I’m really enjoying Hillary Rettig’s The 7 Secrets of the Prolific about writing, procrastination, perfectionism, and all the internal and external traps that keep a writer from actual being a writer. A lot of her advice is spot on, and I’m working to put it into practice immediately. She advises the writer to find other writers, … Read More →
As an avid reader, I usually have a few books going at the same time. Some evenings, I’m in the mood to cuddle up in my heated blanket and read some classic English literature in the form of a hard-cover book with an old binding and yellowed pages. I may also have a how-to book … Read More →
I came across this unique item while searching for an image for my twitter account. This is soooo appealing! The thrill of using a typewriter may be passing from memory, but Jack Zylkin’s groundbreaking innovation brings this mechanical marvel out of retirement and offers a nod to its influence on the development of modern automation. … Read More →
I love reading Maria Popova’s Brain Pickings. I also enjoy every morsel of advice offered by Stephen King. Today, the blog had a few excerpts about the use of adverbs from King’s excellent book of advice to writers: On Writing: A Memoir on the Craft. I blogged about this book awhile back. It’s one of … Read More →
I used to read a lot of how-to books. The advice started to get repetitive and I began to weary of reading simplistic tips that I rarely used in my own life. The other night, I happened across a book to help writer’s overcome their procrastination. The book had 44 excellent (5-star) reviews on Amazon.com, … Read More →
Back in college, when I first began to write, I entered contests. I was new to the idea that I COULD write, and one of my instructors advised me to enter the college essay contest. I won an honorable mention, was invited to a reading, and elicited a few chuckles from the audience with my … Read More →
Couldn’t live without these…
The internet is a fantastic place. I did a quick search on how to write a memoir, and the first hit was a wonderful find. William Zinsser’s On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction has always had a place in my top 5 references about writing. Today’s discovery was a … Read More →
My birthday Kindle is here! I knew I would enjoy/use it well, but I had never read the entire Amazon description before now. I had no idea that I could fill the Kindle with classic literature for free. I can find the great works at the Amazon site or at other sites the store suggests, … Read More →
This has probably been around for ages, but it’s all new to me. It’s a page devoted to discussing grammar issues from the New York Times. The site takes on a “grab bag of grammar, style and other missteps, compiled with help from colleagues and readers.” It really covers the nitty gritties of grammar. (I … Read More →