Here is a wonderful list of "rules" for writing fiction--or non-fiction, for that matter. It was sent to me by a writer in my regional SCBWI group, Jane Heitman Healy, and is well worth a read. I was LOL at some as I have been known to use my arm or hand if needed in a given moment of inspiration with no paper handy!
Here is the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one
You may also check out Jane's blog at:
http://www.readlearnandbehappy.blogspot.com/
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Inner Demons
For years, I thought I was an insensitive freak, not caring for anyone or anything. I'd get these flashes--some horrible trouble or catastrophe for myself or someone I love. I'd look hard within myself, wondering how I could be such a cold-blooded monster to even be thinking something like that. Now, I've started wondering...am I battling inner demons or, as I choose to see it, is it my writer's imagination or intuition giving me ideas from which to form stories to tell the world? Perhaps, I've missed my calling and should be pursuing the mystery/suspense genre rather than writing for children! Or, most likely, I've lots of stories across many genres perculating around my brain just begging to be told. I look forward to the process of seeing where these flashes take me.
As Sarah Gilbert says in Walking on Alligators,
"You've got to be smart enough to write, and stupid enough not to think about all the things that might go wrong."
If any of you out there have ever experienced the same, I'd love to hear how you've channeled those flashes into something productive.
As Sarah Gilbert says in Walking on Alligators,
"You've got to be smart enough to write, and stupid enough not to think about all the things that might go wrong."
If any of you out there have ever experienced the same, I'd love to hear how you've channeled those flashes into something productive.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Today
I read something beautiful today. It was in Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers but could apply to many areas of life.
"In today already walks tomorrow." Samuel Taylor Coleridge
What an amazing concept. In the chaos of life and all the daily chores and activities, it is easy to lose sight of what is important and the process by which everything happens. Focus on today and thereby "let tomorrow into your life." In your writing, open your eyes and heart to what you are creating today as it will "shape tomorrow." I know I have to sort through the to-do piles, turn off the inner thoughts that hound me about what is yet to be accomplished and just focus on today and what I am writing now as "in today already walks tomorrow." What a motivation to write and create today!
"In today already walks tomorrow." Samuel Taylor Coleridge
What an amazing concept. In the chaos of life and all the daily chores and activities, it is easy to lose sight of what is important and the process by which everything happens. Focus on today and thereby "let tomorrow into your life." In your writing, open your eyes and heart to what you are creating today as it will "shape tomorrow." I know I have to sort through the to-do piles, turn off the inner thoughts that hound me about what is yet to be accomplished and just focus on today and what I am writing now as "in today already walks tomorrow." What a motivation to write and create today!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Just Write
Continuing on with my post from last week and my attempt to just write before addressing any other items to do, the next hurdle becomes how to "just write."
Do you write and write and write and then go back to edit later as is the common belief in what one should do? Or, do you get easily caught up in the process of fixing as you go?
I continue to find inspiration in the daily meditations found in Walking on Alligators to which I refer very frequently. Here is what I read today..."To fret about what you are writing is not writing. It is editing, and editing can come later...For now, just write."
I try to write my first draft longhand on a yellow legal pad and just free write. It makes it easier to not go back and get caught up in the scrutinizing of each word as I go. It does seem to be helping me to "just write." How about you? Please share if you are so inclined.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Do you write and write and write and then go back to edit later as is the common belief in what one should do? Or, do you get easily caught up in the process of fixing as you go?
I continue to find inspiration in the daily meditations found in Walking on Alligators to which I refer very frequently. Here is what I read today..."To fret about what you are writing is not writing. It is editing, and editing can come later...For now, just write."
I try to write my first draft longhand on a yellow legal pad and just free write. It makes it easier to not go back and get caught up in the scrutinizing of each word as I go. It does seem to be helping me to "just write." How about you? Please share if you are so inclined.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
What Is Writing?
"Writing can feel like writing and still not be writing."
I read this today in Walking on Alligators. I, very often, feel I am spending all this time on my writing when, in essence, I am spending so much time on all the writing related activities and very little on actual writing. Market research, blog writing and reading, email communication, etc., is all well and good (and necessary in its place), but I have nothing to submit to my researched markets and no platform to foster on my blog if I've not spent any time devoted solely to the physical writing process. This is an ongoing issue for me as I seem to tackle the easy to check off items on my list of things to do before I address the more lengthy ones. I'm thinking perhaps I need to just write each morning before I even look at my list. I'll be one step ahead of the game before I even get to work! If you have any words of wisdom to share on what works for you, I'd love to listen.
I read this today in Walking on Alligators. I, very often, feel I am spending all this time on my writing when, in essence, I am spending so much time on all the writing related activities and very little on actual writing. Market research, blog writing and reading, email communication, etc., is all well and good (and necessary in its place), but I have nothing to submit to my researched markets and no platform to foster on my blog if I've not spent any time devoted solely to the physical writing process. This is an ongoing issue for me as I seem to tackle the easy to check off items on my list of things to do before I address the more lengthy ones. I'm thinking perhaps I need to just write each morning before I even look at my list. I'll be one step ahead of the game before I even get to work! If you have any words of wisdom to share on what works for you, I'd love to listen.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Optimistic Denial
As I was catching up on my reading this morning of some of the blogs I follow, I had a major aha moment. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...if you don't follow Kristi Holl's blog, Writers First Aid, you should. Kristi is very adept at blogging and providing good, solid advice and information. Here is what I read this morning:
“There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.” ~~Yvon Chouinard, climber
Kristi talked about optimism being realistic or a cover for denying a problem. I had never considered optimism in this light before and knew immediately that I have a lot of soul searching to do in terms of my own optimistic denial.
Thank you, Kristi, for opening my eyes yet again!
You can read more of Kristi's post as well as all of her others at: http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog
“There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.” ~~Yvon Chouinard, climber
Kristi talked about optimism being realistic or a cover for denying a problem. I had never considered optimism in this light before and knew immediately that I have a lot of soul searching to do in terms of my own optimistic denial.
Thank you, Kristi, for opening my eyes yet again!
You can read more of Kristi's post as well as all of her others at: http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Goal Setting
First and foremost, let me say Happy New Year! I am a bit slow this year in the goal setting realm which was reiterated quite clearly to me today as I was exploring the KidMagWriters.com website. Here is what jumped out at me...
Get Going with Goals
By Jan Fields
January is a great time to look over what you accomplished in 2009 and work out ways to go a bit further in 2010. Did you get as much done in 2009 as you'd hoped? Probably not since most of us have higher hopes than we have time. But sometimes the problem occurs when you set your goals based on the actions of someone else other than yourself. We can hope or wish for things that involve other people, but goals need to be completely under our control.
Jan offers wonderful words of wisdom in her article. I encourage you all to go take a look at http://www.kidmagwriters.com/workday/office.htm for great steps to goal setting, especially if you are a bit delayed as I am this year! I hope you find Jan's article as helpful as I did today.
Get Going with Goals
By Jan Fields
January is a great time to look over what you accomplished in 2009 and work out ways to go a bit further in 2010. Did you get as much done in 2009 as you'd hoped? Probably not since most of us have higher hopes than we have time. But sometimes the problem occurs when you set your goals based on the actions of someone else other than yourself. We can hope or wish for things that involve other people, but goals need to be completely under our control.
Jan offers wonderful words of wisdom in her article. I encourage you all to go take a look at http://www.kidmagwriters.com/workday/office.htm for great steps to goal setting, especially if you are a bit delayed as I am this year! I hope you find Jan's article as helpful as I did today.
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