Welcome to FREE YOUR PEN

April 9, 2014August 25, 2018 Jessica DavidsonAside

This blog is about writing and training your mind to free your pen. Explore the archives for inspiration, resources, and writing prompts, and discover more about the creative process. There are also free writing guides for you to download and share…

Discover the book: Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers and read extracts by following the links to these key posts:

Mind Training for Writers – introducing the ideas in the book
What is Lojong? – the Buddhist practice of mind training
How to Practice with the Slogans
Explore the Slogans

Discover the Book

Browse the Writing Guides

May your mind and your pen be free 🙂

Horror Movie Plot Generator

October 20, 2018 Jessica DavidsonImageLeave a comment

Get ready for Halloween with this horror movie plot generator! Choose one story element from each column and use the result as a writing exercise – just for fun… Courtesy of Wrong Hands. Post your favourites in the comments below…

Writing

Nine Challenges in a Writer’s Life

October 5, 2018October 16, 2018 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

Life as a writer can be unpredictable and complicated. In his book Living the Writer’s Life, Eric Maisel provides a framework for how to approach the various challenges you may face, using nine words starting with the letter C: Character Each writer is a human being and heir to all the challenges that human beings… Continue reading Nine Challenges in a Writer’s Life

Writer's Resources

Resources and Advice for Writers

September 15, 2018October 16, 2018 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

This is a collection of links to some of the sites I’ve found most useful in my writing over the years. You’ll find helpful articles, advice and inspiration to help you write and publish your work. I’ve also included some links to essential advice for anyone thinking of entering writing competitions, plus some competition listing… Continue reading Resources and Advice for Writers

Writer's Resources

Novel Writing Competition List

September 8, 2018October 16, 2018 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

Novel Writing Competition List for 2019. Updated 2 October 2018. These competitions are for unpublished or self-published novels and novellas for international writers, plus a few for UK residents only. It’s a long list and accurate as far as possible, updated monthly, so bookmark this page! I can’t vouch for all these comps personally, but if you… Continue reading Novel Writing Competition List

Writer's Resources

Screenwriting Competition List for Scripts & Plays

September 1, 2018October 16, 2018 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

Scriptwriting Competition List for 2019. Updated 2 October 2018. Includes International and UK competitions for screenwriters and playwrights. Details are accurate as far as possible and updated monthly – bookmark this page! I can’t vouch for all these comps personally, but if you have experience of any of them, I’d love to hear from you. Good… Continue reading Screenwriting Competition List for Scripts & Plays

Free Your Pen

Reader review: Free Your Pen is a wonderful book!

August 24, 2018October 16, 2018 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

A big thank you to Carol Hughes who got in touch to let me know how she was getting on with Free Your Pen. It’s always good to hear from readers and even better when they say your writing has helped. I’m so glad Carol has found hope and courage through practising mind training with her… Continue reading Reader review: Free Your Pen is a wonderful book!

Free Your Pen · Writing

Abandon Hope and Other Crazy Advice for Writer’s Block

September 12, 2017October 16, 2018 Jessica Davidson2 Comments

The writing of Free Your Pen was a long a convoluted journey and for a while I thought the book would never be finished. I had wanted to write it for years, but life had other ideas, as life usually does… The book is about how you can release yourself from the blocks that stop… Continue reading Abandon Hope and Other Crazy Advice for Writer’s Block