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
Why I love writing stories
I think writing is dreaming. It’s the reason I write fantasy novels. I dream of other worlds and possibilities I can’t live in real life. And writing from another character means we get to live other lives. Make different choices without suffering the consequences or the fear in reality. It’s the reason I really want… Continue reading Why I love writing stories
A love letter to myself
It’s Valentine’s day. The commercial day for proving you love someone(s). It’s cliche now but I want to dedicate today to loving myself. Proving to myself that after all the heartbreak, I still love myself. Because I don’t act like it. In a relationship, I would be deemed the neglectful, abusive partner at times. Constantly… Continue reading A love letter to myself
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
Language Barrier – a poem
Swollen tongues and bite marks Dented lips, chapped and flaking Skin falling like snowflakes: Confetti? Whose mother tongue is the top of this cluttered matriarchy? Woven walls wicked barriers Blocking words flung from mouths That never close. Breathe through your nose - Inhale...Exhale... Good. That's better! Walls tumble brick by broken brittle brick When we… Continue reading Language Barrier – a poem
What does it mean to be good at something?
When I'm being cruel to myself, it's easy for me to think that I'm not good at anything. That everyone I know has some form of expertise or skillset that I just don't feel I have. That everyone else is successful at the things they want to do, and I'm not. But today I wondered,… Continue reading What does it mean to be good at something?
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?
Wintering: how to be aligned with nature and embrace true winter energy
This year, I’m trying to do winter properly. To remember that it’s winter and so I needn’t treat the new year as an invitation to start racing towards my goals. Nature is resting and so should I. Sinking into Winter is something I have never fully embraced. What would it even look like for me?… Continue reading Wintering: how to be aligned with nature and embrace true winter energy
How to actually grow and be successful in 2024
The theme for 2024 for me is playfulness and calm. I want to chill the F out a bit. There’s a lot that goes into this theme, not just buzz words that can be interpreted in different ways but in terms of this post, in order to be successful in 2024, you need to bring… Continue reading How to actually grow and be successful in 2024
S. R. Crawford 