Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters for Writers

From Edie: Celebrating small wins helps writers stay motivated, protect creativity, and keep moving forward when the writing journey feels hard.

Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters for Writers

by Larry J. Leech, II @LarryJLeechII

Man, us Americans do love our celebrations. Not just the big ones like birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Easter, and New Year’s Eve a few weeks ago. We love celebrations so much that Cinco de Mayo, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween have grown in popularity during the last 15 to 20 years. And let’s not forget National Coffee Day, National Hot Dog Day or National Donut Day. Seems like there is something to celebrate every day of the year.

Your celebrations could extend to your writing career as well. Why not? Why not take a moment and enjoy reaching a goal?

How to Create an Effective One Sheet to Showcase Your Writing Project

by Larry J. Leech II @LarryJLeechII

While accepting pitches at two recent conferences, I noticed a disturbing trend—one sheets that are no longer a ‘one sheet.’

Almost all the one sheets were printed on the front and back. Unfortunately, most of the information was not relevant either.

What's a Writer to Do When We Run Out of Ideas

by Larry J. Leech II @LarryJLeechII

Blink. Blink. Blink.

Oh, that cursor. That stupid cursor. Mocking me. In the top left-hand corner of a blank Word doc.

Blank. Like my mind. On a day that I need to write.

Being a full-time freelancer for more than twenty years, my motto has been: “If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.”

With a blank mind, producing words can be difficult.

When Writers Need to Do Some "Spring Cleaning" on Their Manuscript

by Larry J. Leech II @LarryJLeechII

Spring cleaning. I have been aware of the name and of the concept for pretty much most of my life. But, down home, in Florida, I never cleaned in the spring. 

If the driveway needed pressure-washed on December 15. Not a problem. Wash windows on January 3. Done. Fix a dead spot of grass in the yard on February 23. Sure. Let me run to Home Depot and get seed or a plug. 

However, now the concept and the idea of spring cleaning makes more sense now that I have endured my a few winters in South Carolina. After months of cold weather, at least for me, stuff looks “dirty.” Thresholds need cleaned. Windows need washed. The list goes on and on. 

All this got me to thinking the other day. We writers must “spring clean” our writing after pounding out the first draft. Just a word of caution, don’t spring clean (edit) during your first draft. Just get the story out. 

Do the Questions Writers Ask Really Have Concrete Answers?

by Larry J. Leech @LarryJLeechII

So many writing and publishing questions—so few concrete answers.

• Music or no music?

• At home or at a coffee shop?

• With friends or by oneself?

• Work on a blog or a book?

• First person or third person?

• Short chapter or long chapter?

• Write or edit?

A popular villain in the “Batman” movie released in 1995 said in an exasperated tone, “Too many questions. Too many questions.”

Writers often face a number of questions. Sometimes the answer is cut and dried, black and white, or simply this and not that. But most of the time, the answer relies on the writer’s personal preference.