So, I just sent off an email with a few paragraphs of a story to my local writing group. This was inspired by a suggestion made a few weeks back about doing some cooperative writing. But due to life getting in the way, it was never getting started and so I (perhaps unwisely) volunteered to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: writing
Neal’s Rules of Revising: Print It Out
So, I finally finished. I finished the first draft. Then the second and third, and I honestly and truly think that this fourth draft is the final one. And I learned a lot of very helpful things along the way so here is the first entry of “Neal’s Rules…,” a series that I’ll be returning… Read more »
Journal Entry – Nov 9, 2015
My novel is moving along. I am always impressed with people who can actually complete the National Novel Writing Month (or whatever it is called). 50,000 words in 30 days is no small feat. I don’t think I could do it – and not have it turn out into anything worth reading (or editing). That… Read more »
Journal Entry – Nov 1, 2015
In writing (or reading), imagine how boring a character would be if they were just angry or only sad. A purely evil or good character is not only unrealistic, but also quite dull. Yet, think of how interesting a murderer would be if he/she also always visited his grandmother with flowers.
Journal Entry – Oct 30, 2015
The novel I am working on, fitfully for far too long, keeps changing underneath my very well laid out plans. This is a good thing, as it seems that the characters are more fleshed out, more real, have stronger personalities that can move about on their own, while I am desperately try to keep up… Read more »
Journal Entry – October 25, 2015
I have been making strong, steady progress on my longer piece of fiction. It has taken me quite some time to get to this point, a lot of frustration and self-doubt, but the story is finally coming together.
Journal Entry – Oct 20, 2015
In the past, I have read that one should always “stay hungry.” I have generally taken that to mean that one should always be ambitious, never to rest on one’s laurels, etc. But it seems that there is a more literal truth to this – being hungry is not only good for me to lose… Read more »
Journal Entry – Oct. 16, 2015
For me, the activity itself is not enough. When I go for a walk, I want to have a purpose for the walk beyond itself (e.g., seeing a sight, finding a clue on a treasure hunt, etc.). If I exercise, it is not just to lose weight and get healthier, but rather to develop a… Read more »
Journal Entry – October 14, 2015
Watching bad B-movies makes me wonder if my own writing is as stilled and one dimensional. I suppose many authors (aspiring or otherwise) feel this way. But the goal for me is to create something enveloping, but how does one know if it is so? If a story is not enveloping, not immersive, if it… Read more »
Journal Entry – Oct 13, 2015
I am making strong progress on my longer piece, will probably be about as long as Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. I have to be careful about the tone of the story. I find that when I force it, it comes off as distracting to the moment described. Yet, I want the story to be fun –… Read more »
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