Lisa Young

Those who say that there's no such thing as writer's block are just trying to cheer us up. It's real all right.  When you're putting off writing, sometimes all you need is a different approach. Here are some ways to fall in love with writing again... 1. Try a different genre. Read all different kinds of writing. Maybe one particular genre will strike you in a new way and you'll finally realize what you're meant to be writing. Sometimes if you're blocked, it's because the ideas that you want to explore need a different form. 2. Brainstorm.  Whatever form of writing you decide to do, brainstorming is always a great next step. Make a list of ideas and pick the most promising one and give it a try. Looking to write a novel? Brainstorm story ideas and then write loglines for each story. It's a bit like a scavenger hunt. But when you hit on the right idea, I'd like to see if you can stop yourself from writing.  3. Set some wr...

It's the New Year and it seems the appropriate time to start reassessing goals and aiming for that ever-elusive thing called a balanced life. I used to think that if I was going to survive as a writer, I'd need to cut out everything that didn't have to do with writing. Cooking? Errands? Grocery shopping? What a waste. I could be writing with that time. Going for a walk? How boring. Banking? Budgeting? Ditto. Better to save all that energy for writing. Oh yes and regular sweeping and mopping and things like doing the laundry went out the window too. But the problem with narrowing one's life to focus on writing is that it doesn't really work. Balance, in all things, works. But for some of us, life has a way of shifting from one extreme to another. Now I walk regularly, have a clean house, budget, do the banking and even cook. So where's the writing gone during these ever-productive holidays? It's dragging behind me complaining about how I don't pay ...

I’ve caught the reading bug lately…ferociously consuming books like so many handfuls of candy. I’m glad to get back to this kind of diet. (I’d been depriving myself unnecessarily.) The whole “e-book” versus “real book” discussion has flared up again in the media.  I have to say, for me, books are it! Yes I want an e-reader – but I want my books too. I love the idea of a book almost as much as the story waiting inside. A book is simply a divine thing. It really is and I seriously can’t see the book not being in my future. I mean, aren’t record players coming back? Even if the book went away – it would come back – of course it would. Books are my friends. I remember one summer I went up north to work in Muskoka. Along with packing my fluorescent bathing suit (this was the early 90s when the 80s’ fashions were still kicking around), I brought a huge cardboard box of books. Books were my security blanket. Who knew if I would like my new job? My co-worker was a “he” and ...