On working with writers
Similar Posts
How a Book Is Born, Part 17
Partway through the NANOWRIMO month, someone dropped me a note that included the phrase, “when you’re writing.” Now, when I have a crazy-stupid deadline like I did with Catch a Falling Star, I get hyper-focused and let lots of stuff fall by the wayside (discussed in an earlier post), which I don’t normally do. But…
On my favorite Facebook meme
If you are in Facebook, you have probable seen this “Polish proverb” (I have no idea where it comes from, and I sort of doubt the authority of someone randomly posting things on Facebook). It has become my new favorite mantra. ### My collection of travel stories, Travels with Jessica, is now available! Kindle and…
How to: Keeping the beginner’s mind
On the theme of Open the Office Door, an excerpt from my book Dojo Wisdom for Writers on a concept I love: Lesson #8: Keep the Beginner’s Mind Martial artists respect the beginner’s mind because it’s open to new experiences and isn’t as critical as it later becomes. Someone who is just beginning…
Thank zeus for newbies
I have a colleague who sometimes grumbles about newbie writers. “There’s another nurse/teacher/yoga instructor/high school dropout with no relevant credentials. What makes her think she can break into freelancing?” This is a point of irritation for a lot of established writers: just because everyone can write, everyone thinks they can be writers — as if learning the craft and the business were…
Interview How to: Two common mistakes writers make
First off, let me say that I’ve never been a newspaper reporter, have never set foot inside a journalism school and only know who William Allen White is because there’s a building named after him at my alma mater. I do write for magazines, but that does not make up the majority of my writing. …
How to: Finding story angles
A while back, an editor asked me to pitch some yoga ideas to him. I sat scratching my head (in the lotus position), then called on a colleague for assistance. Linda Formichelli, author of The Renegade Writer, helped me out. I thought the process she described for coming up with angles was excellent, and with her…