Protect the Muse
The creative soul is a fragile creature. If you take it for granted, if you feed it a steady diet of anger and sadness, if you fail to treat it with kindness, your muse will wither and die. I know that in this crazy sh*tshow of a world, caring for your creative...
Monday Pep Talk
Dear Writer: A word of advice from someone who has been riding the writing roller coaster for thirty years. Life, at its simplest, is a series of time blocks. One second, one minute, one hour, one day. Thousands of finite segments with beginnings and ends, which means...
MFA Goals: I Need Your Help
I realized this morning that, when it comes to this whole DIYMFA project, I need a more definable goal. Originally, I said I wanted to take my writing to the next level. But what does that mean, and how do I know when I've achieved it? Here's what I do know: First of...
DIY MFA Project Part Deux
2025 will be the year that I complete my DIY MFA. I began my self-curated MFA studies a few years ago, but found myself sidetracked by other projects. This year, however, I am determined to deepen my writing knowledge. And, because I've committed to chatting with you...
For Writers: Promotion vs Community Building
Promotion is one-way communication aimed at inspiring action. (Buy My Book!) Community Building is two-way communication aimed at building connections and strengthening relationships. (Let's chat and get to know one another!) A successful writer uses both. ...
Monday Morning Pep Talk: Of Dogs and Yards
John Madden famously said, “If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” What he didn’t mention is that once you step off the porch, you might have to fight to for your fair share of the yard. It’s not that the other dogs want you to stay...
Writing Tip from Donald Maass
People rarely feel a solitary emotion. Rather, we are a cacophony of feelings and thoughts all happening at the same time. Take, for example, a woman walking at night. Suddenly she hears footsteps drawing closer. Is she frightened? Sure. But what else does she feel?...
The 260-Day Blogging Challenge
"Wordpress Blogging" by Negative Space/ CC0 1.0 The year isn't getting off to the best start here at Casa Wallace. I accidentally resent my clock when I setting my alarm last night. As a result, I got up at 5am, thinking it was an hour later. It wasn't until I'd made...
On Tracy Chapman, Tom Brady, Luck, and Success
Let’s talk about luck. In 1988, a technical mishap caused Stevie Wonder to delay his performance at the Nelson Mandela Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium. (Mandela, then 70, was still in prison at the time. The concert was to honor his commitment to South African...
For Writers: The Two Biggest First Chapter Mistakes
I’ve spent the last two weeks writing the opening pages of my WIP. After 5-6 versions, I think I’ve landed on one that will stick around until I get further into the story. Then, chances are, I’ll go back and revise it again. By the time I’m done, I will probably have...