For a while, finishing university meant I felt like an expert. Or at least, like some of my expertise had been validated by society. But this isn’t true. I’ve always said, but I guess I forgot, that learning is never done. It’s not a destination to be reached, like now I am knowledgable or an… Continue reading How to be a master of your craft
Category: Writing Tips
We all have our own way of writing, but here are my tips, tricks, and beliefs about the writing world.
How to improve your critical thinking to improve your creative writing
I think part of our jobs as writers is to have a critical eye. We can't just read a book and move on to the next. I need to get into the habit of engaging with them a little more. Questioning it and myself after having read it. Even if it's one I read "for… Continue reading How to improve your critical thinking to improve your creative writing
How to be a practising writer
I’m changing the terminology I use about many areas of my life in order to change how I feel about them, including my writing. I don’t want to call myself an amateur writer - because I’m not; I’ve been writing for a long time and it has negative connotations of being bad at something almost.… Continue reading How to be a practising writer
How to Make Writing Fun Again
When I was younger, writing was more fun. Pure creative expression with no limits. Yes, in adulthood I've become more serious and I've learned more about the craft, but that doesn't mean the fun should be lost from the process. There are a lot of benefits to making your writing feel fun again, most importantly,… Continue reading How to Make Writing Fun Again
The path is long and difficult – will you journey anyway?
Since I was a little girl, I’ve known I’ve wanted to tell stories. Once, I didn’t know I could make a living from this; the word author wasn’t known to me. But when I learned that word, I grasped on tightly to it and haven’t let go since. And that’s painful. Why? Isn’t it lovely… Continue reading The path is long and difficult – will you journey anyway?
Writing Goals for 2024 – that aren’t basic
Next year, I want to look at my writing differently. I don’t want to do what I’ve tried to do years before which hasn’t quite worked. I don’t want to set the same boring goals: Write 100,000 words Write two completed first drafts of novels Look for an agent Publish a book Query a book… Continue reading Writing Goals for 2024 – that aren’t basic
How to Create Actively: Redefining Success and Creative Habits
Anyone who actively follows my blog must have noticed I've been feeling a bit icky creatively. It's only last week that I reminded myself that I'm not in a creative catastrophe! This is not a creative slump. I finished writing a novel's first draft only at the end of August, just two months ago. That… Continue reading How to Create Actively: Redefining Success and Creative Habits
Writing goals and aspirations: do I want to be an author anymore?
I’ve been thinking about my journey as a writer lately and I’ve shared some of that already, but I want to go a bit deeper. Next year, I am not setting the goal of pursuing a good story for publishing. I don’t want to think about publishing anymore. I think I need to forget that… Continue reading Writing goals and aspirations: do I want to be an author anymore?
Writing Updates: Am I doing NaNoWriMo this year? What’s next?
At first, I thought My NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month in November) this year was going to be more of a National Short Story Writing Month (NaSSWriMo). This is because I want to write lots of short stories, even if they’re flash fiction. I want to use my voice and play with style and genre… Continue reading Writing Updates: Am I doing NaNoWriMo this year? What’s next?
How to ask for feedback as a writer
Writers need feedback to get better. Whether this is from friends, critique partners, beta readers, an agent, or editors. There’s no avoiding it. But how do we get the right feedback from people who perhaps aren’t in the professional field? What kind of questions do we actually need answered? Here’s some of my thoughts on… Continue reading How to ask for feedback as a writer
S. R. Crawford 