I do have some good links that I’ve been collecting for you all week. But my heart is so, so heavy today and I am distracted as I read the news about my beloved city, Paris. It is so hard to know how to react or what to say in the face of such a horrible monstrosity. About the best I can do is mimic what a woman from my church said: we must acknowledge what happened, and pray for the victims, their families, and to bring light to the minds that breed such hatred. Arrggh. Everything sounds so lame in reaction.
Okay. Deep breath. First, here are a couple of Paris-related posts:
Paris, My Darling from Janice Macleod.
A lovely post from some of my favorite knitters.
Paris Breakfasts. (That’s the name of her blog–but it covers way more than breakfasts.)
And now, back to our usual topic, writing.
If you only read one link this week, read this one, about romanticizing rejection.
Can you promote your book without making yourself crazy? Hope so. Here’s some tips to help.
Another post on writing fast, a current fav topic of mine.
I’ve got two great links from Austin Kleon this week. This one, on what the real problem is with writer’s block. And this one, an interview I enjoyed.
How about a nifty infographic on arranging your home office? Here you go.
And why not try breaking in at the top with your magazine articles?
Finally, here’s advice for fitting in backstory without using flashbacks.
Okay, that’s it. That’s all I’ve got today. Carry on, and love one another, okay?.
J.D.
Yes, it is so difficult to understand why anyone commits acts like those in Paris. Those events, which have put me on such an edge, are not the only reason I find it difficult to concentrate. I’m sure, like me, you have other things pressing on your mind. A means to deal with that struck me this morning: Stop being yourself! Don’t be the one who is disappointed in yourself or someone else. Be a world citizen, but conserve the hours when it consumes you. Instead, be the narrator! Don’t be the put upon writer, burdened with life. Be the narrator. Sit down at the keyboard and, in the best whispering voice of the narrator, tell the story of your protagonist.
J.D.
I am a Democrat, and one of the few who will admit to being so in today’s world. Even from my liberal stance, I do not understand how Muslims seemingly set idly by while heinous acts like those in Paris are committed in the name of their religion. If members of my Episcopal church committed mass murder, I wouldn’t sit closed mouth. It wouldn’t even be a matter of words; I would be holding them accountable. I know I am speaking out of frustration, but if mainstream. Muslims are the gentle people they proclaim to be, it is time for them to clean their house. No more looking the other way and no excuses.
Charlotte Rains dixon
Love your comments about becoming a world citizen, J.D. I always remember one of Julia Cameron’s quotes which was to “put the drama on the page.” She was a woman who endured a VERY public betrayal as her husband, Martin Scorcese, cavorted about Europe with Isabella Rossellini (I don’t think I spelled any of their names correctly) while she was back in L.A. And yet she wrote every day, putting the drama on the page. I’ve always been inspired by that. And you and I both so recently spent time in Paris, which brings it home all the more.