Previously, we’ve talked about critique groups and how to criticize well. But equally important is the ability to accept critique from others. Taking critique is really hard no matter who you are, and it’s perfectly normal to get upset, get angry, or cry after receiving a round of critique. So here’s some tips to chew … Continue reading Critique Group Tips: Accepting Critique
Writers are strange people. We love spending our days dreaming up elaborate plots and lovable characters. Scenes play out in our minds like a Hollywood-quality production. We write them out and edit a little (or a lot, depending on your process), but then we’re swept away by the latest shiny new idea. That poor project … Continue reading On Finishing
Abrigail Julian: 