Most artists, no matter their medium, fall into imposter syndrome at some point or another. Writers are certainly no exception. For years, I have stumbled over the words, “I am a writer.” The following question to this statement tends to be, “What have you written?” And I stumble over that answer even more. But why? …
Brainy Creative Research by Kayla Hinckley
I began writing when I was fourteen years old and, since then, I have been told many times that outlines are the way to go for writing everything but poetry. However, in the twenty-five years since then I have learned that I am the weird one that doesn’t function well with an outline. Instead, I …
Just Keep Writing by Grace Deak
People have often asked me how I can write so much. They think there’s some secret – that I’ve found a cure for writer’s block or sold my soul to avoid burnout – but I don’t have a magic potion or anything. The truth is I simply don’t know how to not write. More often …
How Fanfiction Made Me Fall in Love with Writing by Lava Koon
I kind of think it’s funny when people ask me how I got into writing because, truthfully, I was inspired by Monster High. Moreover, my first ever written novel was a 20 chapter self-insert fanfiction where the characters at Monster High came to get me so I could join them at the aforementioned school. I …
Spiraling: A Songwriter’s Guide to Semantics by Lauren G
I used to tell people that I read thesauruses as a kid for fun. Truthfully, I can’t really remember if I did that or not. I mean, it certainly sounds like something I would do; I remember stumbling across an online index for literary devices when I was in middle school working on some English …
My Reasons for Writing: Connection, Security, and Escapism by Grace Beckham
TW: mentions of death and illness My grandma Sue told me stories of fairies, witches, sword-wielding maidens, mischievous pixies, and wise-cracking toads. Her husband Dennis built fairy houses for her. They were sprinkled throughout their flourishing garden, tangled in twisting tree branches, hoisted atop hand-painted toadstools. Their house was a mystical place filled with love …
Reverberations by Joe Heemstra
On March 15th of 2005, Pixar’s The Incredibles released on DVD. I watched it ad nauseum—sometimes several times a day—and yet, it never failed to entertain. I’d propel my little three-year-old frame across the dingy floor of my parent’s first house with clumsy somersaults, clomp around on all fours and pretend I was the awesome …
Overcoming Writer’s Block by Katie Smith
When it comes to writing, getting stuck is inevitable. Whether it is creative or formal. Fortunately, there are some tricks you can use and combine to get yourself out of that hole. These are just four of many. Just Keep Writing If you have yet to start writing, then just start putting down whatever comes …
My Creative Writing Inspirations by Angela Doherty
A book that I believe created my passion for creative writing and for my distant future as a creative writing major here at Ball State was one of the first books I ever read as a kid. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. As a kid, my dad chose to bring home a gift for me …