Pep & Prompt #12: Toot Your Writing Horn
Where does your writing sit in the larger context of you and the world? Big questions! Come find out…
WRITING EXERCISE: Endurance
To finish any writing project, endurance is the key ingredient. Endurance through the discovery of a first draft. Endurance through the repetitious slog of editing. Endurance through self doubt, imposter syndrome, and fighting to find the time and space to write. Endurance through the summer holidays without throwing your children/spouse/mother/cat out the window. The same […]
WRITING HACK: Harvesting Kids’ Ideas
Writing is theft. We steal mannerisms and snippets of dialogue and memories and life experiences all the time. It’s what we DO. And you know where the very richest seam for creative inspiration can be found? In the bizarro, no-holds-barred world of a child’s imagination. We’ve talked before about the benefits of writing like a […]
WRITING EXERCISE: Walk it out
We’re going on a story hunt… Forget about the housework, stick on your stomping shoes and let’s get out of here. Today’s task is a super easy one, but something most of us don’t ever really think to do – particularly when we’re feeling stuck, or getting a little jaded about our writing. That’s right, […]
Get in the writing ZONE
Lol. The zone. That motherfucker. I mean, has anyone actually ever BEEN there? Is it on a map, somewhere? Do you need a secret password? <whispers> Is it even real? Well, no. And at the same time, yes? Maybe? It depends. No, there is no such thing as a muse who randomly descends to imbue […]
Pep & Prompt #9: Pick An Emotion, Any Emotion…
Hey there, personface. Today we’re gonna be talking about feeeelings and emoooootions and all that human stuff. Luckily, we are all experts in feelings by the sheer merit of being alive. Some of them make life worth living (lurve, hope, pride, awe). Some, we may not be very good at dealing with (guilt, anger, frustration, […]
WRITING EXERCISE: Location, location, location
The ability to transport yourself into a fictional location is pretty vital for a writer. But it ain’t easy. Describing imaginary places and spaces so a reader can vividly visualise them is an art. Because it’s not just about what you can see. Writing about a setting also means creating atmosphere, subtext, and even hiding clues […]
Writing Lessons From Groundhog Day
Well hey there. Who’s ready for some tough talk about how setting yourself up for failure can be one of the most helpful approaches to writing? Yes! Failure! One of the most useful experiences an artist can ever have. We talk about fear of failure a lot at WHQ, and why you have to feel the […]
The Story Genius of Moana
If you’ve got (or have ever had) small children in the house, it’s likely you’ve watched and re-watched your fair share of animated movies, possibly to the point where you find yourself singing Frozen songs alone in the car or randomly quoting Finding Nemo at confused retail workers. And while the sixty-gazillionth viewing of the same […]
How to Write in 30 Second Bursts
No time, no motivation, no muse, no brain, no writing, blahhhhh mehhhh ughhhh etc. Fuck that. None of us have time. Motivation is self-propellant. The muse is a slippery bitch. And your brain is actually much better at getting on with shit than you give it credit for. So. Reverse psychology yourself. Restrict your writing […]
