Writing and Life
Anybody interested in a forum for the writers and bloggers hanging out here?
I’ve always given some thought to setting up a forum for writers and bloggers to share their questions, answers, and tales of woe and whoopie. Problem is, there are millions (yeah, maybe really millions) of forums on the Internet for blogging and/or writing. What could I offer that isn’t already done frequently and done better [...]
Back to the basics again: Get organized, schedule your time and writing wisely
In a recent post, we discussed the importance of organization and scheduling your writing efforts. I came up with a revolutionary way that works for me. It’s called a pocket organizer or calendar. Yes, truly “revolutionary” because it’s so “low-tech” in our world of computers and gadgets.
I don’t care whether you own the latest, cutting [...]
Writers’ personality issues — booze, tobacco, drugs, and creativity
There’s a nasty stereotype of writers hunched over their keyboards in a smoke-filled room, planted firmly in “The Zone,” creating tons of material in marathon writing sessions alleviated only by booze, drugs, and an occasional glass of milk.
Or something like that.
You’ve seen such imagery in movies and novels, I’m sure. It’s the “bad boy/bad girl [...]
New feature — I just added a ‘Posters & Artwork’ page for your shopping pleasure
Have you ever wanted just the right poster or framed artwork to hang above your trusty writing desk/sofa/whatever?
Now you can find just what you’re looking for right here at our blog. You can click on this link to get there, or you can simply use the “Posters & Artwork” link in the site navigation bar [...]
My apologies for overlooking one of the best ‘Useful Websites’ for writers
I just realized that I’ve mentioned “Writer’s Digest” magazine from time to time in this blog — but I’ve never, as far as I can find, featured their website as one of my “Useful Websites.”
So that’s what I’m doing today: Go right over to the Writer’s Digest website and take a good look around. They [...]
Question for you historical writers out there: What’s your favorite period of history?
When I began trying to write novels some years ago now (too many years ago now), I thought I would really like to write “Westerns.” Or, as they are often called now, “historical novels set in the West.” I’m not sure why this genre appeals to me, except that I grew up in the 1950s [...]
Learning how to schedule your time as a writer — daily deadlines
Everyone reading this who has NOT mastered the techniques of scheduling, daily “to-do” lists, time management, etc., RAISE YOUR HANDS HIGH.
Yeah, that’s my chubby little paw sticking up right there in the front row.
I’m going to assume that you naturally went to Suzanne Lieurance’s website, The Working Writer’s Coach, after she was a “guest blogger” [...]
Where do you shop most often when you buy books? How often do you buy books?
I know the question in the title of my post isn’t really that on-topic for writing and writing tips, but I know also that part of what I do at this blog is discuss general issues related to writing.
So where do you shop most often when you buy books? Is there a favorite local bookstore [...]
What’s in a nickname? Do you use a pen name or have a nickname?
This seems to be a day all about words for me. I was just sitting here looking at some papers and realized what an important role “nicknames” play in our writing.
A pseudonym can be thought of as a type of nickname — the pen name you choose or that is given to you by a [...]
Keeping up with the news — do you read favorite newspaper websites?
It’s good once in awhile to remember that now classic name tag applied to the Internet by Al Gore — I think it was Gore who popularized it anyway? — the “information super highway.” Because on most days, you can easily forget the “information” aspect of the Internet. It seems everywhere a person turns, you [...]
Tips for writing short stories — Hooks: What are they and how do you use them?
I know it sounds obvious: The “hook” is the opening sentence or paragraph of your story and it is supposed to draw your reader’s interest, get them reading and, hopefully, keep them reading.
Novel openings, or “hooks,” might be a paragraph or two long and involve setting a scene and/or setting up the background to the [...]
Okay, all you writers out there, listen up — I’m getting irritated more THAN you know
Some language battles aren’t worth fighting, but we fight them anyway, don’t we? The one I’m talking about is the ongoing misuse of “then” and “than.” I cannot tell you the number of times every day that I read about something being “more then” something else.
I’ve posted about this before, so I’ll let you get [...]
Looking for some Folly Beach real estate, or ideas for an adventure novel? Here’s the site for you
I’ve never been to South Carolina, but I have a friend who lived there several years and fell in love with the coastal areas of the state. Here’s a “Useful Website” for you if you’re looking for some Folly Beach real estate. My maps tell me Folly Beach is southward along the coast from my [...]
Where do you do your writing and how do you do it?
I’ve touched on the mechanics of where and how we write before, but I’m asking again that you share specifics from your experience that might be helpful to us all.
Do you use a computer when you write? That’s almost a laughable question anymore. Many of you may never have used anything but some type of [...]
Religious writers really need to get a copy of this book by Philip Yancey
If you are a Christian writer, whether you target the “Christian” or religious market or not, you need a copy of Philip Yancey’s 1997 book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” Heck, if you’re a writer, whether or not you consider yourself a Christian, I urge you to get a copy and read it.
As many of [...]
