100 Words of Writing Advice

“When inspiration strikes, stop everything and write. But don’t wait for inspiration, and learn to hold ideas, words, whole paragraphs in your head, just in case. Make, beg, or steal time–from your job, your hobbies, your sleep–and write, whether it’s fifteen minutes a day or an hour once a week; find the time and use […]

“I’m the worst with writing advice. A masochist, at best. Hard on myself. Critical. But I do, maybe, have some advice: be slow and deliberate. Let ideas stew. Nobody’s waiting! You’re waiting for yourself to connect disparate threads. The result might be gorgeously horrific or inspiring, whatever your purpose. Give yourself that time to think, […]

“To be a writer you must read, and read extensively. It is part of the work. When you don’t know what to write, pick up a book. There are times I think I have nothing left to say, but then I read a few paragraphs and ideas begin to emerge. Don’t push them aside. Let […]

“The Star Wars franchise isn’t something I’ve followed, but the wisdom of Yoda and its applicability to the writing life continue to resonate with me. ‘Patience you must have, my young Padawan,’ ‘Do. Or do not. There is no try,’ and ‘A Jedi must have the deepest commitment’ are words to live by. If you write, you are a […]

“Read extensively, but write the poems only you could write. Talk with other writers, even if they’re dead. Know your purpose and hold it close. Think of the obvious, then think of something better. Make friends with metaphor. Take your poem to a metaphor’s house and stay. Follow when the metaphor goes out; see what […]