Thursday, January 31, 2008
January 2008 archive
I like this short little article most for one simple line:
If I wrote every day how much better a writer would I be in…say, a year? How much more would I have learned?
Just spend a little time daydreaming about that one when you have a chance. In the meantime, check out the rest of Karen Kelley’s article, Write Every Day.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
My first release!
By the way, if you’re looking for a short, sweet office romance to make you smile, Mandi’s Lucky Day is out today at the Wild Rose Press! Stop by for a visit!
For less than the price of an…well, anything…at Starbucks, you could have a heartwarming little story!
Mandi’s Lucky Day by me!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
January 30th: Miscellany by Debbie Lee Wesselmann
Since it’s my blog, I get the right to curse, but I do it sparingly.
Today’s post, a smattering of wise advice for authors of all types, is damn good stuff. Do yourself a favor and read it before starting your next project.
Miscellany by Debbie Lee Wesselmann
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
January 29th: Tears in the Writer by Lorraine Heath
Getting emotion on the page is the key to engaging the reader from start to finish. Today, Lorraine shares a little about the how and why emotion makes a story come to life:
Tears in the Writer by Lorraine Heath
Monday, January 28, 2008
January 28 Bonus Post: What Writers Go Through by Isaac Asimov
Because one thoughtful reflection on the writer’s life deserves a second!
What Writers Go Through by Isaac Asimov
You know this is true!
Beth
Monday, January 28, 2008
January 28: Getting to the Fire Within by Yvonne Lindsay
A solid, thoughtful and short reflection of the writer’s life:
Getting to the Fire Within by Yvonne Lindsay
happy inciting,
Beth
Monday, January 28, 2008
What Tarot Card Are You?
Now, this is just downright fun.
Yeah, I know I’m supposed to be working on the book (started the next-to-the-last chapter today, am about halfway through it) but as I watch Titanic for like the (at least) 500th time (ask anyone who knows me…), I thought I’d play online.
Here’s what I found: (I always knew I was royalty…somewhere in the world….lol)
You are The Empress
Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.
The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.
The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
January 27: Contest (yeah, again. Get over it!)
Yes, that’s right. Another shameless plug for the contest. For those of you who keep putting it off, today’s the day you’re going to write that 100 word winner.
Having trouble getting started? Try these ideas:
1. Go pour a cup of coffee, a mug of tea or grab a bottle of something and find a quiet place to sit for brainstorming.
2. Set a timer for ten minutes and only write down possible topics and ideas. Make this as a list with numbers or bullet points. When the timer starts moving, start your pen or pencil (or typing) on the paper and do not stop. Even if you feel resistance, type “no idea..no idea” or something similar to fill up the time. Spend the entire ten minutes writing and thinking.
3. Put your list aside. Go take a walk, do a little yoga, clean the bathroom, fold a pile of laundry. Something that takes a bit of time but not too much.
4. Return to your list, and through process of elimination, cross off ideas and words that do not inspire you to create a story about your worst Christmas present. (I often find that the ideas that come later, after I’ve excavated the top portion of my brain where my conscious thought controls everything in tidy chunks, is when the good ideas start flowing)
5. When you’ve got one idea, create another list in the same manner as the first. Write down every single thing–idea, feeling, emotion, sensation, etc., that can bring that one idea to life.
6. Now you’ve got your story. Create a 100 word story and bring your Christmas gift to life. Let us see, feel and understand why it was so horrid.
7. If you’re looking for a little insider secret, the entry I’m liking the most right now is not something material–no ugly sweaters or stinky perfumes–it’s an event. Not that something funny and material can’t top that, but think deep on this one.
Now that you have your assignment, what are you waiting for?! Get out there and write!
happy 100-wording,
Beth
Saturday, January 26, 2008
decisions, decisions
the good part of this decision is that I win either way. The bad part is that I’m still procrastinating, and any writer will tell you we’re capable of procrastinating for weeks, months…years…without remorse.
I’m two chapters from the end of the book. The last one is cleaning techniques, and I skipped the original chapters 5 & 7 and am combining them into one (financing, taxes…ick…). I’ve written the last approximately 10K words longhand in two notebooks and it’s time to (soon) start typing.
However, tonight is a quiet night on the homefront. The hub is sick with the flu and the kid is in front of the PSP. I can write most of the next chapter (maybe even all of it) tonight, and type everything tomorrow, or type tonight and write tomorrow.
I know, I know. Give you a real problem, right? Or maybe, since I’ve been writing most of the day, I treat myself to some web surfing time (all writing related), or reading one of the new Buddhist philosophy books I got for Xmas.
Who said writing was easy?!!
Or, heck, I could even try working out the first chapter of that fiction story I’ve been mentally plotting…(bad beth…bad, bad, bad!)
Friday, January 25, 2008
January 25: Studio Friday by Tine
Just so you know, this isn’t the original post I had in mind. I thought I’d set this one up at home but obviously…I didn’t! And since the blog notebook is at home, here’s what I found.
I must admit that I’m really loving what Tine has put together in her Studio Friday blog. Super unique and very creative! Each Monday, she posts a question or reflective topic, then asks you to search your studio (writing room, writing area, etc) to find what she’s asking for. You don’t have to take a picture–you can depict it in any artistic manner you’re feeling (writing, sketching, quilting), then you’ll finish it all off by uploading to your own blog and posting a link at Tine’s place.
(here’s a sample question and response)Studio Friday 3
As I said–very fun. I’m thinking of participating. That is, after I’m done with this deadline…
Here’s Tine’s Studio Friday welcome page: Studio Friday Welcome
And the Studio Friday Blog Directions:Studio Friday How-It-Works
Finally, the blog itself: Studio Friday blog
It's pretty simple, really. I'm a writer who loves writing about writing, and sharing all the tricks of the trade with other writers. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. I have a hunch you know what I mean :)