Writing
How to Increase Your Understanding of Setting When You Travel, Part 1
We can sometimes grow immune to the details of our everyday environment. Before we open our eyes, we’re complaining about having to get out of bed, or we’re already making a mental list of things to do before our feet touch the floor. How often do we notice the change in color in the sunrise…
Read More ...How to Find Inspiration Locally
Although I often receive inspiration by spending quiet time reading a book, I sometimes need to leave the house and set out on an adventure. Such inspiration doesn’t require that I travel to some distant natural wonder; I simply need to leave my current space for somewhere with new stimulation. This could be a walk…
Read More ...How to Create a Setting with Personality
Although many writers consider setting to be impersonal, every place has a distinctive personality. Regardless of whether a protagonist creeps into a dilapidated Victorian mansion on a dark, rainy night or whether a character walks in a cheerful woodland cottage with a cool breeze blowing through the many open windows, every location interacts with a…
Read More ...How to Find Inspiration in the New and Unknown
For the past week, I’ve been living somewhere new. A close friend has left the country to visit his dying father, and I’m dog- and house-sitting in his absence. For the past week, I’ve been living somewhere new. A close friend has left the country to visit his dying father, and I’m dog- and house-sitting…
Read More ...How to Reveal Character by Withholding
As beginning writers, we often tell more than show. We want to be sure that a reader understands a character is angry, so we write: “I hate you,” she said angrily. We might even add three exclamation marks just be on the safe side. With practice, we learn to become more subtle, taking pride in…
Read More ...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 ...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…
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