I recently attended a holiday party where I chatted with a fellow author on all manner of writerly things. We found our writing journeys and experiences differed in several ways. He’s a full-time novelist while I squeeze writing into the spare hours around my 9-to-5 muggle job. He’s been represented by multiple agents throughout his…
Tag: writing
The On-Fire/Burnout Cycle of a Writer
Summer is my hyperactive period for creative productivity. The sun and warmth fuel me, like I’m bathing in endorphins that my body synthesizes into pure motivation. This energy rush spurred me to take on multiple writing projects this past season, most of which I’ve completed or am in the process of wrapping up. I’m proud…
Are you a writer or a Writer?
What makes a writer a writer? Social media and the interwebs are filled with decrees and passionate rebuttals on this exact topic. Some fall into the camp of “a writer must write every day” while others insist that if you write—no matter how often or little—you are a writer if you consider yourself one. I…
The Promise of Possibilities
Remember my post about flexibility? Well, here it is in action . . . I’d planned to write about writing consistency when it comes to being a writer (irony!), but I’m pivoting this week to talk about something that inspired me over the weekend. We took a quick trip up to New York City as…
Why A Writer is Like a Raven Desk
Why is a writer like a raven desk? I don’t have an answer to that–sorry. Yet, when I think of quotes about writing, this (flipped version of a) line from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is one of the first to pop into my mind, which is peculiar as it has nothing to do with writing itself. Hmm .…
Pivoting Like a Writing Pro
My writing life is picking up, and most of that is self-propelled. I’ve sidled up to the authorial buffet and loaded my plate with agent querying, short story submissions, publication management, a monthly column, weekly blog posts, deep revisions on a full manuscript, and penning two more short stories for upcoming contests and anthologies. It’s a…
Top 3 Tips for How To Give, Ask for, and Take Critiques
I’ve been an active member of my local writing critique group since March 2014. They helped restart my writing engine after I’d stored it away for too many years. They encouraged me to keep working on projects I thought should be shelved. They highlighted places in my work where I’ve been sloppy and suggested ways…
Eulogy for a Laptop
I don’t tend to be a sentimental person, and I’ve never been accused of being overly-demonstrative. I suffer loss—true loss—on the inside and bear it privately. Today, I make an exception for a (relatively) long-time companion. A battle buddy. A steadfast confidant who has kept my secrets, listened to my stories, sang my favorite melodies,…
The Waiting Cursor
I am a writer. You’ve no idea how long that phrase sat on my screen, the cursor blinking at me while I decided what should come next. It reminds me of a turn signal on a car that just sits at an abandoned intersection. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting for another vehicle to approach and validate the…
D.M. Domosea 