All good things must begin: how visualising success helps writers
Visualising success can feel a bit woo-woo, but research shows that mental practice is an component of expertise. “I shall be a bestselling writer” wrote Octavia E Butler in 1988. She is not alone in fantasising about writing chart-topping books - I’d wager most...
How being observed helps you write
There are many things that can kickstart your writing and keep you going when motivation is low, life is busy and you have no time to write. Find out how observation can help you build the tools, tactics and techniques to keep you writing long term. Yesterday I was...
The writing epiphany that changed Kevin Kelly’s life
Kevin Kelly had something of an epiphany in the early years of editing Wired, the iconic magazine he founded in the 90s. It was an epiphany that taught him a lesson about writing, creative practice - and about life. In many fields – writing included – a myth pervades...
The Artist’s Way for Writers
“Eat, Pray, Love would not exist without The Artist’s Way.” Elizabeth Gilbert isn’t the only writer who credits their success to Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. With a variety of fans from authors Patricia Cornwell and Russell Brand to songwriters Pete Townshend and...
How to manage your writing distractions – a lesson via George R.R. Martin
Back in 2009 writer Neil Gaiman was replying to a fan who’d contacted him through his blog. Gareth – the fan – wanted some advice, and to have a bit of a moan. Not about Gaiman but about George R.R. Martin, the massively successful author of the A Song of Ice and Fire...
Steps, scaffolding and serialisations – how sub-goals keep you writing
I’m a sucker for a writer’s origin story. That moment of inspiration and enlightenment, when the muse visits, an idea is sparked and creativity flamed. While I picture a wildfire, the reality is someone patiently fanning the flames to keep the spark alight for many...
Mason Currey’s top tips for wriggling through with daily rituals
Mason Currey compiled over 300 mini-biographies of the day-to-day working lives of writers, artists and creative minds in his bestselling books Daily Rituals and the second volume Women at Work. We ask him about the inspiration and obstacles people face with creative...
How to cope better with writing rejections and setbacks
Whilst the productivity police might make you feel you should be able to brush off writing rejections with no bother - that's easier said than done. It's normal for setbacks to squash your self-esteem a little. But when rejections cause debilitating delays, it's worth...
Time confetti – snatching time to write when you have none
We’ve all heard the advice to write daily, to allow time for deep work and uninterrupted focus. But for many writers, that’s just not possible. Find out about time confetti and how to write spontaneously when scheduled sessions just aren’t possible. No time to write...
4 things to learn from the daily rituals of great writers
In Daily Rituals Mason Currey provides glimpses into how some of the greatest minds use their time to produce exceptional works. We set out to spot trends and commonalities in their idiosyncrasies, here’s four things all writers can learn. Currey collects snippets of...
Why the fixed schedule productivity approach to writing will give you more downtime
'Fixed schedule productivity' is an approach that encourages writers to make better use of their time. Find out how one advocate organises their schedule, prioritises their tasks and still finishes work on time. Humans have a tendency to coordinate their schedules....
How to stop comparing yourself to other writers (or a ‘better’ version of yourself)
Comparing your writing with others can be positive. Sometimes, comparison can spur you on and bring out a better you. But often, comparing yourself to others can lead to procrastination, self-doubt and delay. If it does, you need to make a change. This is how one...
