Photo by Clark Young I don’t know that I answered the question why do I write. Why do I write? Do I write because I want people to “hear” what I have to say? Do I write to impress others? Do I write to impress others with my talent, gift, skill, knowledge, need, neuroses, desire? Why do I write? Why do you write, Will? Why? … Continue reading On Writing: Why Do You Write?
Deleting words I’ve written is heart-wrenching. Continue reading On Writing & Killing
Roger Bannister, the first athlete to break the four-minute mile, said this about his record-breaking run: “The world seemed to stand still, or did not exist. The only reality was the next 200 yards of track under my feet. The tape meant finality–extinction perhaps. I felt at that moment that it was my chance to do one thing supremely well. I drove on, impelled by … Continue reading On Writing, and the Four-Minute Mile
I’ve read some of Hemingway’s advice in other places, but this post pulls a lot of the best together. I was unaware of Arnold Samuelson and his connection to Papa; what a great story! Best of all, Hemingway shares his reading list for writers. Thanks to Abigayle Blood for the post. Enjoy! “As a writer you should not judge. You should understand,” Ernest Hemingway (July 21, 1899–July 2, 1961) counseled … Continue reading On Writing: Hemingway on Writing, Ambition, the Art of Revision, from Abigayle Blood at Writer’s Blog
More great writing know-how from Anna Dobritt – Author! Who Lurks There? Friend or Foe? In another article, Getting to Know You, I covered the main character, your protagonist. Today I’m covering the bad guy. He or she is your antagonist. This person is responsible for making life difficult for your main character and the supporting characters. As you did with your main character, […] via … Continue reading On Writing: Who Lurks There? Friend or Foe? By Anna Dobritt
This article by Nathan Bransford describes the difference between Commercial, or Mainstream, Fiction and Literary Fiction. There are dozens of articles devoted to the differences between the main genres of fiction, but Nathan’s unique definition makes it clear enough to understand. I think a lot of writers believe “literary” means smarter or intellectual. Maybe so. It may be tempting for some writers to use the thesaurus … Continue reading On Writing: What Makes Literary Fiction Literary? By Nathan Bransford
Excellent post! Excellent source of resource material for writers. Make sure you follow the link to Jami Gold’s website. Miss this, and miss the writing boat! Originally posted on Samantha House: For those of you who follow me on Instagram you’ll have seen that I’m editing again. This time around I’ve been using the Elements of a Scene Worksheet by Jami Gold and freaking hell has … Continue reading On Writing: Elements of a Scene, by Samantha House
Reblogged from Anna Dobritt – Author A Writer’s Perspective on Reading Yes, I am a writer. I love to write. I love making up stories about unusual pictures such as abandoned buildings, foggy forests, ravens, and writing prompts. I’m even learning to write short personal essays, which are hard for me. However, I am also a reader. If I could figure […] via A Writer’s Perspective … Continue reading On Writing: A Writer’s Perspective on Reading — by Anna Dobritt — Author
1984 came and left; people wondered at the commotion. As it turned out, 1984 was only a prophecy of the brave new world to come, an inferno that we’re entering now. We wanted a republic, but we’ve built an animal farm ruled by self-righteous pickpockets in a world where the temperature creeps ever closer to Fahrenheit 451, a degree of oppression not yet witnessed in … Continue reading 1984 Redux
Admit it, you love to edit, don’t you? I can see you now as you read through your printed manuscript, coffee cup in one hand, yummy croissant in the other, eyes whizzing left to right as you enter the world of magic you pulled from your storyteller’s mind. Raindrops catch your attention as they patter against the window and merge into a sheet of water … Continue reading On Editing
I read constantly that editing is hard. No. Editing is not hard. Writing is hard. Editing is tedious. Excruciatingly boring. Gut-wrenchingly, the-sun-is-shining-for-the-first-time-in-weeks, birds-are-singing, optimism-is-everywhere, but-I’m-stuck-behind-this-desk-in-pursuit-of-my-laudable-goal, boring. Oh, look; Gone With the Wind is on TV! Oh, oh, oh! A Gilligan’s Island rerun marathon! Continue reading Editing — A Wished-For Love
Writer’s dilemmas are a part of writing. They occur with every well-thought out novel. If you don’t find yourself boxed in somehow, then you probably have not written a plot complex enough to grab the reader and hold her attention. Plots should resemble life in its complexities. They need twists and turns, unexpected outcomes, surprises, and falls from cliffs with protagonists clinging by fingertips to … Continue reading Write Tight
Coffee in Style was kind enough to nominate me for The Blue Sky Tag! What a cool and thoughtful thing to do! Thank you Coffee in Style 🙂 The Blue Sky Tag is where the participating blogger does the following in a blog post: Thank the person who tagged you Answer their 11 questions Tag 11 people Give them 11 questions to answer Coffee in Style’s … Continue reading The Blue Sky Tag
Nearly a year ago, I began submitting my novel, Honey Ko, to agents. In all, I queried about 65 agents, 24 of whom were kind enough to respond with a gentle “decline.” One agent’s response was so kind I imagined her typing my rejection while crying and feeling dreadful, just dreadful that she couldn’t represent me. I nearly responded with a “There, there. It’s okay. It’s … Continue reading Writing, and Phantom Stories
I had just stepped off the aircraft when my roommate told me Susanna was in the hospital. The Chief told me to leave so I ran to my car and headed for Puerto as fast as I could. When I arrived, the sister on duty showed me to Susanna’s room. I stood outside the door a moment, afraid to see her hurt, but she appeared … Continue reading Writing Exercise 11, Ten Minute Write
He turned as she walked in from the kitchen. “I’m leaving Spain. I’ll be away for a year.” “I know. You told me you wouldn’t be here forever.” She rested her cheek against his shoulder and ran her fingers along his shirt buttons. “I don’t want to leave you. You’ve made this a home for us, a place I feel comfortable.” The curtains billowed on the … Continue reading Writing Exercise 10, Bringing It All Together
“I’m leaving Spain. I’ll be away for a year.” “I know. You told me you wouldn’t be here forever.” “I wish I could stay. I don’t want to leave you. You’ve made this apartment a home for us, a place I feel comfortable.” “It won’t be the same without you. I’ll miss lying next to you, shielded from the sea spray that blows in the window. … Continue reading Writing Exercise 9, Part I_Dialogue
I trembled as I reached for Susanna, my Spanish Madonna, and touched her hip. My palm pressed against her soft, smooth, white flesh and her warmth spread over me until my face flushed and the burn of rising excitement engulfed me. I rubbed my hand across her shoulder and trilled my fingertips along her spine, raising goosebumps from her skin and causing her to shiver. … Continue reading Writing Exercise 7, Emote: Smell, Taste, or Feel
Well, I had driven to Puerto de Santa Maria with Susanna and dropped her off at the market. It was overcast, but I didn’t give it much thought. Susanna waved to me and I waved back; my heart thumped at the smile she gave me and, to tell you the truth, I wiped away a tear. I loved her so much. Anyway, I drove off … Continue reading Writing Exercise 6, Past Perfect
Susanna lay in the coffin, her face drained and standing out in stark contrast to the black of the wooden box encasing her body. She looked drawn, her body still, quiet, peaceful. The ghostly pallor of death had replaced the red of her lips; the emerald of her eyes lost forever to my sight. I watched as her ashen-faced sister arranged Susanna’s raven-black hair so … Continue reading Writing Exercise 4, Describe A Color Without Naming It
The window of our apartment opened onto the beach. One day, the wind blew salt spray through the window and onto the bed. Susanna woke from her nap and rose to cross the room and close the window. She took a step and fell to her knees coughing up blood. I took her in my arms and placed her in the car. We drove to the … Continue reading Writing Exercise 3, No Adjectives or Adverbs
Susanna’s sudden death hit me hard, a terrible blow that left me stunned and grief-stricken, forever in love with a delicate, elfin-like woman whose memory would fill my thoughts during sentimental moments of repose. The almost saint-like image of her raven-headed beauty and parchment-white skin that dazzled me as much as the smile that graced her rose-kissed lips, would remain fresh in my mind as … Continue reading Writing Exercise 2, Activate Your Writing – No To Be Verbs
Writers Envy 