Tag Archives: creativity

So, How Was the Play?

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Lida Bushloper

I had another story accepted. It won’t come out till next year. But, how did it get written? I wish I knew. Then I could write more and get more stories accepted and published. I can only tell you (and … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged anthologies, creativity, publishing, short stories, the writing life, writers, writing | Leave a comment

Under the Gun

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I like this definition from somewhere on the web: “Under pressure to solve a problem or meet a deadline.” For we freelance writers, sometimes there is no deadline. While calls for submissions usually have one, “stuff” we just “want” to … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, books, creativity, deadlines, encouragement, performance, the writing life, wisdom, writers, writing | Leave a comment

I Say To Myself “Be Sensible”

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

The ME in my head: Be sensible. You don’t need to lie awake all night, thinking up titles and working out plot points in your mind. Get some sleep. Be sensible. You can’t keep up with your email as it … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, ideas, performance, self-talk, the writing life, writers, writing | 2 Comments

Defending the Perimeter

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

My late cousin was the worst. She was the most unselfish woman on the planet, devoting all her time and her considerable energy to volunteer activities that benefited seniors, the library, civic causes, the charity thrift shop. She battled hunger … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, performance, persistence, productivity, saying "no", setting boundaries, the writing life, time management, volunteerism, wisdom, writers, writing | Leave a comment

Moving On

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I once knew a “writer” who had written a book. That’s it. One book. And not because she died young, or anything like that. She kept re-writing this one book. She kept submitting this one book, to agents, small publishers. … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, books, creativity, persistence, submissions, submitting, the writing life, writers, writing | 4 Comments

Do It Anyway

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

You may be familiar with the Kent Keith poem, popularized by Mother Teresa, that contains the line “Love them anyway.” It goes on to mention setbacks, disappointments and obstacles, to which the response is to continue to do the right … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, encouragement, persistence, the writing life, wisdom, writers, writing | 6 Comments

Less Than I Thought

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

What do you need to write? Ideas? A certain space? A block of time? Quiet? Solitude? Physical comfort? An Internet connection? A writing group? An MFA? What if you don’t have what you think is essential? Are you dead in … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, encouragement, getting started, ideas, performance, productivity, publishing, success, the writing life, writers, writing | Leave a comment

Oh, Really?

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I can’t work at a messy desk. I need to relax with a few games of FreeCell before I get started. This email is way overdue. Just let me throw in a load of laundry. Need to make that dentist … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, distractions, encouragement, excuses, getting started, Greg Louganis, habits, Mark Twain, performance, productivity, quotes, the writing life, writers, writing | 2 Comments

Before You Know It

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I’m not the only one. I’m not the only writer who is struggling to write during these unusual times. I see the posts on the various writer forums I belong to. Of course, some of those folks don’t have that … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged authors, creativity, encouragement, essays, getting started, personal history, productivity, the writing life, the writing process, writer's block, writers, writing | 6 Comments

Season’s Readings

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Lida Bushloper

At this time of year, who can resist the story of the composer of “White Christmas?” Not me. I do love biographies, but this one is exceptional. It’s about a genius, of course. But it’s also about three of the things … Continue reading →