Once you’ve trusted your imagination enough to sit down and begin writing, next, you have to learn to trust the writing process. So many of the writers I’ve worked with forget—or have never known—that fine writing doesn’t happen all at once; it takes place step …
Have you ever gotten an idea for a story or an essay and dismissed it immediately? Too complicated, too ordinary, uninspired, already been done are some of the condemnations my clients toss at their ideas. “But how do you know without even starting?” I ask. …
Although I’ve led hundreds of writing workshops, I’ve never joined a writing group. The reason: I don’t care what six, or eight, or ten other writers think of what I’ve written. Over the years, I’ve learned that each writer in a workshop will find at …
I’ve just come through a few days of bad writing. Or perhaps it would be better if I said a few bad days of writing. While both are true, approaching the territory of judgment is never a good idea for us writers. We all have …
This week, I offer you a guest post I wrote for the blog “livewritethrive,” which has generated much appreciation. Think Small to Avoid Writer’s Block
While limiting their writing time to 15 minutes helps many writers face the blank page, it doesn’t work for others. Even if they give themselves permission to write for only five minutes, some writers cannot sit down and begin. Something else—a phone call, a chore, …
At book parties to promote my book, “Small: The Little We Need for Happiness,” people often ask me about my writing process, something I love talking about. I was once a very blocked writer. Throughout college, I struggled with every term paper, writing the opening …
I’m learning something new about writing inhibitions. I’ve always known that a block could inhibit not only the writing itself, but also completing a writing project and even submitting writing for publication. I’ve worked with clients who fall into the latter two categories. They have …
If you’re aware of writing critics residing in your head, this post will help you clear the airwaves.
If you don’t have a writing companion, you might think about finding one.