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Monday, March 24, 2008
Too Much Chocolate, Not Enough Reading
My system is out of whack. My diet has been on the disabled list for
about a week. Blame it on an Easter candy binge--one chocolate bunny for my daughter's basket, one for her boyfriend's
basket, one for hubby's basket, and one for me. . . . Imagine baskets full of candy, and you get the idea.
The
problem doesn't stop there. Other areas of my life are out of control. My reading diet has been poor as of late, and that
affects my writing. An informed writer is an avid reader.
So how does reading help your writing? The subconscious
mind picks up on things the conscious mind isn't even aware of, such as sentence structure, pacing, plot devices,
word usage, and so much more. Reading is one way to keep your writing muscle in shape.
Oh, and for another
great "writing workout" here's something else to try. Writing.
Now it's time for me to
follow my own advice!
11:40 am cdt
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Writing--in Sickness and in HealthI have been out of it these last few days. Instead of “Chicken Soup
for the Writer’s Soul,” it’s been more like “chicken soup for the writer.” Period. Pots
and pots of it. Add to that bagfuls of cough drops. (No, I don't mean add the cough drops to the soup!)
The smell of menthol and eucalyptus doesn’t do much for my creativity. I’m tired. I’m crabby. I don’t
feel like being writerly. My work piles up as I blog. . . Through
all of this, though, I find that a few words on paper is better than the blank page. Besides, I hear blank-paged manuscripts
aren’t selling well these days.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Great Expectations
No, I'm not talking about the book by Charles Dickens. I'm
talking about my outlook concerning the entries that arrive here daily at The Write Helper HQ. I've just finished judging
the Dead of Winter Nonfiction Contest, and I can tell you I was thoroughly pleased with the results. As I said in my comments on the contest page, this is the first contest I have ever judged where not one of the entries
landed in the "no" pile. That's saying something. The work coming in is of a higher caliber, and I'm proud
of the writers who took the time to enter. They did well!
Entries for our Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest are trickling in, and as the deadline draws closer, more envelopes will find their way to my mail box--and my email inbox
as well. If you are currently writing a novel, try entering the first chapter. If you've been thinking about starting
a novel, here's your opportunity to not only enter a contest, but receive feedback on your opening. Perhaps this is your
first attempt ever at writing a novel. Be brave. At The Write Helper, we are here to offer friendly, encouraging
advice for those in this lonely business called writing.
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