My pen flew across the room, narrowly missing my 14-year-old cat who had chosen that moment to stick his head out from behind the sofa following a long nap...

The good news for writers is that Amazon Kindle and similar platforms allow them to get their books directly to readers. No longer does a writer have to se...

Ah, yes, the glamorous life of the freelance writer. It you have a day job, like me, you stumble out of bed at the crack of dawn. Looking like something tha...

During my struggles with bipolar disorder, my main challenge has been depression. I've found dozens of ways to force myself to write when I'm crying, stuck i...

"Writers fall into two groups: Those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review and those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review." – Isaa...

One of the things I love about the month of December is the chance to see some of my favorite Christmas movies and specials. These are programs I've enjoye...

I've never had the good fortune of coming across a genie's lamp. It's probably just as well. If I did, I can see myself wasting my wishes on the usual crap ...

Nonfiction and editing are my bread and butter. They help pay rent on the apartment and keep the car insured. But I have been spending some more of my time ...

Let's be honest. My muses can be total bitches, especially when I'm already feeling depressed and they heap criticism on top of me. Never is their imaginat...

It's been a while since I've added anything to this blog. That's because, in spite of ECT, depression is still kicking my tail. Through lots of therapy, some...

"There is not much else I can do for you chemically," my psychiatrist told me directly. "And that means?" I asked, trying to care. "I'm recommending ECT." EC...

I've been writing professionally for almost 15 years now. During that time, I've done many things right…and just about as many things wrong. I've learned a ...

Do you routinely experience problems with procrastination? If so, you may have been told that you were lazy, disorganized, lacked a sense of responsibility...

"What do you do?" Whenever you meet someone new, you can expect this question to pop up early in the conversation. Do you tell the people who ask you this q...

When you started your freelance writing blog, you probably struggled with the question of how frequently to post. Back when I began my first blog (It was ca...

Okay, I admit it. I look at the freelance writing job ads on Craigslist. While many of them offer ridiculous terms or are just flat out scams, I have actua...

I really enjoy blogging. In fact, I've been known to spend too much time on it when I should have been working on other projects. Last November, though, so...

Do you remember the scene in The Shining where hapless wife Wendy Torrance sneaks into her husband, Jack's, writing room to try to get a glimpse into his tro...

I'll never forget that Friday years ago when I hauled myself out of bed after only a few hours of sleep and stumbled to my computer for another full day of w...

Yes, I know. Writers and other professionals are supposed to be active on social media sites. But do you ever just run out of anything to say? Lately, I've...