When Writing Isn't A Job

Many writers have done the task for many years as a part of their job or even as their sole income. It can be hard but it can also pay the bills. But what when they retire or move on? Do they still write even if there is little or no income deriving from it?

Writer's Block

Writer's Block - this is probably the biggest enemy of all the writers in the world. Writer's block is simply a condition wherein you can't put any of your thoughts into words. It's a horrible condition. It comes at the worst possible times like when you have to submit before the due date. They can happen any time. They can happen before you even start, or smack in the middle of your work, or worse, in the ending. Also, it's so hard to get over a writer's block. Some writer's blocks last for only a few minutes but the worst ones last for days, even months. There have even been cases of writer's blocks lasting for decades.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Godfather (1972) Seizing the Sword

188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about... Godfather (1972) In The Godfather (1972), Michael marries Appollonia (Mystical Marriage, Bride Theft). The Expansion of Consciousness is demonstrated by New Knowledge (Appollonia learns to speak English and drive). Also, the Joy of Infancy Regained - they are like little kids.

Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Call to Adventure and Refusal (Godfather, 1972)

188 stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about...In The Godfather (1972), Sollozzo asks to meet with the Corleones to discuss funding

Writing Prompts - Who Needs This Writing Help?

Whether you are a beginning, experienced, or professional writer you can use writing prompts to help you improve your word craft.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Dissolving Away the Old Self

188 stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about... The Road of Trials is a stage where the Hero's Old Self dissolves away.

Freelance Writing - Before You Begin - Tools, Tips, and Strategies

A writer is like an artist. Instead of standing before the blank canvas, you are sitting before a blank sheet of paper. Let's talk about how to develop those thoughts.

Write Your Novel Step By Step (Part 15)

In writing my novel I learned a lot of things the hard way so I just wanted to put this series out there for would be writers to help them on their path to writing their own book.

What Is A Writer's Style Guide And Why Would I Need One?

Do you know what a style guide is or why you would use one? Find out what using a style guide could do for your writing, especially if you're a home-based or freelance writer.

New Technical Writer - Use The Persona To Create The Most Useful Section Of Your User Document

A good User Document includes sections on how to set up, use, and care for the product. However, to create a great User Document, the technical writer should use the Persona, generated in the analysis of the User/Reader, to create the topics for the most useful section of the User Document. This article describes this procedure.

What Made Witches Fly?

Article about the reservations and encouragement social scientists have for memetics (the belief that culture spreads by means of replication processes very similar to biological procreation).

The Art of Interviewing

For me, the heart of research has always been the ability to elicit information from others. For years, it never occurred to me to go to the library or rummage through magazines or official documents. If I wanted to know about something, I found experts on that subject and tried to crawl inside their minds. Little by little, I learned the art of interviewing; and, over the years, the ability to do it well has proved to be one of my most valuable strengths.

Two Sides of a Coin - Attention Span & Focus

Of the myriad strengths a writer needs, two of the most important are focus and a long attention span. Most writing takes time -- lots of time. An article, a brochure, an annual report, a speech, a training program, a Web site, and, certainly, a book is not conceived in a single brainstorming session or written in a matter of hours. Any of them, as well as many other assignments a writer is likely to encounter, may consume weeks, at least, and many months at most. Attitude is a conscious choice. You create it, you nurture it, you keep it alive through every step of the process, no matter how long it takes or how frustrated you may become. Here are the attitudes I have cultivated over time about each of the steps in the process.

188 Stage Hero's Journey - Monomyth - Devolution

This is a total expression of the Hero's Ordinary World and Ordinary Self. It is a benchmark. In Tsotsi (2005), Tsotsi is part of a criminal gang.

188 Stage Hero's Journey - Monomyth - Catharses

Post the Crossing of the Return Threshold and before the Master of Two Worlds and Selves, a hell of a lot happens.