The Caffeinated Writer: a Substack newsletter for writers Are you looking for great Substacks for writers to help you learn the craft of writing and get inspired? The Caffeinated Writer has been providing advice, resources, and inspiration for novelists, memoirists, essayists, and short story writers since 2005. My newly redesigned newsletter makes it easier to…Continue reading The Best Substacks for Writers
Category: writing inspiration
Waiting for Words: Why Writers Need Patience
In Bodies in Motion and at Rest: On Metaphor and Mortality, Thomas Lynch describes the essential, exquisite calm that comes with a life of the mind, a life in books. “I think about what I’m reading or writing… All you need is a little peace and quiet and the words will come to you—your own voice…Continue reading Waiting for Words: Why Writers Need Patience
Are you a slow writer? That’s okay.
The Joy of Slow Writing Productivity is such a popular buzzword these days, it’s easy to fall under its spell. But art isn’t always productive. The pursuit of narrative is tricky, and therein lies the fun. The process is often messy and labyrinthine, leading you down unexpected paths. Those paths are where you find the best…Continue reading Are you a slow writer? That’s okay.
First draft: how to write when you don’t feel inspired
Consider your writing time a gift to yourself. Consider the writing process an opportunity to grow and discover something new about your story, your style, and your creative personality. Consider it a chance to have fun.
Writing psychological thrillers- plus the pleasures of genre-bending
I recently sat down with Bookreporter to discuss writing and my new psychological thriller, The Marriage Pact. We talked about the inspiration for The Marriage Pact, why I love writing psychological thrillers and suspense, four primary rules of The Pact, collectivism gone awry, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, genre-bending, writing really scary scenes, and writing process.…Continue reading Writing psychological thrillers- plus the pleasures of genre-bending