Avoid Writing Burnout
On the first day of a new year, everyone is setting resolutions. Write more. Write every day. Get published. But not all resolutions stick. We’ve all been there. You write every day for the first month, setting new word count goals and feeling great about your writing. But then it happens—burnout. Suddenly, all you want to do is sit on the couch and binge-watch Netflix. Writing begins to feel like a chore.
What went wrong?
Writing burnout happens for several reasons. Let’s take a look at the causes so you can set resolutions that stick and help you achieve your writing goals. ...
How to Write During the Holidays
It’s here. That time of year when everything seems to come before writing. There is shopping to be done, relatives to entertain, and food to eat. How are you supposed to have time to work on your manuscript? Here are three approaches to handling writing during the holiday season.
The Just Do It Approach
Thank you, Nike, for your words of wisdom. This approach is often taken by the writers who need to get their manuscript done, no matter what.
Make time.
It’s not going to be easy. You can’t wave a magic wand and suddenly have two extra hours in the day meant for nothing but writing. Making time means deciding that writing is more important than something else. Maybe it’s more important than the Christmas movie you want to watch or the cookies you want to make. Use that time to write. ...
How to Research for Your Book
My favorite part is of the writing process isn’t crafting the perfect sentence, making a brilliant point, or polishing words. No, it’s research. That’s a good thing, because as a nonfiction author, I spend a great deal of time actively researching, even when not at work on another book.
Sometimes that work doesn’t look like traditional research (the kind that happens in a library). It may include creating blog posts on a topic, freewriting to clarify thoughts, looking for data, interviewing experts, or talking with others. It’s any activity involved in gathering thoughts, data, and insights on a topic.
Research is the fun part.
The writing recipe outlined in The Writer’s Process lists research as the first, discrete step in a multi-phase writing process. That’s true for small, self-contained projects.
But research doesn’t fit in a single box when you’re embarking on major projects like nonfiction books. ...
Stockpile Inspiration
We all have days that feel like our creative muse has abandoned us. When we’re out of inspiration, motivation, or ideas, it’s good to have a backup plan. Hoarding those good vibes while they’re flowing helps us keep moving forward on the tough days. Here are a few things to save when they come your way.
1. Song Lyrics
You know that feeling when you hear the perfect line in a song? Next time that happens, write down the lyric so you can recall that feeling later. Maybe it’s a line that perfectly sums up your life, or maybe it just makes you feel good. Either way, write it down on a scrap of paper or in your phone’s notes app to remember it later. (And don’t be afraid to sing out loud!) ...
Tips to Write Faster {Infographic}
We all want to see that word count increase, but sometimes writing feels like slogging through mud. If you’re out of ideas for boosting productivity and getting the words flowing, check out this infographic from Inc.com. They’ve listed twelve great ideas to make the most of the writing time you have. ...
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Find the Perfect Title
As many of you know, this autumn Evolved Publishing will be releasing my first novel. The past few months have been a whirlwind of getting to know the Evolved team and editorial work. It’s been an eye-opening experience, and I’m so grateful to have the curtain lifted on this side of the business. But that’s a post for another day.
Parallel to the editorial decisions, there have been discussions about marketing, particularly cover and title considerations. This is a whole new ball game for me. Briefing a cover artist, what?! A title works in tandem with a book cover. They are like a pair of superheroes: Batman and Robin, Superman and Lois Lane, Danger Mouse and Penfold. They work together to attract your ideal reader.
Sometimes a title falls on your lap at the beginning of a project, and you know it is a perfect fit. More often, however, it’s a struggle to do justice to something you have been working on for months or even years. In these cases, a blueprint on how to find a title can be helpful. With the caveat that I’m no expert, I thought I’d tell you about my approach to picking a title. ...
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