Category: Redux

I’m always amazed at the wonderful tips, tricks, and insights I find thru Pinterest.  And today’s infographic adds to these exceptional tips.

Below is a chart based on the 5 P’s to developing a character – physical, psychological, personal, personality, and practices.  What’s creative and helpful about this chart is that it’s quick, easy to comprehend, and has enough facets to build a substantial character.  By the time, the writer is done, it should feel as if he/she’s known this character for a long time.

Finding time to write in the midst of work, family, and household chores can be like oil and water.  They just never seem to meld sometimes.  But no matter how taxing or overwhelming it may seem, keep the dream alive.  Writing a paragraph a day is still progress and a step in the right direction.

Even if work/life balance isn’t the issue, hope of publishing may dwindle with each rejection letter or mounting critiques.  Turn the negative into a positive.  Just because there’s a “no” now, doesn’t mean there will never be a “yes”.  Take the experience as a learning lesson – not about writing, about patience.  Sometimes we want what we want now, when the better option could be later down the road.

This week’s infographic covers 20 writers who worked in industries quite different than what we’d expect.  It’s a great example to keep following our dreams.  How…

Here’s a great list of writers associations, writers groups, and organizations for writers! Many local writers organizations have affiliations with national groups, but some writing groups stand alone within their communities. If you want to find national writing associations, look no further! If you’re interested to find local writing groups, check out this great list we’ve compiled of writing groups by state.

Writing organizations offer wonderful resources for writers. Some writers associations or organizations are free; others charge membership fees. These fantastic writers associations can help you find a literary agent, arrange meetings with editors, go to writing conferences, learn craft techniques, and keep up with changes in the publishing industry.

Before you join a writers association or organization, be sure to ask a lot of questions to make sure that the group is appropriate for you!

When I’m writing, sometimes I’m at a loss to find the right word.  A word that not only describes what a character is doing or feeling.  One that makes the character interesting, yet giving life to the story.  When the time arises, I reach for the almighty thesaurus…or resort to great lists like these found on Pinterest.

This quote from Georgina Cromarty’s post about writing and artificial intelligence practically blew my mind.

“Some writers will see AI manuscript evaluations as a blessing since it takes the subjective human out the loop.

…And some may see it as a threat.”

Yes, I’ve worked in the IT field for 20+ years.  Yes, I understand what the ones and zeros are all about, and the inner workings of software and hardware.  Yes, I know technology brings about modern convenience, and can spout an answer to the hardest equations with speed and ease.  But with all of that, do I trust it wholly?  No!  Here’s why.

Mankind believes computers are smart.  The reality is that technology is only as great as the humans that make it.  And of course we know that humans are bound to mistakes.  So, technology is too.  Nothing is perfect.

So when I think about artificial intelligence…