You don’t have to remain trapped in this endless cycle of unsatisfying writing sessions forever. In fact, you can break free in as little as three simple steps.

These steps aren’t designed to help you optimize your writing sessions. There are plenty of strategies for achieving that goal, such as writing when your creative energy peaks and recreating the environment in which you write best.

Creative are knowledge workers who rely upon information and ideas to create fantastic work. So it’s no wonder that our heads are often chaotic or in the clouds, brimming with all sorts of thoughts that we struggle to organize and employ.

That's where a second brain comes into play. By taking the time to create a unified system for knowledge management, we can organize our creative work and get serious about writing with clarity and focus.

In today's article, Kristen breaks down her preferred knowledge management system, why she loves it, and how you can set up your own!

Storytelling is both an art and a craft — and like any craft, the skills required to write great stories can be taught and learned.

What are some of the other steps you can take to improve your skills and stories beyond simply consuming how-to content? And how can you best apply what you learn to truly level up in your craft?

In today's article, Kristen breaks down the six essential strategies you can put into practice to pave the way for incredible growth in your writing life!

Can you visualize an ideal day in your writing life?

If you’re like most writers, then I imagine that day looks something like this: You sit down with your beverage of choice, crack open your manuscript, and slip into an easy creative flow. Words fly from your fingertips as you lose yourself for hours in a deeply fulfilling, highly productive writing session.

Isn’t this how you imagine your writing practice should unfold? It’s certainly the image that society has sold us concerning what a “real” writer’s creative work should look like.

But if that’s the case, then what happens when you don’t crank out words with ease? When writing proves painstakingly difficult? When you turn to avoidance and procrastination rather than doing the damn hard work? There must be something wrong with you. Right?

Creative comparison often gets a bad rap. Like self-doubt, comparison can be a lens through which writers can identify the strengths and weaknesses in their work, ultimately helping them improve the quality of their skills and stories with intention.

But without the right attitude in place, ego and insecurity can blind writers to the insights that comparison can provide, warping constructive comparison into a dangerously destructive act.

So, how can you overcome unhealthy creative comparison?

Have you tried and failed to build a lasting writing habit time and time again?

You aren't alone. In fact, maintaining consistency in the face of creative turbulence (and the rollercoaster that is life) is something I've long struggled with myself.

Taking a break from writing when life gets tough is one thing. But when the slightest hint of upheaval repeatedly sends your creative practice into a tailspin, you know you have an issue on your hands — and that is issue is almost certainly a distinct lack of self-trust.

Want to create a better, stronger writing habit?

Here at Well-Storied, I often talk about the many reasons writers fail to put pen to paper or fingers on keys, including:

• Time

• Doubts

• Creative Resistance

• Perfectionism

• Imposter Syndrome

• Burnout

But what about those of us who are looking to maintain (or even improve upon) the writing habits we've worked to build? Today, I'd like to share the easiest way to double down on your commitment to the craft: habit tracking.

It’s no secret that social media can be both an incredible tool and an incredible distraction.

Unfortunately, that distraction isn’t limited to the amount of time we spend mindlessly scrolling. Maintaining an active social media presence can also eat away at the limited amount of time most writers have to dedicate to their work. It’s no wonder I’m often asked how one can balance writing and social media marketing, or even whether writers must have a social presence in the first place. It’s the latter question I’d like to address in depth today.

As writers, we hold the power to counteract marginalization and discrimination in literature by writing inclusively. When we actively work to improve the quality and diversity of the representation in our stories, we help dismantle the social hierarchy, expand our readers’ worldview, and ultimately ensure that every reader can see themselves in the pages of their favorite books.

Popular writing rules exist for a reason. Or do they? Writing is both an art and a craft. While language and storytelling serve as forms of self-expression, one can also learn structures and techniques that can help them become a better writer. Such guidance exists in every creative art, from painting to dancing, playing music, and beyond. Why, then, might it be problematic to follow common writing rules?

Are you ready to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be in your writing life?

Last week, I published Build Your Best Writing Life, my first full-length book for writers. This book breaks down each of the essential strategies that have helped me slowly but surely work to become the writer I want to be over the past five years—strategies that are continuing to help me achieve this aim today. 

With the new year upon us, it’s time we take action to turn our resolutions into realities. If it’s your goal to build a writing life you love in 2020, then I’d love to break down the foundational strategies I share in my new book with you today.

Time. In this busy modern age, it feels like you’re always fighting the clock. You know it’s essential to make time to write. You can’t maintain a consistent writing practice without carving out time in your schedule for creative work. But how are you supposed to make that time when you have a career, a family, a home, and other responsibilities to address?