creative writing for beginners

Writers' Treasure

Effective writing advice for aspiring writers

Environmental narratives: Integrating climate change into storytelling Environmental narratives: Integrating climate change into storytelling

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to  read the guest article guidelines.

Climate change is a global issue that affects billions of people. The consequences of a warming world make for great story beats, too. Hurricanes and floods regularly feature in climate fiction, and people are keen to hear about the experiences of those who live through climate-induced disasters. 

Writing environmental narratives can help you achieve your broader aims as a writer, too. Contemporary authors like Amitav Gosh and Jesmyn Ward have used their novels to improve public understanding of climate change and campaign for change. 

Your novel doesn’t necessarily need to feature extreme weather events or didactic lessons, either. While climate science is clear — the world is being warmed by human activity — there is still plenty of nuance to be explored by authors with a deep connection to environmental issues and a passion for advocacy. 

Escape the 9-to-5: essential tools and habits for successful remote writers Escape the 9-to-5: essential tools and habits for successful remote writers

There’s nothing quite as exciting and invigorating as escaping the 9-to-5 and becoming a successful remote writer. While this may be your dream, you may get home and realize that being a freelancer with ultimate freedom is more challenging than expected. To accomplish your goals, you must have the right tools, mind frame, and environment. Set everything up just right, and the sky’s the limit to what you can achieve.  

Here are some guidelines to get you started before you exit from 9-to-5 work and venture out on your own.

Why boredom can be a writer’s best friend: tips for creative inspiration Why boredom can be a writer’s best friend: tips for creative inspiration

The writer’s life is one of relative isolation. Unless you happen to enjoy working in a busy coffee shop, you’ll produce most of your work at a desk with only your thoughts and the cursor for company. While most writers enjoy working alone, there are times when your mind begins to wander, and boredom sets in. This is entirely normal, as even prolific writers profess to work in boring, somewhat dull environments.

However, those same prolific writers explain that boredom isn’t a bad thing. As a writer, you can leverage these insights to find creative inspiration. Used correctly, boredom can help you demolish your writer’s block , strike upon new ideas, and produce prose to be proud of.

Four key strategies for developing a business mindset as a writer Four key strategies for developing a business mindset as a writer

Making real money as a writer requires you to become more entrepreneurial-minded. It’s a business mindset that will inspire you to develop additional skills, like marketing and managing business finances. It will help you establish a professional image that resonates with your ideal clients. 

More importantly, you can’t grow your writing business without an entrepreneurial mindset. Develop one with these four strategies. 

How to unleash creativity through outdoor exploration How to unleash creativity through outdoor exploration

Living a creative life is both enriching and challenging. Yes, you undoubtedly have talents and perspectives that make your writing unique. However, you can’t always rely simply on your internal resources. That wellspring can occasionally run a little dry. The good news is that there are resources for unleashing creativity all around us. The great outdoors has long been considered a renewing influence for artists. Why not consider how you can effectively step beyond your writing space and explore what nature has to offer?

A writer’s guide to balancing work and home life A writer’s guide to balancing work and home life

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to  read the guest article guidelines.

The phrase “work-life balance” has always been a little sticky. It implies that work is on one side of an equation, and the rest of your life is on the other, and they should somehow be equal. However, writers, and people in general, aren’t made that way. There’s no line down the middle of you that separates “work” from “life,” and frankly, the distinction can make it easy to be resentful of your work in an unhealthy way.

Instead, it’s much more helpful to look at your “work life” and “home life,” as both parts make up your overall “life.” They still won’t be perfectly equal — more on that later — but it’s a good start on having a healthier outlook on the living you do during writing and the living you do outside of it.

When your work life and home life both have clear priorities that match your values, periods of activity and rest, and nourishing relationships, you’ll be a far happier person with a rewarding, holistic life.