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Never Run Out of Story Ideas: A 4-Step System for Writers Who Can’t Wait for Inspiration
Waiting for inspiration is a strategy that doesn’t scale. This 4-step system for generating and storing story ideas means you’ll always have something to write—whether the muse shows up or not.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 239 min read


3 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block When You Have a Deadline and Zero Ideas
No ideas, no motivation, deadline looming — here are 3 concrete strategies for getting words on the page when your writer’s block is at its worst: the dartboard method, writing sprints, and freewriting.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 236 min read


Your Writing Ideas Aren’t Valuable—And Understanding That Will Set You Free
Ideas can’t be copyrighted, patented, or stolen—because they don’t have inherent value. Here’s what does, how to get unlimited writing ideas for free, and why hoarding your best ones is holding you back.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 97 min read


How to Get Better at Writing: Stop Trying to Be Good and Do This Instead
The writing you read is the end of a long process. The writing you create is the beginning. Here’s why comparing them is killing your progress—and what to do instead.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 96 min read


3 Writing Excuses You're Making—and the Real Reasons Behind Them
"I'm too busy." "I'm not good at it." "I don't feel inspired." These aren't the real reasons you're not writing. Here's what's actually going on—and what to do about it.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 28 min read


Writing Habits of Famous Authors: What Hunter S. Thompson, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Ray Bradbury Can Teach You
Three wildly different famous writers, three writing habits worth stealing. Here's what Hunter S. Thompson's retyping drill, Le Guin's daily schedule, and Bradbury's dedicated writing space can teach any writer about building a sustainable practice.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 26 min read


How to Set Writing Goals You Can Actually Measure (and Know When You've Hit Them)
"Write more" is not a goal. Here's how to set meaningful, measurable writing goals across quality, quantity, productivity, and budget—and how to tell the difference between what you control and what you don't.
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Catherine Forrest
Oct 28 min read


Am I a Real Writer? 6 Gatekeeping Myths That Keep You From the Page
You don't need an MFA, a day job in publishing, or a daily writing compulsion to call yourself a writer. Here are six "real writer" myths debunked—and the only thing that actually makes you one.
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Catherine Forrest
Sep 258 min read


5 Steps to Plot Your Novel (Once You Master the Difference Between Plot and Story)
Plot and story aren't the same thing—and conflating them is one of the most common reasons manuscripts stall. Here's exactly what sets them apart, and a five-step method for plotting your book from start to finish.
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Catherine Forrest
Sep 258 min read


How to Crush Writer's Block With Four Little Words
Stuck in the middle of your draft and can't move forward? This one writer's block trick will get you unstuck and back to writing in minutes.
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Catherine Forrest
Sep 117 min read
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