(no subject)
Anyone who is interested in learning a second language, I highly reccomend the Pimsleur CD's. Thirty minutes a day, while your commuting or whatever, will get you on your way. Less than a week and I'm already getting a feel for Japanese grammar.
I've been re-reading Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel for the fourth or fifth time now and once again learning quite a bit. He really knows what he's talking about, and without telling you how to write, or what to write, he offers some pretty easy to follow advice for making your work stronger.
My untitled novel is already beginning to take shape. First draft of the outline is almost complete, and after I rework it once or twice I'll be ready to get started writing. I've figured out that my biggest weakness is probably plotting. In the past, my method of writing was to outline the first third or so of the book, have a vague idea of the ending and jump into it. And while this made the act of writing more spontaneous, it also often left me with plotlines that weren't very logical, and cheesey quick fixes when I "painted myself into the corner". I'm excited, I think this will turn out much better.
I've been re-reading Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel for the fourth or fifth time now and once again learning quite a bit. He really knows what he's talking about, and without telling you how to write, or what to write, he offers some pretty easy to follow advice for making your work stronger.
My untitled novel is already beginning to take shape. First draft of the outline is almost complete, and after I rework it once or twice I'll be ready to get started writing. I've figured out that my biggest weakness is probably plotting. In the past, my method of writing was to outline the first third or so of the book, have a vague idea of the ending and jump into it. And while this made the act of writing more spontaneous, it also often left me with plotlines that weren't very logical, and cheesey quick fixes when I "painted myself into the corner". I'm excited, I think this will turn out much better.