March 2012
27 posts
6 tags
5 Movies a Writer Should Watch
I love movies. Good movies, garbage movies, artsy movies, stupid movies. Movies give my word-spitting mind a break and give me visuals, music, people. They move me along by inspiring me, by putting into motion things that are sometimes stagnant images in my head.
So. Here are five movies that are good for writers. And everybody else too.
1. The Royal Tenenbaums - There is something magical and...
2 tags
Writing Tip #13
Introduce yourself as a writer. Frequently.
For a long time, I wasn’t published. To me, this was practically being tossed down the stairs in the wrong direction. It was a terrible feeling for a person who wanted to be a writer as soon as they recognized their words on paper didn’t look too bad. I was routinely put into situations where people would shake my hand, bright smile on their...
February 2012
28 posts
Co-creator of the Berenstain Bears dies. Very sad.... →
5 tags
5 Things About...Pink Smog →
4 tags
Writing Tip #12
Read about writing. This includes grammar and other boring stuff.
Recently, I paid for the Writer’s Workshop subscription on Litreactor.com. By doing this, I gained access to about 36 essays written by Chuck Palahniuk. I’ve been working my way through them over the last 24 hours, and it’s been an incredible experience.
Now, I’ve read a lot about writing over the years....
6 tags
5 of My Favorite Books
For something different on the weekend.
1. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
2. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
4. The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
5. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
All books that have ultimately shaped me as a writer. All books I pick up again now and then because they are that good.
3 tags
Writing Tip #11
Be kind to others’ children.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been involved in several fiction and writing groups in the Pittsburgh area. It’s a good time, getting that chance to open up and share with others, give and receive feedback.
I encourage all writers to find a group of people who they feel will help their work get better. It may take time; I feel like I’ve...
The Power of BOOKS!
litreactor:
iheartclassics:
I bet the guy in the middle of the top row is reading an HP Lovecraft story.
4 tags
5 Things About...Mockingjay →
2 tags
Writing Tip #10
Turn that frown upside down. Always be grateful for what you have.
Recently, I applied for a freelance columnist position on a website I think is quite super keen. Quite super keen indeed with sprinkles. It was the first time I applied for a “real” writing position that required actual clips of my work and a cover letter and a resume. And there were quite a few moments as I was...
3 tips for writers dealing with rejection →
amandaonwriting:
Three tips for coping with rejection:
Laugh at your rejections.
Learn from your rejections.
Always have a new project underway, something that will give you hope no matter how many rejections come your way for the previous project.
You may take some consolation in knowing the rejection history of these writers and works:
Dune by Frank Herbert – 13 rejections
Harry Potter...
2 tags
Writing Tip #9
Life is short. Read a lot, and read the stuff that you want to read.
There are many people who believe that there are certain pieces of literature that everyone should read. War and Peace. Moby Dick. Wuthering Heights. This is not a post saying you should not read those things. This is a post saying that if you like Russian aristocracy, whaling and doomed romances, then read those things.
For...
3 tags
On Fanfiction
So I happened upon this link during my daily perusal on my dashboard. It’s an article on Time Entertainment’s site about fanfiction. When I found the post, it had some rather nasty tags about how this paints the fanfiction-writing community in a bad, freakish way, but I’m inclined to disagree.
I’m actually pretty happy to see such detailed attention given to this niche...
2 tags
Writing Tip #8
Write something that scares you.
Now, I’m not just talking about, “Write your own Stephen King story” or “Write a story about being covered in scorpions.” Not that you can’t do those things. Have at.
However, I encourage everyone to write at least one piece of fiction in their lives that really scares the piss out of you. You don’t have to show it to...
3 tags
The View →
hornsbooksandgingers asked: Guilty English major confession: I didn't like the Great Gatsby, either. I though the title was supposed to be ironic. Apparently it isn't. Whoops.
4 tags
5 Things About...Catching Fire →
1 tag
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Writing Tip #7
Time management.
You hear about it in school, you hear about in your day job, you hear about it on Oprah. “Balls to time management!” you might say. “Balls I say! I know what I need to get done in a given day! I will write as the muse carries me! BALLS.”
I used to work that way. Or, worse, I went through a phase of saying, “I’m going to get up at 5am! Real...
3 tags
A recent short story of mine has been published.... →