(7 min read.) Forbidden writing tip: I edit as I write. It makes my writing better. Here’s how to edit a first draft WHILE you write it. I’ll also share quotes from a few famous folks who do it, and offer some good practical reasons… Read More »How to Edit a First Draft (Forbidden Writing Tips)
(3 min read.) During private writing coaching sessions, the question I ask my clients the most often isn’t exactly about writing craft, motivation, habit, style, structure, or anything else complicated. The question is very loving and kind out loud, but in print it seems sort… Read More »My Private Writing Coaching Question that Makes People Cry?
(5 min read) If you’re a perfectionist writer, I want to tell you right now that it doesn’t have to f*ckin’ matter. You can keep all your perfectionist tendencies and still be productive, make work that’s beloved, and (like me) even have a professional writing… Read More »Practical Tips for the Perfectionist Writer (I really live this way.)
(3 min read.) If you can read this, it might be time. (I’ll take this post down once we’ve succeeded.) It’s our job to save the world. By writing. And I don’t mean some touchy-feely “creativity helps us save ourselves” hand-knit pottery crap, I mean… Read More »Ooops, It’s Time To Save the World by Writing?
(5 min read.) Perfectionism is awesome. I’m a professional writing coach and I heart perfectionists. Being perfect is not an unattainable standard. Some of us ARE perfect. (At least some of the time.) People have made perfect books. There will be more perfect poems. There… Read More »I Love Perfectionists (Perfectionism is not a Problem)
(6 min read.) Repeat your best ideas. This creative advice is backed by neuroscience and can help you please readers and build a fanbase. It also makes writing easier. Yup. Repetition makes reading your work more fun. It makes writing less stressful and strenuous, because… Read More »Realistic Creative Advice: Repeat your Best Ideas
(2 min read.) Like many of the writing techniques here on my blog, this oddball creative writing tip is backed by science. For better creative performance, you can leverage the phenomenon of “enclothed cognition.” If you want to write better or differently, try changing how… Read More »Oddball Writing Tip (Backed by Science): Change your Clothes
(5 min read.) Writing a first draft is a thrill. I’ve written thousands of first drafts in my 20+ year career as a creative writer. Some were easy, some were hard. I’ve learned STUFF. I hope my sweat and mistakes can save you some time.… Read More »Writing a First Draft: How to Do It, Y’all (5 Tips & What to Avoid)
(3 min read.) Ok, here’s my real tea on the writer-reader relationship. I’ll give you four practical rules to write by at the end, but first I need to explain why they matter. The Core Writer-Reader Relationship Your reader owes you nothing and you owe… Read More »Nailing the Writer-Reader Relationship
(4 min read.) I’m a huge fan of any low-effort, high-impact, easy-to-remember editing tip for writing. This is one of my favorites because it’s SO simple. If you can only handle three words of writing advice today, make ’em these: STICK THE LANDING. Your story, your… Read More »Stick the Landing: Simple Editing Tip for Writing
(3 min read.) “It all made sense at 2am but I forgot it when I woke up.” Lost your creative idea? Here’s some comfort from me and from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. If you had a good creative idea and feel like you lost it, that’s… Read More »Forgot Your Creative Idea? (Pep Talk: Good Ideas Can’t Be Lost.)
(2 min read.) Today’s creative writing tip can help you add momentum and urgency to your writing. Not sure where to start your story? Try writing the ending first. Why this Creative Writing Tip Works For creative work, I’m a huge fan of doing the… Read More »Quick Creative Writing Tip: Start with your Ending