On working with writers
Similar Posts
How a Book Is Born, Part 16
I’m working on the book while my daughter is sitting next to me on the sofa. Jess: Are you distracted again? Me: I’m trying to figure out what comes next in this book. Jess: What’s happening now? Me: Natalie’s in the hospital. Jess (gasping): Why is Natalie in the hospital?! Me: She has pneumonia. You…
The next step
I recently mentioned Terry Pratchett, who occasionally writes about a young witch, Tiffany Aching, and her obnoxious chums, the Wee Free Men, and if you haven’t read Sir Terry, you should. At any rate, he was still on my mind when I started writing this post, and I thought it appropriate to give a nod…
Waiting for Your Big Break?
Me, too. Of course, the older I get, the bigger the break needs to be for me to be impressed by it. When I was first starting out, I just wanted someone – anyone! – to publish an essay or a story that I’d written. Then I wanted someone to publish my book. Then my next book. Then…
The watchers
A flaneur is a person who walks through a city observing life rather than partaking of it, and I think to some degree all writers and indeed artists in general are flaneurs. We do seem to be a little separate from others, watching without joining in. Even when we do join in there is part…
Things that make me smile
The other day I was at the coffee shop when the train delivering newsprint to the newspaper plant next door rolled in. It let out a long low whistle that sounded something like a foghorn. The barista remarked, “That always reminds me of the call to arm in Lord of the Rings.” Which prompted…
Tuesday’s Tips!
Don’t miss more Conversations with Jessica! And some great articles from around the internet: 1. Why you shouldn’t worry about people stealing your ideas. 2. Self-editing tips. 3. Seth Godin on shipping versus rushing. 4. Research on getting things done. 5. Query letters that worked. If you see other great information…