creative writing

  • Five Things That Will Derail Your Writing

    Five things that will zap my productivity and derail a writing day like nothing else* are a lack of sleep, technology/internet, excessive noise, not knowing what needs to be done next and skipping breaks. Lack of sleep This is a… Continue reading

    Five Things That Will Derail Your Writing
  • Batching Your Tasks

    As mentioned in previous blogs, I’ve recently started my doctorate. I’m presently enrolled fulltime, but the completing of this research investigation is hardly the only project on my plate. (Who the heck has ONE project on their plate anyway?) Over… Continue reading

    Batching Your Tasks
  • The Downside to Being a Precrastinator

    We’re all familiar with the term procrastination – and some of us may have even experienced it! – but have you heard of the term precrastination? When I first heard this term, I thought it was a cheeky way to… Continue reading

    The Downside to Being a Precrastinator
  • Keeping a Creative Journal

    Last year, I decided to publish three YA novels under a pseudonym. Prior to publishing, I asked a skilled friend of mine to proofread each manuscript. After I had read through their comments and mark-ups, I complimented them on their… Continue reading

    Keeping a Creative Journal
  • Interview with Kate Goldsworthy

    A few years ago, I had the incredible good fortune to be mentored by Kate Goldsworthy as part of my Master’s degree. Kate is a freelance editor who has worked with a slew of talented literary authors including Bri Lee… Continue reading

    Interview with Kate Goldsworthy
  • The Professional Edit

    Note: If you prefer video content, you can access the vlog version here. Writing is not a solitary task but a collaborative effort. The first draft (and several after) may be crafted with the door to your office firmly closed,… Continue reading

    The Professional Edit
  • Desires vs Goals

    (Note: The video version of this blog can be found here) As writers, we all want to write amazing novels. We want to write the kind of novels that readers can’t put down. Novels that take readers on epic journeys… Continue reading

    Desires vs Goals
  • Writing and Music

    Like good literature, music can invoke powerful emotions, imagery and even inspire spontaneous insights. A bad day can be turned around, even if only temporarily, by listening to an upbeat song or by reading an inspired piece of writing; whether… Continue reading

    Writing and Music
  • New Project = New Process

    I recently started drafting the novel that will become the creative component of my doctorate thesis. Although I’ve previously written one full-length novel, three novellas and numerous short stories, I found myself asking the question: “How the heck do you… Continue reading

    New Project = New Process
  • How to Produce Art when the World is Falling Apart

    Sir Philip Sidney stated that poetry was “the first light-giver to ignorance, and first nurse, whose milk little by little enabled them to feed afterwards of tougher knowledges.” Ezra Pound believed that “The arts, literature, posesy are a science, just… Continue reading

    How to Produce Art when the World is Falling Apart