Loading the searchable article library…
Browse published articles attributed to Doug Kurtz, with full-archive search.
Ever had one of those surreal moments when you realize you’ve become the person you once imagined? You don’t fit the original vision exactly, but there are similarities you can’t ignore: you’ve finished your novel, agents are calling and you can almost afford that European vacation. Somewhere in the past you envisioned this future—or some version thereof—and here you are now, flesh and blood proof.
Writers use intuition in all kinds of situations, from deciding what to write, to making plot decisions, to following creative urges that make no logical sense. Intuition is always trying to lead us to the right destination, and to get there we must learn to follow it. Shakti Gawain, author of ...Writers use intuition in all kinds of situations, from deciding what to write, to making plot decisions, to following creative urges that make no logical sense. Intuition is always trying to lead us to the right destination, and to get there we must learn to follow it.
Birds of a feather flock together—unless they’re writers, in which case they tend to fly solo. Solitude and independence are revered parts of the writing life, but pecking at the keyboard alone can eventually lead to feelings of disconnection and isolation. Nobody better understands the ...Birds of a feather flock together—unless they’re writers, in which case they tend to fly solo. Solitude and independence are revered parts of the writing life, but pecking at the keyboard alone can eventually lead to feelings of disconnection and isolation.
Cunning and cruel, gremlins skulk in dark corners of the mind, waiting in shadows to pounce. They scold and belittle, telling us we will fail, we have no business writing, we might as well quit and do something else. They interpret and judge our past, playing on our fears, and author the ...Cunning and cruel, gremlins skulk in dark corners of the mind, waiting in shadows to pounce. They scold and belittle, telling us we will fail, we have no business writing, we might as well quit and do something else.
Last summer, single-handedly and ill-equipped, I began to remodel my kitchen. In a burst of novice enthusiasm, I sledged through studs and ripped up floors. I hung drywall and knifed mud. I tiled, grouted, griped and complained. Then, frustrated and over my head, I walked off the job. It’s ...Last summer, single-handedly and ill-equipped, I began to remodel my kitchen. In a burst of novice enthusiasm, I sledged through studs and ripped up floors. I hung drywall and knifed mud. I tiled, grouted, griped and complained. Then, frustrated and over my head, I walked off the job.
In the jungle of daily life, writing time is hard to find. Best intentions flag in the heat, and rarely recover by morning. You want to write, you have to write, but it’s just not happening and the guilt feels like monkeys howling in your chest. Job, kids, errands, friends, family, ...In the jungle of daily life, writing time is hard to find. Best intentions flag in the heat, and rarely recover by morning. You want to write, you have to write, but it’s just not happening and the guilt feels like monkeys howling in your chest.
If you’re a writer, then you’re a conscious human being. If you’re a conscious human being, then you’ve felt the sting of rejection. Therefore, if you’re a writer, you might as well stay in your pajamas all day and mope around semi-conscious drinking mojitos. Logical or not, writers dread ...If you’re a writer, then you’re a conscious human being. If you’re a conscious human being, then you’ve felt the sting of rejection. Therefore, if you’re a writer, you might as well stay in your pajamas all day and mope around semi-conscious drinking mojitos.
Gremlins are the cruel, cunning embodiment of the limiting thoughts that hold writers back. The first step toward vanquishing yours is to consciously notice its presence. This skill takes practice and is worth developing because it shifts power to you, the observer, and allows you to choose a ...Gremlins are the cruel, cunning embodiment of the limiting thoughts that hold writers back. The first step toward vanquishing yours is to consciously notice its presence.
In the novel I’m writing, fire images recur ad nauseum. Boats burn, yards burn, dogs leap through flame, etc. The repetition eventually caught my attention, and my rational mind recoiled. Why so much fire? This is nonsense, man, stop it! I made a conscious effort to snuff the flames, ...In the novel I’m writing, fire images recur ad nauseum. Boats burn, yards burn, dogs leap through flame, etc. The repetition eventually caught my attention, and my rational mind recoiled. Why so much fire? This is nonsense, man, stop it!
Right now, intuition is telling me to do something writers are taught never to do: open a piece with a dictionary definition. My rational mind is screaming, Don’t do it! But I’ve learned through experience to trust these intuitive nudges. So here goes… Intuition (ĭ 'tû-ĭsh'ən, ...Right now, intuition is telling me to do something writers are taught never to do: open a piece with a dictionary definition. My rational mind is screaming, Don’t do it! But I’ve learned through experience to trust these intuitive nudges. So here goes…
Whether you’re building a house or writing crime novels, it helps to have a good set of tools. Handsaws are great for some jobs, but mitering roof beams with elbow grease is murder. For the big stuff, and for extra muscle on small jobs, it helps to power up. Like carpenters, writers have to ...Whether you’re building a house or writing crime novels, it helps to have a good set of tools. Handsaws are great for some jobs, but mitering roof beams with elbow grease is murder. For the big stuff, and for extra muscle on small jobs, it helps to power up.
Ever been asked a question that stopped you dead in your tracks? That hit a nerve and changed your outlook? That challenged assumptions and set you on a new course? When it comes to communication and transformation, questions are among the most powerful tools we have—but not all are created ...Ever been asked a question that stopped you dead in your tracks? That hit a nerve and changed your outlook? That challenged assumptions and set you on a new course?
Mention the word “schedule” and it’s fight or flight for a lot of writers. Structuring life to make room for writing is often perceived as contrary to the creative spirit, but most writers will tell you they’re happier and more productive when they stick to a plan. Whether you work full-time ...Mention the word “schedule” and it’s fight or flight for a lot of writers. Structuring life to make room for writing is often perceived as contrary to the creative spirit, but most writers will tell you they’re happier and more productive when they stick to a plan.
Love is hot, and for some writers, showing work to loved ones feels like leaping into flames. You send your writing to countless agents. You post it online for anonymous millions. But when your spouse or partner asks to read it, spontaneous combustion. You don’t include them and they don’t ...Love is hot, and for some writers, showing work to loved ones feels like leaping into flames. You send your writing to countless agents. You post it online for anonymous millions. But when your spouse or partner asks to read it, spontaneous combustion.
In writing, we can choose whether or not to begin in medias res—in the middle of things—but in life we’re there all the time, whether we like it or not. Our personal stories, episodes and epiphanies are constantly unfolding—sometimes all at once. Ever find yourself revising your novel, ...In writing, we can choose whether or not to begin in medias res—in the middle of things—but in life we’re there all the time, whether we like it or not. Our personal stories, episodes and epiphanies are constantly unfolding—sometimes all at once.