Her blog can be abbreviated A.R.T., and that’s what Beth Bollinger has been doing all along. The author of two published books—she’s also working on screenplays—Beth shares inspirations, observations and a few choice writing tips on the blog.

Her advice to struggling writers? “Get used to writing, all the time,” she says. Write about what you know, but also what moves you passionately. Choose a genre that fits with your writing abilities, but don’t be afraid to write outside yourself. Write in different styles and for a variety of different media—blogs, magazines, contests. Last but not least, write well—that includes grammar and syntax!

Once you have something written, consider getting an agent. Or, if that’s not for you, look into small publishing houses that accept unsolicited submissions. Then, construct a compelling query letter. You’ve written something that you think should be read. Tell potential publishers why.

Beth holds degrees in literature and law. Recently, she was one of the attorneys that sued the Catholic Church on behalf of victims of priest sex abuse. And the literature degree helped her land her first three jobs—as an English teacher in Japan, an education beat reporter in Wyoming, reporter’s notebook in hand, and a paralegal. “At least I know you can write,” her employers said.

Can she ever. Beth self-published “Until the End of the Ninth,” a book about the Spokane Indian baseball team in the 1940s, in 2006, but a second edition was published by Rooftop Publishing a year later. Now, she focuses mainly on screenwriting and has ideas for scripts ranging from a smart horror film to a mystery detective film. She gets much of her inspiration from dreams, but daily writing exercises are also important.

Her tips are aimed at those who are “project oriented” rather than 8-to-5 workers. A great daily project is writing by free association just to warm up. For longer projects, she recommends working solidly but allowing for gaps in between projects. The best time for her to work is the morning. She enjoys editing even more than writing. Occasionally, to get herself out of writing ruts, she has created daily writing exercise routines for herself. These involve things like writing about the idea she’s contemplating when she first wakes up or an email she receives early in the day. Anything to get the juices flowing—including blogging!

-Emma