Category: about writers
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Should You Read Nonfiction as a Fiction Writer?
I don’t know about anyone else, but I LOVE reading nonfiction. Evidence: Writers are constantly berated with the fact that they need to read fiction. That they need to read within their genre. And WE DO NEED TO READ FICTION. I mean, we make fiction, so we better be familiar with it. But you know…
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When You Hate Your Writing
I talked about this a little here, but I want to go further into it today. Back sometime in December – I’m not really sure when, but it was a few days after Christmas – I pulled out a first draft I had set aside for a few months. My fantasy novel Oh, Wonder Why…
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Am I a Good Writer?
Any artist of any medium (dance, painting, writing) will probably wonder at some point, “Am I a good [insert thing]?” In our case, “Am I a good writer?” My first thought about this is CAUTION. *alarm bells and tornado sirens* This can lead down a deep, dark worm hole, from whence you may never return.…
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How to Find the Perfect Writing Routine
I got a little secret for you. Here, come closer. THERE IS NO PERFECT WRITING ROUTINE. There. I said it. It’s easy to become the writer who is constantly searching for the perfect writing routine/method. They bundle their belongings on a stick and go out searching, searching, and searching, like they are looking for El…
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The Unicorn Method to Editing (which I just made up)
I don’t know about you other writers out there, but editing stories is not my favorite part of the process. Which is not that great since a large chunk of the writing process is editing. I just really love drafting. I love writing without worrying about the content. I have freedom to write whatever comes out.…
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How Long Should You Step Away from a Writing Project?
How long should you step away from a writing project? It’s common advice to take breaks from projects. You finish a first draft and put it in a drawer for a while before looking at it again. If you are frustrated with something you step away from it for a while. But what’s a while?? …
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Should You Treat Writing like Work?
Should you treat writing like work? First, there are a few questions you need to answer: Do you want be published? Do you want to make a career out of writing? Is this your calling? If you have answered yes to any of those questions (or all three), then yes, you should treat writing like…
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“Am I Writer?” We’re Asking the Question the Wrong Way
“Am I a writer?” can seem like a really harsh question that will send you down the spiraling slide of doom into an endless loop of despair. But it is a legit question. The problem lies with how we are asking it. If you are considering writing as a career (or your calling, as I would…
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End of a Journey: Finishing a Writing Project
THE END No, this is not the end of the blog post. I am just pointing out that those are the two most satisfying words to write. THE END I just thought I would do it again to feel how good it felt. But as much as I like writing those words, I know (as…
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What a Writer Wants for Christmas
“On the twelfth day before Christmas my true love gave to me…” Twelves days till Christmas. Twelve days. The reindeer are stamping in their stables, choir boys are rushing to get to practice, and people are walking on the snowy streets window shopping and buying more tinsel. And while you’re shopping about, don’t forget the writers.…
Bernadette Benda 