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The Little Town That Couldn’t Anymore
I’ve been quiet online this week because I’m in Kansas visiting family. We left in the late afternoon on Wednesday and drove to Hays, Kansas that night. The next morning, we drove to my parent’s home south of Kansas City. Friday was spent in Topeka for a funeral service and then Carbondale for the after-mourning meal. I forget what you ( Read more... ) -
Out of Contact (mostly) for a week
I am traveling to Kansas for a family funeral starting tomorrow afternoon, and will be out of contact for the rest of the week except for emergencies. I’ll be spending the following week back home and will be working then, so if it’s not urgent, you may not hear from me until this coming Monday.
Originally published at ( Read more... ) -
Why I read books on writing
Someone asked me the other day why I read books on writing. I’ve been doing this for 10 years or so, so I should probably have a handle on it, right? Well, ignoring that last question, I had to think about it. All I can really offer is this metaphor.
Our potential as writers to a certain degree is locked inside of a box inside our minds ( Read more... ) -
A few choice quotes from Nick Mamatas’s STARVE BETTER
On story “hooks”:
The start of a story, its first paragraph, should assure the reader that they are in capable hands. The beginning of the story should tantalize, not hook, the reader.
On the use of scene breaks:
If a scene break were a physical item, it would be an 800-pound gong.
Ever since reading that line, I now mentally hear an ( Read more... ) -
Memories of a Grandfather
Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother’s father’s death, Donald Ackors. Actually, as I write this, it’s today, as I tend to write posts the day before and then schedule them.
I want somehow to summarize in a few short words what kind of man he was. What kind of impact he had on me. There’s more than just his genes in my blood. Bits of ( Read more... ) -
Having Something to Say
I’m having a lot of luck writing words lately. There’s just one problem; they’re not meeting my rigorous quality standards out the gate.
I’m torn between wanting to be a good writer and a paid one. Is there a difference? Can you live on $10,000 every 5 years? Quality takes time, and time is money. The two are not mutually exclu ( Read more... ) -
Things I know I shouldn’t do, but do anyway
- Complain about free software services. Damn it, Google, why does your calendar site always break when I want to schedule my mid-afternoon nap?
- Nap when I should be working. Lunch makes me sleepy, and if I nap, then I’ll get more done afterwards, right? No, not even a little bit.
- Take long lunches and eat out of the house. All they’re ( Read more... )
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Knowing Yourself is Overrated
Our culture lately puts a lot of stock in “knowing yourself.” Knowing who you are, your strengths, your weaknesses. Your passions. I’ve heard it said even that before you can write, you must know who you are.
Utter hogwash.
Writing is as much about the act of discovery as it is anything else. The way I see it, the “me” who is aware ( Read more... ) -
Hello, Livejournal!
So, the last time I posted anything over here was October. Uh, sorry. That wasn't my intent. I've got my main site crossposting over again.
So what have I missed in your lives due to my inadvertent shunning?
