You know the old question, how do you eat an elephant? And the answer is, one bite at a time. Well, this post is sort of like that. Because we're going to talk, you and I, about how you write, which is somewhat like how you eat an elephant: you write one chunk at a […]
So, you're done with it. You've gone through the rewriting and revising stages and your novel (or memoir or short story collection or romance or mystery or article) is finished. Concluded, finalized, ended, done! And now the real fun begins. The marketing. Otherwise known as getting your work out in the world. Maybe you'll be […]
This is part four of a continuing series of the writing process. For the previous articles in the series, see the end of this post. What's there to say about rewriting? You just get in there and do it, right? So what's there to write about? Well, plenty. For starters, let me make one thing […]
Apparently I'm more of a creature of habit than I thought. Every year about this time I write a post about going back to the basics. These pithy thoughts may be disguised in several different ways, but basically what I end up writing about is the writing process. And that's what I'm going to write […]
It's hot. It's summer. The living is easy and all that. Who wants to work? Who wants to think? Who wants to write? Isn't it ever so much better to take a vacation, to relax, lie on the beach, doze, tan…languish. But there are things to be done, words to be written! Ah, to hell […]
On Sunday, I officiated at a wedding. This is a wee sideline to my writing career that developed a few years ago when friends asked me to get ordained so that I could officiate at their wedding. One thing led to another–I think they call it word of mouth–and since then I think I've done […]
…for other people to figure out what it is that we writers do? Yesterday, a member of my family (who, for the record, I absolutely adore) was talking about people working, people who are retired, and me, about whom he said, "whatever it is that you do." I just laughed because I get this so […]
I've been slogging through the "final" rewrite of my novel lately. Its a funny thing with working on a long extended piece over time, such as a novel or a memoir. You rearrange one chapter and this rearrangement uncovers other things that need attention. Thus, more work and more rewriting. As the days I've allotted […]
I took down my Christmas tree on Thursday night. I know I'm a bit late in getting this done, but I've had good reason. I developed a bit of a system this year. First, I removed the soft ornaments, home-made stuffed fabric Christmas shapes and gingerbread men, as well as furry bears from various sources. […]
The thought occurs that reminders about the basics are a good thing. I know for certain that I forget things about writing all the time and then when I remember them I feel like I've discovered the fountain of youth or the secret to cloning Brad Pitt. No, wait, I hear that Johnny Depp is […]
