November is known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. I’d heard about the event for several years, but there was always something keeping me too busy to participate. This year, as I found myself self-employed, time was abundant. I finally took the plunge and aimed for the 50,000 words to get aContinue reading “What I Learned From NaNoWriMo”
Tag Archives: writing life
Why It’s Absolutely Okay to Write Badly
One of my favorite writers, Cinda Williams Chima, recently made a post on Goodreads saying, “I give myself permission to write badly,” in answer to a question about how she gets past writer’s block. That’s really what writer’s block, isn’t it? The fear of failure. The doubt that you might not have something important toContinue reading “Why It’s Absolutely Okay to Write Badly”
Becoming a Real Writer
It’s hard to feel the confidence to say you’re a writer. I often said I like to write, but never really said I was a writer. Even when I started writing a book, I still didn’t call it a book. I called it a story or manuscript at most. Recently though, the more I writeContinue reading “Becoming a Real Writer”
How to Save Yourself from Reading and Writing Slumps During Times of Crisis
A couple of weeks ago my grandmother was in a car accident. This left her badly injured and in need of constant care for a week. Since I’m currently unemployed, the responsibility fell to me, which I don’t mind. I mean, I’m home. What else am I doing?
Where to Go to Write
I’ve been trying to find new environments to place myself in for getting writing done. I don’t currently have an office space in my house (that’s changing soon though!), so I just make a little nest for myself in my bed using a pillow chair, blankets, and stuffed animals. It’s not the most comfortable thoughContinue reading “Where to Go to Write”
What I Learned About Writing From Taking a Long Time to Read a Book
I picked up a book in Spain over three years ago because it looked interesting. I thought, “I’m proficient enough in Spanish, and this sounds like a fun action-thriller that will be a breeze.” It was not a breeze. I am not proficient in Spanish (though my father said he didn’t think it was aContinue reading “What I Learned About Writing From Taking a Long Time to Read a Book”
Dealing With Imposter Syndrome as a Writer
I may have mentioned before how I work full time and go to grad school part time. So, when does that leave time for writing? The answer is virtually never, and it kind of eats at me sometimes. There are some nights after work and studying that I do have a couple of hours toContinue reading “Dealing With Imposter Syndrome as a Writer”