My niece (age 12) is an author. She may not see herself that way, but it's true. She writes. A lot. And that makes her an author. Merriam-Webster agrees: AUTHOR noun 1: the writer of a literary work (such as a book) 2: one that originates or creates something Ezra, or Ezzy as she's affectionately called by …
Tag: writing motivation
My Epic Thank You
To celebrate the release of my debut thriller, I created a celebratory slideshow, complete with voice-over and music. When I showed it to someone from a younger generation (not a child of mine, nooo), it was explained to me that my choice of music was "...interesting. And maybe a little over the top." I believe …
My Why
About a month ago, this was me: It wasn't District 12 Reaping but a zoom call. WANTED: volunteers to help with an HWA Ohio Chapter podcast that would focus on the craft and process of horror writing. Although I have thoroughly embraced the introvert I am and the comfort zone of no-human-contact, the teacher and …
Divine Dissatisfaction, Blessed Unrest
Artists, that's what we sign up for. And I thought it was just cynical-me. Nope. Add divinely distracted and blessedly unrested to the list of writer traits that includes extreme introversion, militant self-discipline, infinite grit, and owning a cat. Here's how unrest plays out. I think: I should see Friend X. Then I think: I …
The fears we don’t face become our limits.
I doubt Robin Sharma was talking about research when she penned that. Researching books. Anne Lamott's advice is to actually speak with other human beings. She used the word "phone," at which point I began to skim, to mentally prepare my grocery list. I wasn't taking her advice, not at all. Like most writers, I …
Write to help yourself make sense of things.
My therapist says feelings aren't wrong. Actions can be, but not feelings. My therapist allows me to email her. Yes, I'm very lucky to have her, and no. You can't have her name. I'm a little possessive of her time. Writing my thoughts is good for me, she says. I agree. And it's not just …
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When DID You Stop Beating Your Story?
All writers beat their stories. Don't give me that look; they do. Any writer who wants to be read, who doesn't keep the stories to himself and tries (oh how hard he tries) to find an audience, that writer will beat and be beaten by his stories, often simultaneously. Whether or not he rises again …
Writing Advice from Lizards
Run fast, stand still. In quickness is truth. The faster you blurt, the more swiftly you write, the more honest you are. In hesitation is thought. In delay comes the effort for a style, instead of leaping upon truth which is the only style worth deadfalling or tiger-trapping. - Ray Bradbury Learning from iguanas. Close enough.
Spontaneous 10: Outlines, Like Recipes, Are Negotiable
Even if I have all the ingredients, I feel this uncontrollable urge to substitute things. It's not always easy to follow a recipe, but— can we agree— it's less risky? There's a frontiersman in me that doesn't want to take a well-worn path, even to chocolate cake. Where's the fun (or artistry) in that? My …
Continue reading Spontaneous 10: Outlines, Like Recipes, Are Negotiable
Language is Not the Star
A tide of writerly emails swamps my inbox each day. Everyone has advice on how to write and how to write better and how not-to-give-up-when-everyone-hates-your-work and here's some literary flash fiction. Here's some atrocious flash fiction from somebody you accidentally followed. Here's a Ted Talk. Here's some poetry. Here's this new author, that new agent. …
KL Griffiths 