The Quiet Quotient

Writers, Stop Wasting Time on Rituals (Here’s What Really Works)

Writers are athletes. Not in the traditional sense, no medals, no world records, no endorsement deals. Our sport is weirder. It involves coffee mugs, playlists, notebooks, candles, snacks, pens that cost too much, and an almost superstitious belief that these things hold the secret to getting words on the page.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

Think of Rejection Letters as Love Letters

Rejection is a writer’s first language. Before the book deal, before the glowing review, before anyone cares what you’re doing, you’re going to get told no. Over and over. And over.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/
 

Killing Darlings and Other Editing Techniques

Every writer is a murderer. We kill words. We kill pages. We kill entire chapters that once felt untouchable. And the worst part? We call them “our darlings.”
“Killing your darlings” is one of the most famous pieces of writing advice, and one of the most brutal. It means letting go of the lines you love the most, the ones that made you feel clever, poetic, maybe even brilliant. Those are the exact words most likely dragging your story down.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/
 

Why Finishing a Draft Feels Like a Breakup

Finishing a piece of writing should feel like triumph. You’ve battled through the false starts, the bad drafts, the afternoons of staring at the blinking cursor. You’d think the ending would taste like champagne. Instead, it feels like a breakup.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

The Momentum of Showing Up and Writing

I’ve learned that writing and creating content isn’t just about sharing what you already know. It’s a way of pulling more ideas out of yourself. The simple act of drafting something, whether it’s a quick note in your phone, a social post, or even the rough start of an article, forces you to slow down, notice details, and shape thoughts that might otherwise slip past. 

Why Weird Ideas Win

The best stories always start with a raised eyebrow. They sound odd, risky, maybe even ridiculous, and that’s exactly why they stick.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

Writing Is Basically Collecting Regrets

Nobody tells you this when you start writing, but most of the job is regret. You sit down with the idea that you’re about to create something brilliant, and five minutes later you’re wondering why you didn’t just take up woodworking instead. At least then you’d have a chair at the end of the day.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

The Myth Of The Writing Soundtrack

Writers love to talk about their playlists. The perfect song to unlock inspiration. The album that gets them in the zone. The band that practically wrote the book for them. I’ve tried this. I’ve made playlists with the care of a teenager making a mix for their first crush. And every time, it backfires.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

Writer's Block Is Coming Coffee Marches at Dawn (Protect Your Throne)

In the realm of writing, there are no safe kingdoms. The page is Westeros, unforgiving, divided, and full of enemies.
Writer’s block is your Night King. Silent, patient, unstoppable. One moment you’re charging forward, filling pages with dialogue and description, the next you’re frozen mid-sentence, your cursor blinking like a torch in the dark. Abandoned drafts rise again, haunting you like white walkers in your creative army of the dead.Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/

Characters: The Awful Truth

Characters are basically the same. At first, you’re convinced this new one is brilliant, your best creation yet. But give them half a chapter and they’re already pushing back. “I wouldn’t say that,” they argue. “I don’t want to go there.” “Why would I fall in love with him? He listens to Coldplay.”Connect with me:https://www.jimhansenmedia.com/