How to Use Astrology for Quick Character Development
When people think of astrology, they either picture Larry the Lounge Lizard hitting on a pretty young thing by asking her what her sign is or they imagine reading their daily horoscope in the newspaper.
Read More ...“No More ‘I Love You’s'” by The Lover Speaks
Most people are unaware that Annie Lennox’s 1995 recording of “No More ‘I Love You’s'” is a cover. The song was originally written and recorded by The Lover Speaks, a band consisting of vocalist David Freeman and arranger/composer Joseph Hughes. The duo took their name from the Roland Barthes book A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments.
Read More ...How to Use Both Sides of Your Brain to Get to Know Your Characters
Human beings have two sides to the brain, which control the opposite side of the body. In addition, the left side performs tasks that have to do with logic, while the right side handles creative endeavors. Most of the time, my characters reveal themselves to me as I begin to write a story. Occasionally, though,…
Read More ...Get to Know Your Characters at the Grocery Store
I’m always thinking about my characters and my story. It’s not an obsession; I’m just efficient at finding the time I can work on my writing when I’m unable to actually write. One way I do that is to take my characters along when I have to run errands—especially when I must shop for groceries.…
Read More ...How to Break Through Writer’s Block by Turning Within
Sometimes when we sit down to write, our muse eludes us. Perhaps we’re tired. Maybe we feel overwhelmed or don’t know where to start. Instead of looking outside ourselves to begin the writing process, we can also turn within ourselves. If you find that you can not seem to get started with your writing, open…
Read More ...How to Solve Story Problems While You Sleep
I’m fortunate that storytelling comes easily to me. When I sit down to write, I seem to open a creative channel to my muse, listen, and transcribe what I hear. In doing so, I often slip into a meditative state where an hour passes in what feels like only a few minutes. When I read…
Read More ...How Writing Is Like an Artist’s Palette
Writing is like an artist’s palette; only instead of mixing paint, we blend words. A blank page or screen can be as intimidating to a writer as a bare canvas. Don’t think of it as something sacred. A writer cannot afford the luxury of that way of thinking because it keeps him stuck. He fears…
Read More ...How to Overcome Comparing Ourselves to Other Writers and Trust Our Unique Voice
My name is Jef … and I am a perfectionist. I have been seriously and consistently writing since September of 2002, and yet I’ve only submitted my work to be published twice. Why? Because I tell myself I can make it better—and then I’ll submit my work. The truth is that I fear I’m a…
Read More ...How Bad Ideas Create Good Stories
Sometimes writing can be like dating: the grass always seems to be greener at another table with a fatter wallet or bigger boobage. One of the biggest fears at the beginning of a writing project is whether or not a story idea is any good. Sure, the flash of inspiration you experienced last night while…
Read More ...How to Write When You Have No Ideas
Writing is a bit like meditation in that we often make it harder than it needs to be. We sit down to write and expect magic to immediately happen in the way we often expect to turn our minds off when we try to clear them. To add insult to injury, the harder we try…
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