Cussing
Warning!!! This post contains lamely-disguised contractions of bad words. When I had my record label we used to make fun of rappers who used the word motherf**ker to excess, especially those who just inserted it willy nilly to make the […]
the writing process
Feeling My Way
This is how it works for me.I write an outline.Some character sketches.Get a basic plot idea.Start to fill in.Usually I know what the first few chapter will be about. I know where I want to start. I know where I […]
Computer Dependency
Computer died.This is akin to a pet dying.It is not altogether dead but the bits I need to work (ie. keyboard keys) are not dependably working. There are apparently many ‘n’s in my writing. This would be my silver macbook […]
Telling Tales from Life
The WIP I just revised (FIERCE) started life as a memoir. Incidentally memoir is a really good way to start digging into writing, and there seem to be more memoir writing groups around than other genres, BUT be cautioned that […]
Bruised Egos (and writing)
I’ve been blogging since 2007. I’ve blogged quite a few times about ego. Perhaps because we all have them. Perhaps because I am overly conscious of mine. Perhaps because it pretends to be shy and retiring but is in fact […]
Apprenticeship
I love the word apprentice. For some reason it always conjures up visions of Wart and Merlin swimming with trout (T.H. White’s The Once and Future KIng) or Duny/Ged before he becomes Sparrowhawk (Ursula K. LeGuin’s Earthsea). It’s sort of […]
My Muse
I have a muse. (Actually I don’t know if it’s really a muse or a figment of my superstitious fearful imagination which has created something exterior to be responsible for everything I write). Whatever the reason may be, I have […]
On Forgiving and Forgetting
Currently I find myself in an awkward position. After months of feeling angry and hurt I’ve decided to forgive the person who injured me and forget the events which led up to this. Although when it happened I announced that […]
Challenging Yourself
I’m working on the first big revision of my latest manuscript. My betas have read it and most importantly my agent has read it. He is more accurately a literary manager and he works only with writers and illustrators in […]
Fighting the Lazy
What’s the first thing I think of after I hear back from my agent or editor about my manuscript and there are suggested changes? Oh god, I can’t face those pages again. I don’t want to, I whine. Which is […]