I've been super excited about setting my goals and intentions (and wishes) for 2019 already, but I know that for some, goal setting can be really difficult. It's normal to feel a little anxiety (or a lot, as I've experienced some years), or even depression at this time of year. It's daunting. It's overwhelming. Time… Continue reading Break It Down – Goal Setting for the New Year
Why Newt Scamander is the Best (Popular) Hero Out Now
I hope anyone who reads my blog and is a fantasy writer has already watched Fantastic Beasts and has seen the new one this month! I had mixed feelings about the new film, but in general, Newt and the beasts were...fantastic! (See what I did there?)But why do I think that Newt Scamander is one… Continue reading Why Newt Scamander is the Best (Popular) Hero Out Now
Careful with the Grind
I'm sure that any ambitious person out there has heard these phrases: You've got to grind for success. You must hustle hard. Work, work, work! Hustle, hustle, hustle! But are these phrases really what we need to hear when pursuing our goals? Is "hustling" really the best way to achieve success? I think not.… Continue reading Careful with the Grind
Fleshing Out Your Characters: Cheat Sheet
List of character traits: Funny guy Hopeless romantic Neurotic Clumsy Tired Genius Know-it-all Angry Jealous Sad Loner Hero Brave Sleepy Fool Orangiser Sporty Adventurer Reader Curious Helper Arrogant Leader List of character occupations: Baker Doctor Scientist Detective Policeman Firefighter Vet War hero Interior Designer Architect Criminal Entrepreneur Librarian Writer Journalist Game designer Athlete Fisherman Farmer… Continue reading Fleshing Out Your Characters: Cheat Sheet
What My Panic Attack Taught Me
I had a (small) panic attack Sunday night. I was crying, sweating, thinking a million things at once, breathing rapidly, and shaking. My chest was tight. I felt out of control. And it wasn't nice. It wasn't fun. I hadn't had a panic in a while, so I did beat myself up for it having… Continue reading What My Panic Attack Taught Me
Writer’s Life
We all know the hashtag but what does it really mean? Long days? Late nights? Overactive brains? Distraction constantly? Tiredness and fatigue? Turning everyone into characters? Everything into plot? Well, being a writer means you're nearly always busy doing one thing or another. Drafting, plotting, editing, revising, restructuring, line editing, researching, pitching, querying, developing, reading,… Continue reading Writer’s Life
Change the Narrative
I don't think I'm the only one who tells myself stories (and no, not because I'm an author). I mean the stories we tell ourselves about of lives and our Self. They can be labels, ideas, "evidence-based facts" or other, but there's a lot of things that we just accept and believe about our lives… Continue reading Change the Narrative
Your NaNoWriMo Toolkit
NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month and it is this massive worldwide writing event where writers from every corner of the globe all vow to write 50,000 words in the month of November! It is crazy, it is hard, and it is awesome! The camaraderie and support and community with this event is so beautiful… Continue reading Your NaNoWriMo Toolkit
“Real Horrors” – Poem
You know what's really scary? Not prowling black cats, Or mouse traps, Or dead rats. No. What's really scary Is gunshots, Black bodies, And broken families. Black lives matter, But the scary thing is, They don't. Not to you all. Do they matter to you? What's scary is, The white child who "Doesn't need to… Continue reading “Real Horrors” – Poem
Thoughts on “The Hate U Give” Book & Film (Black History Inspired)
Yesterday, I finally got to watch The Hate U Give, the new Black Lives Matter film. Earlier this year, I read the book by Angie Thomas and loved it and was moved by it as well. Let's just say that the film had my heart aching in every way. And I truly hope that as… Continue reading Thoughts on “The Hate U Give” Book & Film (Black History Inspired)
S. R. Crawford 