Novelist Notions: Writing, Creativity, and Personal Growth

A Guide to Finding Your Unique Writing Process For the longest time, I thought I was the only writer who had trouble wrangling those fleeting ideas and turning them into compelling narratives—or informative blog posts, as I hope this one to be. The more I’ve read and written, the more I’ve realized that everyone goes through it. Something so simple as your writing method can either put up more walls or knock down the ones that exist. It all depends on the writer and how their mind works. In today’s article, we’ll explore the various techniques writers employ to express their ideas on paper, and I’ll give examples of each and discuss how they affect the writing experience. The Traditional Pen and Paper Method Pen and paper is the oldest and most tactile writing method, at least in this writer’s opinion. When using pen and paper, your thoughts can go from your mind to the paper with very little resistance outside of any self-imposed barriers that might exist. Writers who choose to write ...

How Living with Cerebral Palsy Shapes—But Doesn’t Define—My Writing Process Introduction Self-doubt and impostor syndrome: two quiet shadows silently lurking behind every word of any aspiring writer. We often sit staring at a blank screen, cursor blinking its maddening laughter as we struggle to create, to do what we thought we were meant to do. Yet, for those of us living with the constant and visible differences and difficulties, these feelings can create an even deeper furrow. This not only changes our approach to writing, but skews our self-perceptions as well. My journey in writing has been illuminated—and obscured—by the shadows of self-doubt. Only through honest reflection have I been able to fully understand their effect on my creative process. The Anatomy of Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome Self-doubt is a simple concept at its core. It’s essentially the gnawing uncertainty about one’s value, skills, or accomplishments. Imposter syndrome, the sneaky cousin to self-doubt, is a ...

Why You Should Embrace the Habit of Putting Pen to Paper In today’s fast-paced world, a person’s thoughts can come and go in a flash. When you find yourself lost in your own thoughts, unsure of how to process them or who to talk to, a journal can offer a safe, creative haven. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, journaling can give you a space to reflect on your past, create new things, and heal from past trauma. Whether you’re a writer like me who seeks inspiration or someone simply looking for a way to improve your mental health, journaling can be a life-changing experience if given the chance. In today’s installment, we’ll explore the art of journaling and how it can affect mental health. The Writer’s Companion For most writers, the blank page can be a source of fear and anxiety. I know it is for me. Journaling removes that fear, calms that anxiety. Journaling serves as a judgment-free zone in which the writer can express their innermost thoughts without the need to filter ...

Writing is something anyone can do if they put their mind to it. It's a skill that can be learned, but I don't believe it can be effectively taught. There are too many people with different learning styles and approaches to creativity. Personally, I was always drawn to writing. I have always been more of a bookworm than an athlete. My love of reading was an obvious stepping stone to a love of writing. I find it cathartic. It also allows me to express myself creatively and constructively. Looking back on life, I find it all comes back to writing at some juncture. All the people I look up to are writers or have written books in their careers. Most of all, as someone with a creative mind who has no skill with any other art form whatsoever, writing seemed to be the logical choice. In what I will admit is an attempt to thwart writer's block, I would like to share with you why I do what I do and why it brings me such joy and satisfaction. The ...

Stepping Back to Move Forward: Lessons from My Blogging Burnout The Slippery Slope of Writing for Profit The line between dedication to my craft and obsession is one I do my best not to cross. I am human, however, and as such am not perfect. My passion for writing and this blog often gets the better of me. When I started doing this, I did so with the misguided motivation of making a quick buck. I was desperate to escape my living situation, one I still haven’t escaped. Being the impulsive and desperate person I was, I dove headlong into every tip, trick, and trend that promised a profit or exposure. I downloaded keyword plugins, created an Amazon Associates account and plastered affiliate links all over my articles, and dove straight into applying for Google AdSense, something that I haven’t successfully attained as of this writing. In my haste, I was certain that if I honed my craft enough and optimized my posts based on whatever the trends were, success would eventually follow. I wri...

Embracing Freedom, Creativity, and Connection in the Digital Age Your career path is a choice that defines most people’s lives. Sure there are plenty of opportunities to change careers, and I’m a perfect example. I’ve spent almost 21 years at my current job, and while I love it and the people I work with, I watch the clock throughout the workday, longing for the end of my shift so I can retreat to my personal office and write. The process wasn’t without its challenges, some of which I’m still going through now. From losing money via other jobs because of my inability to drive because of my physical condition to lack of hours outside of a six-week window of time, I’ve dealt with some professional challenges But I think that’s what finally helped me decide that writing and blogging are my future, and it’s a future I can’t wait to dive into. In today’s article, I’ll share with you my reasons for diving into this industry headfirst and how it’s made me a better writer and a better man. The...