Writers love control. We plan plots, build worlds, craft character arcs, and agonize over word choice. Writing can feel like architecture—careful, precise, calculated. But sometimes, we need a little chaos. Enter randomness. Randomness might seem antithetical to craft, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s creative arsenal. Whether you’re rollingContinueContinue reading “The Creative Power of Chaos: Why Randomness Makes Your Writing Stronger”
Tag Archives: writersblock
Writing Is Like Going to the Gym: Why It Gets Harder, Not Easier—and What to Do About It
When you start going to the gym, it’s hard. Your muscles ache. You’re not in the habit, so every visit feels like a chore. But then—suddenly—it starts to click. You feel stronger. You might even look a little better in the mirror. The early “easy gains” roll in. You get hooked. And then? It getsContinueContinue reading “Writing Is Like Going to the Gym: Why It Gets Harder, Not Easier—and What to Do About It”
The Struggle of Long-Form Writing: How to Overcome Midway Meltdowns
Earlier this year, I found myself hitting a wall with my longer writing projects. I don’t mean my novels here, I’m referring to the longer short story, novelette territory. The same issue kept cropping up: I’d get to about 7,000 words, and then… poof. The excitement fizzled out, and my story would lose its spark.ContinueContinue reading “The Struggle of Long-Form Writing: How to Overcome Midway Meltdowns”
The Power of Words Inside Your Brain
Sometimes I find it hard to get started. Ironically, this happens most when I have too much time to write. You’d think a wide-open afternoon or a quiet weekend would be ideal—a golden opportunity to sink into the novel, churn out a short story, or finally respond to one of those tempting calls for flashContinueContinue reading “The Power of Words Inside Your Brain”
Open House: On Strangers, Judgment, and the Writer’s Unease
Today, strangers are walking through my house. They are peering into closets, glancing at the scuff marks on the stairs, maybe silently judging my taste in rugs or the fact that I’ve never fixed that one crooked cabinet door. I’m not there to see it—I’ve been banished to a local café by my realtor, likeContinueContinue reading “Open House: On Strangers, Judgment, and the Writer’s Unease”
Keep the Habit: Why Writers Must Keep Writing (Even in the Gaps)
One of the biggest dangers for a writer isn’t failure—it’s silence. Life has a way of crowding out creativity. Maybe it’s a high-pressure job, a move, a tough parenting stretch, or the illusion that you’ll “get back to it when things calm down.” But here’s the truth: if you stop writing, the skills begin toContinueContinue reading “Keep the Habit: Why Writers Must Keep Writing (Even in the Gaps)”
The Top Practical and Inspirational Writing Craft Books that I Read in 2024
I tend to read a lot of craft books. Last year I made a list of 20 craft books I had read giving just a one-line impression of each. It’s here if you want to give that one a look. The best thing about doing that was I got a ton of messages from peopleContinueContinue reading “The Top Practical and Inspirational Writing Craft Books that I Read in 2024”
Aspirational Bios
I often write about meeting writing goals: setting SMART goals, psychological tricks to make writing habits stick, and circumnavigating writer’s block. But one thing essential in reaching your goals is knowing clearly what they are. Do you know clearly what you should be working on right now? One trick from the life-skills and coaching literatureContinueContinue reading “Aspirational Bios”
Should you Finish Your Stories?
Well, you definitely should finish some of them. If you don’t you’ll never have anything published. I also do think you should finish most things. In part because endings are critical to a solid story, and if you only finish the really good stories, you won’t get in the practice on making the endings stick.ContinueContinue reading “Should you Finish Your Stories?”
Writing with COVID
So don’t worry, this post isn’t really about COVID. Or not exactly anyway. It’s about adapting our writing and goals when life gets in the way. The reason for the title is just that COVID is the latest one of ‘lifes mishaps’ that has impacted my writing life. Coming back from vacation I had grandContinueContinue reading “Writing with COVID”
Gideon P. Smith 