Workshops

I truly believe that no matter how much you know about the craft of writing, there's still something new you can learn.

I take online courses and attend workshops fairly frequently--at least a half dozen every year, often more. I also buy the CD of workshops offered at the RWA annual conference. Listening to other authors explain their methods, even if what they do won't work for me, stirs my thinking. I've heard other writers say that writing never gets easier, no matter how long you've been doing it. I suspect that's because the author is always trying to outperform the last book, trying to make this one different, more exciting, more emotional, more something. Seems like stirring your thoughts up every once in a while would help with that.

If you're committed to being a writer--heck, even if you're not--and you don't currently take any courses or workshops, I highly recommend it. There's a wonderful supply of offerings on the internet with some very talented authors and experts as instructors (I've taken workshops from the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, the Carolina Romance Writers, and Writers U, and I've heard great things about the workshops offered by the Kiss of Death, to name a few). And the prices are usually quite reasonable. Try one.