The Write Place
Here you will find everything to do with writing, whether it is my writing or what I'm learning from reading books on writing. Reading, vocabulary, and grammar are the tools of the trade. The very best people to learn from are the ones who are seasoned writers who teach writing. You would be wise to enlist them as your mentors, as I have.
- In: The Write Place
Taken from a question and answer session at the University of Oregon, the author shares his insights into the life of a writer.
Faulkner feels that his job as a writer is to write what he believes and express it in the best way that he can. And when he's finished, he hopes it is expressed in a way that everyone can understand and derive some benefit from it.
He believes that you need to wait before making changes. You will get to a point where you realize this is the best you can do. And if it still fails to express what you are striving for and is not good enough, then you must decide if there is enough there to make it worth finishing.
- In: The Write Place
Although most of her books are marketed for children L'Engle says she does not write for children - she writes for herself. I love this because I also write for myself, even laughing sometimes while writing because I find the stories that come to me are so entertaining. And it is always good to know you aren't alone. I'm always hearing "find your audience" but whether or not anyone else enjoys my writing, I know I do and that is what makes me happy. And in the end, isn't that what it's all about? Finding your joy?
Although many authors do receive kudos and instant fame and fortune with their first novel, L'Engle didn't receive any recognition until she wrote "A Wrinkle in Time", her 11th book. I know that certainly gives me hope, now working on my 4th book.
- In: The Write Place
Is there such a thing? In a couple of years I had written three books. While writing these books (one is a non-fiction so I am talking only about the fiction books that I wrote), I have been so excited about the creative process and the ideas that have swarmed my brain to give me the two creative stories that I have written. One is a middle-grade book and the other is a children’s picture book. Since I am a fine artist as well as a writer, I was thrilled about the idea that came to me to combine my writing with my skills as an artist. And to my muse who dictated these stories to me, I will be forever grateful.
- In: The Write Place
The second writer whose advice and inspiration through an interview that I was interested in reading was Ernest Hemingway. I was hoping to find some words of wisdom and I was not disappointed. First, the interviewer shared a list of authors whose books filled Hemingway's book shelves: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Stendhal, Mann, Joyce, de Maupassant, Turgenev, Flaubert, and Crane to name a few.
- In: The Write Place
I just found a wonderful book at my favorite book store - our local swap shop that is part of our transfer station. I can't believe the fabulous books I have found here over the years, all free! And this book is just one more of the many that I've added to my extensive and forever growing book collection.
Although I've often been a bit confused when I've read Carver's stories, I have decided to keep going until something clicks for me. He has a reputation, well-deserved, of being known as one of the great short story writers and partly for bringing the short story out of magazines and into book form, able to stand on their own.