I promise this is about writing, but first I’m going to tell you a story. I was driving home yesterday, so I went to McDonald’s to get a Sprite and french fries. There was no ketchup in the bag, so I asked for some. I specifically remember saying “Can I get some ketchup? Just one… Continue reading The Problem of Overcompensation
Blog
Finishing Your Novel
I’m nearing the end of my current project, and I can feel myself slowing down; as the end draws nearer, my daily word count decreases, and I spend more time reading, researching, and plotting. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering the fact that I was unsure of exactly how the story would end until about three… Continue reading Finishing Your Novel
Books for Writers Review: Bird by Bird
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a classic. It contains tons of advice and funny stories, and what else could you want from a book about writing? Like the best books, this one offers so many snippets of truth that I felt like I was highlighting every other line. There were even moments I found myself… Continue reading Books for Writers Review: Bird by Bird
My Favorite Things About Paris
Ah, Paris. My experience with the city is minimal–I spent three fast-paced days there–but they were the best three days of my life. I ate croissants for breakfast every morning. It wasn’t healthy, but I enjoyed it. My friends and I wandered the streets in search of tiny cafés and we spoke French… Continue reading My Favorite Things About Paris
“A woman must h…
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” -Virginia Woolf Now I’m not a big fan of Virginia Woolf, but I love this quote. While the money part is debatable, I think most people will agree that having a room of your own, or someplace where… Continue reading “A woman must h…
The Weight of Words
The position I’m in right now, which is a great one by the way, is all because of a few words one of my professors told me. Here’s his final critique for the portfolio (first ten pages of a novel) that I submitted for my creative writing class: “An excellent start to a gripping story. You’d… Continue reading The Weight of Words
1000 Words a Day and other advice
I know that everyone has heard that “real writers” write every day. The most cited number is 1000 words a day, but it varies. You’ve probably also heard that writing 1000 words a day isn’t a necessity, and you shouldn’t force yourself to do it if that’s not how you write best. Personally, I’ve always… Continue reading 1000 Words a Day and other advice
May Update
I have some awesome news! Sunday, I entered a contest on a whim and I just found out today that I made the short list! If you want to read the story, click here. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. In other news, now that I’m out of school, I’ve… Continue reading May Update
Tips on Editing
I’m not an expert on editing, despite what I like to think. However, I have done quite a bit of editing in the past few months, so I hope that I have something worthwhile to share with you guys. First things first: start out small. I’m going to tell you a story that has nothing… Continue reading Tips on Editing
April Update
So, my computer decided to die a few days ago. Since exams start in two weeks, this is not exactly the best time. Fortunately, I didn’t have too much important stuff on it (except my current WIP and my resume). It’s a really good thing I’m very dedicated to my work, because otherwise I would… Continue reading April Update