Genius is finding the invisible link between things. —Vladimir Nabokov Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita, wrote all of his novels on 3 x 5 index cards. Each day as he began his writing period, he would shuffle the cards until he found a scene that had energy for him and started writing from there. When...Read More
Dear Writers, Last week, Chuck Wendig wrote a great post on the quantity and quality of self-published books, Slushy Gut Slog: Why the Self-Publishing S$*t Volcano is a Problem. He said, “An author on Facebook the other day noted, quite correctly, that writing is a craft and as a craft it can be evaluated fairly...Read More
Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear. —Patricia Fuller Last week, my dogs went for their regular grooming session. I was amazed at what they were able to do for Muffin Man in just a few hours. Take a look. That’s kind of what I...Read More
All I wanted to do was buy discount tickets to the Amazing Pets Show and The Hollywood Wax Museum. It’d been a long day of wandering around Branson, MO, and we were picking up groceries at the Price Chopper. I was delighted to find a discount ticket booth inside the store. Sweet! “What do you...Read More
My husband has long said that January is the worst time to start a New Year, especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. January means short days, cold air, and an abundance of chores. It’s hard to feel hopeful about anything at this time of year. Instead, I’m inclined to hibernate and focus on...Read More
Dear Writers, The New Year got off to a slow start at my house. After returning from our holiday trip to Branson, Missouri (I’ll be telling you some of those stories soon), we came home and got hit by the polar vortex. School was cancelled for two days, and none of us wanted to...Read More
Finding yourself doesn’t require that you fly to Tibet, join a convent, or build a meditation room. Just consistently keep a minimal commitment to empty time. —Martha Beck You’ve done a lot of thinking about what you want to achieve in 2014 already. In the coming week, I want you to spend time imagining what...Read More
Have you been online lately? Bloggers have produced a flurry of content to remind us that it’s time to get our lives together and get ready for the New Year. Facebook and Twitter feeds are filled with posts about how we can earn more, look skinnier, and feel happier in 2014. Just the titles overwhelm...Read More
In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag. —W. H. Auden Last week, walking to the car after my workout session, I glanced through the windows of the daycare center, hoping to catch a glimpse of the children. An infant scurried toward the window, pulled herself up, and...Read More
Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, I’m working on plans for 2014 and need your help. What kinds of tools and information do you need to succeed in 2014? Head on over to my Facebook page and let me know! Need a good book to get you through the Holidays? Take a look at last week’s...Read More
