The Writer's Workout

It’s been said that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Both are intense emotions. Both are characterized by passion. They even activate similar areas of the brain.  But they don’t mean the same thing, of course. “Love” reflects feelings of deep affection or pleasure in doing something, while “hate” suggests an equal level of animosity. So this begs the question: Is it possible to experience these seemingly conflicting feelings at the same time? If you’re neurodiver

The advice on writing routines is endless and contradictory. Many aspiring novelists will be familiar with the idea that you must  write every single day, preferably at the same time of day, and hit the same word count. Spend some time digging for it and you will surely find the opposite advice too—don’t force yourself to write when you don’t feel like it because if you don’t like doing it, you won’t do it at all. Contradictory advice becomes frustrating when you feel like yo

Imagine yourself sitting at your computer late one evening, curled up in a blanket, soft ambient music playing alongside a burning candle and with nothing but uninterrupted time to write.  The conditions are perfect. The words should flow from your hands to your manuscript easily. But there’s one problem: you’re hit with an intense writer’s block that is so debilitating, you end up doom scrolling for hours on the internet instead.  And your manuscript remains unchanged. And i

Sometimes the universe is a kind and generous place, handing us a word so perfect it demands our reverence. May I present to you… SPUDDLE . “Spuddle” is a verb from the 17th century meaning “to work feebly or ineffectively, often because your mind is elsewhere or you haven’t quite woken up yet.” Another definition puts it this way: “to be extremely busy whilst achieving absolutely nothing.” I don’t believe anything has ever resonated with me more. While this meaning of the wo

It seems that neurodivergence has been trending lately. Which is interesting because being neurodivergent isn’t exactly a new thing. But like many human dimensions that have existed for centuries, we didn’t always have a name for it.  I don’t claim to be an expert on the history of the term, but a cursory internet search suggests the word “neurodivergent” has been around for only 15 or so years. Then in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic thrust the term into the limelight as iso

Every writer brings a unique lens to the page, shaped by their experiences, imagination, and way of moving through the world. For neurodivergent writers, that lens can reflect perspectives that challenge traditional ideas of what writing should look like.  In this Q&A, Desirae Gracyn opens up about how being neurodivergent impacts her writing process, inspires her creativity, and influences the challenges and rewards of being a writer. Q: Can you introduce yourself and share

This past weekend, I attended my high school reunion. Nearly 60 of us gathered in a hotel ballroom accented with green LED lights (school...