A Creative Goal: Know Why, And Begin, To Avoid Danger

Want to achieve a creative goal? The goal can be anything. It may be: To win a top-tier client in an industry (freelance writing.) Publish a series of novels (novelist.) Develop an online class (although you’re new to teaching, you have knowledge and hard-won insights to share.) After setting a creative goal for a project late last year, I haven’t … Read more

Mind Maps For Creatives: Overcome Challenges And Find Solutions

Are you using mind maps? They’re powerful tools you can use in many ways to overcome obstacles, find solutions, and get motivated. They help writers and other creatives to become more creative and productive. When I mentor writers and authors, they’ve opted for mentoring because they’re frustrated. When you’re battling in the trenches of your writing career, it’s hard to … Read more

Writing Fiction: Start (And Finish) Your Next Novel The Easy Way

You may love writing fiction, but chances are that you have challenges. Perhaps you begin many more novels and stories than you finish. It’s a common challenge—your hard drives may be packed with unfinished fiction. Although that’s fine—you can begin stories just for fun—it’s unwise to make it a habit. Recently a frustrated writing student who’s starting her self-publishing career … Read more

Writing Fiction Using Characterization Tricks: Killer, Saint, Idiot?

When you’re writing fiction, your characters are everything. “Plot” is what your characters do. Since characterization is so vital, let’s look at simple ways to get characters clear in your own mind… So you can make them real to readers. I’ve been rereading Anthony Trollope, just for his characters. He’s masterful at characterization. Not only do you believe in his … Read more