Ever wonder where an author got the idea for that fantastic character you love? Psst, I’ll let you in on a secret. Want to know how I find my characters? I collect them. OK it might sound strange, but really, how different is that from collecting stamps or seashells or bottle caps or baseball cards?… Read more »
A lot of people like the structure of a traditional MFA program because it gives students rigid deadlines that they must meet; their grades depend on it. There are also writing challenges (such as NaNoWriMo) that give a similar motivation to get your butt in the chair and write. But what if we don’t have… Read more »
How many times have you heard an author say that the idea for a story or novel came to them in a dream? Has that left you feeling a little envious? I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I’ve always been a dreamer and while there are creative types who share the gift (or curse—I… Read more »
Hey there Word Nerds! Today I’m talking to Julie Zickefoose, an artist and author of three books, the latest being Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest. In the interview, we discuss how to turn your passion for a subject into a book (or something more), and how to keep up the motivation to pursue that… Read more »
Hey there Word Nerd! Today I have the great pleasure of hosting Julie Duffy on the show. Julie is the founder of the StoryADay May creative writing challenge, which is basically like the short story version of NaNoWriMo. This challenge happens in May, which is only a few short weeks away and if you’re looking… Read more »
Welcome, welcome Word Nerds! Today I’m delighted to host Lisa Gardner on the the show. Lisa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen previous novels, including her most recent, Crash & Burn. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include Fear Nothing, Catch Me, Love You More, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of… Read more »
One of the most common questions writers get asked is: “How do you come up with your ideas?” Creativity is the backbone of storytelling because without creative ideas there are no stories. You want to have as many ideas, or “sparks” as I call them, as possible. But how do you come up with those… Read more »
From my writing desk’s window this morning, I see dull brown grass trimmed with splotches of melting snow, bare trees, and a gray sky. January is hardly the most inspiring time of year, at least not for those of us living in a seasonal climate. Yet that cold and boring outside has its upside: it… Read more »
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share with you today my conversation with Mark McGuinness. I first met Mark at the 99u conference in 2013. At the time, I had a young son at home and was struggling to balance being a first-time mom and also running DIY MFA. Mark gave me a litmus test,… Read more »
Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could channel creativity anytime we want? Simply close our eyes, chant an “ohm” or twitch our noses like Samantha in Bewitched to summon our creative powers? Unfortunately, there’s no such magic (that I know of…) but it is possible to cultivate an atmosphere and lifestyle in which creativity can… Read more »
