I appreciate the notes I’ve received since re-starting the blog this month. I was asked a number of times, “Where have you been the last two years?” Because my Writer’s First Aid blog is all about helping writers hang in there and not quitting and not giving up on writing dreams, it’s certainly a legitimate […]
Month: June 2018
Unhappiness: a Positive Sign for Writers
Have you ever considered the fact that unhappiness is the first step along the writer’s path? “Toddlers are bursting with the anxiety and helplessness of having feelings that they can’t get anybody around them to understand. They don’t even have the right words in their heads yet—it’s all emotion and frustration. That’s also an accurate […]
Writing Under the Influence and Its Effect on Creativity
Back in high school, I watched people transform from shy wallflowers to social butterflies by drinking. They grew talkative and tried things they would never have done sober. Being under the influence didn’t truly help them, although they swore it did. Being under the influence doesn’t help a writer’s creativity either. [And that includes many other things […]
The Necessity of Solitude: Refilling the Well
Women are givers. Women writers are some of the most giving people I know. We tend to have stronger relationships because of it–with babies, grown children, grandchildren, friends, and extended family. But unless you learn how to balance all this giving with replenishment found in solitude, you’ll find it nearly impossible to write. Every time […]
7 Paths from Busy to Productive
Are you as productive as you’d like to be? Earlier this week, we looked at the differences between being busy and being productive. Our time and energy are precious to us. When we spend both, we want results. Spinning our wheels uses time and energy too, but that depletes us, whereas being productive with our […]
Productivity VS Busyness: Diagnosis and Cure
I used to have frustrated students tell me, “I should have more stories and articles accepted by now; I work ten hours per week on my writing.” That fact alone was meaningless. I didn’t know how many hours were productive hours: how much was written, how many submissions were made, etc. You want to be highly […]