Hey, SE Readers. Joan here today. It’s time for another writing question.

I love quotes, particularly those that pertain to writing. At times when I need to feel inspired, I’ll look up quotes from well-known authors. Who better to lift your spirits than those who have made this same journey.

But on occasion, I’ll come across a quote that isn’t necessarily inspiring, but intriguing. One that makes me pause and reflect.

Such as this one:

“I hate writing. I love having written.” ~ Dorothy Parker

Writing is a process. We draft, we proofread, we edit, we write some more, we rewrite. We engage in social media, connect with our readers through blog posts and newsletters. With publication comes promotion.

There’s more to writing than writing.

Which brings me to my question. Okay, two questions:

What is your least favorite thing about writing? What is your favorite?

I look forward to…

Hi, Gang, Craig here again. I may make this a sporadic series, and I welcome my Story Empire compatriots to steal it and use it any time they like. We talk about all kinds of things here, always with a positive shiny face on it. That ends today.

Today, we’re going to break things. Honestly, we see all kinds of posts about good things to do, helpful tips, and downright cheerleading. We also need to know what to avoid, and the topic today is passive characters.

Main characters have to drive the story. They have to take actions to solve whatever the main issue is. I’ve mentioned before that I keep living documents with pointers and tips. One I saved years ago is from the Pixar recipe book: Readers will appreciate the character more for trying than succeeding.

That’s a powerful thought. Trying must be pretty important in the scheme…

Ciao, SEers. Happy Monday!

Over the course of our time together, you’ve probably come to realize I consider social media a somewhat necessary evil. I know writers are supposed to use it, but so few of us use it consistently and creatively enough. I often feel it’s a waste of time, but if I don’t do it, I feel guilty. And when Google announced G+ was going away, I was relieved. It was one less platform for me to neglect.

Kids today are much savvier when it comes to social media. My son couldn’t care less, but my daughter loves it. She’s even an ambassador for some company on her Instagram account because they love the look of her posts and the way she uses the app. In short, she’s awesome at it. And I’m not. Hence the following conversation between the two of us:

Her: Mom. Seriously. Your…