Tag Archive | Writer

Back To Basics: Reading And Writing

I’ve been spending some time rethinking my reading and writing goals. I still haven’t picked up a book as of late, and I really need to get going. There are so many wonderful books out there. My problem is that I’ve currently concentrated on my blog. It’s paid off too. After all these years of writing for myself, I am finally beginning to create an audience, which I enjoy and is wonderful. It is just the beginning. Somehow I have to get organized and find balance between reading and writing, between planning and execution. I know I can do this. I’m just frustrated that everything is taking so much longer than I’d like.

Below are some great writing – and reading – posts I’ve been meaning to discuss.

Why It’s Important To Take Your Reader Into Account | The Collaborative Writer

Knowing You’re A Writer From An Early Age | The Collaborative Writer

I love the Collaborative Writer. As you can see from the titles above, she tackles subjects other writers don’t want to discuss or subjects that may seem obvious at first. I particularly liked her discussion of the trials and tribulations of Knowing You’re A Writer From An Early Age. I think most writers can relate at some level.

Writer Unboxed » The Long Distance Landscape of a Writing Career

Writer Unboxed » (A Writer’s) Age Is Just A Number

Both of the posts above from Writer Unboxed inspire me. I take a very long-term view of what I want to accomplish with my writing, blogging or otherwise. I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’m just getting warmed up. The same goes for reading.

Speaking of which… below is a series of posts discussing the importance of reading purposely to inform your writing. This is precisely why I began keeping lists of books I want to read and books I already read, as well as where I got the book – own versus library. This series takes it to a whole new level. I’ve read this advice other places as well. I’m going to have to carefully consider it. I’m not doing enough to record my thoughts on what I read. Wonderful stuff if you are serious about reading and writing.

Life is Short. Read with Purpose. « DIY MFA

3 Steps to Reading With Purpose « DIY MFA

Prompt: Make a Reading Plan « DIY MFA

DIY MFA

Down, Not Out (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
The Year of the Unschool MFA (flourish.dreamwidth.org)
Continuing Education May Make You Wiser, But Richer? (getrichslowly.org)
Where does a new writer go to learn? (cherylmurphywrites.wordpress.com)
When You Feel Down About Your Talent as a Writer (storycirclenetwork.wordpress.com)

Reading 2012 | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

E-Book Challenge 2012 (December 2011 – Present) | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

Reading List (July 2009 – Present) | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

Writing Resources

Nov19

Image by Vivianna_love via Flickr

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: When Life Gets in the Way of Writing

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: Collecting New Experiences

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: Friday Speak Out!: Reading to Write, Guest Post by Jamie Patterson

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: The Power of Freewriting

WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47: Carving Out Your Writing Niche

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Writing Niche

There is so much great material on WOW! Women On Writing Blog and WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47, I just had to share. I would love to carve out my own writing niche. In fact, I’ve wanted to start a blog focusing on study abroad and what I term study travel for years. I need to simply start. I have a lot of advice and experience to offer and the topic endlessly fascinates me. What am I waiting for again?

WOW! Women On Writing Blog

WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47: Carving Out Your Writing Niche

Why We Write

Oct23

: Image by churl via Flickr

“Why We Write”: Cathryn Humphris | Go Into The Story

Why We Write

I came across a wonderful collection of essays discussing why we write. One of my favorite essays happened to be highlighted on Go Into The Story. While I’m not into screenwriting, I could easily relate to these essays. So, why do I write?

I write because I have something to say. I do not remember a time in my life when I didn’t enjoy books, whether I could read or not. My Mom read to me as a small child, and I grew up in a home that valued storytelling. That truly gets to the root of why I write: I have a compelling story to share. I don’t want that collection of stories I carry around in my head to die with me. I want them to live on, even if only a handful of people appreciate them. It is as simple as that.

Reality Check

Oct17

Nations: A Simulation Game in International Po...

Image via Wikipedia

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: So Yes, I Blog!

I can understand where this post is coming from. I first learned about blogging and blogs seven years ago, but there are so many people, especially people who do not write, who still think of blogging as something new, almost a novelty. It especially boggles my mind when writers, very talented writers at that, still hesitate to jump into the online world. What are people waiting for?

There are so many days when I wish that I had more time to devote to writing online. I absolutely love it. In many ways it there has never been a better time to be a writer. I hope it only continues to get better.

On writing (briandmains.com)
Note 167 – How to write for Technorati (mywritingnotebook.wordpress.com)

More From The Collaborative Writer

Sep3

Image by pigpogm via Flickr

You Are Here

The link above is Allison Gunn’s latest effort as the Collaborative Writer. I love her message, and the new website provides a lot of information for anyone who is having a hard time putting pen to paper. I also love the look of her latest website.

I’m going to have to investigate her salon (i.e. forum) soon. Hopefully I’ll make some great contacts. I’m always looking new ideas and new inspiration.

Below are links to the blog and forum. The final link leads to an earlier post discussing the Collaborative Writer.

The Collaborative Writer | Demythologizing cultural beliefs about writing, one post at a time

The Collaborative Writer: An online writers’ salon filled with interesting discussion and no harsh critiques

The Collaborative Writer | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

The Collaborative Writer (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
Planning, Plotting, Scheming (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
A new beginning for The Collaborative Writer! (collaborativewriter.wordpress.com)
Google+ for writers, again. (selfpubauthors.wordpress.com)

Planning, Plotting, Scheming

Jul25

Image via Wikipedia

Setting your writing compass | The Collaborative Writer

The Collaborative Writer | Demythologizing cultural beliefs about writing, one post at a time

I love the thinking that goes into The Collaborative Writer. I spent the last week or so thinking about the topic discussed in the article above, setting your writing compass. How is anyone supposed to know where they are going if there is no plan? No one needs to follow even the most well-developed plans completely. That is what is so great about planning. You learn a lot throughout the process – which is true in my case. Once you are “done” with the planning, then you can go back and apply what you learned, thereby not sticking to the original plan.

I admit that I become bogged down in the process. I love it and feel the need to revise it in some ill-fated attempt at perfection. This process may actually serve a purpose in my writing. When I think about my original writing plans, they were way too small for what I truly feel I can accomplish. I had to go back and reevaluate what I want to do. Each book I read gives me new insight and new ideas into what I want to accomplish. I just need to find a way to balance my reading with my writing. I love both, but it is all too convenient to fall into a good book as a way of procrastinating on the writing front. I need to break out of that cycle!

It is time to get back to the topic of setting your writing compass. I don’t know how any person wishing to make an impact as writer can accomplish anything without some idea of intent. What do you want your work to do? Of course, that gets to the heart of why people write. It may seem obvious, but it is also worth remembering.

The Collaborative Writer (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
Writing Tidbits (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
A Time for Honesty (copywrite1985.wordpress.com)
Reason Vs. Intuition: Finding The Right Balance (alwayswellwithin.com)
The Writer of No Future (accordingtohoyt.com)
The Five Stages of Writing a Book (madgeniusclub.com)

Why I Write: Inspiration All Around

Jun4

Image by Sterlic via Flickr

Author Harry Bernstein dies – USATODAY.com

I’d never heard of author Harry Bernstein until today. He passed away at age 101 and was first published at age 96. Despite spending most of his professional life as a movie script reader for MGM and as an editor of a trade magazine, he didn’t begin writing until age 93. He even claimed that his 90s were the most productive years of his life.

What an inspiration! I guess you really are never too old to fulfill your dreams. From the description in the obituary above, his books sound exactly like something I’d love to read. I just requested them from the library today. I can’t wait!

Writer Unboxed » Been There

The post I discovered above gets to the heart of why I feel compelled to write. There is something universal to be shared in most meaningful experiences. It takes one talented writer to make it work on the page. Many writers try to capture the universal; only a few do it well.