The difference between a goal and a dream is the written word.-Gene Donohue July 31, marks the last day to change our goals for my writing critique group. When I look back at my ambitious thoughts in January it all seemed very doable. But as the year advanced and I took on more and more… Continue reading Writing Goals
Month: July 2007
Rejections
If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.Woody Allen I must be doing a lot of innovative work because this week I have seen a lot of rejections and one maybe/probably. But I persevere, because if there’s one thing I learned from the writer’s conference this… Continue reading Rejections
It’s simple
In nearly all good fiction, the basic – all but inescapable – plot form is this: A central character wants something, goes after it despite opposition, perhaps including his own doubts, and so arrives at a win, lose, or draw.John Gardner I love this quote by John Gardner, the way he sees story it’s just… Continue reading It’s simple
Fun with Words
For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I’m surprised where the journey takes me.Jack Dann I’ve always loved Mad Libs so when I found this site, it reminded me of how much fun words can be. The Funny Terror Of The Snow It snowed a foot overnight. When they woke up, Sam… Continue reading Fun with Words
Once trailer
Just a commercial interruption to say I loved this movie. Great film and soundtrack.
Getting Paid to Write
Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.Jules Renard As I’m flexing my writing muscles in other areas and trying to find my niche, I’m writing for garden and hearth. Being on this website has connected me with a lot of different writers that are doing the… Continue reading Getting Paid to Write
Writing as exercise
Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.Jane Yolen One of my favorite teachers would always say “anything worth doing is worth doing imperfectly”. Writing to me… Continue reading Writing as exercise
Success
Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.P. G. Wodehouse What heights have you climbed to realize your dreams? If I was honest with myself I would say a very small… Continue reading Success
Language
The mystery lies in the use of language to express human life.–Eudora Welty As writers we all have our own unique voice, but many writers struggle with their voice and try to write like someone else without appreciating their individuality. We could all write about the same subject but your background, education and experiences will… Continue reading Language
Story Ideas
Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.Orson Scott Card Working in a cafe gives me a lot of daily customer interaction. I find material for poems, shorts and characters daily. Sometimes I just write a… Continue reading Story Ideas