With NaNoWriMo looming ever nearer, I would like to hear your best tips, tricks, habits, and techniques for staying chained to the keyboard. [more inside]
posted by BitterOldPunk on Oct 22, 2009 - 26 answers

I can only write well when I'm inspired, and even then it's only at blog-post length. Any time I set out do something larger, my brain shuts down. [more inside]
posted by pauldonato on May 6, 2009 - 43 answers

Would it be seen as (and is it really) exceptionally tasteless to write a fictional novel about a soldiers' experiences in Iraq? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 6, 2009 - 16 answers

I've seen a list of the most popular websites, and another of the most popular blogs, but for these three categories (literature, newspapers, magazines) I've found a list hard to track down. I'd like it ordered in order of popularity, but a top-ten (or top-hundred) would be fine too. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by omnigut on Mar 19, 2009 - 3 answers

Can you think of any men who write, or have written, or create in any medium, under a woman's name? (I'm excluding transsexuals, and examples such as men in Shakespearean theatre and Japanese Noh Theatre.) There are plenty of women who have written under men's names, but I can't come up with a single example of the other way round. A true situation, or just my ignorance? [more inside]
posted by kestralwing on Nov 25, 2008 - 43 answers

I feel the need to be creative, but can't figure out what sort of outlet is the best to get my ideas out. How do I figure out what sort of creativity I have? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Sep 17, 2008 - 14 answers

A donor has given our non profit $1,000,000 to build a new hospice house building (1/3 the cost of the project). We want to honor him with something different than the usual plaque. Or at least with a plaque that is unique. Something with a key might be appropriate, but would probably be boring. We have to make a presentation to him during an event in a couple of weeks. Anyone have any creative ideas to honor this generous man?
posted by Jandasmo on Jul 2, 2008 - 18 answers

I'm looking for book recommendations that deal with (fully or partially) methods writers use to find interesting, fresh subjects and ideas for stories. [more inside]
posted by nitsuj on Mar 2, 2008 - 5 answers

I need to recultivate my artsy hobbies, most specifically my writing and drawing. The problem is that I can't seem to initiate anything - I have no new ideas, nothing to work on. I'd also like to grow as a writer, but I'm my own worst critic and stop before I start (fear of failure and whatnot) - I'd like to hone my skills but I'm petrified of, well, sucking. [more inside]
posted by Eudaimonia on Feb 27, 2008 - 22 answers

Can meditation help me become a better writer? [more inside]
posted by robotdog on Feb 2, 2008 - 13 answers

help me shake my writer's block! [more inside]
posted by thinkingwoman on May 20, 2007 - 17 answers

Off-My-Ass-Filter: Finding inspiration — not motivation — for writing. [more inside]
posted by Brittanie on Jan 15, 2006 - 21 answers

In the market for a new paper notebook (one for everything). Help me find what I'm looking for. [more inside]
posted by Brittanie on Jan 7, 2006 - 10 answers

Creativity question: How do you expand a premise into a story? More inside.... [more inside]
posted by Miles Long on Apr 29, 2004 - 9 answers

Question for all you writers out there: how do you keep from getting distracted? What's your technique to get into the zone, focus, and let the verbiage just flow? Any and all help would be appreciated.
posted by wanderingmind on Jan 26, 2004 - 30 answers