7 of my favorite writing quotes

I thought today that I'd share some of my favorite writing quotes. Enjoy! A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world. —Susan Sontag If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends): "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" Chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly … Continue reading 7 of my favorite writing quotes

Writing every day

Writing every day used to be an ideal, a goal. I thought I must be getting somewhere if I improved my skill every day. I had to be. How else was I going to get better? I'd write even if it wasn't good writing. To practice was to improve. It didn't matter what was on … Continue reading Writing every day

Powerful small words

My mind buzzed over and over in a spiral. Lately, nothing had gone right in the writing world. My blog was floating above the water. I hadn't been able to work on my novel or short stories in a while. My critics gave me the same reply: "good but not good enough." Because writers could … Continue reading Powerful small words

A writer’s journey (part five) – small publications

Eventually the editing has to stop, right? All the hours to days to months to years of editing that one certain story cannot keep going on. It's difficult to stop. It's more difficult to get your stories out there and known however. Many literary agents love to accept writers that already have a name for … Continue reading A writer’s journey (part five) – small publications

Oh. You want the truth?

Oh. You want the truth? It’s a bit messy. It’s the joke your friends make that you laugh off. It’s the smiles and tears that come when someone finally sees the end. It’s the hours upon hours of sitting in one place, hoping the mixture of words turn out better, while knowing you’ll be sitting … Continue reading Oh. You want the truth?

#1 writing mistake

Over the years, I've read hundreds of novels and short stories. One mistake sticks out the most: showing the story instead of telling it. Telling is when a writer states their story rather than shows it through the details. An example would be: There was mist over the lake. Showing your story is when actions describe what's … Continue reading #1 writing mistake

Joy of writing

A deadline stares at you. Or the goal you set for yourself is already years behind you. Another rejection letter sits in your trashcan. Or another critic couldn't make it through your story without ripping it to shreds. Either way, sometimes it's difficult to remember the joys of writing. Creating something on a page is … Continue reading Joy of writing

A writer’s journey (part four) – editing all the time

Writing never stops and neither does editing. I’ve found that I almost enjoy editing a piece more than writing one. At the end of the day, I like to say, “Look how much this piece has grown! It has more character developments and details. It also flows more since I took out the first three … Continue reading A writer’s journey (part four) – editing all the time

Creativity is a fire

During my sophomore year, my writing professor sat at a cheap table in our new classroom. Since it was the first day of class, I sat at the opposite side of the room. But that didn't say much since everyone sat in a circle, facing each other. I took out an earbud to listen in … Continue reading Creativity is a fire