Category Archives: Writing

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a … Continue reading →

1940: Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre take up residence, almost, in the Café de Flore in Paris. They work in the morning, see friends in the afternoon and write more in the evening. The café is warm and provides … Continue reading →

The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. Coelho wrote song lyrics for many famous … Continue reading →

D*I*Y Planner has a nice article on jumpstarting your writing process: I write all the time; for my occupation, for pleasure, for daily communication. When the purpose is functional, or as part of a workday’s activities, it’s straightforward to begin … Continue reading →

"Different writers face different advantages and drawbacks in forming good writing habits. The circumstances of your personal life may make it easy or hard to find writing time, but time itself is not the real issue–it’s habit.  Writing must be … Continue reading →

Recently, I’ve been noticing a backlash against the trend to do everything on electronic platforms, and it mirrors some of the decisions I’ve been making as well. Last year, for instance, I put away my IPAQ in favour of paper … Continue reading →

From Ian McKenzie’s "Messy" but infinitely productive desk: Journals can be effective tools in helping one get organized, in the creative process, or in developing a new habit or skill. However, keeping a journal is a habit in and of … Continue reading →

"First, consider the pen you write with. It should be a fast-writing pen because your thoughts are always much faster than your hand. You don’t want to slow up your hand even more with a slow pen. A ballpoint, a … Continue reading →

As near as I can tell, my writing habit began more than a hundred years ago on a cattle ranch in northern Mexico. That was when my grandmother, at seven years of age, wrote three words in a little notebook … Continue reading →

Our friend Jeffrey Yamaguchi of 52 Projects has come up with a list to help you write the next great novel…or start that journal: "Stop talking about your novel or short story ideas and start writing. Get in the habit … Continue reading →