In my Called to Write community, we primarily keep track of writing minutes, not word or page counts. We do this because when we're plotting, outlining, revising, or editing, for instance, our word...
What “Counts” as Writing?
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Blog
15 Steven Pressfield Quotes to Inspire Your Writing
Steven Pressfield has been among my greatest sources of inspiration since I committed myself to taking my call to write seriously. Around that time, a friend suggested I read The War of Art. It was...
6 Takeaways From Rewriting “The Seventh”
I can't believe it, but I've worked on two different screenwriting assignments this year, all while taking care of my little toddler, who just turned two in May. It hasn't been exactly easy, but...
Our Stories Are Our Ladders to the Stars
I just watched Donovan Livingston's Harvard commencement address. It's truly stunning. If you haven't seen it, it's worth watching, thrice over. You can also read the full text online here too. He...
Sci-Fi Circuit: Exploring Sci-Fi With Writer Scott Myers
An interview with screenwriter Scott Myers on the ins and outs of the sci-fi spec market, including budget, world-building, and existential questions.
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What if you don’t want to write every day?
As the proprietress of an online program designed to help writers build a daily writing habit, every once in a while someone says to me, "But Jenna, what if I don't want to write every day?" My...
Why I Don’t Recommend Cramming 15 Minutes of Writing In While You’re Waiting In Line or For Appointments
There's this idea floating around that the way to find time to write is to cram writing time into every square inch of your life. Just write while you're waiting for your dentist appointment! Just...
Find Your Three Big Rocks
I mentioned in a recent post that I've written "in the past" about choosing your "three big rocks" for the year. Turns out "the past" was 2007 (!), so I thought it was worth sharing again. ...
The Antidote to “Blank Page” Paralysis
Does staring at a blank page paralyze you? Here's how you can work around it. It's a common vision of a writer's life. Sitting and staring at the blank page, waiting for inspiration to come. But in...
Temper Tantrums & Excuses
It has been nothing if not interesting to observe myself and all the machinations I've gone through as I've brought myself closer to claiming my dream of becoming a writer. Here's my update:...
5 Steps to Defining a Physical Space for Your Writing
A while back I wrote a post called, "Today is the perfect day to clean your writing desk." In that post, I mentioned one of my pals and an amazing organizer, Miriam Ortiz y Pino. Just thinking of...
Enjoy Your Writing, Enjoy Your Life
I've been thinking a lot about happiness, enjoyment, appreciation, and gratitude lately. As someone who tends to be prone to seeing "what's wrong with this picture", it isn't particularly easy for...