Writing, at heart, is simple. All you have to do is put pen to paper, one word at a time. As Margaret Atwood says, “A word after a word after a word is power.” And yet, we make it hard. We resist that power. We make judgements about ourselves and our pages. Which, of course, […]
In the class I’m currently taking (and loving), there’s been a thread lamenting how hard it is to write fast enough for the current voracious market. Since the class is called Write Better Faster, that’s no surprise. (I highly recommend the class–it is about figuring out how your brain works so you can write and […]
Friend and fellow writer Jenni asked me an excellent question about writing rough drafts: when is the best time to share it with others? She asked if one should “dump, then do some editing, then share? Or just dump and plow on until you have a full first draft completed?” Such a good question. And, […]
(In case you don't know–what, you've lived under a rock for the last umpteen years? Kidding, just kidding–my title is a take-off of a song from The Sound of Music, the best musical of ALL TIME, and no I'm not talking about the stupid rip-off live version with Carrie Underwood in it.) This is the […]
When last I communicated with you, I told how I was taking a hiatus to finish my novel. As my grandbabies would say, done! (This must be accompanied with both arms raised in the air.) I finished the first draft on August 31st, and seeing as how my goal was to complete it by the […]
I finally did it. I cleared away appointments (except for one) and committed to participating in Milli Thornton's 10K writing day. (Regular readers will remember the guest post Milli recently wrote for me.) I've wanted to do this forever but other commitments kept getting in the way. Until yesterday. And so, I rose at […]
I was asked to review this book by the publisher. I received no money, though I did get a copy of the book. The opinions offered are mine alone. Fast Fiction by Denise Jaden When I was offered the chance to review this book, I leapt at it. I have […]
Please welcome guest poster Jessica Baverstock to the blog this morning and read her wise words on getting a lot of writing done. by Jessica Baverstock I'm sure just about all of us have witnessed the Tortured Writer Syndrome. Perhaps we've even experienced it personally. The syndrome begins with a bit of writer's block, some […]
To everything, there is a season. (Can't write that without hearing Turn! Turn! Turn! in my head. See below.) It's important not to rush. And yet, sometimes, things (like writing) happen really fast. I'm just full of fun paradoxes today. Don't Rush This post's impetus grew from an email conversation I was having with a […]
This morning, thanks to Karen Woodward, I was introduced to a series on ghostwriting a novel in 10 days by Dean Wesley Smith. Yes, I said 10 days. As in, writing a full, complete novel in 10 days. Dean Wesley Smith is ghosting a novel contracted by a major publisher for an author who is […]
