Archive for category The Writer’s Life

Oddly Optimistic

By Darlene Cah I think most people would agree 2016 was a crazy year. Heartbreaking. Frustrating. Infuriating, mind-numbing with emotions ranging from flaring tempers to blissful denial. And yet, in spite of it all, and an uncertain start to 2017, I’m optimistic. Call me delusional, but yes, I’m optimistic. And I’m determined to remain so. […]

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Goals for 2017 by Brad Windhauser

Goals for 2017 by Brad Windhauser 2016 turned out to be a surprise of a year for me. Personal and political issues aside, I was unprepared for the wonderful surprise of having my second novel accepted and published. Promoting The Intersection upon its release was both challenging and fun. This year I plan to continue […]

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Old Story, Surprising Results

By Darlene Cah 2016 was my love/hate relationship with writing year. It was a year of questioning whether or not I even want to continue. It was a year of just plain being tired of everything. My job was particularly demanding, and because I write for a living, often the last thing I wanted to […]

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2016 – The Year of The Intersection: Not What I Expected by Brad Windhauser

2016 – The Year of The Intersection: Not what I expected When this year started, I looked forward to so many things—not the least of which was getting married, which I did in October. In terms of writing, however, I was committed to finishing two short stories (I came close, and even started two more), […]

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Just Write a Few Ads

By Darlene Cah This month we’re taking a look at the teachers who influenced us as writers. From the crotchety nuns of my childhood to long-haired hippie types in high school, all the way to the laid-back creatives of art school and grad school, so many teachers have affected my work and my life. One, […]

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Teaching Me To Keep Writing

by Jennie Jarvis As a writer, I’ve had a lot of teachers guide me on my journey to get all those pesky stories out of my head and onto the page. Some of them guided me in a classroom, such as Hal Ackerman and Dr. Lee Beger, teaching me in the traditional manner – teacher […]

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Refilling The Well: Getting Re-inspired After A Creative Drought by Jennie Jarvis

By Jennie Jarvis Have you ever had a period of time where the very idea of writing stresses you out? You remember what writing is, don’t you? That thing you used to do, long ago, that gave you so much joy? But now, when you think about doing it, all you feel is guilty and […]

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8 Simple Salami Tactics to Exercise the Routine that Makes the Muse Chase YOU After a Long Layoff

by Ron Hayes (note: YIKES! Forgive that crazy title this month, will you?) As a high school history teacher, I’m continually surprised at how frequently the seasonality of my work sneaks up on me. I mean, by its very nature, my regular job is seasonal work: three seasons on, one off. With the dawning of […]

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Using Pinterest As a Research Tool

  by Jennie Jarvis As a fiction writer, most of my job entails making crap up. Yes, my stories are based in realities, and it’s important for those realties to ring true in the hearts and minds of my readers. Sometimes, this means doing a little traditional research. Lately, I’ve been spending hours watching videos […]

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Research Tips From A Librarian by Kate Neff

5writers.com welcomes Kate Neff to the site this month! Kate has worked in the library setting for over 15 years, from the public library, to colleges, to the public school system. It’s hard for her to say which is her favorite, but there is never a dull day no matter which kind of library one works […]

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