Sometimes it feels like everyone wants to tells us who we are — our friends, our enemies, and even random strangers on the internet. But what do we do when the identity we've chosen for ourself, such as "writer" or "creator", is challenged? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/no-one-gets-to-tell-you-who-you-are-wn-153/  To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Sometimes it feels like everyone wants to tells us who we are — our friends, our enemies, and even random strangers on the internet. But what do we do when the identity we've chosen for ourself, such as "writer" or "creator", is challenged? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/no-one-gets-to-tell-you-who-you-are-wn-153/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://www.sarahwerner.com/no-one-gets-to-tell-you-who-you-are-wn-153/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

No One Gets To Tell You Who You Are - WN 153

Why are endings so darn hard to write? Is it just because it's difficult to wrap up all of the loose ends... or is there something more going on? What makes for a truly satisfying ending, and how do we create one? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Why are endings so darn hard to write? Is it just because it's difficult to wrap up all of the loose ends... or is there something more going on? What makes for a truly satisfying ending, and how do we create one? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Endings Are Hard - WN 152

Why did I ditch my laptop and start writing everything by hand? (It's not even clickbait — I actually did this!) What are the benefits to writing by hand, and what have I learned from it about the craft of writing?  For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Why did I ditch my laptop and start writing everything by hand? (It's not even clickbait — I actually did this!) What are the benefits to writing by hand, and what have I learned from it about the craft of writing?  For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Why Do I Write By Hand? - WN 150

Cat Blackard

 If you've ever been curious about how live-action roleplaying game podcasts are planned, created, recorded, and produced, or if you have any interest in RPGs like D&amp;D, Pathfinder, or improv in general, give this episode a listen. Cat is an expert in plucking meaningful narrative from a scattered story and provides tons of great advice on how to clarify your own creative work. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

If you've ever been curious about how live-action roleplaying game podcasts are planned, created, recorded, and produced, or if you have any interest in RPGs like D&amp;D, Pathfinder, or improv in general, give this episode a listen. Cat is an expert in plucking meaningful narrative from a scattered story and provides tons of great advice on how to clarify your own creative work. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Improvised Storytelling with Cat Blackard - WN 151

Kate Wallinga

No matter who you are, Kate Wallinga's story of wielding creativity to take back agency in her life will inspire and astound you. And if you're neurodivergent or have experienced life with disability in some regard, her story may hit home in a profound way. Kate is the host of Ignorance Was Bliss, an interview podcast about how we become who we are. It's a show rooted in transformation - created as a an outlet as Kate, a psychologist and crisis clinician, survived a series of life-altering, disabling events. Her lived experience and her perception of self changed, and as she developed tools to live in this new paradigm, the work of creation helped her see herself and carry on. In this interview, Kate graciously shares her story with me as we explore creative power - both what the act of creation do for ourselves and for others. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

No matter who you are, Kate Wallinga's story of wielding creativity to take back agency in her life will inspire and astound you. And if you're neurodivergent or have experienced life with disability in some regard, her story may hit home in a profound way. Kate is the host of Ignorance Was Bliss, an interview podcast about how we become who we are. It's a show rooted in transformation - created as a an outlet as Kate, a psychologist and crisis clinician, survived a series of life-altering, disabling events. Her lived experience and her perception of self changed, and as she developed tools to live in this new paradigm, the work of creation helped her see herself and carry on. In this interview, Kate graciously shares her story with me as we explore creative power - both what the act of creation do for ourselves and for others. For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a>To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner </a>Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Reclaiming Your Voice with Kate Wallinga - WN 149

Regrets can consume creatives and they can sometimes take the place of the creative output we'd like to have. In my case, it keeps me dwelling on the past, instead of focusing on the future or even the present. In this episode I'm asking why might creatives we hold onto regrets? What are we punishing ourselves for? Why do we spend so much time and energy focusing on our regrets and what purpose might they serve? For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Regrets can consume creatives and they can sometimes take the place of the creative output we'd like to have. In my case, it keeps me dwelling on the past, instead of focusing on the future or even the present. In this episode I'm asking why might creatives we hold onto regrets? What are we punishing ourselves for? Why do we spend so much time and energy focusing on our regrets and what purpose might they serve? For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a>To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner </a>Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Forgiving Yourself - WN 148

What is your ideal balance or imbalance? What would it take to actually get there? What can you drop in your life that does not feed your purpose? What are you balancing that doesn't necessarily need to be on that scale? Are you allowing yourself to be honest about it? For me, it was really hard to be honest with myself about balance, because I felt like letting myself do creative stuff was selfish, greedy, or indulgent. But it was also my purpose. And I could not get away from that. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

What is your ideal balance or imbalance? What would it take to actually get there? What can you drop in your life that does not feed your purpose? What are you balancing that doesn't necessarily need to be on that scale? Are you allowing yourself to be honest about it? For me, it was really hard to be honest with myself about balance, because I felt like letting myself do creative stuff was selfish, greedy, or indulgent. But it was also my purpose. And I could not get away from that. For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a>To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner </a>Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

What Are You Balancing? - WN 147

It has been a while since I last talked about my favorite writing tools — and by “a while”, I mean  more than seven years. Whew! Suffice to say a lot has changed since then, including the tools and processes I use to write. In this episode, I break down my writing process, tool-by-tool. It's my own process, and everyone has their own comforts and methods to write, but maybe some aspect of how I do things might inspire you to pick up some new habits like I have over the years.  For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

It has been a while since I last talked about my favorite writing tools — and by “a while”, I mean <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/my-8-favorite-writing-tools-wn-012/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> more than seven years</a>. Whew! Suffice to say a lot has changed since then, including the tools and processes I use to write. In this episode, I break down my writing process, tool-by-tool. It's my own process, and everyone has their own comforts and methods to write, but maybe some aspect of how I do things might inspire you to pick up some new habits like I have over the years.  For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a>To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner </a>Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

My Top 10 Tools For Writing - WN 146

Erik Saras

Dan Lovley

I’m thrilled to share a discussion with my longtime colleagues in sci-fi audio drama; two of the co-creators of the award-winning series, Marsfall: Writer-Director, Eric Saras and Writer-Director and actor Dan Lovley (ANDI). They discuss their process for writing their series collaboratively and how that process has evolved as the project has grown from a home-spun operation to a much larger show. Eric and Dan also share how their identities as authors intermingle and the struggle kill egos and darlings throughout the editorial process. Marsfall homepage: https://marsfallpodcast.com/ Marsfall Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/marsfallpodcast Marsfall Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marsfallpod/ Marsfall Twitter: https://twitter.com/marsfallpod For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

I’m thrilled to share a discussion with my longtime colleagues in sci-fi audio drama; two of the co-creators of the award-winning series, Marsfall: Writer-Director, Eric Saras and Writer-Director and actor Dan Lovley (ANDI). They discuss their process for writing their series collaboratively and how that process has evolved as the project has grown from a home-spun operation to a much larger show. Eric and Dan also share how their identities as authors intermingle and the struggle kill egos and darlings throughout the editorial process. Marsfall homepage: <a href="https://marsfallpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://marsfallpodcast.com/</a> Marsfall Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/marsfallpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/marsfallpodcast</a> Marsfall Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marsfallpod/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/marsfallpod/</a> Marsfall Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/marsfallpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/marsfallpod</a> For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a>To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner </a>Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Collaborative Storytelling with Erik Saras and Dan Lovley - WN 145

Times get tough and sometimes I am not okay. I haven't been okay for a while. Maybe you can say the same. Lately, I've woken up every morning to a pounding heart, racing breath, and a very intense feeling of panic and anxiety. I feel like my heart is a runaway stage coach driven by a horse that got spooked and is now dragging my body through the crowded town square of life. I can't say for certain, whether it's anxiety, fear, overwhelm, burnout, depression, ADHD, or just the world that we live in today. It's hard to overcome this feeling. It's hard to write when it's present. I've been puzzling out a path through it. Maybe we can get through it together. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/  To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Times get tough and sometimes I am not okay. I haven't been okay for a while. Maybe you can say the same. Lately, I've woken up every morning to a pounding heart, racing breath, and a very intense feeling of panic and anxiety. I feel like my heart is a runaway stage coach driven by a horse that got spooked and is now dragging my body through the crowded town square of life. I can't say for certain, whether it's anxiety, fear, overwhelm, burnout, depression, ADHD, or just the world that we live in today. It's hard to overcome this feeling. It's hard to write when it's present. I've been puzzling out a path through it. Maybe we can get through it together. For a full episode transcription, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

When You're Not Okay - WN 144

A podcast for all writers (aspiring to professional) looking to find a healthy work/life/writing balance. Get the encouragement, honest advice, and inspiration you need to pursue your passion and write every day. Recurring themes include books, coffee, rainy days, truth, beauty, lasers, dinosaurs, and all of your other favorite things.

Authentic, honest and truthful! Listening to Sarah is very inspiring and motivating.

Marvellous!

Sarah is such a great story teller and her work is inspirational and moving! I love her! &lt;3

This pod is so inspirational!

Write Now with Sarah Werner

Words have power—especially the words we say and think about ourselves. So whether you think you're slime or God's gift to writing, the way you think about yourself can have an immense effect on your work.    For show notes, links, &amp; more, visit http://www.sarahwerner.com/self-writing-and-self-talk-wn-061/. 

Words have power—especially the words we say and think about ourselves. So whether you think you're slime or God's gift to writing, the way you think about yourself can have an immense effect on your work.  For show notes, links, &amp; more, visit <a href="http://www.sarahwerner.com/self-writing-and-self-talk-wn-061/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sarahwerner.com/self-writing-and-self-talk-wn-061/</a>.

Self-Writing and Self-Talk - WN 061

 Where does the time go? Between work, family, and countless other obligations, who has the time to write these days? You do! Let's prioritize.

Where does the time go? Between work, family, and countless other obligations, who has the time to write these days? You do! Let's prioritize.

How to Prioritize Your Writing - WN 055

I've been thinking a lot about work/life/writing balance ever since I committed to writing a book this year. And so Episode 037 of the Write Now podcast is about just that -- balance, clutter, distraction, scheduling, and so much more.Just keep spinning...This is what I feel like a lot of the time: It's not incredibly fun (though maybe it looks cool from the outside). Being busy is fine if you can balance it well. But how many of us can actually claim that we balance it well?What's really important?Before we take a look at what's cluttering our life, let's look at the non-clutter -- the important stuff. In today's podcast episode, I encourage you to think of 5 things that are deeply important to you -- 5 things, whether they're objects or entities -- that are integral to who you are. Here are some suggestions to get you started: 	Spending time with family	Nurturing healthy relationships with your friends	Serving the community and volunteering	Your faith	Your creative time spent writing, drawing, painting, dancing, photographing, etc.	Your vintage car collection	Your career	Personal fitness	That plant your mother gave you that you've triumphantly managed to keep alive for nearly a year	Reading	Etc., etc., etc. If the other stuff in your life doesn't support these things, it might just be clutter.Distraction destruction.Clutter creates distraction. I know that when I used to think about my email inbox of 300,000-odd unread emails, my eyes would glaze over and my stomach would knot with dread. It's hard to write when your mind is on all of the emails you've never responded to. Same goes with a cluttered desk or office, a cluttered sink full of dishes, even a cluttered schedule. Sometimes it's worth it to devote the time to purge that stuff from your life. Sometimes it's even worth sacrificing one writing session for. Clean it up, get it over with, and get back to writing. Ultimately, the question you need to ask is:What needs to happen for you to sit down and write with the focus that you need to write?The answer might surprise you.It also might be time to give yourself some grace.I'm not very good at all at doing this for myself. But if you accidentally spend 45 minutes answering emails instead of writing during your writing hour, just forgive yourself, move on, and be more intentional about writing during your writing hour tomorrow. We're human, after all. We're not perfect. So give yourself some grace, move on, and set yourself up for a successful distraction-free writing session tomorrow. The Book of the Week is on its way.Uh. Yeah. I am still working on reading Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. It's really, really good, but also really, really long. (And I've been really, really busy.) More to come... in the meantime, keep up-to-date on my book-reading adventures on Goodreads!MERCH?!?!?!This week marks the soft launch of my MERCH store!!! You'll find a ton of varieties &amp; colors of pro-writing, pro-reading shirts, hoodies, tote bags, mugs, and more -- all of which support the work I'm doing here at the Write Now podcast. :D   Or if you prefer, please do feel free to take full advantage of my Tip Jar: What's cluttering your writing life? What's distracting you from writing?Let me know via my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. :)Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free!Listen to the full podcast episode for free (as always!) using the controls at the beginning of this post, or listen &amp; subscribe for free (as always!) using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:  Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt;

I've been thinking a lot about work/life/writing balance ever since I committed to writing a book this year. And so Episode 037 of the Write Now podcast is about just that -- balance, clutter, distraction, scheduling, and so much more. Just keep spinning... This is what I feel like a lot of the time: It's not incredibly fun (though maybe it looks cool from the outside). Being busy is fine if you can balance it well. But how many of us can actually claim that we balance it well? What's really important? Before we take a look at what's cluttering our life, let's look at the non-clutter -- the important stuff. In today's podcast episode, I encourage you to think of 5 things that are deeply important to you -- 5 things, whether they're objects or entities -- that are integral to who you are. Here are some suggestions to get you started: 	Spending time with family 	Nurturing healthy relationships with your friends 	Serving the community and volunteering 	Your faith 	Your creative time spent writing, drawing, painting, dancing, photographing, etc. 	Your vintage car collection 	Your career 	Personal fitness 	That plant your mother gave you that you've triumphantly managed to keep alive for nearly a year 	Reading 	Etc., etc., etc. If the other stuff in your life doesn't support these things, it might just be clutter. Distraction destruction. Clutter creates distraction. I know that when I used to think about my email inbox of 300,000-odd unread emails, my eyes would glaze over and my stomach would knot with dread. It's hard to write when your mind is on all of the emails you've never responded to. Same goes with a cluttered desk or office, a cluttered sink full of dishes, even a cluttered schedule. Sometimes it's worth it to devote the time to purge that stuff from your life. Sometimes it's even worth sacrificing one writing session for. Clean it up, get it over with, and get back to writing. Ultimately, the question you need to ask is: What needs to happen for you to sit down and write with the focus that you need to write? The answer might surprise you. It also might be time to give yourself some grace. I'm not very good at all at doing this for myself. But if you accidentally spend 45 minutes answering emails instead of writing during your writing hour, just forgive yourself, move on, and be more intentional about writing during your writing hour tomorrow. We're human, after all. We're not perfect. So give yourself some grace, move on, and set yourself up for a successful distraction-free writing session tomorrow. The Book of the Week is on its way. Uh. Yeah. I am still working on reading Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. It's really, really good, but also really, really long. (And I've been really, really busy.) More to come... in the meantime, keep up-to-date on my book-reading adventures on Goodreads! MERCH?!?!?! This week marks the soft launch of my MERCH store!!! You'll find a ton of varieties &amp; colors of pro-writing, pro-reading shirts, hoodies, tote bags, mugs, and more -- all of which support the work I'm doing here at the Write Now podcast. :D Or if you prefer, please do feel free to take full advantage of my Tip Jar: What's cluttering your writing life? What's distracting you from writing? Let me know via my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. :) Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! Listen to the full podcast episode for free (as always!) using the controls at the beginning of this post, or listen &amp; subscribe for free (as always!) using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt;

De-Clutter Your Life So You Can Write - WN 037

Making the switch to a career writer is tough, but you can do it! Here are some pointers that can help your writing dream become a reality.

Making the switch to a career writer is tough, but you can do it! Here are some pointers that can help your writing dream become a reality.

Writing Full-time - WN 065

"Do I need a writing degree?" It's a complex question that involves factors like time, money, lifestyle, goals, &amp; more. Work through your own decision with help from today's episode of the Write Now podcast!

"Do I need a writing degree?" It's a complex question that involves factors like time, money, lifestyle, goals, &amp; more. Work through your own decision with help from today's episode of the Write Now podcast!

Do I Need A Writing Degree? - WN 062

Sometimes the most important aspect of writing is not the words you string together but the questions you ask. And one question in particular is incredibly helpful.

Sometimes the most important aspect of writing is not the words you string together but the questions you ask. And one question in particular is incredibly helpful.

The Most Important Question A Writer Can Ask - WN 050

Corporate structure crushing your spirit? Wishing you could quit your day job and write full time? This episode is for you.

Corporate structure crushing your spirit? Wishing you could quit your day job and write full time? This episode is for you.

How To Survive Your Day Job - WN 057

Get the 10 invaluable writing lessons I learned while writing a book in one week. (That's right: ONE WEEK.)

Get the 10 invaluable writing lessons I learned while writing a book in one week. (That's right: ONE WEEK.)

What I Learned From Writing A Book In 1 Week - WNP 049

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; Hey friends. Have you ever questioned your writer-ly destiny? Then Episode 022 of the Write Now podcast is for you.What if I simply wasn't meant to be a writer?I received a letter from a very bright, very talented young writer named Amanda who was wondering whether she was actually meant to be a writer. Her letter affected me so much that I decided to dedicate this episode to exploring the topic. Amanda writes,I'm not sure if I'm meant to be writing... I like coming up with characters and thinking about the situations they would get into. I like developing the characters. I love dialogue particularly. ...But I spend maybe 5% of my writing time actually writing. The rest of the time, I am in misery. I agonize over my faults until I can barely move, let alone be creative... I'm just wondering if I should even be writing at all. Can someone maybe have a passion for writing but then shouldn't do it anyway?Wow. It took me a while, but I was finally able to provide Amanda with an answer, and I'd like to share it with you. There is no "should".The first thing I would do is question your "shoulds" and "meant tos". When you wonder whether you were "meant" to be a writer, or whether you "should" be writing, whose mandate are you following? Who is imposing those "shoulds"? Fate? God or a higher power? A teacher, professor, or friend? Yourself? That feeling of enjoyment/satisfaction/joy when you're able to write? I went through a time when my own "shoulds" seriously conflicted with what I wanted and needed to do with my life. I would bet that you have been through something similar as well. What's hard to remember amidst all those "shoulds" is that your life is not just one pre-determined path. Your life isn't just point A to point B. It's point A to LITERALLY ANYWHERE. There are thousands of possibilities, and thousands of choices you make in any given day that will determine the course of your life. You were given (or have, depending on your perspective) a talent for writing. And it's up to you to decide what you want to do with that talent. Do you want to write as a hobby? As a career? Or do you not want to write at all? The only person who can make that choice is you.Have you ever asked yourself this question?Let me know what conclusion you came to, or what happened because of the choice you made, by sending an email to hello [at] sarahwerner.com or sharing your thoughts in the comments below!Book of the week. (Okay, books.)I got lost in not only a great book but a great series this week. Karen Marie Moning's excellent urban fantasy "Fever" pentalogy (like a trilogy, but with five parts!) begins with Darkfever and ends with Shadowfever and wow is it a wild, gripping, breathtaking ride. I read all five books in some sort of fever of my own, often staying up significantly past my bedtime to read just one more chapter. The premise? MacKayla Lane travels to Dublin, Ireland to identify the body of her sister and best friend, Alina. While she's there, she notices that things aren't quite right, and embarks on an adventure to not only identify her sister's killer but prevent the extinction of humanity at the hands of the warring Seelie and Unseelie Fae courts. Read this series if you love urban fantasy, mysterious strangers, Dublin, tightly knit plots, bookshops, self-aware heroines with swords and spears, saucy brooding heroes, and epic storytelling. Do not read this series if you are sensitive to foul language or graphically depicted adult situations. (Seriously. I'm not kidding. It's graphic.) Otherwise... I hope you don't have to get up early for work the next morning. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads.Talk to me!Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page,...

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; Hey friends. Have you ever questioned your writer-ly destiny? Then Episode 022 of the Write Now podcast is for you. What if I simply wasn't meant to be a writer? I received a letter from a very bright, very talented young writer named Amanda who was wondering whether she was actually meant to be a writer. Her letter affected me so much that I decided to dedicate this episode to exploring the topic. Amanda writes, I'm not sure if I'm meant to be writing... I like coming up with characters and thinking about the situations they would get into. I like developing the characters. I love dialogue particularly. ...But I spend maybe 5% of my writing time actually writing. The rest of the time, I am in misery. I agonize over my faults until I can barely move, let alone be creative... I'm just wondering if I should even be writing at all. Can someone maybe have a passion for writing but then shouldn't do it anyway? Wow. It took me a while, but I was finally able to provide Amanda with an answer, and I'd like to share it with you. There is no "should". The first thing I would do is question your "shoulds" and "meant tos". When you wonder whether you were "meant" to be a writer, or whether you "should" be writing, whose mandate are you following? Who is imposing those "shoulds"? Fate? God or a higher power? A teacher, professor, or friend? Yourself? That feeling of enjoyment/satisfaction/joy when you're able to write? I went through a time when my own "shoulds" seriously conflicted with what I wanted and needed to do with my life. I would bet that you have been through something similar as well. What's hard to remember amidst all those "shoulds" is that your life is not just one pre-determined path. Your life isn't just point A to point B. It's point A to LITERALLY ANYWHERE. There are thousands of possibilities, and thousands of choices you make in any given day that will determine the course of your life. You were given (or have, depending on your perspective) a talent for writing. And it's up to you to decide what you want to do with that talent. Do you want to write as a hobby? As a career? Or do you not want to write at all? The only person who can make that choice is you. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Let me know what conclusion you came to, or what happened because of the choice you made, by sending an email to hello [at] <a href="http://sarahwerner.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sarahwerner.com</a> or sharing your thoughts in the comments below! Book of the week. (Okay, books.) I got lost in not only a great book but a great series this week. Karen Marie Moning's excellent urban fantasy "Fever" pentalogy (like a trilogy, but with five parts!) begins with Darkfever and ends with Shadowfever and wow is it a wild, gripping, breathtaking ride. I read all five books in some sort of fever of my own, often staying up significantly past my bedtime to read just one more chapter. The premise? MacKayla Lane travels to Dublin, Ireland to identify the body of her sister and best friend, Alina. While she's there, she notices that things aren't quite right, and embarks on an adventure to not only identify her sister's killer but prevent the extinction of humanity at the hands of the warring Seelie and Unseelie Fae courts. Read this series if you love urban fantasy, mysterious strangers, Dublin, tightly knit plots, bookshops, self-aware heroines with swords and spears, saucy brooding heroes, and epic storytelling. Do not read this series if you are sensitive to foul language or graphically depicted adult situations. (Seriously. I'm not kidding. It's graphic.) Otherwise... I hope you don't have to get up early for work the next morning. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Talk to me! Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page,...

Was I Meant To Be A Writer? - WN 022

Are you living the life you want to live? Living a creative life is about making your own decisions and breaking the mold. But what does that mean?

Are you living the life you want to live? Living a creative life is about making your own decisions and breaking the mold. But what does that mean?

Living A Creative Life - WN 056

Do you ever put off writing because you need to wash the dishes or watch American Idol with your spouse? Are these legit reasons -- or just excuses? Learn how to ditch the excuses and just write in this week's episode of the Write Now podcast!

Do you ever put off writing because you need to wash the dishes or watch American Idol with your spouse? Are these legit reasons -- or just excuses? Learn how to ditch the excuses and just write in this week's episode of the Write Now podcast!

All Of The Best Writing Excuses - WN 058

From turning off your phone to staving off fear and/or hunger, this episode of the Write Now podcast is here to help you write through NaNoWriMo.

From turning off your phone to staving off fear and/or hunger, this episode of the Write Now podcast is here to help you write through NaNoWriMo.

30 Tips for 30 Days of NaNoWriMo - WNP 048

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; My friends. Episode 021 of the Write Now podcast is about writer's block and how to defeat it. GET READY.Have you ever struggled with writers' block?Writers' block can seize any writer at any point during the writing process. But that doesn't mean you can't fight back! In today's podcast episode, I talk about what to do when: 	You can't come up with an idea	You have too many ideas and you can't commit to just one	You don't know what to write next	You've strayed from your outline and you don't know how to get back on track	You're bored with what you've written	You don't feel like writing	You're paralyzed by fear	You're stuck in revision purgatory The many cures for writers' block.From writing exercises to the steps to getting unstuck (WN 013), getting yourself in a writing mood (WN 008), or regaining your confidence (WN 005), you'll want to make sure that you choose the cure that fits your situation. I'll help you do that in today's episode. Going through a period of writers' block does not make you a failure. Even if you miss a day or two of writing (or a month or two, or a year or two), it doesn't mean you're any less a writer. Writers' block happens to most writers. What really determines if you're successful or not is how you deal with it.What do you do?What do you do when writers' block strikes? Let me know or share your thoughts in the comments below!Question of the week.Thanks to podcast listener Brian for this week's question! It's about social media. Brian asks: Would you recommend having two separate social media accounts? One for your writing, professional self, and another for everything else? I'm especially interested in Twitter, but wonder if this would apply to other services as well. I have a background in digital marketing, so this was a fun question for me to tackle. It starts at about the 31:11 mark and will hopefully help you sort out what's right for you. Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you.Leave me a review.Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air!I will send you things.I'll send you fun emails when you least expect it. All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt;Subscribe to Write Now right now!You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:  Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt;The Write Now podcast on social media, too.Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s):Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post How To Defeat Writers’ Block – WN 021 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; My friends. Episode 021 of the Write Now podcast is about writer's block and how to defeat it. GET READY. Have you ever struggled with writers' block? Writers' block can seize any writer at any point during the writing process. But that doesn't mean you can't fight back! In today's podcast episode, I talk about what to do when: 	You can't come up with an idea 	You have too many ideas and you can't commit to just one 	You don't know what to write next 	You've strayed from your outline and you don't know how to get back on track 	You're bored with what you've written 	You don't feel like writing 	You're paralyzed by fear 	You're stuck in revision purgatory The many cures for writers' block. From writing exercises to the steps to getting unstuck (WN 013), getting yourself in a writing mood (WN 008), or regaining your confidence (WN 005), you'll want to make sure that you choose the cure that fits your situation. I'll help you do that in today's episode. Going through a period of writers' block does not make you a failure. Even if you miss a day or two of writing (or a month or two, or a year or two), it doesn't mean you're any less a writer. Writers' block happens to most writers. What really determines if you're successful or not is how you deal with it. What do you do? What do you do when writers' block strikes? Let me know or share your thoughts in the comments below! Question of the week. Thanks to podcast listener Brian for this week's question! It's about social media. Brian asks: Would you recommend having two separate social media accounts? One for your writing, professional self, and another for everything else? I'm especially interested in Twitter, but wonder if this would apply to other services as well. I have a background in digital marketing, so this was a fun question for me to tackle. It starts at about the 31:11 mark and will hopefully help you sort out what's right for you. Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! I will send you things. I'll send you fun emails when you least expect it. All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt; Subscribe to Write Now right now! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; The Write Now podcast on social media, too. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post <a href="http://www.sarahwerner.com/how-to-defeat-writers-block-wn-021/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Defeat Writers’ Block – WN 021</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.sarahwerner.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner</a>.

How To Defeat Writers' Block - WN 021

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; Episode 026 of the Write Now podcast is once again sponsored by my good friend Dave Booda at the Darken the Page podcast. Check it out!Life isn't always as amazing as we'd like it to be....To put it lightly. Sometimes the Powers That Be decide that juggling the usual work/life/writing balance just isn't hard enough, and sends us fun new things to deal with on top of it all. Things like illness, depression, toxic people, and bad situations at work. So what's a writer to do? Keep yourself from getting lost.Sometimes, it's easy for all that rotten stuff to get to us -- to corrupt us, to dishearten us, to discourage us from writing. But you're stronger than that. Today we're going to talk about that, and about how to stay true to yourself during the toughest times.Tell me your thoughts.How do you deal with all of the negative stuff that life throws your way? Submit your thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you!Leave me a review.Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air!Get weekly inspirational emails.Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt;Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free!You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Alternately, listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:  Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt;The Write Now podcast is online.Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s):Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post When Life Kinda Sucks – WN 026 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; Episode 026 of the Write Now podcast is once again sponsored by my good friend Dave Booda at the Darken the Page podcast. Check it out! Life isn't always as amazing as we'd like it to be. ...To put it lightly. Sometimes the Powers That Be decide that juggling the usual work/life/writing balance just isn't hard enough, and sends us fun new things to deal with on top of it all. Things like illness, depression, toxic people, and bad situations at work. So what's a writer to do? Keep yourself from getting lost. Sometimes, it's easy for all that rotten stuff to get to us -- to corrupt us, to dishearten us, to discourage us from writing. But you're stronger than that. Today we're going to talk about that, and about how to stay true to yourself during the toughest times. Tell me your thoughts. How do you deal with all of the negative stuff that life throws your way? Submit your thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you! Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt; Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Alternately, listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; The Write Now podcast is online. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post <a href="http://www.sarahwerner.com/when-life-kinda-sucks-wn-026/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When Life Kinda Sucks – WN 026</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.sarahwerner.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner</a>.

When Life Kinda Sucks - WN 026

Today's topic comes from a listener question: How will I know when I'm good enough to publish — and that I won't look back on my work in 10 years and cringe? Join us for a chat about fear, bravery, and constant action. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-do-i-know-when-im-good-enough/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Today's topic comes from a listener question: How will I know when I'm good enough to publish — and that I won't look back on my work in 10 years and cringe? Join us for a chat about fear, bravery, and constant action. For show notes, please visit: <a href="https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-do-i-know-when-im-good-enough/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-do-i-know-when-im-good-enough/</a> To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! <a href="https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner</a> Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

How Do I Know When I'm Good Enough? - WNP 073

We learned a lot of great things in school. But our educational system isn't perfect, and there are some things we should have learned about writing (and life) that we didn't. All of those (and more!) in this week's episode!

We learned a lot of great things in school. But our educational system isn't perfect, and there are some things we should have learned about writing (and life) that we didn't. All of those (and more!) in this week's episode!

What They Didn't Teach You In School - WN 047

Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt; It's November--and you know what that means! Or maybe you don't, in which case I'll tell you: it's NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH! And the way I see it, November is a time to celebrate all writers, not just novelists. That includes you. Get ready for the writing frenzy with episode 027 of Write Now.What is NaNoWriMo, and is it right for me? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (because who wants to say that over and over?), and over the years this has become a sort of marathon for writers. The challenge? To write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days, from November 1-30. Yes, that's nearly 1,700 words per day. Yes, that's insane. But it can also be kind of fun, and a great way to get into a daily writing habit. Keeping NaNoWriMo realistic.NaNoWriMo is a positive, inclusive event that encourages everyone to tell a story, and I love it for that. But it can also be incredibly difficult to meet and keep up with the daily word count. That's why I advocate participating in NaNoWriMo without the expectation of winning (i.e., reaching the 50,000 word count by November 30). Instead, set a daily writing goal that is more reasonable for your situation (e.g., 170 words a day, 800 words a day) and focus on reaching that goal every day in the month of November. Thinking about giving it a try? Friend me on the NaNoWriMo site and we'll do this together. And don't forget to enjoy the pep talks by some of your favorite novelists along the way.Book of the week.I'm a huge fangirl of Kelley Armstrong, who writes PNR (paranormal romance) for adults. So when I saw she'd published a YA series, I was curious to see how it would differ. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong is the tale of 16-year-old Maya -- or at least it's the beginning of her tale. Because as much as I adored Maya's character (for once a whip-smart, funny, and likable heroine so much unlike Bella Swan), I had a hard time grappling with the fact that I was essentially reading 25% or 33% of a story. I love YA series, and I love cliffhangers. But I have really little patience with partially-told stories. A full book's worth of story should establish expectations that it then follows up on. If it ends on a cliffhanger, that's fine, as long as the reader feels satisfied (if tense, and excited for the next installment) by the final page. But with The Gathering, none of my expectations were met or fulfilled, and the abrupt, anticlimactic ending wasn't a cliffhanger so much as a "meh." It wasn't enough to lure me in to buying the next book (of which there are currently three). Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads.Tell me your thoughts.Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Or have you done it in the past? I'm eager to hear all about your experience, or what you hope to get out of it! Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you.Get weekly inspirational emails.Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt;Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free!You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:  Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt;The Write Now podcast is on social media, too.Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s), for the low low price of FREE:Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | TumblrLeave me a review.Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review.

Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt; It's November--and you know what that means! Or maybe you don't, in which case I'll tell you: it's NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH! And the way I see it, November is a time to celebrate all writers, not just novelists. That includes you. Get ready for the writing frenzy with episode 027 of Write Now. What is NaNoWriMo, and is it right for me? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (because who wants to say that over and over?), and over the years this has become a sort of marathon for writers. The challenge? To write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days, from November 1-30. Yes, that's nearly 1,700 words per day. Yes, that's insane. But it can also be kind of fun, and a great way to get into a daily writing habit. Keeping NaNoWriMo realistic. NaNoWriMo is a positive, inclusive event that encourages everyone to tell a story, and I love it for that. But it can also be incredibly difficult to meet and keep up with the daily word count. That's why I advocate participating in NaNoWriMo without the expectation of winning (i.e., reaching the 50,000 word count by November 30). Instead, set a daily writing goal that is more reasonable for your situation (e.g., 170 words a day, 800 words a day) and focus on reaching that goal every day in the month of November. Thinking about giving it a try? Friend me on the NaNoWriMo site and we'll do this together. And don't forget to enjoy the pep talks by some of your favorite novelists along the way. Book of the week. I'm a huge fangirl of Kelley Armstrong, who writes PNR (paranormal romance) for adults. So when I saw she'd published a YA series, I was curious to see how it would differ. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong is the tale of 16-year-old Maya -- or at least it's the beginning of her tale. Because as much as I adored Maya's character (for once a whip-smart, funny, and likable heroine so much unlike Bella Swan), I had a hard time grappling with the fact that I was essentially reading 25% or 33% of a story. I love YA series, and I love cliffhangers. But I have really little patience with partially-told stories. A full book's worth of story should establish expectations that it then follows up on. If it ends on a cliffhanger, that's fine, as long as the reader feels satisfied (if tense, and excited for the next installment) by the final page. But with The Gathering, none of my expectations were met or fulfilled, and the abrupt, anticlimactic ending wasn't a cliffhanger so much as a "meh." It wasn't enough to lure me in to buying the next book (of which there are currently three). Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Tell me your thoughts. Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Or have you done it in the past? I'm eager to hear all about your experience, or what you hope to get out of it! Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! &gt;&gt; Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: Help support this podcast on Patreon! &gt;&gt; The Write Now podcast is on social media, too. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s), for the low low price of FREE: Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review.

NaNoWriMo and You - WN 027

A mission statement is a valuable tool for a writer -- it can help you understand your own story, remind you of your purpose, and guide you toward your goals. Today's episode of Write Now podcast will help you create one!

A mission statement is a valuable tool for a writer -- it can help you understand your own story, remind you of your purpose, and guide you toward your goals. Today's episode of Write Now podcast will help you create one!

Crafting Your Mission Statement - WN 046

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; If you're looking for episode eight of the "Write Now" podcast, you've come to the right place. OR SHOULD I SAY THE WRITE PLACE BAH HA HA HA HAAA haaaaaaaaa I'm such a dork.I probably should be writing, but I just don't feel like it.There are days when it's hard to even think about writing. I know -- I've been there. (In fact, I may or may not be there right now.) It's so easy to feel disheartened or stupid or restless or any of those other thousand things that can keep you from writing. But I've come up with a decision tree you can follow that will help you start writing and keep going on even the worst days (or to know when it's time to get the rest you need). 1. Enter your writing space. Shut the door and sit down.2. Honestly assess how you feel. If you are actually exhausted, go to sleep. But if you are simply feeling lazy (i.e., if you feel a tinge of guilt or regret when you think about ditching your writing session), then you need to write.3. Create a "journal" file on your computer, or grab a notebook you can use as a journal. In it, begin writing about why you don't feel like writing today.4. Take action to combat whatever you've written down, or simply use your journaling momentum to continue writing for your writing project.Either way, the key here is finding a active/creating path, and not tripping merrily along a passive/consuming path. Listen to this episode to get the full details. I also reference episode WN 004, "Go On, Surprise Yourself", which you can listen to if you need to liven up your storytelling. Also, while I'm at it, here are a couple of the passive "Do Not"s:1. Do not watch a movie.2. Do not watch TV.3. Do not play video games.4. Do not take a nap.5. Do not surf the internet. Despite your best intentions, you will get lost in a black hole of unproductivity.I hope this helps. Because you're a smart, capable writer with a great story to tell. And I want you to tell it.The book of the week.I just finished Rachel Hartman's Seraphina. It's a YA fantasy novel about a 16-year-old girl and dragons and political unrest and OMG YOU GUYS I LOVED IT. And despite your age/gender/whatever, you might love it, too. Seraphina is a great example of a strong female character -- not in the "Angelina Jolie can bend bullets" or "Viking woman is a better fighter than the Viking men" way, but in a way that's real. She's confident, passionate, and true to herself while dealing with various personal flaws and realistic relationships. There are a few plot holes here and there, but it was otherwise an incredibly satisfying read. I can't wait to start the sequel. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads.I will email you.I'll send you super-fun emails when you least expect it! Don't worry, none of it will be spam. Promise. Sign up to get email updates from me. &gt;&gt;Submit a question.I like answering questions, and I didn't have one this week! So visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com.Listen to the full podcast.You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! &gt;&gt; (And subscribe!)Tell me your thoughts.How do you make yourself write when you've had a long day and don't feel like writing? Let me know in the comments below, or send a quick email to hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com.The Write Now podcast is on Facebook, apparently. Join the online community here. Ask questions, share your thoughts, let me know what you're writing, recommend books, and more. :)Like what you've heard?I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself.

Help support this podcast! &gt;&gt; If you're looking for episode eight of the "Write Now" podcast, you've come to the right place. OR SHOULD I SAY THE WRITE PLACE BAH HA HA HA HAAA haaaaaaaaa I'm such a dork. I probably should be writing, but I just don't feel like it. There are days when it's hard to even think about writing. I know -- I've been there. (In fact, I may or may not be there right now.) It's so easy to feel disheartened or stupid or restless or any of those other thousand things that can keep you from writing. But I've come up with a decision tree you can follow that will help you start writing and keep going on even the worst days (or to know when it's time to get the rest you need). 1. Enter your writing space. Shut the door and sit down. 2. Honestly assess how you feel. If you are actually exhausted, go to sleep. But if you are simply feeling lazy (i.e., if you feel a tinge of guilt or regret when you think about ditching your writing session), then you need to write. 3. Create a "journal" file on your computer, or grab a notebook you can use as a journal. In it, begin writing about why you don't feel like writing today. 4. Take action to combat whatever you've written down, or simply use your journaling momentum to continue writing for your writing project. Either way, the key here is finding a active/creating path, and not tripping merrily along a passive/consuming path. Listen to this episode to get the full details. I also reference episode WN 004, "Go On, Surprise Yourself", which you can listen to if you need to liven up your storytelling. Also, while I'm at it, here are a couple of the passive "Do Not"s: 1. Do not watch a movie. 2. Do not watch TV. 3. Do not play video games. 4. Do not take a nap. 5. Do not surf the internet. Despite your best intentions, you will get lost in a black hole of unproductivity. I hope this helps. Because you're a smart, capable writer with a great story to tell. And I want you to tell it. The book of the week. I just finished Rachel Hartman's Seraphina. It's a YA fantasy novel about a 16-year-old girl and dragons and political unrest and OMG YOU GUYS I LOVED IT. And despite your age/gender/whatever, you might love it, too. Seraphina is a great example of a strong female character -- not in the "Angelina Jolie can bend bullets" or "Viking woman is a better fighter than the Viking men" way, but in a way that's real. She's confident, passionate, and true to herself while dealing with various personal flaws and realistic relationships. There are a few plot holes here and there, but it was otherwise an incredibly satisfying read. I can't wait to start the sequel. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. I will email you. I'll send you super-fun emails when you least expect it! Don't worry, none of it will be spam. Promise. Sign up to get email updates from me. &gt;&gt; Submit a question. I like answering questions, and I didn't have one this week! So visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! &gt;&gt; (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. How do you make yourself write when you've had a long day and don't feel like writing? Let me know in the comments below, or send a quick email to hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. The Write Now podcast is on Facebook, apparently. Join the online community here. Ask questions, share your thoughts, let me know what you're writing, recommend books, and more. :) Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself.

How to Write When You Don't Feel Like Writing - WN 008

Bob Stromberg

Bob Stromberg shares the secrets of living a creative life, taking control of your "muse", and rediscovering the creativity of your childhood.

Bob Stromberg shares the secrets of living a creative life, taking control of your "muse", and rediscovering the creativity of your childhood.

Coffee Break 061: Bob Stromberg

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