Life is what happens while you’re making other plans. — John Lennon There’s the dreamer’s view of the writer’s life: the writer wakes up about nine-ish, gets some coffee and sits down to write. After a day of literary masterful material flowing magically from his or her laptop, he wanders off to spend time in … More Life, or Something Like It
Don’t get me wrong. I believe National Novel Writing Month–lovingly referred to as NaNoWriMo by the tens of thousands of its participants–is a great thing. I have participated seven times and have completed writing the required 50,000-word novel during the month of November five of those times. In fact, the first time I participated, I … More Why I Won’t Be at #NaNoWriMo This Year
Over the years, it’s my privilege to rub shoulders with many creative people that I have learned from. One of my recent colleagues was Kyle Portbury, filmmaker and scriptwriter who shares an Emmy win with me that we won a year ago today. One of the stories he tells is of a famous scriptwriter–whose name … More Stuck? Consider the “Dora” Approach to Writing
I’m invested in National Novel Writing Month for what I think is the seventh time. I’m not doing as good as I should. I think I have just over 9,000 words written. I can blame it on having a more challenging book this time, one that calls for me to research every time I turn … More “This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True”
Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month, and this is the eighth time (at least I think it is) that I have participated. I’ve completed the 50,000 words in 30 day challenge five times. The first time I did it, I started two days late, and finished it in 17 days. A … More Want to learn how little you know? Write a book.
One of the bad–and good–things about teaching other people how to write is that you have to stop and think about the process yourself. I’ve been teaching writing as a professor now for about 20 years, and taught writing workshops before that, so I have a little practice. But even so, I find myself scratching … More How do I do this? I really don’t know.
It’s my week off for Thanksgiving break, and I have a to-do list a mile long. I also feel like doing nothing. It’s also National Novel Writing Month. For those who aren’t familiar with it, that’s when I and a hundred thousand other crazies pledge to write a 50,000-word novel during the 30 days of … More Raking Leaves and Telling Stories
NaNoWriMo is halfway completed, and so am I. Sort of. Well, I have almost 25,000 words written, but the book isn’t anywhere near halfway done. In fact, when the rough draft is done, as any of you who have written a book know, the work is just getting started. I mentioned on Twitter the other … More Halfway There
I had one of my prodigies writing a blog recently in anticipation of National Novel Writing Month, stressing over the rule of writing a 50,000-word novel during the 30-day month of November. She finally came to the conclusion that she should use it to help her finish projects she already had started and wanted to … More By Hook Or By Crook OR… Git ‘er Done
Ours is not to reason why…or how. Just do it. That’s what Nike says. In case you haven’t heard, November is National Novel Writing Month, and I plan on doing it once again. The event calls for participants to write 50,000 words of a novel in the 30 days of November, then turn them into … More It’s NaNoWriMo Time Again
The Great Adventure 