I’m reading (well, re-reading) Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Although the book focuses on the structure of screenplays, the information can be applied to other forms of storytelling, as can the descriptions of archetypes that characters represent.
Category: Writer’s Resources
Help on writing and the writing life. Grammar, Inspiration, Marketing & Publishing, Prompts, Writing Tips
Writing process: Experiencing life twice
Quote for the day:
Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror, which waits always before or behind. ~Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957
What I’m reading: Mentor: A Memoir
I just finished reading Tom Grimes’ Mentor: A Memoir in which he reveals the ups and downs of the writing process and the publishing world. The book also offers a glimpse into the friendship Grimes had with writer Frank Conroy. I found this book to be a quick, enjoyable and worthwhile read.
Writing process: Checklist
We all have certain writing habits – some good, some bad. For instance, I have a tendency to use the word “just” too often. To make sure you’re not making the same mistakes over and over again, try compiling your own checklist of potential mistakes. Refer to it during the final edit of a manuscript, before sending the writing out. Possible items to include on a checklist:
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Eliminate sentence fragments (unless used for effect).
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Make sure there is only one space after the period at the end of a sentence.
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Insert a comma before “and” in a series.
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Italicize titles of books.
What I’m reading: Zyzzyva
Zyzzyva is a print journal that accepts writing from West Coast writers and artists only. The publication accepts submissions from writers and artists currently living in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon or California. Finally — it pays to be from where we are!
Writing process: The importance of white space
| If you immediately jump from one writing project to the next, you decrease the chance that a new, unexpected writing idea will pop into your head. Instead, try taking a break and leaving some white space between projects. Leo Babauta explains more below:
Posted: 16 Sep 2010 11:30 AM PDT
Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on twitter .I’m not a designer, but I’ve always been in love with the design concept of white space. It’s the space in a design that isn’t filled with things — as you can tell from the design of Zen Habits and my other blog, mnmlist, it’s something I use (perhaps too) liberally. But white space can be used in the design of our lives as well, not just the design of magazines and websites and ads. By using white space in our lives, we create space, balance, emphasis on what’s important, and a feeling of peace that we cannot achieve with a more cramped life. Let’s look briefly at how to do this. The principles of white spaceSome of the things white space accomplishes in design:
These same concepts can translate to our lives:
Achieving white spaceIn theory, achieving white space isn’t difficult: you remove non-essential items from your life, your workday, your surroundings, your possessions, and leave the essential items with space around them. But of course in practice it’s a bit different, and requires experimentation, learning, practice. I’d suggest starting small, with one area of your life, and making small bits of white space. Start by identifying what’s important, and the slowly removing the non-essential things to create the white space. Some ideas:
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What I’m reading: Hokusai Says
Hokusai Says
By Roger Keyes
Hokusai says Look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.
He says Look Forward to getting old.
He says keep changing, you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat yourself as long as it’s interesting.
He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.
He says every one of us is a child, every one of us is ancient,
every one of us has a body.
He says every one of us is frightened.
He says every one of us has to find a way to live with fear.
He says everything is alive – shells, buildings, people, fish, mountains, trees.
Wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.
He says it doesn’t matter if you draw, or write books.
It doesn’t matter if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home and stare at the ants on your verandah.
Or the shadows of the trees and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.
It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.
Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength is life living through you.
Peace is life living through you.
He says don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.
Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you.
Inspiration: Look into your heart
“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside, awakens.” — Carl Jung
What I’m reading: The Writer’s Book
In The Writer’s Book, published more than 50 years ago by Barnes & Noble, the advice is still timely:
“…the best work…has always been done by people who were concerned only with pleasing themselves. Given a reasonable degree of competence in the mechanics of the craft, there is an audience, large or small, for anything that any of us writes to please himself, since none of us is unique.” — Richard Summers
Magazine vs. newspaper writing
Here’s one writer’s take on the differences between writing for newspapers and magazines:
http://www.freelancewriting.com/articles/newspaper-vs-magazine-work.php
Nancy Woods 