I’ve been making my way through Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer at a leisurely pace. The author, Peter Turchi, juxtaposes the idea that maps need be accurate with the idea that a map reveals only that which is germane to its purpose (e.g., you won’t find mineral deposits on a U.S. road […]
I’ve been working on developing a concise blurb for the novel I’m writing. I’ve gone through no less than four iterations of a back-of-the novel blurb in hopes of distilling the story in my mind. And as of last night, I reduced it further to a one sentence blurb that I’m not embarrassed to put
We can always stand to hear how successful writers write, no? Well, top off your coffee and hear what Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother, Makers and For the Win has to offer on the craft. [tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ht.ly] [googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6906862465345251715#] Sure, Mr. Doctorow reveals nothing earth-shattering in this interview. Still, it’s comforting to be
Coffee Break No. 7 – Cory Doctorow and Writing Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ht.ly] A conversation between a subject and an artist about how the artist works: I said, “It’s difficult for me to imagine how things must appear to you.” “That’s exactly what I’m trying to do,” he said, “to show how things appear to me.” “But what,” I asked, “is the relation between
Wrap your hands around a warm mug of coffee and then wrap your mind around this: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2mId99XQYg] [tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ht.ly]
Coffee Break No. 6 – John Irving: How I Work Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ht.ly] “We are all the mucky aggregates of all our influences.” China Mieville discussing reading while writing. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvFJr-oy50w] Enjoy! Update 4/28/10: China Miéville’s The City and the City has won Miéville the UK’s most prestigious SF prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, making him the first author ever to win three times.
Coffee Break No. 4 – Mieville Read Post »
I’m hanging out with Laurence Fishburne these days, busting my hump to get my notes in shape for my third draft of Shadow of the Black City. I suppose if I must sacrifice something, it will be some blogging and tweeting long before it will be the writing, especially since I’d like to be getting
Way back in the beginning of the new decade (Jan. 15 to be precise), I was reading Albert Zuckerman’s Writing the Blockbuster Novel. Although there were some useful bits in there, it was Ken Follett”s successive outlines for The Man From St. Petersburg that caught my eye. When people talked about outlines and writing I
Writing from an Outline (or summary, if you will. And I know you will.) Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Have you ever come away from a conversation discombobulated, wondering what happened? Listen to how people talk and you’ll know why that happens. You’ll find this advice in so many books about writing. But what happens when you actually do that? What happens when you listen in on your own coversations?