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Posts from the ‘Writing Life’ Category

Sep 5

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In writing, anything worth doing is worth doing badly

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” – G. K. Chesterton

I’ve never met a writer yet who doesn’t feel resistance to writing in one form or another.

Sometimes getting stuck is a sign you need to do more research or try freewriting your way to ideas. The antidote is to just push forward no matter how messy it may seem.

Resistance can take the form of procrastination, failure to write certain scenes that are “difficult,” and a fluttery feeling in your stomach that feels like fear but is a good sign that you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone. At that moment, your shadow self may be telling you all sorts of things to feed the fear.

“You’re too old.”

“You’re not creative enough.” Read more

Sep 4

Elmore Leonard answers 10 questions about writing

In this interview with Time magazine, the late author Elmore Leonard answers 10 questions about writing and his career.

I was intrigued to learn he wrote all his novels by hand–with pen and paper. He then typed his scenes on a typewriter. I usually write my scenes on the computer but go back to pen and paper when I’m stuck or when the words aren’t flowing. There’s just something about the physical act of writing that gets me going again. Do you write by hand? Typewriter? Computer? Why do you write the way you do?

Listen to the short interview below to hear what else Leonard has to say and what his “perfect crime” would be.

To find out what other famous author used a typewriter, read this earlier post by Carly.

Sep 3

Swimmer Diana Nyad reaches her goal: Lessons in persistence we can draw on as writers

“You don’t like it. It’s not doing well. Find a way.” Diana Nyad’s mantra as she swam from Cuba to Florida.

On her fifth attempt, Diana Nyad, 64, met her goal Monday to swim 103 miles from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida. It took her nearly 53 hours.

Nyad, made her first try in 1978 at the age of 28. She made more recent attempts after turning 60, battling jellyfish stings, asthma, dehydration, and sharks. In this final attempt, Nyad swam without a shark cage and had a support team who went before her to clear the way of jellyfish and sharks. She also wore a special mask to protect her face.

For anyone who has goals, whether they’re to make a record-breaking swim or write and publish a book, Nyad’s example offers a lesson in persistence.

One of the things that has helped me reach my personal goals has been finding people who inspire me and whose example I can follow. I followed Nyad’s progress since her attempt in 2010 and this weekend as she met her goal.

According to a CNN story, as Nyad came ashore, she told reporters she had three messages: “One is we should never, ever give up. Two is you never are too old to chase your dreams. Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team.” Read more

Aug 28

Neil Gaiman and Phillip Pullman discuss imagination and creativity

Have I died and gone to writer heaven? I must have, because I just discovered that two of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman and Phillip Pullman, have a podcast togethe. In this conversation, between the two prolific authors, they discuss everything from The Wind in the Willows to what they remember reading as children to mysticism and science.

Near the end of the piece, Gaiman reads from his newest book The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

One of my favorite moments is when Gaiman says, “Imagining things is the point of it all…it is not a waste of time.”

Listen to this interview and see what imaginings you can conjure along the way.

Aug 21

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Rented typewriter at a library leads to success for Ray Bradbury

It’s no wonder the late Ray Bradbury was a big supporter of libraries and urged writers to read classics for writing inspiration.

Bradbury mixed a regular writing practice with reading classics to fuel his prolific career.

He wrote the classic Fahrenheit 451for a total cost of $9.80. Bradbury’s office was the library, and in 1951, he rented a typewriter for 10 cents per half hour at UCLA’s Powell Library. When the timer went off, Bradbury would read and draw inspiration from classics, including Herman Melville, William Shakespeare, and Edgar Allan Poe. Bradbury, who would have turned 93 tomorrow, wrote his classic Fahrenheit 451 over nine days in an estimated 49 hours.

“Libraries raised me. I don’t believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.” Read more

Aug 19

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Try these writing (and reading) exercises to hone your skills

Musicians riff and play scales to practice. Athletes have training routines. Why shouldn’t writers do writing exercises? Sometimes, a writing exercise turns into a poem or short story or becomes the seed of a novel or essay.

Writing exercises offer a way to experiment without the pressure of “getting it right.” They can prompt ideas for your work in progress and warm you up to write for an extended period. If you’re facing a blank page, a writing exercise might be the way in to something new.

Daily writing exercises help establish a routine. The hardest thing about working on a goal can be getting started, whether it’s exercising or writing. Just getting to the gym, putting your running clothes on and stepping out the door, or sitting down in front of your computer or notebook is the first step. Once you’re there, the rest isn’t so hard. And once you’re done with the “workout,” doesn’t it feel great?

Try this exercise: Find a random object in your house. It could be a souvenir you brought home from a vacation, a piece of art, a gift someone gave you, or a memento from your childhood. Write for 10 minutes about the object. Write about what it means to you, how you acquired it, why you keep it. Tell this object’s story.

Read more

Aug 13

Chicago library scene of surprise marriage proposal

You would expect these things to happen at a library: books checked out, classes taught, children’s story hour, and a book sale. But how about a marriage proposal?

That’s what Jason Methner did to propose to his girlfriend Molly Lipsitz. He wrote a children’s book, called “A Hare-y Tale,” about his relationship with her that featured her favorite stuffed animal (a  bunny), a tortoise, and a marriage proposal. He had the book printed, then placed it in the children’s section of the Harold Washington Library in Chicago.

Both Jason and Molly are fans of books and libraries, so it seemed like a creative and fitting place to pop the question. He made up a story to get her to the library, helped her find the book, and then got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes.

Photographer Aparna Paul Jain was in on the surprise proposal and snapped Lipsitz’s reaction when Methner popped the question. (photos courtesy of Aparna Paul Jain.)

For more details, read about it in the Huffington Post.

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