Whether they are still in the planning phase, frantically pounding out the first draft, or up to their elbows in edits, here are a handful of ways you can support any writers who cross your path.
I’ll spare you the clichéd “Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while, but I’ve been busy” post. I’ve never met a writer who wasn’t woefully short on time. Why should my situation be any different?
Yesterday morning, WordPress congratulated me on my blog’s third anniversary. There was even a fancy little trophy icon by the announcement.
The more I think about it, the more a term like “character-oriented” seems superfluous. Characters are but one element of a story. Like setting and plot, they are essential ingredients of a story. But are they any more important than the rest?
Today, I endeavor to do the opposite of 2012’s exercise. Rather than harp on the struggle, I will embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving by acknowledging the advantageous and affirming aspects of being a fiction writer in 2014 (and beyond).
Back when I worked in a newsroom, a colleague of mine was wont to say, “Everyone loves old photos.” I believe the Throwback Thursday (#TBT) trend serves as further proof of mankind’s fondness for looking back.
Despite having written between one and two million words to date, only a handful of them were spent in pursuit of poetry. And whenever I did venture from the comfort zone of fiction, it was typically because a teacher assigned it.
I know I’m not the first to tackle this topic, but there seems to be a dearth in articles pertaining to some of the more intangible qualities that, in my experience, benefit someone who wants to succeed—or simply survive—the sometimes schizophrenic lifestyle of an artist.
On a very basic level, the creation of a story can be divided into two parts: concept and composition. Without a command of both sides, a writer is bound to fall short of greatness.
Whereas some writers find music (or any background noise) a distraction, I am fueled by the creative energy imbued in most melodies.