Bryan Collins's Blog, page 79

Is Writing Lonely? A Guide

Is writing lonely? That's a question many new writers have.

Well, it's a cliché to describe somebody who earns a living from words as just another lonely writer.

Sure writing, demands spending extended periods by yourself working on articles, stories, or books, often without feedback from others.

Look at the workspaces of many famous writers, and you'll find them typing away in basements, coffee shops, and rooms at the tops of their houses or backs of their apartments.

The American poet Raymond...

How To Wake Up Early: 11 Simple Strategies for Night Owls

Would you like to wake up early?

For years, I was a night owl. I wrote in the evening or late at night. I enjoyed the idea of writing into the wee small hours with only Frank Sinatra, the moon, and the blank page for company.

But, a job and the demands of family life make it difficult to write late at night. For me, it wasn’t practical to write past midnight and then get up the next day, go to work, and function with a family.

I was far from an early riser. Then, I read about the routines of ma...

How to Write Every Day: 8 Sensational Strategies That Work

Do you want to write every day?

I knew I wanted to publish my first book, and that learning to write every day was the key to doing it.

But, it wasn’t enough to know the concept.

I had to figure out how to keep my deadlines and finish writing what I started.

How could I write every day and balance having a job, two kids, friends and family who don’t write, and all the in-betweens?

I faced my biggest challenge yet.

If couldn’t face this one down, I’d never be able to call myself an author.

I’d n...

How To Finish Writing Your Articles or Book: Step-by-Step

Have you ever struggled to finish writing a series of articles, stories, or even a book?

Perhaps they're stuck in the bottom of a drawer in your office.

Or maybe it’s lost on your hard-drive.

Or perhaps it’s sitting in a notebook in your attic.

I’m talking about the stubborn writing project you gave up on because it was too hard to work it out.

Almost every writer gives up on a writing project at some point.

I’m no exception.

I stuffed dozens of short stories in the back of my drawer and gave up...

How To Read More Often: 11 Reliable Tactics That Work

Would you like to read more often?

It's becoming harder to find time to get through the hundreds of good books published every year, let alone the classics.

Thanks to smartphones, social media, and streaming sites like Netflix, readers have more distractions than ever. 

And yet, reading is more rewarding and enjoyable than scrolling down on Twitter and Facebook.

In this post, I'll explain how to read more often.

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68 Inspiring Creativity Quotes To Spark Fresh Thinking

Are you looking for some inspiring creativity quotes? If so, you're in the right place.

Writing apps are nice, but we all need a little inspiration sometimes.

To be creative describes combining old and new ideas in ways people don't expect. It's less about originality than it is about interpreting what went before you.

When you're stuck or feeling creatively drained, the best place to look is often in the writings of creative people you admire.

I've gathered some great quotes about creativity th...

7 Basic Grammar Rules Every Writer Must Know

Grammar is the set of rules by which we communicate.

English grammar is those rules applied to the spoken and written English language.

Writers need to know and follow basic grammar rules to communicate clearly through written language.

Grammar is governed by five overarching rules.

These aren't grammar “rules” like how to place periods and use conjunctions. They are the rules that serve as building blocks for English grammar.

Phonology – The sounds that make up the words i...

The Zettelkasten Method Means You’ll Never Run Out of Ideas Again with Sascha Fast

Early this year, I came across the Zettelkasten method, a strategy that dramatically changed how I research and write articles and books. 

The Zettelkasten or Slipbox is a form of research and note taking was popularised, at least in Germany, by sociologist and author Niklas Lumen.

(Fun fact: Lumen used the Slipbox or Zettelkasten method of research to write and publish over 70 books).

 Basically, it involves writing creating a web thought about your ideas, research and readings. I ...

Writing In Pain: 12 Top Tips That Really Work

Writing in pain isn't much fun, speaking from experience. I write during the day in an office, and during my free time, I sit at a desk at home and write again.

I spend over forty hours a week sitting down.

Here’s the problem:

Sitting is the new smoking.

A couple of months ago, my foot went numb for hours at a time, and I experienced enough knee pain to find sitting for more than an hour unpleasant.

I procrastinated for months before going to a physical therapist.

After a short examination, he ...

Writing a First Draft: The No-Nonsense Guide for Authors

Do you need help with writing a first draft?

I once wrote the first draft of a book chapter that smelt so bad, I had to open up the office window while reading it.

It's a good thing my first drafts are for me alone, and yours should be too.

“When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth.” – Kurt Vonnegut

When you sit down to write the first draft, you may lack confidence or feel uninspired by what you're about to do.

Today, it's you alone wrestling with your id...