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Posts by Carly Sandifer

Jan 3

My writerly inheritance: The curiosity gene

When I was in elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Working as a journalist turned out to be the perfect job for me because it required asking questions, which is one of my favorite things to do.

My blogging partner Carol’s post, What writerly traits run in your family?, got me thinking about my writerly DNA.

I was born with the curious gene. I figure I inherited it from my mother. When I was a newspaper reporter, she often called me with some tidbit of news she’d heard or something she saw that she thought I’d want to know about because it might make a good story. And she was often right. Read more

Jan 1

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Happy New Year: What’s your theme for 2013?

There’s something about the first day of a new year that seems so full of promise. A new beginning.

Some people like to set New Year’s resolutions, and others prefer to have a personal theme. One of my friends has a word or phrase she picks to be her guide for the year. A touchstone that inspires her to live the life she intends. I talked to her yesterday to find out if she’d decided on her 2013 theme. She said she’s spent too much time over the past 10 years “waiting.” This is the year she takes action instead of waiting for the so-called right moment. Her 2013 theme: “There’s no time like now.” Read more

Dec 28

Get a burst of writing energy from three of my favorite posts

One of my favorite things about writing this blog is how much I learn from it. As the year winds down, I thought I’d share several posts that were particularly energizing.

I discovered an interview online that led me to write, Improve your writing craft with this assignment from author Ray Bradbury. I’ve amped up my reading practice due to his advice. Read more

Dec 26

Do one thing every day that scares you

In the midst of our routines, it’s also good to try new things. Aim to write every day, but try writing something that’s unfamiliar. If you only write novels, try poetry. Everything you do contributes to your skills as a writer.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Maybe a certain topic or idea is fluttering in the back of your mind, but the thought of writing about it makes you nervous. If you get an anxious tug in your stomach, that’s a good sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. Read more

Dec 24

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Beginning January 1, don’t break your writing chain

Despite dire predictions that the world was going to end last week, I’ve been thinking ahead to how I’ll meet my writing goals in 2013. One reason I like to learn how successful writers work is to see if they have any rituals or routines that I can follow myself.

There’s no way around it: A regular writing routine is crucial to producing finished work. So I was intrigued when I read about the Don’t Break The Chain calendar idea attributed to comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

As the story goes, each January, Seinfeld hangs a year-at-a-glance calendar on a prominent wall of his office, and for every day that he writes new material, he gets to mark a big “X” over that date. After a few days, a chain of Xs begins to form. The annual goal is to write every day and not break the chain. Read more

Dec 20

Two notebooks that won’t let your ideas wash away

My best ideas and writing breakthroughs rarely come to me when I’m sitting in front of the computer. Unfortunately, those ideas can be fleeting, which is a prime reason to carry a notebook.

Inspiration often strikes when I’m on a walk, driving around in my car, lying in bed — and in the shower.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered another writing tool to add to my kit for writing in wet places. Aqua Notes are waterproof notepads that come with suction pads for sticking in the shower. AquaNotes tablets also include a pencil, and you can even write under water. Read more

Dec 18

A different kind of reading list: Melancholy books

I think a really great book touches all of a reader’s emotions. Have you ever read something where you were laughing one minute and crying the next? On his blog, author Matt de la Pena advocates embracing rather than avoiding sadness in writing. He discussed this topic in Novels Have Become an Escape on “Room for Debate,” a feature of the New York Times opinion pages.

If you’re writing a melancholy book, you may want to read books from a list de la Pena compiled, which includes his comments about the books. You can also learn more about writing from de la Pena in this post, Get out of your reader’s way with these tips.

“Melancholy Reading List”by Matt de la Pena:
– Suttree by Cormac McCarthy (Best novel I’ve ever read.)
– Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (Beautiful and quiet working class YA from a female perspective.) Read more

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