May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One in five U.S. adults live with mental illness, yet it is still a taboo topic in our personal and professional lives. Those with mental illness are often driven to live with their suffering in silence for fear of damaging their relationships and credibility. I have lived with mental… Read more »
Just the thought of a “critique group” used to send shivers down my spine. Now, I am convinced that my writers’ circle, a variation on the traditional critique group, was the most important part of my recent post, #5onFri: 5 Things that Saved my Novel from Oblivion. To me, a writers’ circle is more intimate, supportive, and… Read more »
In some ways, writing in the first person feels like the most natural way to tell a story. After all, we create stories “in first” every day—over drinks with friends, describing our weekends to colleagues, and complaining about our jobs to our partners at night. “I did this…” and “I told him that…” we say,… Read more »
We think of inspiration arriving in a flash, a moment where the rabbit appears from the magic hat as if from nowhere. Those creative lightning strikes hit each of us occasionally. We know we can’t rely on their appearance. But what if we could? Creativity exercises foster conditions that make inspirational lightning strikes more likely…. Read more »
Like me, I suspect one of the facets of creative resistance, aka writer’s block—overwhelm, perfectionism, procrastination, and self-doubt—has seduced you. You’ve probably cast about researching different tips and tricks on how to break free from resistance, so you can get back to writing. Your research likely revealed tips on establishing better writing structures, getting ruthless… Read more »
Recently, I launched Kris Clink’s Writing Table, a podcast to help new writers learn from authors and publishing experts as we explore books, the writing craft, and the varied paths to publishing. It’s been a joy to hear firsthand from authors who are responsible for my favorite books. Kathleen Barber, Kimberly Belle, Lyn Liao Butler,… Read more »
We signed our book deal at the end of July 2020 with a January 2021 publication date. We were in the midst of a global pandemic. Our kids were home 24/7 with nowhere to go. Karissa had a brand new three week old baby. And we were on a one month deadline for our first… Read more »
Social media is a fascinating facet of modern life. On the personal side of things, it keeps people connected, disseminates information… but, sometimes, also causes conflict. On the career side of the ledger, social media is often written off as nothing more than a marketing tactic. However, there are actually several unique and powerful uses… Read more »
Books with multiple timelines are some of my favorites to read—and to write. At times the storylines can seem disparate and disconnected, and then bam, you get that particular satisfaction as you figure out how they converge. Multiple timelines add layers to story that, when done right, can deepen plot and characters. When I began… Read more »
Do you create a character or does a character create themselves? Thirteen years ago, I was walking over the Norfolk marshes with my husband, an archaeologist. He remarked that prehistoric people had seen marshland as sacred: because it’s neither land nor sea, but something in-between, they saw it as a link to the afterlife. As… Read more »
