Category:

Positive Writing

A Crazy Myth Writers Need To Kill

When I was in my early twenties and an up and coming pool player I thought in order to be the best, I needed to know everything about billiards. I thought I needed to know how the tables were made, what the balls were made of, and even the ins and outs of cue design.

Then, one day, while in the pool room sitting in a lounge chair “reading” a book on how to make billiard tables, my mentor tapped me on the shoulder and snapped me out of a daydream. Truth was, I had drifted off because the book was boring and I wasn’t really interested in building tables. “Why are you reading that?” He asked, and I told him. What he said next was life-changing.

myths-about-writing

How To Breathe New Life Into Your Writing

written by Joel Key

Note: This is a post by Joel Key. Joel is a writer and physiotherapist who inspires his community to make positive changes in their lives. He has just created a new campaign called ‘Write for Life’, which raises awareness of worldwide illiteracy. To learn more, visit his site at www.joelkey.com.

Writers can sometimes run out of new material. There’s no shame in admitting it. Creativity is not a bottomless well. All writers at some point, struggle to find the next headline. You may feel your writing has gone stale.

breathe-writing

Quotes About Writing and Overcoming Doubt

written by Bryan Hutchinson

If you’re a writer (or any kind of artist), the odds are you’ve struggled with doubt and I bet there have been days when it has been downright overwhelming, perhaps even enough to make you want to give in and give up.

Fear not, doubting one’s self is human nature, but (and this is a big BUT) it’s also part of human nature to overcome and triumph over one’s doubts.

YOU can do it! Yes, you can!

deadlines

Why You Have To Do Something Bigger Than Yourself (It’s Worth It)

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Last week Jeff Goins (the dude who wrote the foreword for my book), posted something deceptively simple and quite thought provoking, “Why I Write”. In his post he talked about, you guessed it – Why he writes.

Jeff ended his post with an invitation to his readers to share why they write in the comments. I typed off an answer, but I soon realized there was so much more to it and suddenly I found myself going deep.

When the rest of my answer came to me, I was floored. I have a feeling that a lot of writers, and other creative types for that matter, will find themselves identifying with the rest of my answer.

in-writing

How You May Be Sabotaging Your Gift to Write Words That Matter

written by Bryan Hutchinson

As writers, we are by our very nature, critical thinkers, but for some reason we don’t think too much about the ramifications of our own counterintuitive self-talk.

All too often we allow doubt to rule over us and take command of our gift to write words that matter. We tend to think that the harder we are on ourselves the better we will become. We challenge ourselves and, unfortunately, to do this most of us are drawn to using reverse psychology. Hey, even some of the greats have advised it.

But what if reverse psychology is one of the many tools doubt uses to cause you to stall, and even, give up?

Why Writers are the Most Brutal Critics of other Writers

written by Bryan Hutchinson

As writers, it seems our reputations precede us when it comes to giving harsh criticism to fellow writers.

But is it true? Are we each other’s most brutal critics?

critic-writer

Writing For YOU

written by The Magic Violinist

I’ve gotten bored with my book. A few years ago, I would’ve freaked out.

Oh no! I would’ve thought. Maybe my book sucks. Maybe the characters are totally flat. Maybe the plot is too simple. Maybe it’ll never get published and even if it does everyone will hate it because it’s too bland!

Now I’ve learned to calm down. The key to becoming excited about your book again is to chill. Don’t panic.

Write What You Love

Shattering the Myths about The Midas Touch and Success

written by Bryan Hutchinson

There’s a common belief that we need the Midas touch to become a bestselling author like Stephen King, a famous TV host like Oprah, or even a successful producer like David Geffen.

But do we, really?

Today I’m going to shatter myths about the Midas touch and share with you what we all do have within us that is much, much better.

The Midas Touch

Creative Flow: There is Magic in Asking Yourself The Right Questions

written by Bryan Hutchinson

The wrong questions will destroy your power to create, but the right questions will fill you with inspiration, encouragement and motivation to create work that will blow you (and others) away!

Am I good enough? Do I suck? Should I give up? Will I ever create work that matters? Why can’t I ____? (Fill in the blank.)

Those are the wrong questions. Do you want to free yourself from doubt and create work that matters? Then you need to ask yourself the right questions.