What is creativity? What's a writer's voice? Can writers be taught to write or is it a gift that only a few possess? Today, we'll talk about the nature of creativity, and about self-discipline. You'll learn about your writer's voice and hear from other writers. And then you'll begin to express your creativity.

Tenacity is the focus of this lesson and you'll be a whiz at focusing your writing voice once you've worked through this information. You'll also learn why creativity is recess for the brain. But even though it's the ultimate fun experience, to produce writing, it needs to be managed play. Are you ready to play with words? Jump right in. I'm here to help you!

Some people—those who aren't writers—believe that creative writing refers only to fiction. I write both fiction and nonfiction, and using my creative muscles for each keeps me agile and strong as a writer. As those of us who cross this line know, both types of writing take skill, tenacity, and powerful imaginations. Today, we're going to go over some of the genres in both fields. The objective of this lesson is to familiarize you with the many creative writing opportunities that are available.

You've just purchased the latest market guide, filled with guidelines for submittals to publishers and magazine editors. The book is awesome. Now looking at it, you understand how a child feels who has eaten too much cotton candy and hopped on a merry-go-round. Market guides can be overwhelming and exciting. There's so much potential. Where to start? How do you find the right magazine or publisher for a project? How can you know when it is the right one? These are just a few of the questions that you may ask. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to navigate through it. But there's more. Today, you'll learn one of the most powerful brainstorming and writing tool around. I call it the bubble method and it's fun, fast, and effective.

For most writers, the idea of using correct grammar and punctuation is a necessary evil. Today, you'll get a clear concept of the grammar and production requirements for creating marketable writing. And since self-editing is an essential ingredient to produce good writing, we're going to focus on that, too. Most writers have a difficult time editing their work, but once you finish reading this lesson, you'll be well on your way to putting polish on your words.

Sorry to break the news to you: Even professional writers haven't found out how to squeeze 26 hours into every day. But there are ways to manage the ordinary 24 that could help you. That's what we'll explore in this lesson on time management for creative writers. By the end, you'll know how to use nonwriting time to create ideas, and use the time that's available to write.

Now is the time to ask yourself: Do I like my writing? Is it more than okay? No one is listening to us so let's forget about false modesty. If writers are honest, they'll usually say they like their own writing. Some of us, and I'm in this category, adore most of what we write—including the secret scratchings in our journals. It's healthy to say we like our work. This doesn't mean that we can't strive to improve it—that's what drafts are all about. It means that at a certain point in time, like this second, the writing is as good as it can get—for now. Tomorrow we'll find ways to improve it. In this lesson, we're going to delve into ways to evaluate our own work. Plus, you'll learn everything you need to know about having a successful experience at your first (or next) writer's conference.

Dream smashers. They're in all of our lives. These are the people who pride in saying, "You've got to be mature. You could never do this or that." Today, we'll look at how to overcome the power of doubters. You'll learn how to treat yourself like a professional writer, even if you're still an emerging one. You'll discover why it's smart to buy the books and magazines you need, take writing classes, and attend workshops. Writing is all about you, and you have the power to succeed!