exploring the writing world
A to Z Blogging Challenge 2013 – WCHP or WCH – the Writer’s Core Habits
As a new writer, one of the hardest lessons I learned (aside from the sheer hard work of writing) was that I would no longer be able to pick up a book to simply read for pleasure.
The core habit I’m discussing here is something that we as writers must be able to do – that of reading as a writer – or developing some x-ray lens when we read.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge X is for X-Ray Reading – Read as a Writer”
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL MUSIC VIDEO from the 90’s.
The lyrics are taken from a famous essay — written in 1997 by Mary Schmich, a columnist with the Chicago Tribune http://tinyurl.com/schmich-sunscreen
This is the original tune, and video as seen on MTV, made by Baz Luhrmann, the film director.
“There are three rules for writing. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.” – Somerset Maugham.
If only there were a Writing Rule Book, but it went missing, along with that Parent Manual 101 I was looking for some years back.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge W is for The Writing Rule Book [Infographic]”
Illustration: “Snacks of Great Scribblers” by Wendy MacNaughton from “The Household Tips of the Great Writers” by Mark Crick
Previously I’ve discussed the writer’s space and the use of visual cues to set habits of writing around (See E for Environment and H for Habits).
Today in a visual post, I’m featuring a small gallery of writing things which may act as visual motivators or cues for writing.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge V is for Visual Motivations for Writers [Gallery Post]”
As writers, we are often advised to unplug ourselves – meaning: controlling the distractions that technology in particular offers us.
Today’s post will briefly discuss the big Unplug, which for me also involves the Unplugged Weekend, and a controversial subject of a writer’s retreat where there’s no writing done. [Chuckles wickedly]
Continue reading “#atozchallenge U is for Unplugging as a Writer”
At the start of the A to Z Blog challenge many of the participating blogs used the ‘A’ day to thank the founder of the challenge, Arlee Bird.
For my T post today, I thought it time to thank those I’ve met along the way, including the challenge founder, hosts, mentors and their minions, and all the new blog followers here, those who have found the blog accidentally over this month and taken the time to comment, and importantly – those blogs I’ve found in my reading adventures across the web this month.
For all of us, it’s a huge effort, a sweating effort. Congratulations to those who have gotten through to ‘T’ today, and for those I’ve met along the way.
Thank you.
PS. That’s Colin, my Inner Critic. I blackmailed him into saying thank-you, by letting him out of his prison luxury apartment today.
Yet another productivity post in this series on writer’s core habits. Yes, I make no apologies for that. In our case, habits are productivity. One of our biggest habits to form is a control of our time, because writers nowadays are expected to do so much – writer, author, promoter, editor, muse, producer, shipper – and often whilst juggling other jobs, and domestic duties.
All these jobs must fit in 24 hours. And then rinse and repeat.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge T is for Time Management for Writers”
Here’s a bonus post for the S Day. In a remix of the ideas from his NY bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon shares how to “Steal Like a Writer”. This was a 33 minute presentation given at Weapons of Mass Creation Fest 2012 in Cleveland, OH, but the video also comes accompanied by a free to download 118 page PDF containing all the slide images.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge S is for Steal Like a Writer [Bonus Video] Updated”
Throughout this A to Z blog series I’ve attempted to talk about core habits I have found necessary to form around my own writing life, learned mostly from taking in advice, trying that advice out, and grabbing hold of the habits that lead to success in my writing process.
What is success? Perhaps that is too difficult and particular to define. But what we can do is look at some of the traits that are typically suggested for allowing a writer some success.
Continue reading “#atozchallenge S is for Successful Traits for Writers”
