Before I ever made money writing, I made money juggling. When I started writing, I realized many of the lessons learned from street performing applied to writing. The first time I juggled for money, I was given permission to juggle in the plaza in front of Dallas’ West End Marketplace. I went to Dallas by […]
Archives for 2009
Free Library of Philadelphia Stays Open
I recently posted about the Free Library of Philadelphia having to close many branches and end most of its programs. Good news! The Free Library of Philadelphia received a flood of support. Here’s a thank you from library president and director, Siobhan Reardon. There has been a lot of talk about electronic media taking over […]
Every Day Mantra
I used to have this saying written on the white board in my office: Every day I don’t write is another day I have to go to work. I wrote it one morning when I really didn’t want to go in to the day job. If I sat down to read Boingboing or watch Wine […]
The Power of Nothing
I’ve been accused of being a slacker. That’s okay, though, because I take it as a compliment. Sometimes the best days are days when we do nothing…at least that’s what we tell ourselves. We also tell ourselves (it seems more times than not) that if we’re not rushing around doing something, then we must be […]
10 Rules for Starting a Writing Group
“The first rule of Write Club is you do not talk about Write Club.” A handful of years ago, two friends and I started a writing group. We called it Write Club. We only had one rule for the group when starting: “No more than five members.” For years, it’s remained just the three of […]
The Book Pile: Border Songs
I loved Jim Lynch’s, The Highest Tide. Since the publication of the book, I’ve kept my eye open for Lynch’s next book. Apparently, my eyes have been closed this summer, because his latest book, Border Songs, has been out for a few months. Some reviewers have said that it’s the same plot as The Highest […]
Austin or Bust
For the past couple years, I’ve wanted to attend an annual writers conference in Austin, Texas. Each year, there was always a reason not to attend (work schedules, finances, not having my third novel completed). I gave myself excuses not to attend. This year, instead of excuses, I’ve given myself a deadline. I just registered […]
Jugglebot
The juggling geek in me likes this. They need another robot and more balls. But just like writing a novel, you have to start somewhere…
10 Ways to Write Everyday
One of the most common bits of writing advice is to write every day! But with a day job, family, and trying to find a moment to relax that’s easier said than done, right? Wrong! 10 Ways to Write Everyday 1. Write Early. Writing should become an automatic reflex. When you wake up, you should […]
The Secret
“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.” – W. Somerset Maugham I know what they are: Put your ass in a chair. Write. Repeat often!
Closing Libraries in the City of Brotherly Love
The first library I remember was the library inside Washington Elementary School in Mundelein, Illinois. Each week, I looked forward to walking down the hall and to the library, where I could check out anything I wanted. Some of my favorites: A series about different animals. It was fiction about wild animals (I can’t remember […]
Biology 101 to Writing 101 (Or: Who is this Christopher Guy, Anyway?)
I never thought I’d be a writer. I always thought I’d be a biologist. While I always loved reading and making up stories, I thought my adult years would find me studying bears or wolves as a wildlife biologist. I remember the moment I decided that’s what I’d be: my father and I were watching […]
Book Advances — How Much Money Do Writers Make?
A $100,000 book advance sounds nice, doesn’t it? That sounds like enough money to quit your day job, spend a few hours writing each day, and then using the remainder of your time talking about creative things — with creative friends — over coffee or tea the rest of the day. Right? Wrong… I recently […]