We’ve all done it. We’ve all sat down to work on a project for a designated amount of time with no distractions, only to have something snag our attention after ten minutes. I know that I’ve done this more times than I’d care to admit. However, there is a way to show your distractions who’s the productivity boss, and it all starts with where you choose to write. First, find a home...

Popcorn that drips butter. The satisfying rip of a ticket. Leather seats that recline—all the way back. For a moment, the screen is black. Then the movie starts, and your main character takes to the screen. It’s every writer’s dream. And although it’s a bigger process than we imagine, it’s educational and entertaining to play with the idea of seeing your story play out on the silver screen. So, here...

In March of my freshman year, a realization crept upon me with a dread similar to a plague of due dates: I had not written, really, in four months. I vowed to myself that when I started college, I wouldn’t lose writing. In high school, I was known as the girl who cranked out novels. I’d type a few sentences on my iPhone 4 during passing period; I’d hide in...