Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Blog

Rob Parnell Below is an article I wrote way back in 2002. It's been reproduced hundreds of times on the Net and in books and courses. I guess that means it's kind of famous! Take a look - it's still inspiring! Understanding genius is a three-stage process. First, you need to break down your preconceptions about what you think being a genius is. When you call someone a genius, what do you mean? That they display characteristics that seem to be above the common herd? That they think ahead of their time? That they seem to be able to create perfect art with little or no effort? Einstein was a genius they say. So was Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, Beethoven and Van Gogh. Why? Because they displayed a unique way of thinking that separated them from the mainstream. Did genius just bestow itself upon these individuals? No, every so-called genius is a craftsman first. They learn the basics. They study them, copy them until they are implicit. So that, when it's time to create fo...

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Be a Writer First Rob Parnell Writers often talk about their quest to be published. They talk as though it's the end result to their work - as though, when they're published, everything will change and be wonderful. This is not exactly how it works for most professional writers. Getting your stuff published is often only the beginning - the starting point for a career that may, after a while, feel very much like where you are now - as in, working for a living! You may improve as a writer. You may start to find it easier - though I doubt it. You may have success - whatever that means to you. But at the end of the day, wherever you may be in your writing career - a newbie or a seasoned pro - you're still in a constant burgeoning relationship with words. I use the word 'relationship' deliberately - because I think we should see writing as a kind of mistress, toy-boy or lover. Listen. Your starting point and your end point is to improve the way you communicate your ide...

"Writing is a triumph of tenacity over common sense." That's what my mother says anyway. Her view is that any kind of writing is a "...very strange way of spending your time, Robert. Why on earth would anyone want to waste their energy doing that?" And this from a woman who reads like it's about to get banned. I've pointed this out of course. But though she loves reading, she thinks all writers must be a little weird to devote their lives to sitting alone and writing. She's a more sociable animal you see. Her idea of bliss is to be surrounded by any kind of people, all chattering and yammering over nothing in particular, simply enjoying the closeness of others. That, of course, is my idea of The Seventh Level of Hell. Not that I intend to be unsociable - or mean for that matter. I just prefer books and writing and creating, working on artistic projects - and if I do need to go out and communicate, I want it to be for a good reason - lik...

Are you struggling to achieve your dreams? Does it seem as if your perfect life is elusive? Does you feel you're never going to get what you want? If so, it could be you're missing something important. Here are some tips on how to create your perfect life by adjusting your inner perspective. You're Never Too Busy to Relax When we're stressed and caught up in the complexities of living our daily lives, it can seem as though there's never enough time to do everything. We're always chasing our tails, beating ourselves up over jobs not completed or done badly or tasks - like writing - that get squeezed out of our schedules. If you're like this, you have to stop. Literally. You must find time - half an hour to an hour every day, to unwind and get some perspective. I call it 'strategizing time' or more simply, 'time to meditate'. Meditation is not about assuming a lotus position and contemplating the universe in your navel. No, it's about delib...

What happens when you can't think of anything to write? It's funny because I've noticed this is quite a common problem - for the newbie and the professional alike, but usually for different reasons. Often the newbie will be flushed with the conviction that she's a writer. She feels it, she knows it in her bones. And yet when it comes to sitting down in her writing space, she wonders what she should say - exactly what should she focus on? What should she communicate - or at least commit to paper? The professional writer too can get stuck. He may have exhausted his current topics of interest and want to start on something fresh. Like the newbie, the professional may ask himself, what can I say that is of interest to my editor, my publishers or my fans? Both the newbie and the professional may get stuck on what to write NEXT. Create You Own Emergency Deadlines and external pressure work for the professional. Often working writers have no choice but to slog along on their w...

Many writers tell me the scariest thing they have to do is submit their work to publishers, magazine editors and agents. This is understandable. You may have poured your heart and soul into a piece of writing. You may have spent a very long time working on it - so much so that it feels like a part of you is somehow exposed. You fear criticism at best, ridicule at worst. Placing your work in an envelope can bring on palpitations and an overwhelming sense of panic. Writers ask me if this ever goes away. The short answer is no. It doesn't matter how long you've been writing, or how many times you submit material or show your work to others, there's always a nagging trepidation associated with the experience. It's akin to first night nerves. Actors, not matter how accomplished, still feel it just before the curtain rises. Musicians and singers still feel it, just before the song begins. Even great speakers - gurus - feel it, as they walk out to face the ...