Why I Write (and Read) Short Stories.
“Short stories are like paper planes—light, quick to launch, and sometimes, they soar higher than you’d ever expect. They’re small vessels that carry big ideas.”
Writing
Why Do You Write?
Ah yes, that question. “Why do you write?”
It’s one of those that gets asked a lot—especially in writing forums, interviews, and on the back covers of literary memoirs, usually printed in italics for some reason. It can feel a bit… woo-woo. As if the answer should be sacred and profound. (“Because the Muse demands it, obviously.”)
But the truth? Your “why” is probably a lot more practical, changeable, and occasionally downright grubby than the question makes it sound.
Turn Off Editing and Spelling While You Type. And Why.
So, shiny new laptop in hand, I reinstalled all my software. And, of course, Microsoft Word came back with all its default bells and whistles cheerfully intact—including the dreaded live spelling and grammar check. Outlook, OneNote, the rest of the MS Office gang… same story.
Online editing tools weren’t far behind, either. And if you’ve got a grammar extension active while you’re writing in a browser, you’ll get treated to an assault of blue double-underscores that scream “BAD GRAMMAR!” like a judgy primary school teacher.
The Tiny Time-Saving Trick That Adds Up to Hours of Extra Writing
Ah, keyboard shortcuts—the secret sauce that transforms a writer’s workflow from a clunky tricycle ride into a sleek, high-speed chase. If you’re still dragging your mouse around like it’s 1995, it’s time for an upgrade. Embracing keyboard shortcuts isn’t just about shaving seconds off tasks; it’s about reclaiming your creative flow and keeping those brilliant ideas from evaporating while you hunt for the “Paste” option.
Inspiration for Indie Writers: 20 Quotes to Keep You Writing (Even When It’s Hard)
20 inspiring writing quotes.
Another Way to Reach a Flow State Every Time You Write
From The Productive Indie Fiction Writer: We’ve all been there. You sit down to write, and the words just… don’t.
Purpose-Driven Reading
From The Productive Indie Fiction Writer: Following up on last week’s post about finding more time to read. Once you’ve got back
Squeezing Reading Into Your Life
And why you should try. From The Productive Indie Fiction Writer: All authors are told to read more. We’re told
Marginalia and the Fiction Author
From The Productive Indie Fiction Writer: The idea of marginalia (notes written in the margins of a print book) will
A New Type of Sprint! — Graduated Word Sprints.
From The Productive Indie Fiction Writer: One of the most-visited posts on this site is “5 Types Of Writing Sprints