They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If you’re looking for inspiration this week — either a story idea or a writing exercise to get the creative juices flowing — write a thousand words about either of the couples below (or 500 words about each couple). Still stuck? Consider these possibilities: What if […]
Archives for May 2010
Decisions, Decisions
Wednesday, I talked about trusted readers. One of my trusted readers told me that while he liked the writing in a chapter in the book I’m polishing right now, he felt the chapter could be cut back or even removed. Another trusted reader said it was one of her favorite chapters. What’s a writer to […]
The Trusted Reader
I’m currently getting feedback about my novel-in-progress from some trusted readers. I’ve mentioned trusted readers before. As notes have come back to me, I’ve thought about what makes a trusted reader. The best advice I’d give to somebody wanting to be a trusted reader: Tell the writer what’s wrong — not what you would do. […]
Monday Motivation: Work Hard
I’ve only read one Amy Tan book: The Bonesetter’s Daughter: A Novel (Ballantine Reader’s Circle) (Affiliate link). The novel’s protagonist is a ghost writer, and Tan uses the character to point out some of the pitfalls of being a writer when it comes to the way others sometimes view the profession: People thinking you have […]
Monday Motivation: Antique Ideas
If the idea well seems a little dry, I know a store most likely in your town (big or small) you can visit and come out full of ideas! Each time you visit, it’s different; each time you browse and leave, there’s the potential for discovering something new. The store? Your local antique shop! * […]
The Book Pile: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
I believe Haruki Murakami when he says in his book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running(affiliate link): “Most of what I know about writing I’ve learned through running everyday.” The parallels of running any kind of distance and writing are very similar. There’s a sense of monotony, a feeling of “when the […]
Avoid the Buzz
It’s Monday — that means back to work for many juggling writers who will hear things like, “We need to hit the ground running this week, attack the low hanging fruit in order to maximize productivity, and utilize our group dynamic to create a paradigm shift that positions us as forerunners in the [insert industry […]
Be Back on Monday
One of the earliest lessons I learned about writing is there are times when unexpected things happen and writing is put aside for a week or two. The past couple weeks have been one of those times for me. My wife and I were in southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, visiting ill relatives — one […]