Tag Archives: amwriting

Show Some Guts

“Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential.” – Jessamyn West Oh, the places I’ve been and the places I’ll go with my writing. I’ve made a whole fool of myself as a writer, and yet I’ve learned more from writing than from anything else I’ve done. The things I’ve gained from writingContinue reading “Show Some Guts”

Lost Illusion

“Almost all great writers have as their motif, more or less disguised, the passage from childhood to maturity, the clash between the thrill of expectation and the disillusioning knowledge of truth. ‘Lost Illusion’ is the undisclosed title of every novel.” – Andre Maurois Man just ruin it all for us huh Andre. Disillusionment is notContinue reading “Lost Illusion”

Leave it Out of the Story

“A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it.” – Mark Twain Well, this gives me something to think about. I get too hung up on what I want in my book that I haven’t considered what I should intentionally leave out. Now that’s interesting. IContinue reading “Leave it Out of the Story”

Writing Favs

“What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers.” – Logan Pearsall Smith It is often the case that one small detail about an entire book is what connects me to the story. Not all the time. Some of the best novels I’ve read have many things IContinue reading “Writing Favs”

Write it for Children

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” — Madeleine L’Engle I love that I have my girls to read books with. I love a good children’s book. I like a good book, period. It doesn’tContinue reading “Write it for Children”

Yay!

One more semester down. One more semester closer to my goal. Yay! I celebrated with a cranberry-orange mocktail and movie night with the family! We even had popcorn and freshly baked brownies. I have been chatting with my close friends from high school, who are now considered my sisters. We’ve been talking about celebrating ourContinue reading “Yay!”

Writer’s Life

“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.” – Octavia Butler It feels good to have something I’m committed to building every single day of my life. Before writing I didn’tContinue reading “Writer’s Life”

The Writing Process

“The writing process, it’s too mysterious to try and describe.” -Mick Jones I used to romanticize the writing process, but I’ve been in the game long enough to admit that it’s just plain ole hard work. I can admit, there are times when making connections seems like magic. For me, that usually happens after daysContinue reading “The Writing Process”

Fuel Your Writing: The Importance of Taking Breaks

Writers, here’s a gentle reminder that you need your lunch break. We have books to write. That means we need our lunch breaks to preserve fuel for the writing process. I think it’s cool when people write through their lunch break, but that’s not even what I’m saying here. I’m saying take your break, howeverContinue reading “Fuel Your Writing: The Importance of Taking Breaks”