Kari - Author at Men with Pens

Why You Should Join a Critique Group

Six years ago, I moved across the United States, from West Virginia to Colorado. I didn’t know anyone except my husband. And I was lonely for my friends back east. I needed to find a way to connect with new people – preferably ones who cared about the same interests I did.

I found a critique group for fiction authors. That critique group turned out to be exactly what I needed… and then some.

Writers typically have a love-hate relationship to having their work critiqued. But if you’re looking to improve your writing skills, or even get your book published, a critique group is a great first step on that road to becoming a professional writer.

But just what is a critique group? Is it a bunch of eccentric old harridans collected around a table? Cloistered recluses who rip books to shreds while rapping knuckles with a ruler? Will you sit there shamefully, red-faced and embarrassed, while others look down their nose at you clucking, “Tsk, tsk!”?

Not even close. (Thank God.)

My Top 3 Fiction Writing Books and Why You Should Read Them

Written by Kari - 12 Comments

[A note from James: "Wait - what?! Fiction?! On a blog for businesspeople?" You bet. In many interviews, I've mentioned that learning how to write fiction can definitely boost your copywriting skills - the two skill sets cross over more than you'd think. So when Kari pitched me the idea for this post, I was all for it. You don't need to go off and write a novel, but you should definitely pick up one of these books to learn better writing skills that help you sell. Take it away, Kari...]

As a fiction writer, I’m drawn to the writing section of bookstores. I have a huge collection of writing books that seems to get larger by the month.

Publishers like Writer’s Digest keep pumping out great titles like, “Where Do You Get Your Ideas?” or “Writing Your Way” – and I keep buying them, thinking they’ll have valuable information I could use.

What I end up with is a stack of writing books that cover the same topic with similar variations. Worse, I never read them.

So many books, so little time, right?

Here’s the biggest problem: The more time I spend reading, the less time I spend actually writing.…

Why You Should Get Serious About Your Writing Schedule

Written by Kari - 14 Comments

I’m not a self-schedule-oriented person. It’s far easier to stick to someone else’s schedule than your own. Self-discipline can be HARD.

So when James told me that I need a daily writing schedule, I balked.

I don’t want a schedule! I can’t guarantee where I’ll be at any single time. What if something else comes up? What if my child is home sick from school one day and I can’t write at my scheduled time? What if I’m not inspired at that time but get inspired later on?

Every excuse imaginable went through my head. I set a schedule anyways, just to be dutiful – I kept it for two days and then I quit.

James can’t be right all the time. What works for her may not work for me. Everyone does things differently, right? I need to find my own writing path…

Three months later, how much had I written? Well, let’s not talk specifics, but it wasn’t nearly as much as I’d wanted to achieve.

In fact, I was really embarrassed — even though no one knew about this but me.

The Art of Procrastination and How to Use it to Your Advantage

Written by Kari - 16 Comments

Sure, I’ll admit it: I procrastinate.

Not just a little; I’m a devoted procrastinator and I put everything off until the very last minute possible. Just ask my husband.

And I’m not necessarily looking to cure my procrastination. But yeah, it causes me problems from time to time.

The thing is that it’s something I do naturally. Without even thinking about it. And I’ve always wondered if there was a way to use my procrastination talents to my distinct advantage.

Apparently there is.…

A Writer’s Guide to What to Do After NaNoWriMo

Written by Kari - 6 Comments

Businessman brainstorming and writing notes

November is National Novel Writing Month (otherwise known as NaNoWriMo), and a large number of people worked hard throughout the month to write a novel – or 50,000 words – in 30 days or less.

You read that right: An entire novel in less than 30 days.

Everyone has their own opinion of NaNoWriMo, be it good or bad. But opinions aside, every year thousands of people join in and a good number of them reach that goal.

But what happens when it’s all over? What do you do come December?

You keep writing. You take the momentum you’ve built through November and maintain it. You continue your progress. You don’t stop – it isn’t over. In fact, this is just the beginning.…