The Great Storytelling Hoax: Why Fear is the True Path

I want urinal partitions mandated inside all men’s restrooms. Why? I get stage fright. Because when a few seconds pass without success, the pressure mounts. That’s when time slows and I overthink how to expedite my prolonged bathroom break. Apparently, I’m not the...

4 Shameless Reasons Why You SHOULD Write for the Money

People preach that “you shouldn’t write for the money.” They proclaim you should strictly do it for the love of the craft. Or your audience. Or other honorable reasons. Unfortunately, these people have forsaken you. Because you should write for the...

3 Life Lessons from The Write Practice Retreat (fun photos included)

A woman holding a rose in a book waited for me. The plane landed and I texted her I was in route to the agreed upon atrium. As I disembarked the aircraft, I began to consider why I put myself in this situation. Was I mentally prepared to surround myself with strangers...

The Twisted Truth About Becoming the Writer You’re Meant to Be

You’re not fooling anyone. I know what you really look like underneath that human costume. Yep, I know what you are, and it’s not normal. In fact, you’re not even from this plane. You’re a stranger visiting a strange land. You don’t remember though, do you? Huh, maybe...

How to Find Your Writing Voice Without a Single Keystroke

Some writers aren’t famous for what they write about, but how their voices sing on the page. Their cadence elevates their prose beyond countless wordsmiths vying for attention. Chuck Palahniuk, Charles Bukowski, and Kurt Vonnegut are a few one-of-a-kind voices that...

This Is the Worst Writing Mistake I’ve Made That You Must Avoid

I just trunked another draft. Specifically, this was the third draft of my current novel. I loved its first chapter but even it needed to go. A couple friends recently asked if I’m too much of a perfectionist? They asked if I’m judging my writing too harshly? Even my...