Writing
November 11, 2009
- Jack Kerouac got all jacked up on it and wrote “On The Road” in one long rambling paragraph in a three-week kick ass session. The Nazis took it when they were jumping out of planes behind enemy lines in route to their next murderous rampage. Ginsburg wrote about it. John-Paul Sartre was devoted to it. My depressed aunt has her Prozac, my worrying mom has her Valium, the ...
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November 10, 2009
- Why do we resist change? Historically, big shifts in society have often produced incredible hybrids and new models advancing technology, community, and lifestyle. When first experiencing a shift, we tend to get our thongs in a bunch, spin out of control with misguided theories and flap about with depressive bouts of unfounded angst. Yes, the current publishing model is like a hot air ...
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November 10, 2009
- It's fall. Whenever I see a black cloud rising from a field, poking fun at the setting sun, I simply say, "Beautiful."The cloud is made up of a thousand of Starling birds sharing one song, their song. Each bird was taught the song as a chick, and the song brings the flock together at the end of summer. My Starling would never be allowed to join. He wouldn't even know what they were. ...
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November 10, 2009
- Although I change my ways and means of writing to create a *thriller* for almost no reason other than the money (tough times abound), the old ways die hard (in fact, struggle with vigour).I approach 2,000 words with more trouble yet more pleasure than I anticipated.
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November 10, 2009
- Next week I'll be teaching a workshop for some teen writers (that is, teens who write, not writers writing for teens) as they participate in NaNoWriMo, sponsored by their public library (which warms my heart cockles more than I can say). Even the concept of NaNoWriMo used to set my teeth on edge, but I've softened a bit. (Just for the record, my workshop will be called "Pick a Plot: ...
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November 9, 2009
- I’ve reached the age where I know what I do well: I write well. I can structure the heck out of a novel. I can create characters who will make you weep. I’m a pretty good teacher. I enjoy public speaking. Then there are other things that teach me humility. Today, I sat in Starbucks running through my notes for a characterization workshop I’ll be teaching at the November 14th ...
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November 8, 2009
- This seems to be a slow weekend here on the Internet. I can never figure out where people disappear to or why. What could possibly be more fascinating than roaming cyberspace? I realize in some places the weather is too nice to stay inside, in other places it’s too nasty to do anything online. Many writers are involved in National Novel Writing Month. Many others are busy ...
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November 8, 2009
- Nonfiction writers looking for traditional book publishing contracts—wanting to sell their manuscripts to small, medium or large traditional publishing houses, need to find themselves literary representation. While finding an agent may not be necessary for many small publishing houses that accept unagented work, most mid-sized and large publishing houses, indeed, only accept agented book ...
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November 8, 2009
- I've been fortunate to sell most of the books I've begun, usually on proposal. Just one died in its early stages; its demise came about when my editor, talking about the plot of the novel, asked "So what?" Ouch. That was a painful moment, but an instructive one.Like the editor I quoted in my last post, I'm a lover of beautiful prose and well-rounded characters. I love creating ...
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November 7, 2009
- There will be much much more on this over the next few weeks and months, but for right now, head over to Salt's blog to win a copy of Short Circuit - the hot-off-the-press Guide to the Art of the Short Story, edited by my great friend and colleague, the wondrous and extremely hard-working Vanessa Gebbie. Short Circuit includes my essay on flash fiction and I am deeply honoured to be in the ...
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