Category Archives: Writing

Embracing Failure as the Key to Success

Posted on April 27, 2016 by J. Sevick

Why do you create? Maybe the answer appears easily to you, always ready and waiting somewhere between the steady rhythm of your heart and the tip of your tongue. To express yourself. To have fun. To share your wisdom with … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Posted on January 29, 2016 by J. Sevick

Creativity is one of the most wondrous and mysterious aspects of the human experience. Seemingly unique to us amongst species, it serves no biological purpose in the struggle to survive, and yet it has played a powerful role in human … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Art of Language Invention by David J. Peterson

Posted on January 12, 2016 by J. Sevick

I’m not sure whether it’s an aspect of my love for the written word or a coincidental interest of its own, but language has always fascinated me. I’ve gone through many phases in my life trying to learn a multitude … Continue reading →

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How Writing Fanfiction Can Make You a Better Writer

Posted on September 16, 2015 by J. Sevick

A lot of people have talked about the benefits of fanfiction—the lack of gatekeepers to allow beginning writers to dive right in, the built-in audience for support and motivation, the potential for growth and feedback—and all of these are absolutely … Continue reading →

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Developing Ideas: One Path from Idea to Draft

Posted on September 3, 2015 by J. Sevick

You start with an idea, a glimmer in your eye, a shimmer in the void, a vague sense of maybe… It may be a single image, a lone character, an interesting what if? You poke and prod, squint and twist, … Continue reading →

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When to Fight the Doubt… and When to Follow It

Posted on June 17, 2015 by J. Sevick

Any creative endeavor is doomed to come with a heap of doubts. After all, you’re pulling something raw and untested out of your mind—your unique, imperfect, emotional little mind—and putting it out into the world, saying, “Look at this. Judge … Continue reading →

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Showing vs. Telling Character Traits: the Mary Sue Factor

Posted on June 15, 2015 by J. Sevick

“Show, don’t tell” is one of the tried and true cliches of writing advice (along with “Write what you know”). Both of these tidbits have a basis in sound advice, and both of them can regularly be ignored for the … Continue reading →

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Why Is It So Hard to Write Badly?

Posted on April 24, 2015 by J. Sevick

One of the most important tricks to actually start writing—perhaps the key to a finished first draft—is to learn how to write badly. This may seem counterintuitive; after all, isn’t the point of learning to write and wanting to write … Continue reading →

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The Growth Mentality

Posted on March 27, 2015 by J. Sevick

I finished another book!! I am so excited, most of all because this means the first one wasn’t a fluke. This is something I can actually do. I have written books. I know someone out there might be thinking: well, … Continue reading →

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In the Trenches: Tips for a First Draft

Posted on March 6, 2015 by J. Sevick

So I’m writing again, which is… awesome. Scary, always, but awesome. But, as always, it means I’m in my head too much, constantly analyzing and worrying and working to psych myself up. I won’t say that writing is more of … Continue reading →

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