On Being A Slow Writer – WN 158

On Being A Slow Writer – WN 158

No matter how much coffee I drink, I’m never able to write as quickly as I want to. This week, we’re taking a look at what it means to be a “slow writer” — and all of the baggage that comes along with it.

Consistency For Writers – WN 157

Consistency For Writers – WN 157

Creating consistently strengthens your command of the craft and builds trust with your audience. But if you’re anything like me, creating on a consistent basis feels impossible. Why are we like this? What do we do when we fail to live up to our own — and others’ — standards?

The NaNoWriMo Dilemma

The NaNoWriMo Dilemma

Whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or not this year, it’s a good idea to have an honest conversation with yourself about what you need to thrive as a writer.

My Biggest Weakness(es)

My Biggest Weakness(es)

What do we do with those irritating things about ourselves that we can’t change?

When Your Writing Dreams Change – WN 156

When Your Writing Dreams Change – WN 156

What happens when your childhood dream feels like it’s no longer achievable? What does it mean if (and when) your 5-year plan goes off the rails? Today we’re talking about what happens when our writing dreams change — and what it means for us as creators.

It’s Good To Have A Hobby – WN 155

It’s Good To Have A Hobby – WN 155

What is writing to you — a hobby, a second job, a meditative practice? Something else? All of the above? This week, we’re talking about the role of writing in our lives and how we can feel more satisfied and fulfilled in doing what we love.

I Am Bad At Certain Things

I Am Bad At Certain Things

Is there value in admitting that we’re bad at something? Must we improve ourselves in every way?

That One Time I Had A TV Show

That One Time I Had A TV Show

Back in 2019, I signed a deal with Netflix for a “Girl In Space” TV show. So… whatever happened to that?

“Good For You!”

“Good For You!”

The social consensus seems to agree that social media is bad for us. But… is it?

No One Gets To Tell You Who You Are – WN 153

No One Gets To Tell You Who You Are – WN 153

This week’s episode is a really personal one — it’s all about IDENTITY, and where our identities come from.  Have you ever had someone tell you that you’re not a writer, or that you’re not creative? Or that you’re not [insert label here],...
That Guilt Tho

That Guilt Tho

On creative flow, creative guilt, and why we give into distractions. (Or, if you’re the kind of person who easily resists distractions, please tell me your secrets immediately.)

What’s Better Than Perfect?

What’s Better Than Perfect?

Maybe you’ve heard before that perfectionism is a form of fear. So… what should we be aiming for instead?

Endings Are Hard –  WN 152

Endings Are Hard – WN 152

Why are endings so darn hard to write? Is it just because it’s difficult to wrap up all of the loose ends… or is there something more going on? What makes for a truly satisfying ending, and how do we create one?

Greetings From Isolation

Greetings From Isolation

I returned from speaking at the Austin Film Festival two Mondays ago, and then promptly went into hiding. I don’t necessarily think I did it on purpose, thinking to myself, “Ha ha! Now no one will be able to find me!” At least, not this time.

Why Do I Write By Hand? – WN 150

Why Do I Write By Hand? – WN 150

Why did I ditch my laptop and start writing everything by hand? What are the benefits — and what have I learned from it about the craft of writing?

Improvised Storytelling with Cat Blackard – WN 151

Improvised Storytelling with Cat Blackard – WN 151

If you’ve ever been curious about how live-action roleplaying game podcasts are planned, created, recorded, and produced, or if you have any interest in RPGs like D&D, Pathfinder, or improv in general, give this episode a listen. Cat is an expert in plucking meaningful narrative from a scattered story and provides tons of great advice on how to clarify your own creative work.

Things I Haven’t Told You, Part I

Things I Haven’t Told You, Part I

I’m really struggling with what to write to you in this week’s letter. Not because there’s nothing going on in my life, but because I keep telling myself that I can’t tell you what’s going on in my life.

I don’t know where this impulse is coming from, even though I’ve been sitting here mulling it over for a while. So maybe I’ll tell you the things, and in doing so hopefully figure out why I’m so resistant.

Forgiving Yourself – Write Now 148

Forgiving Yourself – Write Now 148

In this episode I’m asking why might creatives we hold onto regrets? What are we punishing ourselves for? Why do we spend so much time and energy focusing on our regrets and what purpose might they serve?

What Counts as Failure?

What Counts as Failure?

After speaking about the merits of failure, I was left wondering — what exactly was “failure”?

Just Writing

Just Writing

For the first time in my life, I have been writing consistently, habitually, every day.

Writing on the Road

Writing on the Road

I’ve been traveling the past several weeks for family and work, and everywhere I went, I took a dedicated carry-on piece of luggage that contained everything I needed to operate my business (and write).

What Do You Use To Write?

What Do You Use To Write?

I just realized it has been a while since I last talked about my favorite writing tools — and by “a while”, I mean more than seven years. Whew! Suffice to say a lot has changed since then, including the tools and processes I use to write.

Unending Torments

Unending Torments

Is this you? “MARCH 11, 1915: How time flies; another ten days and I have achieved nothing. It doesn’t come off. A page now and then is successful, but I can’t keep it up, the next day I am powerless.”

Something Came Up

Something Came Up

Oof. It feels like “something came up” for me every day this past week, and I hardly got any writing done at all. Family stuff, life stuff, calls, obligations, meetings, errands, even meals — things seemed to crop up as soon as I decided I should probably go write. …Or DID they?

Should I Be On TikTok?

Should I Be On TikTok?

Over and over again during the conference I just attended, I kept hearing the question, “Do I (or does my podcast) need to be on TikTok?” and the answer was usually in the form of another question, i.e., “Can you afford not to be?”

What Are Your Creative Core Values?

What Are Your Creative Core Values?

I didn’t mean to, but this morning I started listing out my core values. I didn’t think a lot about “core values” before I started my own business, but I think that, despite its corporate icky-ness, it’s a great exercise for anyone seeking clarity and direction in their life.

Interpreting Your Circumstances – WN 143

Interpreting Your Circumstances – WN 143

I’ve been thinking a lot about our circumstances lately, and how we interpret what we are going through, and how that interpretation informs a huge part of our self-identity and self-worth as writers and creators. What would we do, and who would we become, if we interpreted our situation(s) a little bit differently?

The Stress List

The Stress List

I was writing my morning pages earlier today when I realized I was doing something that I wasn’t supposed to be doing — writing a “to do” list of all the sidelined tasks that were stressing me out. “Pick up Midori’s kidney medication.” “Pay electricity, gas, and utility bills.” “Target run for necessities.” It felt good at first…

Open To Interpretation

Open To Interpretation

I just flew back home on Monday after 16 days with my family in Cleveland. My mother was in the hospital with heart failure, two of my sisters were in the process of moving, and my two-year-old niece had yet to begin daycare (and then came home with croup when she did).

Your Throughline

Your Throughline

Being home — or returning to a place I used to call home — is weird. Maybe you’ve experienced something like this, too. Being here makes my life feel like it has a split end…