Observe. Listen. There is value in every writer’s words, seasoned or novice. There aren’t stupid questions so ask them. Knowledge equals growth. Act on the afforded understanding, follow the path, and seize the opportunities even if they differ from your vision. Be humble. Accept all work offered because it leads to more opportunities. Write at […]
When I struggle with writing, I say to myself: write from where you are. It’s a reminder to accept where I am in my writing life and let go of frustration over not being somewhere — or someone — else. When you feel the same way, think about where you are and be there. Feeling […]
A friend recently asked me how to make disjointed memories come together when writing about her grandmother, who died when my friend was twenty. “What question are you trying to answer about your grandmother?” I asked. When crafting creative nonfiction, it’s common to begin with vivid glimpses of memory that compel us to the page. […]
Take a digital writing detox every so often. Using pen and paper forces you to slow down, to consider the words you are using. It’s an act of mindfulness in our busy, instant, electronic world—no distracting notifications jump from a page. Pen and paper are markers of time, memory makers and re-connectors. Remember how they […]
Words matter. Story matters. Your story matters. Tell yourself this exactly 8,214 times a day. Be willing to write poorly. Expect to write poorly. When you think you have a decent draft, take a break. Then, go back and try to cut the word count by half. Even if you don’t keep the cuts, this […]
“Try to recapture that childlike state, when you wrote just for the sake of it, without concern for whether anyone outside of yourself will like it, publish it, or favorably review it. Write down every little idea that comes to you, no matter how silly it may seem, even if you don’t know what you […]
“Read. Read the voices of those you want to talk to. Read the conversations you want to be a part of. Read one new thing every day, or every week. I say it’s ok to skip the classics. Find your contemporaries. What can you add to this conversation, through your own experiences and talents? Go […]
“Look to the blank page as an unconditional hug. The white, empty space will embrace you if you commit to the page. Write when you don’t feel like it. That will help you produce your best work. Let the words simmer and then return to the page again. Revise. Get feedback from trusted colleagues. Submit. […]