Posted in Writing, tagged Fiction, home, John Steinbeck, nanowrimo, quotes, snow, winter, Writers, writing on November 17, 2014| Leave a Comment »
I’ve got inches of thick wet snow on my porch and the last of the red maple leaves have finally fallen. It is officially winter.
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
― John Steinbeck
And really, what better weather for novel writing? Time to get back to it!
Posted in Writing, tagged arts, creativity, Fiction, genre fiction, inspiration, Isaac Asimov, literature, MIT’s Technology Review, nanowrimo, science, science fiction, sff, speculative fiction, Thoughts, work, Writers, writing on November 14, 2014| 2 Comments »
Like many of you I’m doing NaNoWriMo and as such I am more than usually interested in questions of creativity and how to help it along. The following is from an essay in MIT’s Technology Review by Isaac Asimov, in which he asks that most fundamental of questions, “How Do People Get New Ideas?”
… what is needed is not only people with a good background in a particular field, but also people capable of making a connection between item 1 and item 2 which might not ordinarily seem connected… Making the cross-connection requires a certain daring.
And so to you I say (with a nod to Theodore Roosevelt), dare greatly!
Posted in Writing, tagged creativity, Fiction, finishing, fun, genre fiction, inspiration, Motivation, nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month, persistence, work, Writers, writing on November 10, 2014| 1 Comment »
I haven’t posted anything about National Novel Writing Month this year because I hadn’t quite decided whether or not to do it. I’m busy, I said. I’ve already proven I can churn out 50,000 words in thirty days, I said. I can do it when I’m happy. I can do it when I’m busy. I can do it when I’m sick. (I am, in fact, something of a freaking Dr. Seuss when it comes to NaNoWriMo.) Do I really need to prove that I can do it again? Would my time be better spent finding a new way to expand my writing experience?
Well, no. That’s what I decided. And when I committed to finding a new way to make the most of my 50,000 words this November, I had a mini breakthrough. Work on one thing, I told myself. Well, ok, work on 50,000 words and one other thing. That’s it. Practice high levels of word production while learning how to do better at *X* and see how that goes.
Turns out it’s going pretty well.
I’m traveling, and finding time to get my word count in has been a challenge. That’s ok. In fact, that’s a great part of this lesson. It is in fact possible to cram in that last 350 words in the ten minutes before dinner. Doing it while also remembering to focus on maximizing the conflict between your characters?
Priceless:)
Happy National Novel Writing Month, all!
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too… Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
― William Hutchison Murray
Posted in Writing, tagged apex predators, inspiration, nature, rewilding, science, trophic cascades, wolves, writing on October 29, 2014| Leave a Comment »
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.— John Muir
When the impact of a predator on its prey’s ecology trickles down one more feeding level to affect the density and/or behavior of the prey’s prey, ecologists term this interaction a feeding, or trophic cascade…
Posted in Food and..., Writing, tagged food, genre fiction, inspiration, Thoughts, writing on October 24, 2014| 1 Comment »
When I meet someone new, especially if they are from another culture or country, I like to ask what they eat at home. It’s a simple yet often intriguing question, with the potential to upend basic assumptions while also opening a door onto the experience of another life.
In that spirit, I was fascinated to come across this New York Times Magazine article on what kids eat for breakfast. Sounds dull? Nay, say I. The article and accompanying photos provide an engaging glimpse into one of the most basic facets of our lives: breakfast.
Children begin to acquire a taste for pickled egg or fermented lentils early — in the womb, even.
How do we start the day? What do parents consider appropriate fuel for their children? How do those choices reflect their economic realities, historical trends, and geographic locations? Their societies?
The child in Japan eats much different food than the child in Holland or Turkey. Which looks best to you, and why? There is such variety in the food described, and of course this only scratches the surface. It’s the sort of thing I try to keep in mind when I’m writing. My breakfast is not necessarily your breakfast, especially if “you” grew up on Mars.
Posted in Writing, tagged artists, books, creativity, Fiction, genre fiction, inspiration, James Ellroy, Writers, writing on October 16, 2014| Leave a Comment »
If you’ve ever wondered how master writer James Ellroy puts together a dark, twisting crime novel, or plots stories as deliciously complex as L.A. Confidential, wonder no more.
“I’m a romantic, I love the big challenge and I’m gonna give it to you.”
This Fast Company article by Joe Berkowitz discusses Ellroy’s style (right now), his process (research, let it simmer, then go big, really big), and finally, bring it all together in a tight-packed ending. Enjoy!
Posted in Writing, tagged artists, Fiction, genre fiction, Mary Robinette Kowal, narration, reading aloud, speculative fiction, tips, work, Writers, writing on September 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Today we have helpful hints on reading aloud (and presentation in general) from Mary Robinette Kowal.
As an accomplished narrator, podcaster, puppeteer and author with lots of touring experience, she should know. And she does!
Check out her 17-part series for a plethora of detailed and useful suggestions for handling stage fright, phrasing, breathing, recording, what can go wrong (and how to cope with grace), and so much more. If you have a tour in the offing or, you know, you just want to be prepared for your future as a literary genius, this series is for you.
Posted in Entertainment, Writing, tagged awesome, books, Elizabeth Bear, Emma Bull, Fiction, genre fiction, Sarah Monette, science fiction, sff, speculative fiction, Will Shetterly, writing, yay on September 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »
This has been true for a while but Shadow Unit 1 is available to download for free:
Shadow Unit is a contemporary science fiction series about a group of FBI agents struggling to protect humanity from the worst monsters imaginable. Except some of our heroes may be on the road to becoming monsters themselves….
Get started on this reader-funded series with writing by Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette, and Will Shetterly for nothing, nada, zip, tipota!
Kindle version at Amazon: Shadow Unit 1. Epub, pdf, and other formats at Smashwords: Shadow Unit 1.
You must be logged in to post a comment.