Archive for the ‘Writing Tips’ Category

Oi. That’s controversial. The “shut up and write” part was inspired by a meetup group by the same name. The “I don’t care if you do” has been running around in my head for a while. What do I mean by it? I care if you care, but in the end it’s just me and the blank page. The same for you. I can’t make anyone write. Well, I wouldn’t want to make anyone write. I hope you wouldn’t either.

Are you ready to deepen your commitment to your writing? Do you write or want to write novels, a memoir, or a nonfiction book? Are you ready to deepen your commitment to writing, to your writing self, to the story you want to tell? Are you ready to be a warrior for yourself, act on your creativity, and announce to yourself and others that you are creative?

We have an emotional brain, according to Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence.

And emotional brain, not an intellectual one.

I think we learn by hearing and speaking and watching. Speech was the first great transmitter of the culture of ideas, thoughts, and beliefs.

Integrating writing into your life means looking at what you may have to give up to make room to turn your dream into a reality.
Succeeding at your goal means knowing what you want, why you want it, and what stumbling blocks are in your way.
Writers write. If you are ready to become the writer you [...]

Some writers are at constant war with themselves, trying to force themselves to write, arguing with themselves, blaming themselves and living in constant strife. Others see themselves at one with the universe, in perfect harmony, guided by Spirit, at peace, and in constant love with inspiration. Yet both struggle with the written word. Both find [...]

Hello When I am afraid to write an article then I know I’m where I need to be. My heart is scared, I’m about to reveal a truth. Today, it was my personal note to you, my readers. When I avoid editing the next scene in my novel, then I know that whatever it is [...]

Fall is a great time to think about and put in place new rituals for your creative writing.
Why are rituals an important part of our creative practices?
Twyla Tharp, in The Creative Habit: Use it and Learn it for Life, speaks of the power of the “ritual of preparation.”

These polar extremes actually embody one another. In Chaos Theory, chaos is depicted as a series of intricately perfect patterns.
Both extremes reside within every human being; one the shadow of the other. Together, they allow us to fully create.

I find that other art forms invigorate and inspire my writing. The other day my 4-year-old nephew asked, “What’s that?” He was pointing to the two vertical vision boards sitting in my wisdom corner in my office.

I told him what they were, explained that …

Have you lost your way with your writing and don’t know how to forge ahead? If so, this is a good time to step back, hold on to your courage and re-imagine your current writing project or work in progress (WIP).
Imagine your writing project as a delicious dish. Take a moment to immerse yourself in [...]

My spirit is uplifted by grand buildings. I hear the whisperings of times past. Stories seep out of the old stone, echoes of footsteps remind me of people I have never met and never will.
The Montmartre church, the Basilique of Sacre Coeur, makes me think of secret rendezvous and gatherings of folk. I loved gathering [...]

When people tell me they want to be a writer, one of the first things I ask is “What do you read?”
Why is reading so important? Readers wash their minds and hearts with words, stories, and emotions. Then when you sit down to write, all these words and stories and emotions mix with their life [...]

 happens in the NOW, not in the past, not in the future, not in your head, not in conversation, and not in your dreams. From all those places — the past, the future, your head, your imagination, your conversations, your dreams –- come your inspiration and stories for your writing.
Words trailing one after the other, [...]

According to a recent New York Times article, we’re able to approach problems with a renewed perspective after some sleep.
Yeah! I’m so glad that science is catching up to what artists have always known about the Incubation stage (a la Jordan Ayer): that walking away from the problem and putting the mind in a restful [...]

I am excited to give you a sneak peek of my upcoming e-course, The Writer’s Adventure Guide.
Check out your FREE report here: http://www.writersadventureguide.com.
The course will be launching soon!
Become the HERO of your Book Writing Adventure

Overcome blocks — Defeat fear and resistance — Slay confusion
In this report, based on The Hero’s Journey, you will:
– discover a [...]

Excerpted from Overcome Writer’s Block by Beth Barany
The Garden Within
Who you are as a writer has grown from your lived experiences, your passions and your frictions, your soil. Your fertilizer, your weed pulling, your garden. Your writing won’t be like anyone else’s nor will your career, nor will your daily routine. This may appear [...]

Adapt these affirmations as you’d like. I wrote them to work that subconscious layer of my being that doesn’t believe in what I’m doing. I offer them to you in the hopes that you will find inspiration, deepen your motivation, and rise to new levels of your creative writing practice.

I am a writer.
I have permission [...]