More Than a Logophile
Well, here’s a story. Once upon a time, I was a really young writer. I wrote silly little fairy tales, mysteries, and ended most with a forced moral to the story. But I loved it, and that’s what mattered. I was also a voracious reader. I read everything my mom let me get my hands … Continue reading How I Developed Taste
Did you make any writing goals last year? I did. Finish editing WIPSend first queryStart new WIP Did I accomplish those goals? Yes. Yes, I did. But this would be the first time I’ve achieved all my self-imposed writing goals or resolutions. I’ve dreamed up some pretty big literary mountains to climb in the past. … Continue reading The Truth About Writing Goals
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
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
Life is hard. Writing is hard. Yet somehow, as writers in the real world, we think a career in writing will be magically easy (or glamorously hard). We live in a time where media goes viral and fame can happen overnight. But in this same age, there are writers sitting at their computers wishing for … Continue reading Writing in the Real World
I’ve been blogging for eight months now, and I’ve experienced three specific difficulties along the way. If you’re thinking of starting a blog, these are some things to keep in mind. 1) Burnout I’ve posted 1-3 times a week for eight months. That’s a lot of writing. Some articles were already written, but those only … Continue reading The Hardest Things About Blogging
As writers, there are four things that we hear about more than anything else: CharactersPlotPoint of View (POV)Narrative Most writers tend to be either character-centric or plot-oriented. A plot oriented writer sees the story as a series of events that happen to the characters. Narrative fills in what you need to know and no more, … Continue reading What is Voice?
Abrigail Julian: 