Idea Development
Beyond Linear Thinking: Embracing the idea generation phase of writing your book
Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to work with teen writers again, and I gotta say, I love their energy and their honesty. But, I was reminded, yet again, that all writers, regardless of age, skill, education, and confidence can struggle with the same things. A few weeks ago, I had almost…
Read More5 Ways to Ensure Your Book Adds to the Conversation in Your Topic
This afternoon my 20-something son Facetimed me. We talk on the phone and text quite often, but I hadn’t seen his face since August. I got totally distracted as soon as he popped onto the screen and started chatting. “Stop,” I finally interrupted him in mid-sentence. “Do you have a mullet?!?“ “Yeah!” He grinned, turning sideways, so I…
Read MoreAre your book ideas original enough?
I wanted to share something that I’ve shared with my students in classes and workshops and with clients one on one for years whenever this idea that they don’t have original ideas comes up. This will prove that your ideas are in fact original enough! I’m going to tell you a little story. You’ve probably…
Read MoreThinking Partners, The Wife of Bath, & Sovereignty
One of my dear friends, who’s also a book client & official “thinking partner,” just finished walking the Cotswold’s Way in England and a leg of the Camino in Spain. She’s been working on her memoir about her pilgrimages, in order to find herself. While walking in England, she shared that they are heading into…
Read MoreWhy Collaboration Matters and How to Find Collaborators
How are you doin’ out there? Me? In all honestly, it’s been a little up and down with the ongoing pandemic and forced isolation. But this morning was definitely an UP moment. I got OUT of the house and went on a walk with a good friend and fellow extrovert. For two normally positive souls,…
Read MoreFinding Fresh Ideas (when everything’s already been done)
Did you know that when it comes to our artistic work there are no truly new ideas? Really, it’s true. Rather, there are new combinations and connections between existing ideas that make our creations feel new and innovative. So, you can let go of struggling with how to create new ideas. Instead, focus on “filling…
Read MoreIdea Generation: Getting to Your Best Ideas
How do we come up not only with ideas, but how do we come up with GREAT deas? Original ideas? In this time-pressed world we live in, we often take or first idea or our second and go with it. We’re focused on producing, on making, on creating the thing, on getting it done, checking it off…
Read MoreWhen uselessness is…useful
Years and years ago I wrote a blog post about table runners. I’d been making a bunch for Christmas gifts and wondered really what they’re for. Turns out they started with a useful function and now they’re mostly decorative with no practical purpose. And practicality, or needing to spend time being useful, can be a huge block to…
Read MoreYour idea is calling…pick up (or sit down)
This week in a writing circle, one of the topics we were discussing was perfectionism, an issue that most of us (all of us) writers deal with at some point or another. I shared this video of a short story I used to read to my high school creative writing students. It’s one of my favs. This…
Read MoreWriting for Clarity
I’ve spent much of my career teaching writing, whether it was in a formal classroom setting or working with clients on their writing. And, I write everyday, between journaling, blogs, podcast episodes, emails, novels, and a non-fiction project. Communicating with others (and myself) through the written word is what I do, who I am, and what I…
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