Month: April 2020

by Allison Maruska In April, I was a judge for two writing contests – Dan Alatorre’s Word Weaver contest and Ryan Lanz’s short story contest. I was honored to be asked to fill the role once, let alone twice. And while I enjoyed judging great stories, I also learned a few things about […] via 9… Continue reading 9 Tips for Writing Better Short Stories — A Writer’s Path

by Meg Dowell I don’t understand everyone’s obsession with sequels. Or entire series, for that matter. Don’t get me wrong — I love all things Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. But what I don’t love is when people — writers in particular — can’t seem to let go of the stories and […] via Let… Continue reading Let Your Characters Live On Without You — A Writer’s Path

by Kelsie Engen In this modern age of technology, there is no end to distraction. If you want to stay focused you really have to try. There’s no escaping the world to go write a novel unless you put forth the effort to get away from every distraction known to man. (And even […] via 12… Continue reading 12 Tips to Become an Olympian Writer — A Writer’s Path

by Michael Cristiano Sometimes, writer’s block is a quiet, somber annoyance, filled with insecurity and a tinge of disappointment. For me, writer’s block is a rather angering bout of self-doubt and frustration, perhaps spiced with a nice sprinkle of self-loathing. It makes me feel like I am wasting time or that I am […] via 5… Continue reading 5 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block — A Writer’s Path

by John Briggs Want to use your writing strengths to reach your readers? My two greatest strengths as a writer are: I can make you think and I can make you laugh. Sometimes I can do both at the same time. Oh, I’ve been known to make readers cry, or get uncomfortable, or […] via Know… Continue reading Know Your Strengths as a Writer — A Writer’s Path

by Phoebe Quinn If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that being a full-time writer, a fully-fledged author, is one of your dream scenarios. Working for yourself and doing what you love – it couldn’t get better. Unfortunately, most of us have a day job, and it may not be that great. My employment […] via How… Continue reading How to Balance Your Job and Writing — A Writer’s Path

by J.U. Scribe Have you ever been in a slump? Writers are not immune to being in a slump. Sometimes you’re suffering from a case of writer’s block whether you’re struggling to find a new story idea or finish a work you already started. What many don’t seem to talk about is the rut […] via… Continue reading Market Your Book For Success — A Writer’s Path

by Ryan Lanz Who doesn’t like the thought of being able to direct someone’s thoughts or emotions? Sure, it’s typically in fantasy only, but I’m sure most have skirted around the thought. When we imagine someone doing so, it’s usually an evil villain’s doing, involving elbow-length gloves and an over-sized, veiny head. But […] via Altering… Continue reading Altering the Reader’s Perspective — A Writer’s Path

by Michael Mohr Today I wanted to talk about the process and act of writing. What I mean by that is the simple craft of regularly putting pen to paper. As Stephen King famously said, “Amateurs wait for the muse to come. The rest of us get working.” That is so incredibly true. […] via Forget… Continue reading Forget the Muse — A Writer’s Path

by Andrea Lundgren I’ve discussed reading habits before and why you really want to read good books, but how, as a writer, you may have to read professionally some books you don’t enjoy. But today, I want to urge you to not forget the values of a bad book. via Why A Bad Book Can Be… Continue reading Why A Bad Book Can Be a Good Read — A Writer’s Path