Creativity & Writing Life

We do not live without a persistent undercurrent of questions, both tiny and tremendous. Doubt is part of us, so let us make peace with it.

Whether in life or publishing, when faced with setbacks it’s important to stay present and find joy in the small triumphs.

What does an average person like me have to say? If you ever find yourself thinking that way, make a list of subjects you know inside and out.

Next time you feel stuck, abandoning perfection and embracing bad ideas might be just the trick for breaking out of a creative slump.

One author examines the fear that accompanies publication—that a perceived flaw in the work, or herself, could cause embarrassment and shame.

Having retired from finance to pursue an MFA, one writer offers tips on embracing a new identity, taking risks, and maximizing strengths.

Here’s how highly effective people and highly ineffective writers share the same seven habits, but apply their efforts in different directions.

Creative intuition is about trusting yourself to make bold choices, even when you can’t immediately justify them.

Mindfulness practices can help you reconnect to your inner voice, calm your nervous system, and gently approach difficult material.

Writing with ADHD comes with its unique set of challenges, but the right strategies and tools can help harness creativity and maintain productivity.

In a search for external validation while drafting a memoir, one author found herself invited onto a popular podcast in esteemed company.

Writing is often a lonely endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. Your library offers valuable services and a gateway into the local writing community.

Life speaks to us through symbols that help us learn, grow, heal, and create, if we slow down and listen.

When your writing hits a wall the solution is often to stop for a moment, take stock, and look deeper into what it is you’re trying to write.

We all have limiting beliefs that essentially all say the same thing: you are not good enough so stop writing. They are not true.

The headlines, facts, and observations that fuel your obsessions will seed your own work and grow it into the stories only you can tell.

Writer’s block is an excuse, based on fear, that gives us permission to quit as soon as writing gets hard.

While you can’t publish a book without sitting down to write, there are many times when we can gain insight by looking away from our work.

Like a pot of broth simmering on the stove, the contents of our journals nourish us and provide the basis for countless delicious creations.

Too many books and not enough time? One author learns that speed-reading print and audiobook versions simultaneously can enhance retention.

Evocative scene-setting can be wonderful, but be careful of letting it get in the way of your story’s action and momentum.

Make the most of your writing practice by understanding which brain waves are active during the day and best support specific writing tasks.

Writing advice is everywhere—newsletters, podcasts, workshops—and it can leave you feeling anxious and unproductive. Here's what to do.

Readers of your work create their own idea of you that is, in a sense, a fictional character. Explore voice by leaning into that fiction.

Goal-setting is much like the Alcoholic’s Prayer: accept what’s beyond our control, assess what we’re able to change, and know the difference.