"The only real access that I have to my mind is when I'm writing." – Kay Ryan
A lot of writers have already crafted posts and articles with tips on how to be more productive during the shelter-in-place orders that so many of us are facing. The Internet is full of resources for learning new languages, improving our baking skills, exercising at home, and homeschooling advice.We can find lists of the must-watch... Continue Reading →
As a kid, I loved reading Treasure Island. I was in a fifth-grade reading group, and we worked through the novel together. We learned a lot of cool terms, including the “doldrums.” Lately, I feel like I’m stuck in that belt of windless waters, just praying for a small breeze. As I noted in last... Continue Reading →
I think a lot of writers struggle to evaluate their work. We all have days when writing is hard. When that happens to me, I’m ready to take up cat herding or yak wrestling as a way to spend my time, rather than facing another blank page. At other times, the words flow onto the... Continue Reading →
Back in June, I started work on a new manuscript. I’m just over 28,000 words into the project. And, almost 11,000 of them are in a single scene. And that’s a problem. I know a single scene in a novel can’t be that long. A large part of that material will need to be deleted.... Continue Reading →
I’m not sure why, but I really struggle with titles. I know some writers who come up with the perfect title for their stories. Some use a key theme from the story, while others rely on some clever pun that they then work into their narrative. But I suck at titles. Even for something as... Continue Reading →
I don’t like making New Year’s resolutions. I think they’re a lot of pressure right after an extended period of stress. Here in the States, we’ve just finished the big holiday season. We’ve spent weeks comparing our cooking, decorating, and gift-giving skills with all our relatives and friends. Many of us haven’t lived up to... Continue Reading →
Managing a writing life is more challenging than the average bear might realize. Sure, it seems easy. You sit at a computer or with paper and writing utensil and dream up new worlds, people, and conflicts. Kids around the world do this all day as they play. Storytelling, inventing new games or imaginary friends, and... Continue Reading →
For a few years now, I’ve been working on a les-fic romance novel. I have a completed draft, and I know it has flaws. I’ve been struggling for over a year to find and fix all of its flaws. At first, I struggled with the revision process because I never really learned how to revise... Continue Reading →
I’m not usually a person who finds profound inspiration for life in mundane tasks and chores. That’s why I’m surprising myself by writing this post. A few months ago, we added an adult Chesapeake Bay retriever named Circus to the household. We haven’t had a dog before, and she’s here on a trial basis. I’m... Continue Reading →
Since the results of the Presidential election were announced, a lot of writers and artists have blogged or used social media to talk about their struggles to find the energy needed for creativity. One of the most eloquent—and profane—takes on this feeling comes from the ever-amazing Chuck Wendig, who explains at length about why being... Continue Reading →
Ruth F. Simon 