quotable “you can’t go back…”

In keeping with the traditions of the NaNoWriMo season, I've a quote for you that can be applied to the herculean task of writing 50,000 words in one month... or, more generally - to life.  🙂 "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - …

Quotable Thursday: “All you have to do is write one true sentence”

In honor of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as it is otherwise known, I'm posting a quote from Hemingway.  These are the words he'd say to himself, when faced with writer's block or self doubt - "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." - …

The bee

A bee flew into my mouth the other day. Maybe my sweet talk drew him in. I felt him tumbling over my tongue, searching for purchase on my palate. But I spit him out before he had the chance to stand or to sting. I couldn’t risk the prospect of adding any bite to my …

a practice

Over the course of a writer's life, I image that the amount of writing can ebb and flow like the tide.  It's easy to fall into this trap.  Life and responsibilities can easily take over even the most well-intentioned  (but undisciplined) writer's life. Clearly, I'm talking about myself here. I've gone through periods of time …

Guest Post on Viral Blues by C.S. Boyack

I recently invited my friend and author C.S. Boyack, over at https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com to do a guest post for his new book "Viral Blues."  Craig is a talented author and blogger - his posts are often filled with good humor, snark, and fun, as well as great advice and ideas.  Take it away, Craig!   Thanks for …

past embarrassed

Sometimes, I get embarrassed about things that have happened months (or years) ago.  My brain conjures up an event and even now, sometime well past it on the space-time continuum, I cringe.  Ugh. As a writer, I can see my past mistakes.  I keep scores of notebooks and, believe it or not, I've had this …

why do we write?

I was asked a seemingly simple question - why do we write? We can look at this with cold logic and reply simply: we write to communicate, educate, or record.  And that is quite true. Perhaps the real question is: why do writers write? It would be different for everyone.  Some want to scare, thrill, or …

writer problems #3 – meeting your characters

So, let's pretend you're a writer (or if you are one, just be you) - you've spent months developing characters and putting them in all kinds of fun (and not fun) situations.  You've spent so much time at that wooden table at your local coffee place that you glare at interlopers if they dare sit …

Writer Problems #2 – questions

I ask a lot of questions. Dare I say it?  I may sometimes ask too many questions.  I am most at risk of asking too many questions if: I'm interested in the topic, the person is interesting, we have an excellent banter thing going on (then I might start asking ridiculous questions because I'm enjoying …

Random Grammar Tip #2

Grammar tips – brought to you by a random non-grammarian. We all struggle with grammar sometimes.  Texting is the most common venue for grammar fuck-ups and the worst is messing up: they're, there, and their.  I know the difference and yet sometimes quick fingers make a fool of me too. But, in case you don't …