Look, I Get It
We need another writing guide like we need a hole in our collective head—or, as the case may be, a hole in our collective plot line. Why then, did I sit down and create a site no one needs?
The answer is this: I wanted this for myself.
I had tips, tricks, and exercises scribbled on all manner of sticky notes and journal pages, in the margins of books—even in my smart phone. Every time I got stuck, I had to flip through my phone, scour a dozen journals, or hazard the wilderness of my corkboard in order to find the exact piece of inspiration I was looking for. In those moments of stuck-ness, I decided to compile all my notes in a single place so I could count on it as a reliable reference—not unlike a dictionary or thesaurus. And if I was going to put it together for myself, why not make it available for others?
Let’s talk about what this website is by first talking about what it's NOT:
- A how-to guide for someone who’s never written a story
- A magic bullet for writing a best-selling novel
- A step-by-step handbook for taking a blue-sky concept to final edit
- A pay-to-play class in writing and selling fiction
- A patented 3-D holographic system for structuring a story, book, or screenplay
Put simply, this site is a troubleshooting guide for common writing issues we all encounter. If you’ve never gotten feedback on your work or taken a novice writing class, this resource probably isn’t for you. But if you’ve written stories to varied degrees of success—often falling into a writing rut that you can’t dig yourself out of—you might want to take a look.
Put simply, this site is a troubleshooting guide for common writing issues we all encounter.
The Writer's Pocket Guide is a Reference Manual
You won't need to sit down and read every guide to make it work for you (although it might help). Beautiful musings or inspirational quotes to post to your Facebook page are going to be few and far between. It's down-and-dirty. It's decidedly unsexy. It's a reference manual. If your project were a car—the Writer's Pocket Guide would be your mechanic. We’re going to reverse-engineer this thing by taking common issues we're all running into and working backward to untangle ourselves to get our project back on track.
These are the thoughts that run through my head on any given day:
I’ve been excited for the climax, but now that I’m here, I can't write it!
My dialogue is stilted and unrealistic!
I’m explaining too much instead of showing it in scene!
My POV is all over the place!
There’s too much going on in this draft!
I know where my story has to go, but I’m not inspired to write!
After countless high-school writing classes, adult-education workshops, and finally earning an MFA from a prestigious creative-writing school—after being taught, then becoming a teacher—these problems still plague me. Because each day of writing can feel like a new day of writing. I don't subscribe to the "Do this one weird trick (or read this one book, or learn this one theory) and you'll write like the second-coming of Ernest Hemingway." Writing is hard. And it'll be hard tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. Soon you'll write a best-selling novel. And you know what? Writing will be hard after that, too.
I don't subscribe to the "Do this one weird trick (or read this one book, or learn this one theory) and you'll write like the second-coming of Ernest Hemingway." Writing is hard.
But we writers continue to show up to the page—and we write, and we work through our problems. Identifying the writing issue du jour means you need to dig deep and analyze what’s happening on the page and in your head. Commitment only requires you to do it...and the guide is here to help. The Writer's Pocket Guide is designed to address a specific problem once you’ve identified it—that's why the guides are arranged by topic. Use it like you would any on-demand reference.
Who is the Writer's Pocket Guide For?
Beginning/Intermediate Writers a. Craft basics and vernacular b. Lessons to expand knowledge base c. Introduction to the world of craft, workshop, and critiquing d. Reading like a writer
Seasoned Writers a. Craft reminders b. New sources of inspiration c. Methods for "unsticking" projects
Writing Instructors and Editors a. Student resources b. Links to supplement student/client feedback (e.g. check out this lesson on managing flashbacks, or this one on taking reader notes to heart) c. Tips on writing high-impact critiques and running effective workshops
Aspiring MFAs a. Getting into an MFA program b. What to expect from workshop
How to Use This Site: Use One or All, Depending on Your Mood
Use the search bar to locate your issue and go to the appropriate guide for help.
Use the main menu navigation to find what you're looking for
Browse the featured guides on the home page, or choose a guide at random
Check out the "Spilt Ink" blog for quick hits of inspiration, or Craft Talk for short tips
Subscribe to alerts—go to the bottom of any page to sign up!
I'm looking forward to working with you. Let's fix this thing together.
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