10 Best Memoirs About Mental Illness: Stories of Healing and Hope

Welcome to our list of the best memoirs about mental illness!

Mental health is a vital aspect of our overall well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, and relate to others. One way to better understand mental illness is by reading the personal stories of those who have been through it. Memoirs can provide firsthand insights into the struggles, challenges, and triumphs of individuals who have experienced mental health issues. In this blog post, we will explore the 10 best memoirs about mental illness that offer a journey of healing and hope.

Without further ado, take a look at these books about mental illness and pick out the perfect one to help someone or yourself along the way.

Best Memoirs About Mental Illness

1) "An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness" by Kay Redfield Jamison

This memoir by Kay Redfield Jamison, a renowned psychiatrist, is a powerful account of her own bipolar disorder. It narrates the intricacies of living with a mental illness and highlights the importance of medical treatment while battling the stigmas of mental health.

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

By Jamison, Kay Redfield

2) "Madness: A Bipolar Life" by Marya Hornbacher

This memoir is a raw and honest account of Marya Hornbacher's struggles with bipolar disorder, multiple addictions, and eating disorders. It offers a candid and compassionate perspective of life with chronic illness and recovery.

Madness: A Bipolar Life

By Hornbacher, Marya

3) "The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness" by Elyn Saks

Elyn Saks is a successful lawyer and law professor who has schizophrenia. Her memoir is a vivid portrayal of her lifelong struggle with mental illness. It explores the complexities of mental health treatment, society's stigma, and the role of the mind in understanding one's own illness.

The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

By Saks, Elyn R.

4) “When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi

This memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon, tells the story of his battle with stage IV lung cancer. It reflects on the meaning of life, our mortality, and the human spirit. Kalanithi's powerful writing and reflective insights make this memoir an unforgettable experience.

When Breath Becomes Air

By Kalanithi, Paul

5) “Girl, Interrupted" by Susanna Kaysen

This classic memoir tells the story of Susanna Kaysen's stay at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility, in the 1960s. It shows the complexities of institutionalization and underscores how society often stigmatizes and ostracizes those who are struggling with mental health conditions.

Girl, Interrupted

By Kaysen, Susanna

6) "The Memory Palace" by Mira Bartók

This memoir by Mira Bartók is a beautifully written exploration of her relationship with her mentally ill mother. It tells the story of two intertwined lives, one haunted by schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the other by love, compassion, and empathy.

The Memory Palace: A Memoir

By Bartok, Mira

7) "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression" by Andrew Solomon

This memoir by Andrew Solomon is an in-depth exploration of depression. It provides an eloquent and insightful account of what it means to live with this debilitating disorder and emphasizes the social, cultural, and medical aspects of mental illness.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression

By Solomon, Andrew

8) "Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America" by Elizabeth Wurtzel

This memoir by Elizabeth Wurtzel is a searing account of depression that affected her as a young woman. It offers an unflinching exploration of the darkest aspects of mental health and offers insight into the psychology of suicide.

Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America

By Wurtzel, Elizabeth

9) "Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things" by Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson is a blogger who has lived with depression and anxiety for most of her life. Her memoir is about finding joy amid the pain. It is a hilarious and touching account of her struggle with mental illness, her experiences with therapy, and the importance of humor in healing.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

By Jenny Lawson

10) "The Last Time I Wore a Dress" by Daphne Scholinski

This memoir by Daphne Scholinski is a poignant and insightful account of her teenage years spent in a psychiatric facility. It tells a story of coming to terms with one's sexual orientation and mental illness and highlights the importance of finding one's voice amid chaos.

The Last Time I Wore A Dress

By Daphne Scholinski

Reading memoirs about mental illness can offer us a deeper understanding of what it's like to live with a mental health condition. It can also help us recognize our biases and stigmas about mental health. The 10 best memoirs about mental illness mentioned above offer a journey of healing and hope, a glimpse into the human spirit, and a poignant reminder that we are all on this journey of life together.

The 10 Best Books for First Graders - A Must-Read List

Welcome to our list of the best books for first graders!

If you're looking for books to entice your little one to read more often, you've come to the right place. It's important to lay a solid foundation for reading in your child's early years. Fostering a love for reading at such a young age will help your little ones become successful readers in the future. In this blog post, we will outline the top 10 books that are perfect for first-grade students.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect book for a first-grade boy or girl, we’ve got the perfect choice for you, so without further ado, let’s get started!

Best Books for First Graders

1) "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss

A classic tale of persuasion and trying new things. This book is an ideal pick for new readers, who will adore the rhyme scheme throughout the text.

Green Eggs and Ham

By Dr.Seuss

2) "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss

Another classic book from the great Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat is a fun-loving character with a mischievous nature. This book has a simple vocabulary with engaging illustrations that children can relate to.

The Cat in the Hat

By Dr. Seuss

3) "A Bad Case of Stripes" by David Shannon

A young girl named Camilla suffers from extreme anxiety about her physical appearance. The story teaches children about being confident in their own skin and embracing who they are.

A Bad Case of Stripes (Scholastic Bookshelf)

By Shannon, David

4) "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel

This book is famous for its clever and amusing stories, featuring two best friend frogs named Frog and Toad. Frog is sensible, while Toad is enthusiastic and fun-loving.

Frog and Toad are Friends

By Arnold Lobel

5) "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

An emotional journey about the relationship between a tree and a little boy. The story teaches children about kindness, selflessness, and the importance of giving.

The Giving Tree

By Shel Silverstein

6) "Corduroy" by Don Freeman

This book has been a favorite for generations, featuring Corduroy, a curious teddy bear, and his thrilling journey through a department store. Corduroy is a lovable character that is sure to capture your little ones' hearts.

Corduroy

By Freeman, Don

7) "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

A classic story about a young boy named Max fleeing to a world where wild creatures roam free. It's a fun and adventurous tale that will expand your child's imagination.

Where the Wild Things Are

By Maurice Sendak

8) "The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton

This illustrated book for children explores the passage of time and the effects it can have on our surroundings. Burton portrays the transformation of a little house that gets surrounded by a big city.

The Little House 75th Anniversary Edition: A Caldecott Award Winner

By Burton, Virginia Lee

9) "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

This story follows a chain reaction of events that occur after a young boy gives a cookie to a mouse. It's a fun and engaging read, encouraging kids to use their imaginations and think about cause and effect.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

By Numeroff, Laura

10) "Shrek!" by William Steig

A fun and engaging book that will have kids giggling from start to finish. The story follows a large green ogre named Shrek and deals with themes of friendship, inclusion, and acceptance.

Shrek!

By Steig, William

Reading has the power to open up endless possibilities for young minds. The children's books mentioned above are all great starting points to introduce your first-graders to the world of reading. Each book provides valuable life lessons or engaging stories that will keep your child entertained and eager to read more. With these books in your child's library, you can be sure to help your child develop a love for reading from an early age.

10 Best Books for Middle Schoolers to Read

Welcome to our list of the best books for middle schoolers to read!

The years spent in middle school can be the most challenging and, sometimes, the most impressionable of a child's life. With all the changes that occur during this time period, reading can serve as a constant and a form of escape from the highs and lows of adolescence. While there are a ton of books to choose from, we have compiled a list of the top 10 must-read books for all middle schoolers.

Without further ado, browse through this carefully curated list and pick out the perfect book for your middle schooler!

Best Books For Middle Schoolers

1) "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

This classic dystopian novel is perfect for any middle schooler starting to develop an interest in science fiction. The novel depicts a perfect world on the surface, but as the story progresses, readers discover the fatal flaw in a society without pain or emotions.

The Giver: A Newbery Award Winner (Giver Quartet, 1)

By Lowry, Lois

2) "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Muñoz Ryan

This novel tells the story of a young Mexican girl who immigrates to the United States with her mother. It's a poignant coming-of-age story and a beautiful tribute to the migrant farmworker experience.

Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold)

By Ryan, Pam Muñoz

3) "Hatchet" by Brian Paulsen

This survival-based tale follows the narrative of a young boy who must fend for himself in the wilderness after a plane crash. The story is riveting, and Paulsen's descriptions of nature and the wilderness are mesmerizing.

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen

4) "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

The diary of a young girl hiding during World War II is an excellent book for middle schoolers to read and put themselves in the shoes of someone from another time. Plus, it opens up conversations about sensitive topics like the Holocaust.

The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition

By Frank, Anne

5) "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

This science-fiction classic follows the adventures of Meg Murray, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin as they navigate the cosmos to save Meg's father. It's an excellent novel for any child interested in science, magic, and the mysteries of space.

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle

6) "The Outsiders" by S. E Hinton

An all-time favorite and must-read for young adults, "The Outsiders," touches on issues of identity, family, class, and growing up in an atypical society. It's an engaging novel that middle-schoolers will undoubtedly love.

The Outsiders

By S. E. Hinton

7) "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor

This novel tells the story of a young African American girl and her family living in the segregated South during the 1930s Great Depression. It is an eye-opening historical fiction novel and serves as a reminder of the nation's not-so-distant past.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

By Taylor, Mildred D.

8) "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

For any middle-schooler who loves sci-fi comedy, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is an absolute must-read. It's a spaced-out adventure full of humor, memorable characters, and space travel, making it perfect for kids who want to laugh out loud while reading.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By Douglas Adams

9) "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio

This heartwarming novel tells the story of a boy named Auggie, born with a facial deformity, who is starting public school for the first time. It's a book that celebrates differences, promotes kindness, and teaches compassion to any reader who picks it up.

Wonder

By Palacio, R. J.

10) "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" by J.K. Rowling

No list of middle school books can be complete without the beloved Harry Potter series. The first book follows the orphan boy wizard, Harry, as he discovers his magical powers and heads to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It's an excellent introduction to the world of Harry Potter, and middle-schoolers are sure to love it.

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)

By J. K. Rowling

Middle school is a fantastic time for self-discovery and self-reflection. Reading not only expands their worldview but also promotes literacy, critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. The ten books mentioned above are must-reads for middle schoolers. Whether it's dystopian novels, science fiction, biographies, or comedy, these books all offer a unique perspective on life, love, and everything in between.

How to Write A Fantasy Novel: A 5-Part Mini-Guide

Fantasy is no longer a genre relegated to the shadowy realm of the basement. Whether you’ve read the Harry Potter Series or watched the movies, fell in love with The Lord of The Rings, read Neil Gaiman’s work, or more recently, went on an epic journey through Westeros, you’ve been a part of the fantasy genre’s evolution into mainstream entertainment. 

Now that the special effects can do the authors’ imaginations at least partial justice, the momentum for this genre is just getting started. 

Anyhow, you’re obviously here for a reason — to learn how to write a fantasy novel. All of that is simply to encourage you to pursue this dream because the possibilities are truly as unlimited as your imagination. 

“Stories may well be lies, but they are good lies that say true things, and which can sometimes pay the rent.” — Neil Gaiman

Writing fantasy is more difficult than it may appear; however, the rewards in the form of characters and invented places are well worth the time, effort, and, at certain points, your sanity. You may be looking to write conventional fantasy with wizards, witches, dragons, swords, and sorcery — or you may be looking to blend genres and come up with creatures and places and a magic system that’s never been seen or read before. Either way, the power of fantasy is that you can pull from anything you’ve ever thought about; you are unhindered by the constraints of reality; you can choose to use or not to use the laws of physics and science; you can choose for your world to operate in topsy-turvy fashion. 

To help you overcome many of the challenges you will face along your epic adventure into fantasy writing, I’ve written a 5-part mini-guide. Every part of this step-by-step how-to writing guide is designed to help you create your own fantasy novel writing process. 

Without further ado, dive right in and learn how to cast literary spells on your readers!

Fantasy Novel Writing Mini-Guide      

Step 1: Identify Your Why

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka

Writing a novel is a mental marathon. You will get tired at various points. The ideas won’t always flow so easily. Even the most successful writers experience this. J.K. Rowling rewrote a single chapter of The Prisoner of Azkaban thirteen times to get it right. 

Your interests may change during the process of working on your fantasy novel — or your fantasy novel may in fact be the very thing that changes you. 

Because novel writing can be a long, trying process, and a transformative one at that, it begs the question of how you can be sure that you will be able to maintain your passion?

In other words, what are the questions you are burning to find answers for and what are the themes you are compelled to explore? 

In business, your Why can often lead you to your unique selling proposition. In the writing world, your Why is what gives you the sustenance to complete your stories. But this particular thing you want to say has to be so powerful, so necessary to get onto the page that it becomes a compulsion. 

In fact, most of the stories that have made an impact on you as an adult likely have a message encoded in them. Maybe it’s a message about grief and how to get through it; maybe it’s a way of thinking about death and the human condition; or maybe it’s something much simpler. 

As you begin writing and go deeper into the story, other messages will present themselves and you’ll also go through additional phases of self-discovery; however, the core message is the bedrock for your fantasy novel. 

Your characters will be born out of this message to deliver to various degrees. Speaking of…

Step 2: Get to Know Your Characters

“In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations!” — Anton Chekhov

When writing a fantasy novel, it’s critical to understand that your story will only be as interesting as your characters. 

One of the mistakes new and aspiring fantasy authors make is building an elaborate world or physical setting first and then treating the characters as accessories in it instead of having the characters teach us about the world. 

Is it possible to go about world-building first and develop your characters afterwards? Yes — after all, it’s worth repeating that every author has to find a process that works for them. 

However, it’s easy to become seduced by the setting. 

First, fall in love with your characters, or at least become fascinated by them. Learn everything you can about them. Many details will unravel during the writing process, but many of the following questions can help you get to know them better:

• What do they like to eat? 

• What do they dream about?

• What are their desires?

• What do they say / what do they avoid saying?

• What are they afraid of?

• What memories do they cherish / which ones are they haunted by?

• What was their upbringing like?

• What are their tics and idiosyncrasies?

• What are their habits?

• Have they ever been in love / are they in love?

• Are they comfortable around other people?

• What are their hobbies?

• What are they proud / ashamed of?

Also consider where each character is in their personal journey. What level are they on in Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Are they on the bottom of the pyramid, battling to have their physiological needs met (i.e. air, water, food, sex, sleep, shelter, etc.)?

If they have secured their basic physiological needs, are their safety needs met (i.e. personal security, financial security, emotional security, and well-being)?

As we go up the hierarchy of needs, you’ll notice the pyramid shifts from the basic survival-type needs into the needs that can only be realized after the foundational aspects are taken care of. 

Have your characters found love and social belonging (family, friendship, and intimacy)?

Have they gained esteem (i.e. status, recognition, prestige, fame, and attention) and self-respect from mastery, competence, strength, or freedom?

Have your characters achieved self-actualization? In other words have they achieved what they feel they can and should? Have they become everything they can be? This ties into the human desire to leave nothing on the table; to experience the full range of existence; to actualize every bit of our potential. Self-actualization includes partner acquisition, the pursuit of objectives, developing abilities and talents, and parenting. 

Have your characters achieved transcendence — something beyond oneself (i.e. spirituality or altruism)? In the hero’s journey, you might imagine this character as the old wizard or witch who has seen and done nearly everything there is to do in the world and now seeks an apprentice to pass their knowledge onto. Think Gandalf The White, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Morpheus.

 Another key to writing compelling characters is to write them as if they’re real people. That sounds simple enough; however, aspiring fantasy authors often rely too heavily on tropes. They telegraph motives, the good guy is the good guy, and the bad guy is the bad guy. Neither one has shades of grey or complexity and therefore, the characters are two-dimensional caricatures. 

You’ve probably heard the expression that one person’s angel is another person’s demon. In life, not only do people have duality in them — good qualities, bad qualities, and ambivalence — but they also encounter each other at various stages of their own character development. So in addition to a character’s complex moral ambiguity, the character possesses the inherent complexity of how they are perceived based in part on reality and the inner workings of the perceivers themselves. 

 How do the characters change and evolve as the story goes on? How does their evolution affect those around them? Were they known for or as something entirely different than the person they seem to be during the particular events of the story? What secrets do they carry as a result? Do they operate with a sort of dual identity?

Also, what message are you sending through your characters? 

 For example, in Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic, the fantasy novel I co-authored with my father Kevin N. Garrett, we made a conscious decision to empower readers with physical disabilities. Without giving away any spoilers, one of our main characters deals with a lifelong challenge and instead of simply “fixing” her with magic, we made sure that she finds even greater power in other ways. What we didn’t want is for our readers who struggle with the same challenge to feel that they need “fixing” when the reality is that this disability is something they will have to live with their entire lives. 

 Lastly, do your characters drive the plot forward? Of course not every character is meant to drive the story. Rather, some characters decorate the world they inhabit.  Just like in real life, some people are passerbys along your path, while others end up being allies or antagonists. 

Step 3: Develop Your Plot, Outline Your Story

“Character is plot, plot is character.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Characters help to develop the plot. After all, it’s their decisions and desires that drive the action of the story. 

You should have a general roadmap for your story — an idea of a beginning, a middle, and an end. From there, I’d recommend writing a scene-by-scene outline. 

The goal of doing so is to see if it feels right. Does the direction of the story make sense? Is there a better direction to take the plot?

After your plot feels solid, logical, and like it delivers on the promise of that seed of an original idea, write additional outlines and notes to complement the scene-by-scene outlines. 

Ask yourself whether or not your characters would do whatever action you have them taking. Look for opportunities to surprise the reader, to make them laugh, and to create any sort of emotional reaction.

Part of the reason why George R.R. Martin doesn’t hesitate to kill off major characters is to create tension in the narrative. If the good guys always win and the bad guys always lose and everyone lives happily ever after, why would your reader ever be concerned about or invested in the outcome?

Another key to outlining a fantasy novel is to look for holes in your plot. Also, avoid falling into the trap of deus ex machina—an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or a novel. In fantasy, it’s tempting to solve everything with magic. Tolkien was guilty of this at times. Instead of having dragons swoop in and save the day, try researching military or political strategy and figuring out what sort of clever machination could take the opposition—and subsequently, the reader by surprise. 

Much of the time, the more thoughtful choice is the wiser method for resolving conflict in the story. The work of a writer isn’t measured in sweat. It’s more of an instinctual measurement, where the reader feels how much work was put into the story by their own emotional reaction. Plot development is perhaps the most critical stage of writing your fantasy novel. The objective here is to be as thorough as possible so that you can focus on the actual execution (the lyricism of the words themselves, the dialogue, the worldbuilding, etc.) of the story during the writing stage without having to pause to refit the puzzle pieces. 

Of course, you will find ways to improve the story as you go along, and your characters will inevitably alter your plot as you get further into the writing process. 

Step 4: Worldbuilding

“Every moment of a science fiction story must represent the triumph of writing over worldbuilding.” — M. John Harrison

 The fantasy genre is the perfect space to indulge in your world-building fascination. If done right, your setting becomes a kind of character in your story. 

Take Wonderland, for example. The topsy-turvy dreamscape Alice wanders into seems to contain characters straight from her subconsciousness. The setting of The Wizard of Oz Series, an American answer to Alice in Wonderland, is also a character of the story. In both cases, the individuals and the creatures are all drawn into and forced to react to the setting itself. 

Give your characters and your readers a setting that they can explore. Take them to a rich, three-dimensional world with a history of its own, religions and spirituality, conflicts and scars, politics, factions and cults, societies, and cultures. 

Remember, even a fictional world is grounded by familiar details. Great fiction disguises the familiar in otherworldly detail. 

Just as you can base your characters on people you’ve met, seen, heard of, or read about, you can sprinkle your setting with elements of the places you’ve been to or researched about. 

 Also, you’ll need to be able to answer certain questions about your setting, such as:

• How do the characters travel in your world?

• What is the infrastructure of your world?

• What is the geography of the world?

• How do cultures interact with each other?

• Who is aligned with who and who is in conflict with who?

• What remnants and ruins are left from the past?

 Another critical aspect of worldbuilding to consider is what mythology you can invent. Capitalize on any opportunity to create unique intellectual property. The further you can deviate from existing legends, the greater chance you have to surprise your readers and build a fandom loyal to the mythos and world you’ve created. 

Lastly, establish rules for your world. For example, if your fantasy novel involves magic, make sure that your magic system is consistent. 

The more familiar you are with politics, philosophy, and economics, the more believable the rules of your fictional reality will be. 

Step 5: Write, Revise, and Finalize

“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood

The final step of the fantasy novel writing process is writing your manuscript. 

Every writer has their own writing rules. Personally, I believe you should never edit in the middle of writing your first draft. Editing and revising are completely separate parts of the process. 

As long as you are following your outlines, use your first draft as a chance to just enjoy getting in the flow and paint with words. 

With proper preparation and outlining, you can quiet down the voice of your inner critic. Because novel writing is a mental marathon, the greatest test of your endurance will be your own doubts. 

Write with certainty and edit with a level of detachment. In other words, be willing to kill your darlings. 

Some other rules many successful fantasy authors follow in their novel writing process include: 

• Take a break after your first draft to read and consume other books before starting on your edits and revisions

• Look at the story cinematically — ask yourself if it translates visually because your readers will automatically visualize each sentence (and always remember the golden rule — show, don’t tell)

• As you write, keep the lineage of your series in mind / if you intend to have more than one book, include details that create a connection between each volume

• Carefully consider and reconsider the story’s point of view

• Write authentic dialogue by making sure that some lines are conversational rather than every line necessarily being a plot-driver

• Leave your readers with questions to be answered as the story goes on in order to keep them engaged / don’t unveil all of your surprises too early

• Also, don’t introduce all of your characters at once so this way your readers have time to get to know each one

• Write the story you want to write — if you try to write for everyone, your story will be for nobody

 The perfect process doesn’t exist. The goal is to find what works best for you. Everyone’s minds work differently and the writer’s personality even affects the process. For instance, if you struggle with anxiety, it might influence the pace as you write. Take self-inventory. Experiment. But most importantly, write your fantasy novel with passion, persistence, and unbounded curiosity. 

People Also Ask These Questions About How to Write A Fantasy Novel

Q: How long does it take to write a fantasy novel?

Writing a fantasy novel can take weeks, months, or years. Some of it depends on how thoroughly outlined it is because that determines the momentum in which you will have as you work on it. 

Q: What is the most difficult part about writing a fantasy novel?

The most difficult part about writing a fantasy novel is arguably decision fatigue. When writing nonfiction, the material is pulled straight from real life, so the plot is more of a matter of arranging events and determining chronology. Fantasy novel writing, on the other hand, requires the author to invent from scratch and to actively make decisions about what characters would and wouldn’t do, among other things. 

Q: How do I outline a fantasy novel?

There are many ways to outline a fantasy novel; however, outlining scene by scene is a smart strategy. 

Q: How do I get around writer’s block when writing a fantasy novel?

Outlines are one of the best ways to get around writer’s block when writing a fantasy novel. Another tried-and-true tactic is to read books by authors who inspire you and to watch shows and movies that make you want to emulate some aspect of them. 

Writing a Fantasy Novel with My Dad During Protests, Power Outages, and a Pandemic

When I was a kid, my dad Kevin N. Garrett used to tell my older brother and me his mashed-up remixes of fairy tales, such as Little Blue Riding Hood and The Medicinal Tequila, and Robin Hood and The Three Little Pigs. After the Harry Potter series came out, it took over our storytime. A few years later, The Lord of The Rings movies captured my and my brother’s imaginations.

My mom and dad were both authors and travel writers. I always had a love of stories, and I secretly wanted to be a writer. However, I didn’t consider myself intelligent enough to make it my profession. The desire to write kept growing until it was so overwhelming that my self-doubt was consumed by it. Writing was no longer just a thought or even a hobby; It rapidly transformed into a compulsion, supplanting even my love of soccer. By then I knew that no matter how good or bad I was with words, I would write for the rest of my life.

When I was in high school, my dad and I watched Big Fish together. He is my best friend. However, our friendship hasn’t gone untested. A few years before, when I was in middle school, he had been in a severely damaging car accident. Overnight, he turned from Dr. Jekyl to Mr. Hyde. As a kid, I didn’t understand what brain trauma does to someone, so I just resented him. The truth is, when you’re young, you don’t always know how to forgive, but as his brain healed, the dad that I knew and loved returned. In fact, he became even kinder, more loving, and sharper than he was before. So when we watched Big Fish together, the father-son dynamic combined with the sense of whimsy we shared through fractured fairytales, struck a chord with us. Almost in unison, we said to each other, “We’re going to write something magical together someday.”

Fast-forward a few more years, I had just completed college. I skipped my own graduation ceremony to move straight to Los Angeles. I was wrestling with the plot of a science fiction book I’d written and rewritten seven times since I was sixteen, while also working as an advertising copywriter. During that period, I wrote two poetry books, completed my first novel Falling Up in The City of Angels, and co-founded a non-traditional publishing company Lucid House Publishing with my mom Echo Montgomery Garrett and dear friend Jawad Mazhir. 

All along, however, it remained on my heart and my father’s to find a way to collaborate. 

I sent him a document with a list of ideas and asked him to pick one. He chose the rough sketch for a fantasy book, which would later become Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic. We began working on it immediately, drawing on our own journeys as father and son and as two individuals reconciling our respective evolutions. Shortly after we started outlining the novel, I left for Beirut, Lebanon, to live with my girlfriend for three months. The week I arrived, protests erupted. A proposed tax to WhatsApp, the very form of communication we would use to finish the book, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The people were fed up with the corruption that had in part led to the country’s economic collapse. 

If my girlfriend and I had to go to the grocery store or wanted to go out to eat, chances were the road was blocked by burning tires. The country was literally up in smoke. My dad and I redoubled our efforts and used that time of me being relatively stuck to get the book written. Meanwhile, I was surrounded by tremendous loss, which informed the tone of the book — though it’s anything, but sad. Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic deals with love, loss, grief, and the loneliness that comes from being different, but it does so with humor and a triumphant spirit. 

Another thing I learned while I was there is that electricity does not function the same in all parts of the world. At certain times of the day — I think 2pm, 6pm, and midnight — the electricity goes off throughout the country before restarting ten or so minutes later. In the scheme of things, it’s a minor inconvenience. But we were learning how to work through difficulties and hardships and channel love and hope into our writing during this period. What we didn’t know then was how critical this skill would become in the months to follow.

We were about seventy percent done with the first draft of Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss when I flew back to the United States to start a job working in operations for an eCommerce company. About a month after I returned to Los Angeles, the COVID pandemic began. This time, my dad and I were both in somewhat of a partial lockdown. As an advertising photographer, who frequently travels, all of his jobs were canceled and delayed. 

I spent about three days being stressed over how the pandemic affected my livelihood before I gathered myself and focused on being grateful. And once again, we had to double down on the things we could control, which was, at the time, really just this fictional world we were transcribing onto the pages. 

We finished the first draft as Los Angeles was shutting down. All the while, we worked using WhatsApp as we had become accustomed to when we were an ocean apart. By mid-April the lockdown was full-blown. I flew back to Atlanta, where we finished revising Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss. 

By the time we started sending the book out for blurbs, we knew our partnership had indeed conjured up a magical tale. Confirmation came in form of praise rolling in from famed actor Pete Onorati, Grammy-award winning musician Speech of Arrested Development, Harper Lee award-winner Patti Callihan Henry, The Pat Conroy Literary Center Executive Director Jonathan Haupt, and writer and editor Susan Cushman.

My mom added revisions and edits of her own. By the time we wrapped up the production side of Spellbound for the market, it solidified not only a father-son project but also, our family business as writers and publishers. We set June 7 as our southern fantasy novel’s launch date nearly a month ago, anticipating that readers would be in need of an escape from the pandemic. 

What we did not anticipate were the recent peaceful protests. At first, we were conflicted about the timing of the launch. But the truth is, we wrote a story that, at its heart, is about loving your differences and, therefore loving the differences of others. 

Spellbound is also a story about facing your fears; something we are all doing to various degrees during this time of unprecedented change and challenges. But there’s hope in our book and in real life. The heroes of our story don’t all possess superpowers. They are heroes because they face down their fears and sacrifice when the moment requires it of them. 

My dad and I spent 27 years learning how to collaborate, and this past year we learned how to create in the middle of chaos. The themes in Spellbound include orphans, adoption, disabilities, prejudice, female empowerment, and unconditional love. If it weren’t for protests, power outages, the pandemic, and yet more protests, we might not have found the ingredients it took to bring these memorable characters to life. 

And thanks to still being somewhat in lockdown, we have made use of the time and space to work on the next book. We are already a third of the way through writing and concepting the second book in the series. This one is set in Puerto Rico, an island with a rich history, lore, and vibrant culture. It features many of the characters and themes of the first book and ironically involves protests, other real world events, and unexplained phenomena in the vein of magical realism. We are also hard at work on the third book, which is set in New Orleans, Louisiana and brings us back to the Southern fairytales and lore that powered the first book.

How to Emulate Your Favorite Authors and Improve Your Craft in The Process

Novice artists often set off on their journey aiming for originality. One of the most stinging insults a writer can hear is that their work is trite. Even worse is the accusation of plagiarism. The fear of these artistic sins leads budding authors to chase the phantom of novelty. However, the desperate pursuit of originality can hinder or delay the growth of the artist by years. Oftentimes, they end up shuttering themselves away from the works of luminaries in their chosen genre. Refusing to read the work of others is dangerous because what the author believes to be  “original thought” may simply be a slightly different version of what came before. What inexperienced writers don’t realize is that pride blinds them to the fact that all the greats before them borrowed something from someone before them, but they did it so skillfully that this elevated work of art became recognized for its particular brand of genius. 

To truly grow as a writer, it requires that you read the work of others and actively hunt for new techniques. Consider that Hemingway was influenced by Stephen Crane, and Picasso had a base in realism before he borrowed ideas from African artists and developed the style he became famous for “inventing.” Emulating others allows you, the artist, to understand on a deeper level what works and what doesn’t. Writer/director Jim Jarmusch said it best: 

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery — celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: It’s not where you take things from — it’s where you take them to.” 

Emulation, imitation, and plagiarism have three distinct, separate meanings. None of the three share common motivations. The latter is downright criminal, the middle is muddy, but the first is the key to becoming a great writer. While it is possible to commit unintentional plagiarism, this act of theft is usually quite obvious and intentional — a key reason why it’s good to share your work with a trusted committee of peers before publishing. Your peers might catch unintentional plagiarism before you put it out there.  

Imitation is that grey area between plagiarism and emulation. The words and phrasing may be different, but the concept or unique insight often remains the same as the original work. To an extent, this is why writing about a wizarding school would be dangerous territory after the Harry Potter series. Of course, the story could be wildly different and yet, that space is so thoroughly monopolized by the universe Rowling created that it would still be hard not to be seen as an imitation.  

So what exactly is emulation and why is it perfectly okay while the rest falls into that grey area or worse? Emulation boils down to copying a style — not the content, the particular words, or the plot.  

Now that we’ve established what emulation is, the next step is knowing how to emulate. Many authors have specific influences and a unique process. I can’t speak for them, but the following is a particular method I used to improve my writing. 

Goodreads is the perfect way to get a feel for an author. Look at the “quotes” section and you can quickly check out the style of writing and browse for inspiration. Ultimately, this process saves you time. Reading an entire book and marking down each sentence of note is a lengthy and roundabout way of achieving the same objective.  

For instance, I’ve employed this technique with the surrealist poets after I discovered I had a serious appetite for that genre. Of course, what inspires you is often the same thing you might want to create.  

The next thing I do is copy and paste my favorite passages onto a single document and begin to analyze what resonated or moved me about those sections. Was it the concept? Was it the use of language? Could it be more well-written? How so? This diagnostic process works for poetry, but in the end, improving your poetry translates to your prose. After that, I remove the words and the lines that don’t move me and keep only the phrases that do. From there, once I’ve trimmed the fat, I can get an even clearer picture of what exactly makes the piece work.  

The end result is a distillation of concepts, but more essential for emulation, I can identify what works about the writer’s particular use of language. From this, I create a word bank, which is the equivalent of putting paint on a palette. I also use word association to give myself more “colors” to paint with until I have a full range, lending itself to emotional complexity. Stroke by stroke, word by word, I am ready to create. 

T.S. Eliot once said, immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.  

14 Best Writing Exercises to Help You Smash Writer’s Block to Bits

Writing is often thought of as a mystical process. Perhaps for some writers, it is a sort of magical thing where the ideas are found in a fluid and divine fashion. But for others, writing is a labor of love. 

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without those exercises, the muscles seize up.” — Jane Yolen

Stephen King famously said he writes a minimum of 2,000 words per day. J.K. Rowling rewrote one chapter of the Prisoner of Azkaban thirteen times. The end result often appears so perfect that it deceives the reader from understanding how difficult the story was to complete. A book is never finished without a writing process. The best creative processes factor in writer’s block and help the author overcome it. 

So how do you overcome writer’s block?

Many authors include a mix of writing exercises in their process. Even if they enjoy the smoke-and-mirrors Wizard of Oz-like presentation, behind the curtain, you’re likely to find them using specific techniques to sharpen their craft. 

To help you smash writer’s block to bits, we’ve compiled 14 creative writing exercises used by these successful authors and other wordsmiths. Without further ado, check out this list of great writing exercises!

What are writing exercises?

Writing exercises are practice ideas for writers designed to get them unstuck or to improve their skills. The point of a writing exercise is to stimulate new thoughts and alter patterns. Creativity ultimately comes from building on patterns and breaking them when they no longer serve the writer. Conversely, writer’s block is caused by being too deeply entrenched in unproductive patterns of thought.  

Best Writing Exercises

Best Writing Exercises For Fiction Writers

1. Stream of Consciousness

“You dip your toes in this unbreakable stream of consciousness until creativity gets its teeth in you and pulls you to its depths.” — Curtis Tyrone Jones

You probably already know what stream of consciousness is, but for those who don’t, stream of consciousness is a writing technique where the thoughts and emotions of the narrator are written in a trackable, fluid state. The idea behind stream of consciousness is that it replicates the organic flow of thought from a state of emotion, words, and images, seamlessly transitioning from one to another. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: The term stream of consciousness originates from the 1890 text The Principles of Psychology by William James; however, Leo Tolstoy, Marcel Proust, Edgar Allan Poe, and many others were applying this writing exercise long before it was given a name. 

Simply start with a blank page and begin writing. The entire objective is to continue to flow, uninterrupted by editing or overthinking. Alternatively, the stream of consciousness is known as “free writing.” Jack Kerouac’s On The Road is a great example of this writing technique put into practice. 

2. Paraphrasing

“Inevitably, everything we say is either a quotation or a paraphrase.” — Mason Cooley

When Picasso first began painting, he focused on realism. The idea is that he had to learn the fundamentals and the rules in order to properly break them. Much in the same way, paraphrasing forces writers to dissect another author’s work word for word. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: Find an author or a poet whose work moves you in some way. As you paraphrase their work, dive deep and analyze it to find out why it resonates with you. Paraphrasing is an amazing creative writing exercise to help new writers discover their voice by trying on the voice of others. 

3. Write Flash Fiction

“Short fiction seems more targeted — hand grenades of ideas if you will. When they work, they hit, they explode, and you never forget them. Long fiction feels more like an atmosphere: it’s a lot smokier and less defined.” — Paolo Bacigalupi

You’ll often hear veteran writers say that if you can’t tell a short story in 500 words, increasing your word count won’t solve your storytelling issues. Settle down at your keyboard and write flash fiction; a story that is 500 words or fewer. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: Before answering what makes flash fiction such a great writing exercise, it’s critical to note the difference between flash fiction and free writing. Freewriting uses stream of consciousness without any set parameters, whereas flash fiction demands the story has a structure in the most distilled form. Writing flash fiction is best for creative writers looking to improve their plots, story arcs, and other structural elements. 

4. Use Writing Prompts

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” — W. Somerset Maugham

Using creative writing prompts is a smart writing exercise because it forces you to work within a set of limitations. For example, you could start by writing your story in reverse. Perhaps beginning with the conclusion will stimulate ideas you would have never had otherwise. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: You’ll often hear a writer explain the trigger that launched them into their magnum opus. For example, Jose Saramago’s magic realism novel Blindness is based on the idea of the whole world going inexplicably blind — except for one woman. As you could imagine, it led his mind into a place of extreme circumstances, which posed his and the reader's questions about ethics and morality. Another fun prompt to get the creative juices flowing would be to start your story off with a line of dialogue that left an enormous impact on you. 

5. Amalgamate People You’ve Known Into Characters

“When writing a novel, a writer should create living people; people, not characters. A character is a caricature.” — Ernest Hemingway

Creating dynamic characters in your fiction can be challenging. However, amalgamating people you’ve known into characters — or combining their distinct characteristics can help you achieve this. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: You’ll often hear actors and actresses — especially method actors — talk about how they picked and pulled from a variety of individuals to complete the character they portrayed in the movie. Christian Bale, for example, used Tom Cruise as his inspiration for Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. And we can obviously tell Captain Jack Sparrow is basically Keith Richards as a pirate. The same concept can be used in fiction writing. If drawing inspiration from one person isn’t quite giving you the dynamic character development you’re going for, consider mixing and matching elements of multiple people you know until the character takes shape. 

Best Writing Exercises For Poets

6. Goodreads Concept and Word Bank

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest of hearts.” — Patrick Rothfuss

The next time you feel you are out of words and ideas, think about your favorite authors or the work that’s had the greatest impact on you. Personally, I find myself going back time and time again to the surrealist poets Pablo Neruda, Federico Lorca, and Octavio Paz. No matter who or what resonates with you, the critical part is understanding why it does. Perhaps it’s the language itself? In that case, create a word bank of your favorite words they use. One of the best ways of doing this is going to Goodreads and looking up the author's quotes and excerpts there. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: You might find yourself short on ideas or concepts. Sometimes you’ll uncover that a line moves you because of the idea, but the execution is sub-par. In this case, try deviating as far from the original concept in both idea and execution. 

7. Turn Prose Into Poetry and Poetry Into Prose

“Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It’s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public. That’s what the poet does.” — Allen Ginsberg

Both poetry and prose have distinct advantages over each other. Whether you enjoy writing poetry or you’re more of a prose writer, this creative writing exercise will help you take the best of both and infuse them into your style. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: If you’re also an athlete, you are probably familiar with the term “cross-training” — if not, the idea behind cross-training is to use the movements and concepts of playing one sport or performing one exercise to improve your abilities at another. For instance, Olympic Gold Medal-winning snowboarder Sean White also happens to be an X Games skateboarder, which is more of a summer sport. Likewise, 2-time NBA MVP Steve Nash grew up playing soccer throughout his life, which helped his footwork in basketball. To apply the concept of cross-training to your writing, start by writing a poem about a particular moment in your life and then, write about the same scene in prose. To take it a step further, begin sprinkling in language and certain lines from your poetry into your prose and you’ll end up writing lyrically with practice. 

8. Sketch A Scene with Words 

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” — Leonardo da Vinci

Painters go out and look for scenes to paint. They seek out their subject matter. Many writers are introverts, so they often seek out their inspiration in the pages of books. Go out to a bar or cafe with a pen and paper or sit at a park and write about everything you see, hear, and smell. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: This free-writing technique is the perfect creative exercise to allow yourself to be inspired. Avoid filtering your observations. Write what you see and write it well. 

9.  Write About Happy Times

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” — L.M. Montgomery

One of the great misperceptions about writing is that you have to be in a deeply emotional state or be mentally unbalanced to be excellent at it. The reality is that writers don’t have to stick their heads in an oven or get drunk and die in a ditch to be a master at their craft. Emotions do have power and that power does translate to the page. However, what is often taken for granted and is underrepresented in the literary world are happy times. People do love their drama, but a challenge few writers tackle head-on is turning the joyful periods of their life into compelling stories. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: Writing about happy times is a great writing exercise not only for your writing — but also for your mental health. While journaling about grief can be cathartic and have its own set of benefits, writing about happiness and joy allows you to live those moments twice and scrapbook them as literature forever. Why not immortalize your bliss? If poetry isn't a passion of yours, consider blogging about the good times. 

Best Writing Exercises For Non-fiction Writers

10. Hunt for Empty Words

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov

One of the traps a writer can fall into is wanting to prove their writing is good instead of telling the story in the truest, sharpest, most efficient manner. Adding filler words for flourish doesn’t necessarily drive the story forward. Even worse, writing that tries too hard, takes the reader out of the story and inserts the author into it. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: By removing any expletives, your nonfiction book will be smoother and much easier for the reader to digest. Many expletives complete the syntax of a sentence, but often still aren’t needed. Some common expletives are “there is,” “there are,” “there was,” “it is,” and so on. Replace your expletives with stronger verbs and other storytelling elements. Once you begin hunting for empty words, you’ll end up coming up with more creative alternatives. Oftentimes, even words like “started” could be ditched. For example, instead of saying “She started to write,” expressing it as “She wrote” can serve the same purpose in many contexts. And of course, always check for unnecessary adverbs. 

11. Replace Your Adjectives

“Most writers sow adjectives almost unconsciously into the soil of their prose to make it more lush and pretty, and the sentences become longer and longer as they fill up with stately elms and frisky kittens and hard-bitten detectives and sleepy lagoons.” — William Zinsser

Replacing your adjectives ties into the golden rule of writing: show, don’t tell. Don’t merely tell the reader how you want them to feel about the things you’re describing. Show them why. As in, instead of saying something was “hilarious,” prove it. Make the reader laugh at or about it. Instead of describing something as “terrifying,” terrify the reader. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: Take a final draft of your writing and examine your adjectives. Can any of them be replaced with a powerful description? Can you cut out redundancies? Adjectives can be overused to describe something obvious.

12. Write About A Person You’ve Known

“I write about real people in disguise. If anything, my characters are toned down - the truth is much more bizarre.” — Jackie Collins

Writing about a person you’ve known is a smart way to bring your characters to life. In the real world, the characters are already plenty nuanced. Another trap writers often fall into is thinking dichotomously about their characters. As in, they telegraph that the good guys are the good guys and the bad guys are the bad guys. Again, in the real world, it simply doesn’t work that way. Good people make mistakes, poor decisions, and do “bad” things from time to time. Bad people can still surprise and do decent things every now and then. And then some characters fall into a grey area, where they aren’t selfish as much as they are self-interested. Rich characters are complicated and if you observe with a distinguishing eye, you’ll notice plenty of them to draw from. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: The people you’ve met have their idiosyncrasies and quirks. This fun writing exercise will remind you to think of your characters as actual people with unique thoughts, ulterior motives, and the ability to surprise the reader. 

13. Eavesdrop For Dialogue

“Any place is good for eavesdropping if you know how to eavesdrop” — Tom Waits

Eavesdropping for dialogue, whether done intentionally or not, has been used as a creative writing technique by many legendary songwriters such as Don Henley and Glen Fry of The Eagles. My uncle Kevin Montgomery, a Nashville singer-songwriter based out of the UK, was the first person to introduce me to this writing exercise. Back when he lived in Los Angeles, many of his best lyrics came from sitting in cafes with a pen and paper in hand, taking note of the drama and human experience around him. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: While songwriters have used this creative writing exercise to generate some of their best lines, long-form prose authors and poets could make good use of eavesdropping for dialogue. Take a pen and paper or use your Notes app on your phone and listen with a keen ear. 

14. Change Your Point of View

“I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.” — Walt Whitman

One of the best writing exercises for novelists is to change points of view. A mistake many writers fall into the trap of from time to time is focusing so heavily on the scenery and the atmosphere of the story that the characters end up neglected. When writing a book, the end result will only be as powerful as the characters. 

Why this is such a great writing exercise: Changing your point of view develops empathy for your characters. Try writing from the perspective of your antagonist or take on the challenge of bringing a minor character to the forefront of the story in place of the main character. You can switch POV as a creative writing exercise in your own books or re-writing chapters from your favorite reads. 

People Also Ask These Questions About Creative Writing Exercises

Q: What are the best writing exercises for fiction writers?  

The best writing exercises for fiction writers help them stretch their imaginations and make their fictionalized settings and characters feel more true-to-life relative to the world they inhabit. 

Q: What are the best writing exercises for nonfiction writers?   

The best writing exercises for nonfiction writers are practice tools that help them remain creative and avoid writing anything bland and generic. 

Q: What are the best writing exercises for poets?   

The best writing exercises for poets challenge them to find new phrases and new structures, and just to continually think outside of the box. 

Q: What are good writing exercises for beginners?

Good writing exercises for beginners give them a starting point to get used to putting words down on the page. The most important thing for new writers is to simply get started and develop good writing habits. 

Q: What are good writing exercises for kids?   

Good writing exercises for kids are any practices that help them gain confidence and encourage them to write. The first step is getting kids to fall in love with the writing process and to enjoy practicing writing. Over time, they will develop a writing style, but focus entirely on developing a passion for it. 

Q: What are good writing exercises for adults?  

Good writing exercises for adults help them develop technical precision and become a better writers. 

Q: What are the benefits of writing exercises?  

Some of the benefits of writing exercises include breaking through writer’s block, eliminating bad writing habits, improving your writing skills, and getting you to start writing.