Rituals, every writer has them. They vary from writer to writer, from writing at a certain time every day to creating an atmosphere, or meditating to prime the brain. Rituals become a part of our writing process. My last post… Read More ›
writer issues
Psychological Hacks for Writers
Four psychological hacks for writers when The Muse refuses to play. In other words, how to be more productive as a writer. Or how to tame The Muse. In my experience the answer is a mixture of motivation, focus, prioritising,… Read More ›
Story Pieces, Plot Weaving, and a Slap Forehead Moment
Working on a novel is never easy. NEVER. Parts will trick you and come like a breeze. Maybe for some, it’s easier than others, but for most of us, there is a lot of head-banging. I’m surprised my walls aren’t… Read More ›
Muse Kryptonite
Faulty Muse Alert Why is The Muse, my creative self, so fragile? There are a lot of writers out there pumping out novels, and it feels like being left behind. I haven’t finished a manuscript in Yoda knows how long…. Read More ›
Writer’s Block: Character Playlists
Somehow, I landed on another writing hiatus. Thanks life, much appreciated. The clouds of life eventually cleared and the will to be creative returned. However, The Muse did not. She didn’t get the memo. Revisiting the story world… cold. Re-reading… Read More ›
When to Recast Your Characters
The Silent Character The muse has thrown an awesome plot your way. You both get excited. The plot dictates the character. Like people, their life experiences (aka the plot) shape their personalities. However, every so often a character doesn’t “speak”… Read More ›
Pen Names: Yay or Nay?
The dilemma “to pen name or not” drove me mad for years. Names are a part of our identity. Choosing a pen name is a serious business, literally. As writers, our names are marketed and, dare I say with the… Read More ›
Writing, Grief, and Mourning, as Writers
Background I loved Pete, and he loved me. A year ago to the day, my writing and life mentor passed away unexpectedly. For a decade, we ran local writing groups together, celebrated socially, shared our personal thoughts, and drank… Read More ›
How to Connect with Easy and Difficult Characters
Contents Introduction How to Connect with Difficult Characters Add Elements of Yourself Character Goals and Plot Getting to Know Your Characters Techniques First Person Snips Dialogue Mediation / Visualisation The Interview Images Conclusion Introduction Sometimes characters appear out of nowhere… Read More ›
Creative Writing: Procrastination and Solutions
Target Audience: all creative writers stuck in a funk Contents Introduction Physical Comfort Mental Status Distractions aka Down the Rabbit Hole Fear aka The Perfection Monster Just Don’t Wanna Lost the Magic Overwhelmed by Novel / Book Series Final Note… Read More ›
THE WRITING ASYLUM 