A Freelance Writer’s Guide to Dealing with Burnout
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 ...
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- Jan 25, 2016
- 3 min
How to Get Your Novel Off on the WRONG Foot
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...
- Jan 11, 2016
- 2 min
Writing with Mania
During my struggles with bipolar disorder, my main challenge has been depression. I've found dozens of ways to force myself to write when...
- Jan 4, 2016
- 2 min
Coping with a Bad Review
"Writers fall into two groups: Those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review and those who bleed copiously and secretly at any...
- Dec 20, 2015
- 3 min
9 Favorite Holiday Movies and Specials and How They Made Me a Better Writer
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 ...
- Mar 18, 2015
- 3 min
Where Do Characters Come From?
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...
- Mar 4, 2015
- 2 min
Fighting Depression with Everything I Have
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...
- Aug 8, 2014
- 3 min
A Shocking Development: How ECT Gave Me Back My Writing
"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...
- Jan 13, 2014
- 3 min
7 Writing Books I Can’t Do Without
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...
- May 2, 2013
- 2 min
When Are You a Writer?
"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...
- Apr 29, 2013
- 2 min
How Often Should Freelance Writers Blog?
When you started your freelance writing blog, you probably struggled with the question of how frequently to post. Back when I began my...
- Apr 22, 2013
- 2 min
5 Phrases You Don’t Want to See in Freelance Writing Job Ads
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...
- Apr 18, 2013
- 2 min
Book Review: Blogger’s Block: How to Get Rid of It Now! by Mick Michaels
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 ...
- Apr 15, 2013
- 3 min
10 Leisure Activities That Make Me a Better Freelance Writer
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...
- Apr 11, 2013
- 3 min
Do You Have Writer’s Burnout?
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 ...
- Mar 18, 2013
- 3 min
Fired! What to Do When You’re Fired from a Freelance Writing Job
I've been a freelance writer since 2001. During that time, I've only been let go from projects a handful of times, but I can remember...
- Mar 8, 2013
- 3 min
10 Sources of Inspiration for Writers
I'm usually a pretty steady writer. I enjoy the process of putting words together until they sound just the way I want them to, and I'm ...
- Mar 6, 2013
- 4 min
18 Lessons I’ve Learned During 18 Months of Fulltime Freelance Writing
The calendar doesn't lie. Although it feels like just yesterday since I left my job as a hospice social worker to pursue a career as a...
- Nov 12, 2012
- 3 min
10 Writing Tasks You Can Complete in 10 Minutes
We all know the 10-minute demon. It's those pesky 10 minutes between appointments when you don't have anything else to do. It's that ...
- Nov 9, 2012
- 3 min
Keep a Gratitude List in Your Writing Workspace
I'm lucky enough to be one of the 5.7 million Americans living with bipolar disorder. Although it is usually well controlled by...
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