Privacy Policy
What comes out depends on what goes in. Garbage in, garbage out. Literature in, literature out. But what if there’s nothing going in? I’ve been reading less lately and it shows in less coming out. Well, that’s not strictly true. I’ve been reading, but mostly internet articles, websites, blogs–not books. This week, though,I’ve read two [...]
I’m grouchy. I just bought a week’s pass at the Medical Center parking deck. My MIL has been sick, in and out of ICU, finally back to a rehab place, but in ER twice this week. Probably will go back before the end of the week, hence the week’s pass. Writing? Yes and no. When [...]
I’ve started my new novel. 443 words! But, life is already intruding. How dare it? Family health issues (MIL in hospital), news of great joy (too early to be public about these), events that require massive amounts of intense time (Arkansas Literary Festival), planning for future events, and well, fill in the blank with your [...]
Over on Happy Accidents, Greg Pincus is talking about the question of “Do you Spend Too Much Time Online”? He points out that you can do a lot in a short amount of time. Work Smarter, not Harder This week, I sat down and tried to figure out all the tasks that I now know [...]
Arkansas was blanketed with snow yesterday, up to 2 feet in NW-Arkansas, and about 6″ (officially) in central Arkansas, although it looks like much more to me. When you have an unexpected day off, what do you do? Read. I had already bought Paolo Bacigalupi’s book, Shipbreakers, which just won the Printz award for best [...]
Getting the Writing Done Some days are overwhelming with 1000 tasks and ideas competing for attention. How do you focus on what really needs to get done? How to you make sure the “imperative” things (those things that must be done TODAY) don’t take over the “important” things? First, make sure you know what’s important [...]
Kathi Appelt says, “Write as if your hands are on fire.” Stories need passion to come to life. How do you write with passion when life interferes so much? This year has been full! We’ve had a new grandbaby (he’s a kick!), a wedding (stunningly beautiful), my daughter and new son-in-law moved to a new [...]
Private v. Public Stories: When to Hold Back We’re talking about those old files, old stories, old passions that are hidden in your file drawer. Here are four manuscripts that should stay in your drawer. Your first manuscript. No, you are not allowed to air your first attempts at writing fiction to the world. No. [...]
A 5-part series. How Valuable is Your File Drawer? You are writing fiction and building a career. One of your valuable assets is your file drawer, your rejected stories. I have 2 four-drawer file cabinets full; plus, my flash includes many partial or complete manuscripts and ideas for stories that never made it to a [...]
Relaxed, Happy, Confident Snowboarder I’ve been caught up in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics this week. Last night, one of the featured stories was Shaun White, the amazing half-pipe snowboarder. What stands out to me is
Privacy Policy