Tag: meg dowell

The Blank Page is a new weekly series on Novelty Revisions dedicated to any writer who is just beginning their journey or starting again after a long pause. Check back every Monday for more tips and inspiration.

---

Writing is a constant cycle of learning, applying what you’ve learned, and learning even more. Even those who have mastered their craft still learn new things every single day.

Not all these lessons are easy to accept. But they will change your life as a writer all the same.

Continue reading “The Hardest Lessons a Writer Will Ever Learn | The Blank Page” →

Many, many writers are desperately searching for feedback on their work.

And rightfully so. Constructive criticism boosts confidence and helps writers set goals for improvement.

But not every writer wants (or needs) specific feedback on their work from strangers.

Continue reading “Sometimes Writers Aren’t Actually Looking for Feedback” →

1. Your words are enough. And so are you.

2. You have every right to express yourself and write about what interests and inspires you.

3. What’s “valuable” to a person differs by the person. Just because one person might not resonate with it doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

4. Honestly? The only person who has the right to decide whether or not your words have value … is you. Almost all that self-doubt is likely coming from somewhere or someone else.

Continue reading “12 Reminders for Writers Who Feel Like They Have Nothing Valuable to Say” →

1. More writers are nervous about writing, querying, publishing, etc. than you think. We just don’t talk about it enough.

2. Fearing failure is normal and OK, as long as you’re also willing to face that fear.

3. Rejection isn’t the end of your journey. For many, it’s the beginning.

4. If you don’t feel like sharing your writing with a bunch of strangers (yet or ever) … you don’t have to.

Continue reading “10 Things Every Nervous Writer Should Know” →

1. Set a goal. Define exactly what “more” means for you personally.

2. Write consistently. NOT EVERY DAY (unless you can/want to), but on a schedule. The more you practice writing on a schedule, the easier it gets.

3. Write about things that interest you even if it’s “just for you.”

4. Embrace the First Draft Philosophy. Write now, edit later.

Continue reading “10 Secrets to Writing More (and Getting Really Good At It)” →

1. Reminding yourself that facing a challenge does not mean you’re a bad writer.

2. Reaching out to other writers when you need help. Sometimes a quick “you got this!” is enough to calm your nerves and help you refocus your efforts.

3. Treating mistakes and rejection as learning experiences instead of epic failures.

4. Leaning on your support system. Sometimes it’s a friend or family member. Sometimes it’s someone in your online writing network. It could be a mentor, an instructor, an editor — if you have someone or something to hold you up, you’ll never sink low enough to seriously consider quitting.

Continue reading “12 Strong Habits of Writers Who Don’t Give Up” →

The Blank Page is a new weekly series on Novelty Revisions dedicated to any writer who is just beginning their journey or starting again after a long pause. Check back every Monday for more tips and inspiration.

---

The one thing most new aspiring writers worry about the most? How to get credible feedback on their work.

Once you’ve finished your draft … once you know it’s a piece of writing you don’t want to leave sitting in a drawer for the next decade … how do you go about finding feedback you can trust?

Here are a few do’s and don’t’s.

Continue reading “Whose Writing Feedback Can You Trust? | The Blank Page” →

Have you been extra nice to yourself lately? If you’re a writer … the answer is probably: “…Mayyyybe?”

Writers — creators in general — are way too hard on themselves. We like making things, we feel good doing it. But we really want to feel like we’re doing a good job.

When we don’t feel that way — which happens much more often than we realize — we start to doubt if writing is even worth the struggle.

Why are we so judgmental of our own work? Because it’s the easiest to judge. It comes from us. We know it better than anyone.

But we can all learn to be critical without being so harsh. Here’s how.

Continue reading “How to Stop Judging Your Own Writing So Harshly” →

1. You keep trying to tell made-up stories, but they aren’t helping you escape from your real world.

2. You have a lot going on right now, and making writing a priority just doesn’t seem possible.

3. You don’t feel important.

4. There are so many writers, and it doesn’t feel like you have anything worthwhile to add to what’s already being written.

Continue reading “12 Reasons Writing Doesn’t Feel Worth It Right Now (Even Though It Is)” →