Writers' Roundup
July 3, 2009
Little by little, my travel memoir is coming together. I’ve got a big (self-imposed) deadline coming up: I’m trying to finish the first 2/3 of the book — that’s 10 chapters — by Aug. 1.
As I connect with more writers of memoir on Twitter, I’m thinking of organizing a #memoirchat. Let me know if you’re interested.
A few links I found helpful this week:
- Writer Ami Spencer asks, Are your writing goals SMART? Part I and Part II.
- The author of First Draft Secrets suggests using placeholders to mark gaps you'll return to in later revisions. This hit a chord with me — I’m queen of the placeholder! When I can’t think of the right word or don’t feel up to describing a place, I write BLAH BLAH BLAH and come back to it later. Yup, literally, I write BLAH BLAH BLAH. It’s all over my first drafts. It sounds like this might actually be normal!
Happy Fourth of July weekend!
Thanks for the links!
I read the link about first time novelists being 30 and up….well, it’s true. I couldn’t decide which WIP to commit to in my twenties.
But there are some really successful novelists even in their teens. Eragon, anyone?
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Reading that 30 is “kinda old” made me feel ancient. I’m going to sign off now to go sit in my rocking chair.
JaneKennedySutton
I’ll join Jane. Only kidding. Alexis, I’d be very interested in a memoirchat.
karen walker
Blah blah blah I write Blah blah blah on my manuscripts too. Same for blogs. Blah blah blah. Sorry, Couldn’t resist. Have a great holiday weekend. Blah blah blah.
– Steve Tremp
http://stephentremp.blogspot.com/
The BLAH, BLAH, BLAH was too funny. ‘Course I do the same thing, except I usually write [needs more here] and continue writing. I think I’ll switch. Yours is better.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Blah, blah, blah – lol – I love it. 😉
The Old Silly
The article about vetting process was great. It’s so subjective that we shouldn’t take rejection too hard.
Bargain with the Devil
Hi Alexis,
Your new website looks great – did you do it on WordPress? I’ll need some coaching before you go off to that writers’ colony in Georgia!
Hope you’ve seen I’m now inviting guests to my blog. I’d love to republish your post on Writers’ Block if you’re so inclined. Tuesdays are now devoted to The Art of Writing.
Happy 4th of July!
Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso
http://julielomoe.wordpress.com
I love the BLAH, BLAH, BLAH placeholder method. I write myself notes in parentheses (such as, need to find out how long it takes to fly from Miami to LA) and then I highlight the note to make it easier to see when I go back. It sure helps not to break the flow to do bits and pieces of research.
I also use the BLAHBLAHBLAH when my brain malfunctions! Sometimes, when raging frustration smacks me, it’s more like I’DLOVETOWRITESOMETHINGHEREBUTI’LLMYBRAINWON’TALLOWMETOANDI’LLHAVETOCOMEBACKLATER.