It's tempting to comment on whatever is hot and trending—to hashtag our way to visibility. It's harder to spot what others miss...to care about it, to bear witness. It's important to pay attention to what others pass by...to see it, capture it, describe it. James Baldwin knew this, practiced this. He wrote: "The importance of a writer is continuous…His importance, … [Read more...]
Writing Quote: If you are struggling with what you should be writing, look at your scraps
Sometimes it's hard to know what to write about, what your "brand" is, or what topics and themes can hold your interest over time. What should you be writing? To figure that out, it helps to pay attention to the ideas and issues you're drawn to. I've suggested before that keeping "five fat files," whether physical or virtual, can be one way to collect information … [Read more...]
Writing Quotes: Ann Patchett on writing as miserable
Is writing a miserable, awful business? Ask the writer sitting in front of the blank screen, staring at the blinking cursor, struggling to begin his piece—his deadline two days away. Ask the writer who opened her email inbox to see a rejection from her dream publication. Ask the writer whose friends keep forwarding a scathing review of his recently released novel, … [Read more...]
Writing Quotes: Mary Karr on wading into memory’s waters
![Writing Quote: [E]verybody I know who wades deep enough into memorys waters drowns a little - Mary Karr, The Art of Memoir | Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach](https://annkroeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/everybody-I-know-who-wades-deep-enough-into-memorys-waters-drowns-a-little-Mary-Karr-Ann-Kroeker-Writing-Coach-150x150.jpg)
You might think twice about writing memoir after reading this sobering line from Mary Karr's book The Art of Memoir, but don't let it stop you. Even though she issues this warning, she also assures the reader that "all the scrupulous self-examinations" she's been privy to, on page or off, "always ended with acceptance and relief" (12). You'll survive wading into … [Read more...]
Writing Quotes: Begin, for half the deed is in beginning
Once a week I'll supply you with a quote to encourage you in your writing life. They come from a variety of sources; I consider them all quotes for writers, even when they aren't obviously about writing. For example, today's from Roman poet Decimius Magnus Ausonius (frequently referred to simply as Ausonius), is meant as a gentle nudge to just get started on your … [Read more...]
Writing Quotes: Ursula Le Guin on Adjectives and Adverbs
Once a week I'll supply you with a quotation to encourage you in your writing life. I consider them all quotes for writers, even when they aren't obviously about writing. Today's comes from Ursula Le Guin, as she cautions us to avoid overindulging. Adjectives and adverbs are rich and good and fattening. The main thing is not to overindulge. — Ursula … [Read more...]
