For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word. Catherine Drinker Bowen I’m working on a part of my book and I’m feeling like I can’t find the right words to express the story in a way that I want. What do I want? SomethingContinue reading ““Come Upon” the Right Word”
Category Archives: on writing
Fetishizing Masterpieces
Know your literary tradition, savor it, steal from it, but when you sit down to write, forget about worshiping greatness and fetishizing masterpieces. Allegra Goodman What a great way to take the pressure off. I try my best not to let the greats dictate my writing choices but there are many times I get soContinue reading “Fetishizing Masterpieces”
Bearing an Untold Story
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maya Angelou I was a quiet kid. I felt like I couldn’t get what I was really thinking and feeling out of my mouth. School was scary but I wanted to be there. I was sensitive. I was quiet. But I wanted toContinue reading “Bearing an Untold Story”
A writer
A writer’s life and work are not a give to mankind, they are its necessity. Toni Morrison Don’t forget that the world needs your writing.
Under Water
All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath. F. Scott Fitzgerald Of all the quotes I’ve posted in the past week, this in one I’ve related to most. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the work it takes to write a novel and sometimes I’m floating along enjoying the ideas that come.Continue reading “Under Water”
Just Get It Done
I got to spend a big chunk of the day getting my handwritten edits onto my word doc. I also added a new scene that lit my fire. I have been forgetting a lot lately to have fun with my writing. What made me think of that at all was a conversation with writer, KentContinue reading “Just Get It Done”
Know One Knows
“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” Somerset Maugham I appreciate this quote that I found on The Write Practice. It made me smile immediately. We’ve narrowed down writing styles but how to create and finish a novel seems to look different for every writer. I meanContinue reading “Know One Knows”
Belly of the Whale
I blew the dust off my Joseph Campbell book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces to brush up on the different parts of the hero’s journey. One of the parts of the journey that caught my eye was Belly of the Whale. According to Joseph Campbell, The idea that the passage of the magical thresholdContinue reading “Belly of the Whale”
Inspired Writer
You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write. Annie Proulx I needed this reminder today. I forget how much I loved experimenting with phonetic sounds, words, dark andContinue reading “Inspired Writer”
Elevator Pitch Trials
Artist in search of mom is initiated by mentor and sent into what seems like an underground world full of adventure. And her husband gets to decide whether he’s up for the adventure or whether he’d rather stay in his soul crushing 9-5. This doesn’t do it for me. This doesn’t make me wanna readContinue reading “Elevator Pitch Trials”