While people often use the terms interchangeably when talking about writing or anything creative, there's a big difference between a dream and a goal. A dream is a fantasy, a mental picture of how we wish it could be. A goal is a tangible thing you can work toward in...

Ask any writer why they write, and you'll get dozens of different answers. Some use it for therapy or meditation. For others, it's a job or side hustle to earn some extra income. Many writers write to share their story or to make sure the world has the stories they...

Don't get ahead of yourself In an old Garfield book we had growing up, there's a week-long gag about him becoming a writer. In one comic, he says something like, "Lots of people say they want to write a book, but very few actually do something about it." The punchline...

For years, I thought I could only write if I had the perfect circumstances. My favorite mood-setting music, my special writing spot in an inspirational setting and at least three hours of uninterrupted time. I rejected so many perfectly good moments when I could have...

Stephen King once said, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." To be a writer, you need to read. Read often. Read widely. Read what you know you'll love. Read what you think you'll hate. Fill your head with...

Write what you know? It's hard to think of a writing cliche more prevalent than, "Write what you know!" The problem is that it's not well understood and that confusion has lead many a would-be writer astray. Should you write what you know? Well, yes and no. Write what...

I have talked to so many would-be writers whose writing dreams stalled before they had begun and all for the same reason: when they started writing, what they wrote was so bad they just couldn't continue. What if they just weren't good enough to be a writer? What if...

Comparisons and competition Back in school, what were you told every time you took a test? Eyes on your own paper! And yet, as we test the waters of our writing life, we can't seem to resist taking a peek at what our neighbor is doing. Your favorite books have been...

How fast do you write? Do you know your actual your words per minute? It's worth figuring out for setting deadlines and planning projects. It's particularly handy for when you see an opportunity you want to submit to because you can figure out whether you can...