Tag Archive - writing success

Why Your Writing Matters—Even if You’re Not Making Any Money from It

Today’s guest post is by Ali Luke. 

How important is your writing to you?

Is that importance reflected in how much time you spend on it?

Pretty much every writer starts out writing without being paid—often without any prospect of payment. This is particularly true for fiction writers, who might well hone their craft for years, even decades, before successfully selling their work.

In fact, for many writers it’s not just a case of “not making any money”—it’s a case of spending money. Books, courses, conferences, pens, notebooks, software—it all adds up. Continue Reading…

8 Reasons to Attend a Writing Boot Camp

Often, at the end of the year, we writers start strategizing about our plans for the New Year. That’s why I’ve been running this series of blog posts on strategic planning. It’s important. Time is precious, demands on our time are numerous, and we want great results in our efforts to improve as a writer in the least amount of time.

At least I do. I hate wasting time. I try to make the most out of every minute I spend on my career, whether it is researching, writing, attending conferences, teaching, or brainstorming. I can’t rush my ideas, and sometimes it takes me months to pull a novel together in my head before I’m ready to write. But I can be efficient with all the other aspects of my writing life.

Over the years I’ve attended a lot of writers’ conferences. I’ve also attended some intensive one-day and one-week writing workshops. I always learn a lot at conferences, but, hands down, I learn the most at intensive events. Also what I learn at those focused intensive workshops made the greatest impact on my skills as a writer. Continue Reading…

8 Tips for Writing Success from a Writing Genius

Today’s guest post is by Fred Johnson.

The late David Foster Wallace (1962­–2008) has long been recognized as a literary genius by those qualified to decide such things. His 1996 novel Infinite Jest blew critics away with its complexity, inimitable style, and sheer length, and his other novels, along with his essays, short stories, and works of nonfiction, have been praised as works of startling originality and substance.

While it would be unwise to try to imitate Wallace’s own idiosyncratic style, it’s undoubtedly a good idea to listen to what this giant of American letters had to say about writing and getting stuff done.

So without further ado, here are David Foster Wallace’s eight tips to make you a better writer. Continue Reading…

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