Carolyne Topdjian

“Where do your ideas come from?” If you’re a writer, this line is familiar to you. Recently, I found myself exploring some of my muddled...

Happy Spring thaw! As March comes to an end and the weather warms, I've paired together a motivational message + image that is seasonally inspired. I figure, as the rains fall and the muds gather, it's the perfect time for a writer's words to speckle, pour, and create muck on the page. Dirt is the Origin of All Stories I'm a big fan of mud—literally. I have a cupboard full of my handmade, lopsided pottery as proof. There's nothing wrong with getting dirt under one's nails. If

Happy one month anniversary of "Writovation!" I'm pumped to post my fourth motivational image (designed and curated to support the creative process). In fact, the simple message of this week's visual pick-me-up might be my favourite: live your dream as a writer. Dream & Exist in Technicolor Words In a go-go world of positivism, (where everything should be rationally and scientifically grounded), the so-called state of dreaming is underrated. Storytelling, however, is not nece

For the past three weeks I've been making and posting images intended to support the process of writing. I hope you enjoy this week's visual pick-me-up—which is all about willingly stepping into the fire. Withstand and Turn Up the Heat All writers—indeed, all creative professionals—are well acquainted with the metaphor of the dumpster fire. It's what happens when we first begin to create: we supposedly fail. More often than not, early drafts are painful to write and/or to rea

As promised, here is my latest graphic; designed for myself and others in the #WritingCommunity who like a positive reminder about the joys and pains of WRITING. How Do You Navigate Negative Pressure? Whether squeezed by external or internal forces, writers face a lot of negativity. From scathing criticisms and rejections to daily expectations for brilliant prose and word counts, we are constantly bombarded with stress. On many days, it can feel overwhelming. How can we produ

Each week, I'll cater a graphic for myself and others in the #WritingCommunity who like a positive reminder about the joys and pains of WRITING. How Do You Self-Motivate and Persevere? Writing is hard. Some days, it's downright miserable and masochistic. And yet not-writing is an even darker choice. So earlier this week, I got an itch. It's the New Year! New goals! What better way to pep myself up than to change my desktop wallpaper to something motivational? Off I went down