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Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
REALLY Last Update
Monday, Nov. 24: "Free Writing Conference"I love writers' conferences, but let's face it. They're expensive: the travel (often including plane tickets, shuttles), hotel rooms, and food. (Plus child care, if you have small children.) Even if money isn't an issue, you might not be physically able to handle a conference away from home. Have I got great news for you! If you don't delay, you can sign up to attend the week-long Muse Online Writers Conference in 2009 for FREE. The conference isn't until October 14-18, but I encourage you to sign up now.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: "Fixing Common Failings in Fiction"
I won't be commenting on my NaNoWriMo status until next Monday when it's officially over, but I've received a few emails from NaNo people who are writing their first novels. As the month draws to a close, they've realized with horror that December is coming-with revisions! "What do I do with this mess?" I was asked. Your rambling rough draft needs to be reworked, but where do you start? "Is there a checklist somewhere I can follow?" another writer asked. I came across such a checklist last week.
Friday, Nov. 28: "Thankful to be a Writer"
With the economic downturn, news from the publishing world has been pretty grim this past week. A major publisher has told its acquisitions editors to stop acquiring new manuscripts for the time being. Publishing lists are being slashed. Down-sizing and reshuffling have hit editors too. So, during this Thanksgiving week, is there anything to be thankful for if you're a writer? YES!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Last Update--Have Moved!
Monday, Nov. 17: Welcome home!
A phone call came yesterday that I'd been waiting for all year. Was it an editor, saying they were buying my new series? Was it an award committee saying my book had made the short list? No, it was my middle daughter returning from her second year-long deployment in Iraq. She said the magic words, "Mom, it's Laurie. I'm on American soil!" They had flown home a good ten days before we expected it, and the thrill was indescribable. Later in the day I was thinking about the seasons of her life I'd written through. (See this blog for combining parenting with writing.)
Wednesday, Nov. 19: How Do You Wait?
For you, what is the hardest part of writing? Getting started? Making time? Finding ideas, or maybe dealing with rejection? Perhaps it's the endless waiting that goes with this profession. You wait for word from a critique partner, then an editor or agent. When a book comes out, you wait for reviews and reader reaction and sales figures. (See this blog for the three ingredients required to wait like a professional writer.)
Friday, Nov. 21: NaNoWriMo Update: Week Three
The third week of NaNoWriMo was supposed to be filled with doubts-about your ability as a writer, about the work in progress, about whether you should even be a writer at all! We were warned in an email not to jump ship or switch to another project that looked more promising. (In the middle of a rough draft, almost any other project looks more enticing than what you're working on.) Was my own NaNoWriMo Week Three filled with doubts? Plenty of them! (See this blog for ways to deal with writing doubts.)
A phone call came yesterday that I'd been waiting for all year. Was it an editor, saying they were buying my new series? Was it an award committee saying my book had made the short list? No, it was my middle daughter returning from her second year-long deployment in Iraq. She said the magic words, "Mom, it's Laurie. I'm on American soil!" They had flown home a good ten days before we expected it, and the thrill was indescribable. Later in the day I was thinking about the seasons of her life I'd written through. (See this blog for combining parenting with writing.)
Wednesday, Nov. 19: How Do You Wait?
For you, what is the hardest part of writing? Getting started? Making time? Finding ideas, or maybe dealing with rejection? Perhaps it's the endless waiting that goes with this profession. You wait for word from a critique partner, then an editor or agent. When a book comes out, you wait for reviews and reader reaction and sales figures. (See this blog for the three ingredients required to wait like a professional writer.)
Friday, Nov. 21: NaNoWriMo Update: Week Three
The third week of NaNoWriMo was supposed to be filled with doubts-about your ability as a writer, about the work in progress, about whether you should even be a writer at all! We were warned in an email not to jump ship or switch to another project that looked more promising. (In the middle of a rough draft, almost any other project looks more enticing than what you're working on.) Was my own NaNoWriMo Week Three filled with doubts? Plenty of them! (See this blog for ways to deal with writing doubts.)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Come See What You Missed!
Nov. 10: Does Your Writing Inspire?
Most of us, especially those who write for children, would say that we hope our writing is inspiring. We want our readers to see the choices open to them-whether in nonfiction or through the lives of fictional heroes-and be inspired to make choices that will bring good results in their lives. How do you fulfill this goal without sounding preachy? See "Does Your Writing Inspire?"
Nov. 12: Mindfulness: antidote to writing stress
When you try to settle down to write, are you plagued by time pressure, distractions, interruptions, conflicts with your spouse or kids, or other agitating problems? What if I told you that you could cure each writing problem with something called "mindfulness"? Read this blog for help in focusing.
Nov. 14: NaNoWriMo Update: Week Two
Although Week Two on NaNoWriMo is generally more difficult, I found it much easier than last week. Both computers functioned without a hitch, so other than residual pains in the neck (literally), it was a smooth week. My sleep cycles are still haphazard, leftover from the marathon computer-fixing weekend, so most days I was awake before 3:30 a.m. (Included in Friday's Update is excellent writing advice from veteran writers Katherine Paterson and Philip Pullman.)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What You Missed
My blog moved last week--come see what you missed!On Monday, November 6, 2008: "Marathon Writers"
Writing students, those I critique, and people in my writing workshops will sometimes question whether it is ethical to encourage fledgling writers. The path to publication isn't easy, they will experience a lot of rejection along the way, and the "odds" are stacked against them. That's all true. So why encourage new writers? [Read "Marathon Writers" to see if you have what it takes to build a successful writing life.]
On Wednesday, November 8, 2008: "Cherish the Commonplace"
When I started writing, I gathered nothing but rejection slips as long as I tried to write about fantastic things I had never experienced. I was always looking for the "extraordinary" idea. I found some—in the newspaper, on TV, or in magazines. I worked hard to turn them into stories and articles, but not a single one of them ever sold. I gathered thirty-plus rejection slips instead. However, a year later, I had sold six manuscripts. What changed? [Read "Cherish the Commonplace" to find the saleable ideas in your life.]
On Friday, November 10, 2008: "NaNoWriMo: Surviving Week One"
According to Chris Baty, the founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Week One could have included giddy feelings of anticipation. (Was this going to be the best book I ever wrote?) Shortly into the week, he cautioned that I might be plagued with an equally compelling, but opposite, question. (Was this going to be worst book ever written?) My week, unfortunately, was plagued by a third question… [Check the Writer's First Aid blog tomorrow to see how Kristi's first NaNo week went.]
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
I'm Moving!
This week my Writer's First Aid blogged moved! Please update your various readers to reflect this so we don't lose contact. Click here now to update your link.
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