Some writers edit as they go and when they reach that last line they say they are done--until their publisher gets ahold of it anyway. Other writers write, go back to the beginning and edit their way through in an orderly fashion. Maybe they do this twice. Or three times. But they have a method …
Reason Number 39
Another reason why I love where I live. Watch this.
Trying to Shove the Guts Back In
Facing the day with an eviscerated novel in my lap is making me want to do housework. Why is it so hard when you want to get it right and do better and finish? Where to start? How to start? Yes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, but that first step …
if you have a little time…
One of my students interviewed me for our school podcast! (See, I'm practicing for my interview with Terry Gross.) But anyway, if you would like to listen and surprise our students by increasing their hits, click here!
Why, It’s Just Like Visiting Your Dominatrix!
Why would anyone in her right mind give someone money to cause her pain? Or in this case, rip apart her novel? A friend of mine compared it to a visit to your dominatrix...yes, well... What was I talking about? Oh, yeah. But I've found the pain is not as bad as you'd think. I …
Continue reading Why, It’s Just Like Visiting Your Dominatrix!
You’re Too Tall
Now, being tall may not have anything to do with writing, but then again maybe it does. I mean, hasn't your appearance--height, weight, color, something--affected who you are and how you see the world? Of course it does. A friend sent me this New York Times article on being tall, and boy do I ever …
Mixing Metaphors and Other Bad Things (or other reasons my novel is a mess)
Some writers use notecards and plan their stories. Others use outlines. Someone once asked me if I used storyboards. Probably some writers out there use them. And some writers have the ending and write towards that. Then there are those writers who write with no map whatsoever, starting with an image or a character and …
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no surprise here
77%How Addicted to Blogging Are You? Apparently I am 77% addicted to blogging. A year ago this would have been ludicrous.
Overheard
Overheard this morning at the Village Inn. A woman said to her children, "Do you want bananas or fruit?" "Mom," said the youngest, "bananas are fruit." "I know. Which one do you want?" Neither child answers. The mother tries again. "Okay, they have bananas, fruit, and strawberries."
Running into the Ground
If I'm good at anything, I'm very good at running a topic into the ground. Over time I've learned to grab myself by the collar and pull myself back, although I often let go and keep running. For instance, I could ramble on about my panic over my novel for days. Weeks. Possibly months. While …
Marta Bacon 