HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU WASTE? Tons, I feel like I never get anything done None, my mind is always focused and I’m always getting sh!t done I want to be the person who answers #2, but in reality, I make myself feel bad because I am definitely more like #1. As I have just come [...]
This is an age-old difference of opinion in the world of creative writing: To outline before writing or to just start writing and trust the process. Many people say it’s a waste of time to start writing without knowing where you’re going. These folks are Planners who make outlines and bullet point lists. They like to [...]
I’m not the type who mutters to herself. There is already so much conversation in my head that I have no need to actually verbalize any of it out loud. And yet, I do work out problems or challenges in my mind before I take action. Do you mutter? Are you one of those people who [...]
Statements seem to be in high demand. Vision statements. Mission statements. Purpose statements. Positioning statements. So. Many. Statements. Before writing anything—a statement, a one-pager, a video script, whatever—one of the most important questions to answer is: “Who is the audience?” Who needs this message? Why do they need it? And once they’ve received it, what do [...]
We once worked with a real estate agent who said to us, "buyers are liars." She explained that we’ll tell her we absolutely need to have a two-story front porch, a finished basement, and a separate laundry room in our next house when in fact, the home we’ll end up purchasing will have none of those [...]
If you write at work, your first draft need not look anything like the final product. Rather than jumping into a full page or screen, start small. Bit by bit and with surprising speed, you can build strong messages with Post-it® Notes. In many ways, seventh grade was unkind to me. I was puny, bookish, acne-prone, [...]
You do not want to have me next to you in a yoga class. I’m terrible at it. No flexibility or grace. In fact, I don’t even like it all that much. Give me some dumbbells and the world floats away while I count reps and grunt. But even if I can’t do the poses correctly, [...]
You have something to say. Well, you’re supposed to have something to say. “They” expect you to have something to say. You sit down to write. Nothing comes. A few words finally trickle out. They’re awful! &#%!@?! You are stuck. And being stuck sucks. Being stuck sets off a cacophony of mental commentary. The harder you [...]
“What are you reading?” It’s the question I love to ask when I meet others who value great stories, good writing, and creative thinking. When the answer strikes a chord, I add the title to my Goodreads “want to read” list. And when a friend turns the question around on me, I’m happy to share my [...]
A note from Beth: I first published this advice on the Spencer Grace website and LinkedIn, way back in May 2015. Though I do sometimes change my tune, this remains one of my loudest anthems. If you're tired of singing the sad song of writer's block, try these 10 ideas instead. You have something to write. A [...]