Whether you write for your own enjoyment or to make a living, here are some tips for making your writing life more productive and enjoyable.
One of the books I came across when going through my dad’s library after he passed away was a delightful little book called, W.O.W. – Writers on Writing, by John Winokur, a virtual quote-collecting...
Today as I was jotting down thoughts for a New Year’s blog about some of the things we writers (me especially!) need to stop doing this year, and other things we might start trying...
I recently read an interview in which several authors discussed whether or not they actually enjoyed writing for a living. It’s a pretty interesting question to ask because I think a lot of writers...
Jamie Ford, the bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, when asked “What holds back most beginning writers and what they should do to make it better?” “Two things. One:...
Let’s see a show of hands: Â Who among us has ever gone through a writer’s block? It may be hard to admit, but I think most writers have had a dry spell or two...
Literary Agents / Work / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published June 5, 2011 · Last modified May 3, 2014
I recently attended an all-day agent pitching workshop hosted by the Idaho Writer’s Guild. Four well known literary agents — B.J. Robbins, Amy Rennert, Gordon Warnock, Ken Sherman — shared their expertise about the...
Being a writer can be exhilarating one moment — for example, when you’re winning awards or you have editors contact you personally to write a story — and lonely and frustrating the next —...
Authors / Book Publishing / Literary Agents / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published March 31, 2011 · Last modified September 3, 2014
(graphic source) “Every time an Oscar is given out, an agent gets his wings.” ~ Kathy Bates In my lifetime I’ve pitched my mom on why she should let me stay out later, potential...
Magazine Writing / Work / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published February 23, 2011 · Last modified May 3, 2014
(graphic source) “There are, it seems, two kinds of editors. The first kind cares mainly about himself, about how his editing performance reflects on him and getting ahead or getting stroked or getting to...
I’ve often wondered what would happen if I ever became incapacitated and couldn’t do my writing. What if I broke a finger or an arm or my wrist? How would I do my...
Magazine Writing / Work / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published February 10, 2011 · Last modified May 3, 2014
“Why write in a few words what you can write in many.” ~ Patti Murphy Over the years I’ve fretted over meeting, as close as possible, the word count my editors give me when...
Magazine Writing / Work / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published February 2, 2011 · Last modified May 3, 2014
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Â ~ Sylvia Plath...
This is the time of year when all the lists are trotted out as a way to look back and tell us what we did, said, thought, ate, and wore in the past...
“We think good ideas to death, when we should be acting them to life.” ~ Brian G. Jett “A new idea is like a child. It’s easier to conceive than to deliver.” ~ Ted...
“Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual.” ~ Homa Bahrami If you have left your full-time job and found yourself piecing and patch-working an income together...
“Write drunk, edit sober.” ~ Ernest Hemingway One of the biggest challenges facing a lot of writers including myself is to “let it all hang out” as we are writing. In fact, as...
Career Happiness / Work / Writing Tips
by Murphy · Published October 18, 2010 · Last modified June 25, 2014
Unending smoking, drinking, office sex and smarminess…oh, yes, Mad Men, your craziness of the 1960s is a world totally removed from today’s social and political correctness. But still, the basics of getting through life remain...
Most of the creative people I know – writers, artists, designers, musicians — are what could be called “pilers” instead of “filers.” I am a piler. My desk has at least 4 distinct piles...
How often does our writing take the back seat to other pressing needs in our lives? Of late, I’ve noticed that I’ve had a bit of a struggle getting to my writing because of...
 “The habit of writing for my eye only is good practice, It loosens the ligaments.”  ~ Virginia Woolf Not only does journaling loosen the ligaments, but it also loosens the brain cells, the...
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