Writing Process

March 9, 2010

• WRITER'S BLOCK: DON'T GIVE UP

  The Academy Awards were interesting in a number of ways. The actual event was filled with humor sparked by co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. (…)

February 23, 2010

• WRITER'S BLOCK: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

  I read an article in the news today about older people using marijuana for de-stressing as well as for medical conditions. The group consists primarily of baby boomers. (…)

February 22, 2010

• WRITER'S BLOCK: WRITING PERSEVERANCE

  Today I was struck by the Olypmic gold medal win of Bode Miller and the perseverance of Joannie Rochette, the Olypmic skater. Differently, they are models for our writing lives. (…)

February 17, 2010

• WRITER'S BLOCK: WRITER'S INTUITION

  When I sat down to write my last post, I knew I was needing to write even though I had no idea what I would write about. (…)

February 14, 2010

• WRITER'S BLOCK: A BIG WRITING BREAK

  Happy Valentine;s Day…..
  This is a day when the Hallmark and other greeting card companies can be especially assured a profit. (…)

October 6, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: BREATHE LIFE INTO YOUR WRITING

  Sticking to a project you're determined to finish can result not only in a boring outpouring, but as well in writer's block. Same old is tedious. New ideas invigorate our writing. (…)

September 22, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: CURIOSITY

  It seems that I am coming to a new place in my writing as a result of the passing my Nell.   Nor did I seek it out.  It just "happened."
  Specifically, I find myself wanting to talk to you about the role of curiosity in writing.  Of course all of us who write, or want to write, know that we are often driven by psychological factors.  For example, we may feel we have something we are compelled to say, or we feel that we must write for some emotional reason, or we get paid to write (our choice of careers) and must therefore write to deadline. (…)

September 15, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: PAMPER YOURSELF

  I am not back to my three times a week blogging — and I'm accepting this.  Going through the loss of my feline Nellie has been an emotional drain.  It's not as if life stops when someone you love dies.  And, it's important to carry on with what's necessary. (…)

September 8, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: WRITING HIATUS

  It's been a while since I've written.  Fortunately, I've discussed in my posts how sometimes we need to take a break from writing.  there are lots of reasons.  This time… life happened…. (…)

August 21, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: BREAK THE RULES

  "'I didn't set out to break any rules,' she [Val McDermid] says. (…)

August 18, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: REFRESH YOURSELF

  I have been writing a new novel and it has been moving along at a fairly rapid clip.  Usually, once I start writing, I write every day until I get to the end.  And the time frame is fairly short… four to eight weeks.  This has been my style. (…)

August 15, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: INFINITE SOLUTIONS

  Despite the fact that in this blog I give suggestions for dealing with writer's block, and despite the fact that I have an ebook, OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK EASILY, there are not a finite number of solutions to writer's block. (…)

August 12, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: LIST YOUR POINTS

  If there are some things you absolutely want to be sure to cover in whatever you're writing, it's important to write them down before you get started.  Donald M. (…)

August 6, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: YES TO DAILY WRITING

  Writing daily is important despite the fact that everyone may have a different writing style.  Daily writing is important to keep your writing muscle alive.  While you may never forget how to write, you can get rusty if you stay away too long.   Like the biker or driver who has not been on wheels for long enough that when they first re-engage the activity, it takes a while to get going with confidence. (…)

August 3, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: PERSONAL COMMENTARY

  I saw a movie yesterday at a major motion picture theater where I "saw" once again how all writing is definitely not good writing.  I paid good money to see a movie that left me dissatisfied.  Of course, I know that there are plenty of bad movies. (…)

July 31, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: FEELING COMPETENT

  There's a definite difference between feeling competent and being competent.  As a writing coach I've worked with a number of writers who were competent writers and simply could not feel competent.  In reality, we had to work more on their feelings of competency than on their competence. (…)

July 28, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: PASSION AND PERSISTENCE

  I recently read an article about writers who became published later in life.  Later used to be considered after 40.  Now that people are living well into their 80s… and beyond… there's plenty of opportunity for older wannabe writers. (…)

July 25, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: WEBSITE HELP

  I must have been looking for inspiration when I went to my bookshelf where I have scads…. 50+…. (…)

July 22, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: DISTRACTIONS

  I don't "do" twitter.  I don't "do" Facebook.  I don't "do" Myspace.  I don't "do" Linked In.  At least not enough.  Enough so that I'd get widely connected. (…)

July 19, 2009

• WRITER'S BLOCK: LOVE OF WRITING

  I cannot retrieve the past when I could knock out novels quickly.  Nor would I want to.  Rather, what I want is to feel connected more deeply to the novels I do write.  This is the experience I'm having with my new novel. (…)