tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983205014405680102024-03-08T17:20:43.671-06:00Writing Blog"Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword."
Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu
English dramatist, novelist, & politician (1803 - 1873)Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-43971742381204278202009-11-25T11:31:00.000-06:002009-11-25T11:32:29.890-06:00Happy Thanksgiving Day!I hope all of you will have a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-32404056201236212032009-09-22T11:13:00.000-06:002009-09-22T11:14:26.502-06:00Sand Art Video<span style="font-size:130%;">At the link below, you will find a video showing sand art, created as you watch, with a short explanatory article. The video runs about 8 1/2 minutes--well worth your time.<br /><br />"</span><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/09/art_for_arts_sake_memory_for_t.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Art for art's sake--Memory for the sake of memory</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span>Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-90664395687311396202009-08-04T15:09:00.003-06:002009-08-08T09:01:32.594-06:00What a Sad Little Face!<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/07/14/funny-pictures-belonged-to-a-vegetarian/"><img class="mine_4578100" title="funny-pictures-cat-dreams-of-cheeseburgers" alt="funny pictures of cats with captions" src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/funny-pictures-cat-dreams-of-cheeseburgers.jpg" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/">Lolcats and funny pictures</a><br /><br />(The missing word in the caption is "vegetarian".)Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-73144938802079702002009-07-30T13:08:00.000-06:002009-07-30T13:09:06.847-06:00Uses of LanguageAt the <a href="http://www.hoover.org/">Hoover Institution </a>website is an article about George Orwell, his use of language, and why the preservation and use of the English language is important. The article is titled "<a href="http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/46506232.html">Orwell's Instructive Errors</a>" and was written by Liam Julian.<br /><br />The article discusses what Orwell had to say in his essays about the use of language and also how Orwell himself used language in some of his writings. One of the essays referred to is "<a href="http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm">Politics and the English Language</a>".<br /><br />These two pieces are of interest for political reasons, but also for the use of both readers and writers.<br /><br />I don't agree with everything Liam Julian said. For example, in the following paragraph he seems to think right-wing extremists are the same as conservatives, which is assuredly not true.<br /><blockquote>It is, certainly, not only denizens of the left who theorize and euphemize their way out of inconvenient situations. The staunchest apologists for the worst elements of British Empire were conservatives, and now, as in Orwell’s time, it is conservatives who lean most heavily on theory to explain away indigence and squalor as inevitable in a free society and thereby rid themselves of responsibility to alleviate the burdens of the impoverished. Certainly America’s foremost racists are found on the right, and they have all sorts of theories. And yet such justifications — whether of racism, imperialism, neglect of the poor, or even creationism — currently have but parochial appeal. The left is in power now, and so it is that today’s most influential and worrisome euphemizing comes from the left. </blockquote>Regarding racism in particular, it is people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and, yes, Barack and Michelle Obama who keep racism most alive in America. They are not found on the right in America. Nonetheless, the article has some interesting things to say about the uses of language.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-55489641299295235622009-07-28T11:28:00.002-06:002009-07-28T11:33:49.192-06:00Remember Little Golden Books?<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/golden/">Little Golden Books </a>have been a part of many children's early experience with the world of reading and of art. The illustrations were beautiful, the books were sturdy, and the stories and poems delightful.<br /><br />For your reading pleasure, here is <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/661lhudp.asp">an article </a>from the Weekly Standard about an art exhibition of paintings that illustrated these books.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-50829972236361213662009-07-03T11:49:00.000-06:002009-07-03T11:50:46.951-06:00From the Archives: Historical Research for Your WritingIf you are interested in writing about places and times not your own, you might find <a href="http://members.tripod.com/HistoricalNovelists/arealist.htm"><em>Times and Places</em> </a>a helpful site to visit. The link is to a page with some general articles at the top, followed by more specific groups of links. Try it out and see if it works for you!<br /><br />At <a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/"><em>A Celebration of Women Writers</em> </a>you can find writings from women throughout time and all over the world. I've only begun to look at it myself, but it looks like enough reading to keep you busy for a long time! Like at <em>Times and Places</em> linked above, you may find information and ideas here to help your own writing.<br /><br />Are there one or two websites about literature and/or writing that you really like? Feel free to leave an url in the comments!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-50134807344758796072009-06-20T10:27:00.002-06:002009-06-20T10:29:48.500-06:00One Writer's ViewIn 1946 George Orwell published an essay called "<a href="http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/whyiwrite.htm">Why I Write</a>". In it, he discusses why writing is important for him and what it involves. I thought you might like to read the essay and see what you think. How does what he says differ from your own thoughts about why you write?Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-81565267481566590452009-05-30T08:52:00.002-06:002009-05-30T09:00:00.183-06:00Watching Trends in Book PublishingPresumably, we are all thinking of being published some day. Although we usually don't write in a certain genre just to increase our chances of being published, it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on current trends in book publishing so that we know what's selling and what's not. It also helps to learn what category our writing might fall into.<br /><br />One good place to check is <em><a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/">Publisher's Weekly</a></em>, a source for current news in the book world. An example of the kind of article you can run across there is "<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6660125.html">When Love is Strange: Romance Continues its Affair with the Supernatural</a>". This piece is mostly about romance novels, but also touches on urban fantasy. Take a look at the main page at the first link above to get an idea of all they cover.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-13862237833772545452009-05-14T08:44:00.002-06:002009-05-14T08:46:55.841-06:00Why Writers WriteHere is an interesting site with 182 articles about why writers write. It is fascinating to read all the different viewpoints. It may also help you figure out why you want to write and figure out what kind of writing will best help you meet your goals.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.helium.com/knowledge/16601-why-writers-write">Why Writers Write</a><br /><br />Enjoy!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-30535661764624018622009-04-28T07:07:00.002-06:002009-04-28T07:15:01.315-06:00Giving Up 'Readings'What do I mean by 'readings'? I mean viewing a book, essay, poem, or other piece of writing through the lens of a particular philosopher such as Marx or Derrida. This makes no sense, really. What does Marx have to do with Dickens, for example?<br /><br />Here is an article by Mark Edmundson that explains the idea of giving up 'readings' far better than I could. The title of the piece is "<a href="http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i33/33b00601.htm">Against Readings</a>". <br /><br />I was interested to find an article expressing an idea that had been vaguely floating around in my mind for some time. I think we should read each piece of writing on its own terms for its own merits. <br /><br />What do you think? Is there any point in applying a particular philosophy to a piece of writing?Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-23514514531514275782009-04-27T17:42:00.001-06:002009-04-27T17:43:51.644-06:00Writing a Novel<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zs776GQCYmg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zs776GQCYmg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-53949582859841267572009-04-25T12:45:00.001-06:002009-04-25T12:46:49.936-06:00Finding Ideas for a Short Story<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rWNDpXqo-Ik&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rWNDpXqo-Ik&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-26203266715840211912009-04-24T14:01:00.002-06:002009-04-24T14:07:27.295-06:00Arts & LettersThere is a website called <a href="http://www.aldaily.com/"><em>Arts & Letters Daily</em> </a>that you might enjoy looking at. It's full of links to articles, book reviews, and essays. Down the left sidebar is a long list of various types of links, as well. <br /><br />Some things you'll like and some you won't, but there's a lot of variety there. In the many links, you will probably discover some interesting websites that will appeal to you.<br /><br />Enjoy!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-22263565289447301502009-04-23T16:11:00.002-06:002009-04-23T16:15:54.473-06:00Cute ThingsI recently became aware of two websites that will make you smile!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org/">Cute Things Falling Asleep</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cutethingslaughing.com/">Cute Things Laughing</a><br /><br />Enjoy!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-84658444103878864162009-02-21T11:25:00.002-06:002009-02-21T11:28:57.664-06:00Read Some PoetryThere's nothing like reading a little poetry to relax you and also to inspire you in your own writing.<br /><br />One site for enjoying poetry is <em><a href="http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/display/index.cfm">Representative Poetry Online</a></em>. Look around and try some different authors and different types of poetry. <br /><br />The internet is such a wonderful thing for allowing us to sample different writings and find out what we really like. For free!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-4305702329041658902009-01-31T14:34:00.002-06:002009-01-31T14:38:55.360-06:00A PoemRobert Southey. 1774–1843<br /> <br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.bartleby.com/101/556.html">His Books</a></span></strong><br /> <br />MY days among the Dead are past;<br /><a name="1"> </a> Around me I behold,<br /><a name="2"> </a>Where'er these casual eyes are cast,<br /><a name="3"> </a> The mighty minds of old:<br /><a name="4"> </a><br />My never-failing friends are they,<br /><a name="5"> </a>With whom I converse day by day.<br /><a name="6"> </a>With them I take delight in weal<br /><a name="7"> </a> And seek relief in woe;<br /><a name="8"> </a><br />And while I understand and feel<br /><a name="9"> </a> How much to them I owe,<br /><a name="10"> </a>My cheeks have often been bedew'd<br /><a name="11"> </a> With tears of thoughtful gratitude.<br /><a name="12"> </a><br />My thoughts are with the Dead; with them<br /><a name="13"> </a> I live in long-past years,<br /><a name="14"> </a>Their virtues love, their faults condemn,<br /><a name="15"> </a> Partake their hopes and fears;<br /><a name="16"> </a><br />And from their lessons seek and find<br /><a name="17"> </a>Instruction with an humble mind.<br /><a name="18"> </a>My hopes are with the Dead; anon<br /><a name="19"> </a> My place with them will be,<br /><a name="20"> </a><br />And I with them shall travel on<br /><a name="21"> </a> Through all Futurity;<br /><a name="22"> </a>Yet leaving here a name, I trust,<br /><a name="23"> </a>That will not perish in the dust.<br /><a name="24"> </a>Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-57038552654366685712009-01-17T09:21:00.002-06:002009-01-17T09:42:53.546-06:00Travel BooksLately I have been reading some travel books by Paul Theroux. If one can overlook his occasional negative comments about America (and he is an American) and his cynical views of a number of the places he visits, they are interesting books. I have to say, they have put me off of doing any traveling other than armchair traveling, but then he travels alone and wings it as far as finding accomodations and transportation--something most of us wouldn't attempt. His preferred mode of travel is the train, which is why I have persisted in reading his books. Train travel fascinates me, as does learning something about different countries and the people in them. <br /><br />The books cover more than 30 years, so they are not up-to-date, but are interesting nevertheless, if you keep in mind when Mr. Theroux was making the trip he is writing about.<br /><br />The four books I've read are <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Railway-Bazaar-Paul-Theroux/dp/0618658947/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232206564&sr=1-2">The Great Railway Bazaar</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riding-Iron-Rooster-Train-Through/dp/0618658971/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232206564&sr=1-6">Riding the Iron Rooster</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Old-Patagonian-Express-Through-Americas/dp/039552105X/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232206564&sr=1-7">The Old Patagonian Express</a>, </em>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-Eastern-Star-Railway/dp/0618418873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232206564&sr=1-1"><em>Ghost Train to the Eastern Star</em> </a>(a revisiting of <em>The Great Railway Bazaar</em> trip 30+ years later). <br /><br />In the first and last books mentioned, Mr. Theroux travels from London, through Europe, on to Central and Southern Asia, Japan, and across Russia and back to England. <em>Riding the Iron Rooster</em> covers travel throughout China, and <em>The Old Patagonian Express</em> follows a trip from Boston through Mexico and Central and South America to Patagonia.<br /><br />If you like the idea of train travel and of seeing the world, you might check one of these books out from the library and see if you like them. You can also read the descriptions and customer reviews at Amazon, linked above.<br /><br />Do you know of other authors who've written about train travel? If so, please share! I'd love to hear of some different books to try.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-64815678636427797092009-01-02T09:39:00.002-06:002009-01-02T09:47:31.140-06:00A Fresh New YearIt's a fresh new year for all of us writers! Take a little time to make some plans and set some goals for your writing in 2009.<br /><br />One thing you can do is write every day. Write in a journal, work on a story or essay, try different types of poetry.<br /><br />Another thing is to read every day. Read widely, not just in the genre you want to write in. The more you learn, the more ideas will be floating around in your brain to draw upon. You might stumble across a historical incident that you could base a short story on, or read an essay that sparks an idea for a novel.<br /><br />A third thing is to practice observing life around you. Whatever your circumstances, you can improve your observations about people, places, and things. Practice writing descriptions of what you observe.<br /><br />You also might want to set a goal of submitting a short story, poem, or essay to a magazine (mainstream or literary). Read up on submission guidelines for the places you want to submit. Read sample issues (often you can read some samples of what the publication uses online or read sample issues at the library, thus doing your research for free).<br /><br />You'll be able to think of other things you can do to further your writing. Make it a productive year!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-63045597748146964562008-12-25T09:59:00.002-06:002008-12-25T10:22:20.083-06:00What Literature Can DoMerry Christmas, everyone! <br /><br />At this time of year, many people enjoy reading Christmas stories and that has become a part of their family traditions. Of course, Christmas stories from the Bible are especially important to share because they tell us why we have Christmas in the first place. The story from <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/luke/2">Luke 2</a> combined with <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/john/3/16#16">John 3:16 </a>can share a powerful message, along with other favorite scriptures you may have.<br /><br />One loved book is Charles Dickens' <em><a href="http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Charles_Dickens/A_Christmas_Carol/">A Christmas Carol</a></em>. Years ago, I grew tired of all the take-offs of this story that were done on various television series. It helps that I don't watch much TV these days!! But my interest was revived when I read the original book. I've also collected a few different versions of movies based on the book. A favorite is <a href="http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=081450&loc=title">the 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim</a>, but there are others.<br /><br />This morning I found an article at <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/"><em>National Review Online</em> </a>that talks about the contribution Charles Dickens' book made to the way we celebrate Christmas. It's called "<a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWQ0YmE0MzhhZTEyMmJiMjZiNDg1OTU3MGZmOTdlNjU=">A Dickensian Christmas</a>" by Rich Lowry. I thought you might enjoy reading it this Christmas season, and thinking about the influence a good book can have on our lives.<br /><br />Again, Merry Christmas!!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-6811021000413352442008-12-07T07:49:00.002-06:002008-12-07T07:54:50.318-06:00Books as GiftsBooks make wonderful gifts--for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, any occasion. For some help with giving books, see this Michael Dirda column at the <em><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a></em>. "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/04/AR2008120402676.html">Michael Dirda on the 10 Commandments of Book Giving</a>"<br /><br />You know your family and friends and what they would probably like, so think about giving some books this year!Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-48361098093653195182008-12-06T09:20:00.002-06:002008-12-06T09:32:09.473-06:00A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensWhat Christmas books do you enjoy most this time of year? I love to read <a href="http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Charles_Dickens/A_Christmas_Carol/"><em>A Christmas Carol</em> </a>by Charles Dickens. I have linked to one place it can be found on the internet, at <em><a href="http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/">Page by Page Books</a></em>. <br /><br />Being something of an Anglophile, I enjoy the book for its detailed descriptions of daily life at Christmas time. Overall, though, the book's pleasure comes from watching a man grow from selfishness to generosity. An overarching theme of change can raise a book from an ordinary level of entertainment to a memorable story that can inspire those who read it. This is something to strive for in our own writing. <br /><br />Christmas time provides an inspiring message all its own and leads many people to change and improvement. Reading <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/luke/2">Luke 2</a> in the Bible's New Testament is one of my favorite things to do. Going to the source for the Christmas story provides the ultimate inspiration.<br /><br />What are your favorites in Christmas reading?Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-76998096983519294462008-12-03T10:41:00.001-06:002008-12-03T10:41:50.544-06:00From the Archives: "Sensible" WritingWhen writing the description of a scene, don't just tell what it looks like. Descriptions of things that can be seen are important to the reader--it helps their imagination to picture what you are describing. Don't stop there, though.<br /><br />What sounds would you hear in that place and time? Would there be traffic noise, people chatting, thunder booming, dishes clattering? How about birds singing or leaves crunching as someone walks over them?<br /><br />Then there are smells. Do you smell food cooking? Are you describing a gas station and is the smell of gas wafting on the air? In a garden, can you smell flowers or mulch or fresh cut grass?<br /><br />Is there tasting involved? Is a character eating a meal or trying a new food? Is there something that tastes sweet, sour, salty, or bitter? Is there an awful smell that leaves an acrid taste in your mouth?<br /><br />How about touching? Does something feel smooth, rough, wet, dry, hot, cold? Is there a cat with soft fur or a dog with wiry hair? <br /><br />Those kinds of descriptions can add so much to your scenes. It can give a sense of realism, a sense of "you are there". See what you can do by adding just a little extra--don't overdo it, of course. You wouldn't want to cram in all five senses in every scene, but a little something besides just what can be seen might make all the difference in how right your descriptions feel.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-18332848204386689842008-11-27T05:27:00.002-06:002008-11-27T05:32:36.445-06:00Happy Thanksgiving Day!Happy Thanksgiving! May you all have a happy day and take the time to think of all the blessings you have and express gratitude for those blessings.<br /><br />I did run across <a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzczYmEwMjRlNTM4Y2ViYjQxYTE2MjE0M2MzZmM3OGI=">an article </a>about poet Dana Gioia here. There is a link in the article to an essay he wrote called "<a href="http://www.danagioia.net/essays/ecpm.htm">Can Poetry Matter</a>?". I'll leave those with you for something to read over your holiday.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-30330111126959521772008-11-22T08:45:00.003-06:002008-11-22T08:52:48.131-06:00Writing Tutorial in 3 VideosYou can go to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> and search "writing fiction" to get some interesting videos with good information about writing. I found a series of three videos (about 9 minutes each) summarizing Jack M. Bickham's writing book, <em>The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them).</em> These are entertaining and will give you some good tips, too.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4dUh2LcH08U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4dUh2LcH08U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FTKIb_yEBDk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FTKIb_yEBDk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5RNedOKz2mM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5RNedOKz2mM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-698320501440568010.post-41271108575726370432008-11-15T09:27:00.002-06:002008-11-15T09:38:14.377-06:00Reflections on WritingOne thing that helps me a lot with all aspects of writing is to read books about writing. Not only do I learn about the technical aspects of writing, but I often come across some inspiration and ideas for writing I would like to do.<br /><br />Ideas come from all sorts of places, sometimes unexpectedly. It's good to be open to these ideas and to note them down in a notebook. It's impossible to remember everything, so writing it down helps a great deal and gives you a source to reflect on when you are stumped.<br /><br />Unless you are writing solely for your own entertainment, or that of your family and friends, which is a perfectly legitiment reason for writing, you will eventually need to learn about how to go about being published. A recent podcast from <a href="http://www.writingshow.com/index.html"><em>The Writing Show</em> </a>can give you some pointers about this. The title is "<a href="http://www.writingshow.com/podcasts/2008/11092008.html">What do Publishers Want from Query Letters and Proposals</a>?" and the editor interviewed is Jennifer Silva Redmond. I found it a very helpful podcast. You can also peruse their various <a href="http://www.writingshow.com/archives/archive_index.html">archives</a> for more help and inspiration. <br /><br />Input of various kinds can help your output considerably.Mary Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14857047574888092479noreply@blogger.com0