Category Archives for Writing

3 Tips for Writing Without Insecurities: The Bertrand Russell Effect

Every one of us has our own insecurities to grapple with; it’s human nature. Writers are no exception, but there’s something unique about having writing insecurities: They affect the process more directly than for other professionals.

A carpenter might feel insecure about the quality of their work, and a bus driver is perhaps insecure regarding their societal contribution—though consider whom you need more: bus drivers or stockbrokers?

To be sure, insecurity in any profession can be damaging and affect one’s concentration, but as long as the numbers add up and the vehicle is moving, a carpenter and a bus driver can function, and the process still gets done.

An insecure writer can’t function. 

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To Do or Not to Do? The Art of Avoiding Procrastination

I have taught and mentored many students over the years, and what I can say in all honesty is that each one, at some point, suffered from procrastination. Suffering from procrastination might sound rather harsh, but when a student is sitting in front of you, despairing about not being able to write, it seems appropriate.

Defining procrastination is hard, particularly as we all procrastinate in different ways. Let’s just say that procrastination is the habit of putting off tasks to the last minute. It is the seemingly never-ending battle to get things done on time or completing things late and the agonizing you may go through to get them done at all.

We have all made promises to ourselves that somehow never get fulfilled. It’s the start of a new year, which means I again promise myself I am going to lose 20 pounds. As you can see, the regularity of this promise confirms that I have been repeatedly unsuccessful. 

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Dangers of Using Writing Software and How To Avoid Them

Many authors use writing software for their work. Such programs come in various types and pricings, serving different purposes depending on the writer’s needs.

For example, fiction authors might use programs for narrative or character development, as nonfiction authors might use programs to help them create indexes or references. Both fiction and nonfiction authors use writing software to help them keep notes or structure their text.

And let’s not forget writers who mostly work with online texts, and might also use software designed to assist with SEO, keywords, or readability.

Unless you’re really old school and use a typewriter, at the most basic level virtually all of us use a computer and a word processor. This counts as writing software, even if we take it for granted.

But as with every tool, although it can greatly help you get the job done…

…it can also hurt you if you misuse it.

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What Moving Into a Tiny House Can Teach You About Writing

A popular trend in recent years is the tiny home movement. Tiny home sales have increased dramatically since the mortgage crisis of 2008, and there are about 10,000 tiny homes in the U.S. In 2017, for instance, tiny home living saw a 67% year-over-year increase.One of the benefits of living in a tiny home is learning how to cope with less and make the most of what you keep.

In February of this year, my wife and I decided to get rid of everything we owned and convert a shuttle bus into a motor home. We were going to live on two axles. Then COVID-19 hit and we had to get creative. 

Pennsylvania went on lockdown, so we couldn’t even look at vehicles until mid-May. When we finally transferred title on our vehicle of choice, we had six weeks to make it liveable and hit the highway. On July 4, we declared our independence.

I’m not trying to convince you to move into a tiny home. As a writer, I try to use every life experience as something I can use to better my writing tool belt, so I’d rather share some things that moving into a tiny home has taught me about being a better writer. Perhaps my experience can help you too.

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