One of my favorite things about directing theatre is watching someone become someone else.
Actors step onto a stage carrying their own worries, their own responsibilities, and their own stories. Then, for two hours, they become another person entirely.
Writers do the same thing.
Every time I sit down at my keyboard, I spend a little while living inside someone else’s life.
It’s funny how pretending can provide so much comfort.
The best stories help us relax… imagine… and forget the stress of our day to day lives; and still, they help us understand it.
Have you ever looked at your calendar and wondered where all the hours went?
That’s been me this week… a lot of weeks.
Somehow I convinced myself I could fit real estate appointments, coaching sessions, theatre rehearsals, family time, writing, laundry, grocery shopping, and sleep into the same twenty-four hours.
Spoiler alert…
I couldn’t. I’ve actually tried several times over the last 6-7 years and I’ve never been successful… not more than a day or two in a row.
I’m slowly learning that writing doesn’t always need an entire free afternoon. Sometimes it only needs twenty quiet minutes before the phone starts ringing again. Sometimes it only needs a small burst of inspiration while standing in line at the store.
Those small moments add up.
Maybe novels aren’t written in giant bursts of inspiration after all.
I sat down this week determined to finish a chapter I’d been wrestling with.
Instead, I rewrote the same three pages… over and over.
At one point I seriously considered deleting the whole thing and pretending it had never existed.
I’ve learned something about writing over the years.
The chapters that fight back usually matter the most.
They’re asking me to dig a little deeper. To understand my characters a little better. To stop rushing toward the finish line and listen to what the story is trying to become.
It’s frustrating.
It’s exhausting.
But maybe that’s how good stories are made—not by writing quickly, but by refusing to give up on the difficult parts.
This last week reminded me that stories don’t always happen behind a keyboard.
I spent most of my days showing houses, answering phone calls, directing rehearsals, and checking things off an ever-growing to-do list. By the time I finally sat down in front of my computer, I was convinced I hadn’t done anything remotely creative all week.
Then I started thinking about the conversations I’d had.
A young couple nervously buying their first home. An actor finally finding confidence in a difficult scene. An agent celebrating a closing she’d worked months to earn.
Every one of those moments was a story.
Sometimes I think writers put too much pressure on themselves to create something extraordinary when all we really need to do is pay attention. Life is constantly handing us pieces of humanity—we just have to notice them.
I wear a lot of hats… mom, wife, daughter, sister, author, Realtor, coach, team leader, actress, director, producer, business owner, etc. I get asked all the time, how I balance everything.
The honest answer? Some weeks I don’t. Sometimes I’m walking a very fine line, one second away from falling off the ledge.
One minute I’m negotiating contracts. The next I’m coaching agents. Then I’m directing actors through rehearsals. And somewhere in between all of that… I’m trying to remember what my fictional characters were doing before I had to answer seventeen phone calls.
It’s a strange life.
Sometimes I wonder if writing would be easier if it were my only job.
Then I remember that every one of these roles gives me something… makes me who I am… and pushes me to be the best version of myself.
Real estate, through my clients, my team members, and my coaching students teaches me the importance of setting and striving to reach my goals.
Theatre teaches me about chasing my dreams and never giving up.
Coaching teaches me about people, human nature, and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
Maybe balance isn’t about doing less. Maybe it’s about remembering that every part of my life has a purpose and that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help.
I don’t get a lot of time to write but today was supposed to be simple. Not thing on my calendar, except writing, until later in the day.
Except life had other plans. A client called about a contract. Another needed to see a house. Someone had a question about coaching. Dinner theatre preparation started early.
By the time I finally sat down, at the end of the day, my brain felt like it had already lived three separate days.
For a moment I felt guilty. I promised myself and my readers that I would publish two novels this year and its already the end of August and I haven’t even published the first one.
The book didn’t grow today. It was supposed to, but it didn’t.
Then I realized… maybe it did.
Every conversation I had today taught me something about people. About hope. About stress. About disappointment. About joy.
Those are the things stories are made of, right?
Maybe writing isn’t always typing words. Sometimes it’s simply paying attention to the world around me.
Tomorrow, I’ll open the manuscript again.And maybe today’s life will help tomorrow’s chapter become something better.
Not quieter in the way people usually mean when they talk about becoming empty nesters. It wasn’t just the lack of noise. It was the lack of purpose.
For years, my calendar revolved around school schedules, kids’ events, helping with homework, shopping for what my kids needed, packing lunches, and figuring out what everyone wanted for dinner. Somewhere along the way, being “Mom” became such a big part of who I was that I forgot there would one day be fewer people needing me every hour of every day.
Now the house is still.
Too still, sometimes.
I keep walking past their bedrooms that are clean, because I cleaned them after they left so they would have a clean room to come home too on breaks. I catch myself wondering if I should text my kids just to say hello, then stop because I don’t want to interrupt whatever they’re doing at college.
I’m proud of them.
I’m excited for them.
And if I’m being honest… I miss them more than I words can express.
People keep telling me this means I’ll have more time to travel, to explore new hobbies, to read, and to write.
Maybe they’re right.
But writing has always come from my heart, and right now, my heart is broken. It’s learning how to live in a different season of life.
Maybe that’s okay.
Maybe every new chapter—whether in life or in a novel—feels a little uncomfortable at first.
Every writer faces it sooner or later: writer’s block. One day the words flow effortlessly, and the next, the blank page feels impossible to conquer. Whether you’re drafting your first novel, working on your tenth manuscript, or simply trying to finish a blog post, creative roadblocks are a normal part of the writing journey.
The good news? Writer’s block doesn’t have to stop you for long.
Here are 25 practical tips to help you break through the mental fog, rediscover your creativity, and get the words flowing again.
1. Stop Waiting for Perfection
Perfectionism is one of the biggest causes of writer’s block. Give yourself permission to write badly. You can always edit later.
2. Write Something Different
If your novel feels stuck, try journaling, poetry, flash fiction, or even a social media post. Sometimes creativity just needs a change of scenery.
3. Set a Tiny Goal
Instead of aiming for 2,000 words, aim for 100. Small victories build momentum.
4. Take a Walk
Movement clears the mind. Some of the best story ideas appear when you step away from the keyboard.
5. Read a Great Book
Reading reminds you why you fell in love with storytelling in the first place and can definitely spark creativity when you feel like the flames have all died down.
6. Change Your Environment
Try writing at a coffee shop, library, park, or different room in your house. A fresh setting can inspire fresh ideas.
7. Write the Scene You Want to Write
You don’t have to write your book in order. Skip ahead to the exciting scene that’s been living in your head.
8. Turn Off Your Inner Critic
Your first draft is not supposed to be polished. Let creativity happen before editing begins. I know it is hard, but if you can just write without stopping to correct your mistakes, you might find that the creativity continues to flow.
9. Use Writing Prompts
Prompts can jumpstart creativity when your imagination feels stuck. You can even use Google to search for writing prompts in the genre of your story, that way you stay within the same mindset.
10. Talk Through Your Story Out Loud
Sometimes speaking your ideas out loud helps untangle plot problems faster than staring at a screen.
11. Take a Break Without Guilt
Rest is productive. Your brain often solves creative problems in the background. Take a break for 5 minutes or 5 days, sometimes you just need to give yourself a timeout.
12. Listen to Music
Create a playlist that matches the mood of your story or characters. Do you write in silence or with background noise like music? Sometimes writing to a playlist curated by the mood of your story can help. And, if you like to write in silence, listening to the playlist while not writing can spark ideas and creativity between writing sessions.
13. Revisit Your “Why”
Why did you start writing this story? Reconnecting with your purpose can reignite motivation.
14. Eliminate Distractions
Put your phone away, close unnecessary tabs, and give your writing your full attention.
15. Write at a Different Time of Day
You may discover your creativity works better early in the morning or late at night.
16. Don’t Compare Yourself to Other Writers
Every writer’s journey looks different. Focus on your progress, not someone else’s highlight reel. This one is so important. Don’t compare yourself to the author who pumps out 12 books a year, or the one who always seems to have a new release just around the corner. Your journey is yours and theirs is theirs.
17. Brain Dump Your Ideas
Write down every thought, scene, or dialogue snippet without organizing it. Clarity often follows chaos.
18. Re-read Your Favorite Scene
Reading something you’ve already written well can boost confidence and help you reconnect with your voice.
19. Set a Timer
Try writing nonstop for 10 or 15 minutes. You might be surprised how much appears when you stop overthinking.
20. Remember That Inspiration Often Follows Action
Waiting to feel inspired can keep you stuck. Sometimes the act of writing creates inspiration.
21. Talk to Other Writers
Writing communities can offer encouragement, accountability, and fresh perspectives. I bet you have a local writing group in your area. Reach out to your local library or search on social media and get connected.
22. Focus on Progress, Not Word Count
Even a single paragraph is progress. Even a single sentence is progress. Celebrate those small wins.
23. Give Your Characters New Problems
If your story feels flat, raise the stakes. Conflict creates momentum.
24. Accept That Writer’s Block Happens to Everyone
Even bestselling authors struggle sometimes. Writer’s block is not failure — it’s part of the process.
25. Keep Showing Up
The most important thing a writer can do is continue. One sentence at a time still moves the story forward.
Writer’s block can feel frustrating, discouraging, and even overwhelming. But it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your talent or creativity. More often than not, it simply means your mind needs a reset, a new perspective, or permission to write imperfectly.
Some days writing will flow naturally. Other days it will take discipline and patience. Both are part of being a writer.
Keep going. Your story is still worth telling.
You can break through writer’s block… You just have to find the right strategy for you! Comment below and share what works for you.
Dystopian fiction has always mirrored society—but lately, it feels uncomfortably close to home. Readers aren’t drawn to dystopian worlds because they’re bleak. They’re drawn to them because they ask hard questions.
How it explores the theme: Power is hierarchical and political: the White Council, vampire courts, fae queens. Control is maintained through rules, fear, and tradition.
Why it matters: Magic doesn’t equal freedom — power always comes with oversight and consequences.
How it explores the theme: Society is governed by a council of vampires and shapeshifters. Yet the world, and their power, begin to crumble around them.
Why it matters: In a world where control is everything, a pebble in the pond can change the world!
November 26th marks a big milestone for me — my 50th birthday. I’ll admit, that number has been sitting with me in a strange way. There’s something about it that feels both heavy and profound. But instead of focusing on the number, I want to celebrate the journey that brought me here — and the art, family, and community that have shaped me along the way.
I’ve always been an artist. As a kid, I filled sketchbooks with drawings and painted anything I could get my hands on. Creativity was my language — the way I understood and expressed the world around me. In college, I discovered the magic of theatre and film, and that love carried me all the way to California after graduation. I chased stories on stage and on camera, learning what it meant to bring characters to life.
When my husband and I moved to Alabama in 2004, the curtain didn’t fall — it simply shifted. I found a vibrant theatre community here, both on and off the stage. And when film opportunities weren’t as accessible, writing became my new creative outlet. It started as a whisper — a need to tell stories — and grew into a lifelong passion.
Since publishing my first novel in 2012, I’ve written worlds born from imagination, heart, and a deep love for storytelling. Each book has been a reflection of my creativity — as an artist, as a dreamer, as a human being trying to make sense of the world. But none of it would have been possible without my family. Their love, patience, and unwavering support have carried me through every chapter. Being a wife and a mom are my greatest accomplishments — everything else, every creative endeavor, is built on that foundation of love.
And then, of course, there’s you — my readers. Your encouragement, your messages, your shared excitement about my books… my stories mean more to me than you could ever know. You’ve helped turn my art into something living, something shared.
So, to celebrate this milestone birthday and to give back a little of the joy you’ve given me, I’m hosting a Birthday Giveaway! 🎁
✨ Enter to win a signed copy of one of my books (U.S. entries only)! ✨
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment below — tell me your favorite birthday memory, your favorite book of mine, or simply say hello.
Fill out the short entry form (linked below) so I can contact the winner.
The giveaway will be open through November 30th, and I’ll announce the winner the first week of December.
As I step into this new decade, I’m choosing gratitude — for art, for stories, for family, and for the readers who make it all worthwhile. Thank you for being part of my creative journey. Here’s to the next chapter — one filled with courage, curiosity, and a whole lot of love. 💜
With gratitude, Nina Soden Author | Dreamer | Storyteller
