by Susan Lovett | Sep 3, 2019 | For Writers |
I have a problem. I love pens. I own boxes of pens that I rarely use or even look at, but am loathe to throw away, minimalism be damned. They’re pens. It’s like asking me to get rid of books—it’s not going to happen even if they threaten to bury me alive. There is something visceral at work here—the potential of so many words yet to be written. They are there, hovering out of sight, waiting on inspiration. Pens hold that potential. The paper awaits their brilliance. All that’s needed is me.
September rolls around and the sales begin and I find myself grabbing pens and tossing them in my cart. I have to collect them all—pens, pads of paper, highlighters, pencils, erasers. They call to me. Loudly.
The thing is there may be a reason for that temptation.
by Susan Lovett | Jun 18, 2019 | For Writers |
Living a freelance life has its advantages and disadvantages. Sure, you can write in your pajamas, but you can also be left waiting by the mailbox waiting for that check to arrive so you can pay your mortgage. But you get to be in control of your work and your life.
The benefits will vary depending on the person. What I find an advantage someone else may not, but here is how I see it:
by Susan Lovett | Apr 9, 2019 | For Writers |
Several years ago a friend graduated from FLETC (the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center). Naturally, I gave her a refresher course in case she forgot her training, namely all the films I could find that included Secret Service agents. Guarding Tess. In the Line of Fire. Dave. Imagine my surprise when she said none of them were accurate.
The fact is Hollywood gets most things wrong in this world, but no more so than when they portray the life of a writer.
by Susan Lovett | Feb 26, 2019 | For Writers |
Last week, I covered some great reasons to pursue writing as a career. But there are as many bad reasons to write.
Here are some of the wrong reasons to go down this path:
by Susan Lovett | Feb 19, 2019 | For Writers |
After offering a series debunking popular myths about writers and writing (insert links), it’s time to look at why you want to write because what motivates you to sit down and write will determine your success and career.
There are so many people who talk about becoming a writer. They share ideas and talk about writing, but only a few actually do it. Even fewer finish. The ones who do succeed are those who write for the right reason.
Not all reasons are equal. Here is my breakdown of some of the right reasons to write. In my next blog, I will cover some of the “wrong” reasons.
by Susan Lovett | Feb 12, 2019 | For Writers |
Getting published is a dream for most writers. It’s the dream of putting your work out there and building an audience. But for as many as make it, there are just as many myths working against those who have not.
Here are the top myths about publishing:
by Susan Lovett | Feb 5, 2019 | For Writers |
In this series, we’ve covered myths about Writing and Writers. But even with the many myths about writing and writers, there are even more about the potential barriers to writing and some commonly held myths that are plain annoying.
Here are some myths that prevent some people from pursuing their writing:
by Susan Lovett | Jan 29, 2019 | For Writers |
There are as many myths about who writers are as people as there are about the process of writing. It’s sort of amazing the popularly-held beliefs about who writers are. Below are some of the top myths about writers. To read the Myths of Writing, read part 1 of this series. Part III and IV will follow this blog.
Warning: This list may get a bit personal as I’ve had each of these “myths” lobbied at me at some point in my career.
by Susan Lovett | Jan 22, 2019 | For Writers |
Most writing myths fall into four basic categories: writing, writers, obstacles to writing, and publishing. In this four-part series, I will share the popular myths from each category and debunk them.
by Susan Lovett | Jan 15, 2019 | For Writers |
Most writers try journaling at some point in their lives. Some keep it up all their lives. Others come and go from the practice. While some flounder at the very idea of keeping a journal. There is no rule that demands writers keep one, but they can prove helpful. The trick is to figure out what kind of journal would benefit you and which you are likely to keep over time.
The best way to begin is to decide what you want to gain from your journal. This will help you figure out the best way to approach journaling. It can take many forms. Here are some ways to journal that go beyond the “Dear Diary” model, although that is a classic:
by Susan Lovett | Jan 8, 2019 | For Writers |
It’s a new year and the perfect time to start fresh. I like to recommit to my writing and draft an action plan two times a year: in January at the start of a new year and in September when school begins. These seem like good times to reassess my progress and plan my future.
Here are some ways to do that:
by Susan Lovett | Jan 1, 2019 | For Writers |
Happy New Year! To celebrate the new year, I am reposting an edited list of 12 habits every writer should embrace. It’s a great place to make some resolutions for your writing habit.
