I just finished reading Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Writers on How and Why They Do What They Do. I’d recommend it, mostly because proceeds go to 826 National, a nonprofit dedicated to writing and tutoring centers. I didn’t think the entries were all that compelling. In fact, my favorite part was the introduction by — Read More
Author: Kim Hooper
Vintage photos of writers writing
I just saw this slideshow on Huffington Post and had to share my favorites. Captions by me. Dorothy Parker “Hmm, I really don’t remember writing this last night. Whelp, it’s pretty good.” Mark Twain Philip Roth William Faulkner Edith Wharton There are a total of 13 photos in the Huffington Post slideshow. Check it out.
Letting go of the first draft
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what to do when I’m done with the first draft of my novel. That time is close. It makes me sad, in a sense. I’ve enjoyed the private project of writing it. Soon, I’ll face the inevitable release of the book into the hands of others. I have — Read More
100 days later.
Remember when I said I’d write every day for 100 days? You might not remember. I kind of buried the commitment at the end of a post. This was at the end of January. Well, lo and behold, it’s 100 days later and I was successful…well mostly. I wrote every day except for FOUR. Two — Read More
When books become movies
Is anyone else excited to see The Great Gatsby? I am. Well, I’m a mix of excited and nervous. I absolutely LOVE the book and I’m not sure the movie can measure up to all the scenes I’ve imagined in my head while reading the book. I have hope because there have been some great — Read More
A genius or a fraud?
My “write every day for 100 days” challenge ends at the beginning of May, so I’ve got less than a month to go. I’m doing really well. I’ve got a lot of pages and I feel pretty confident about them…most of the time. I’ve noticed that when I go back to read pages, I think — Read More
I write because…
…I’ve got stories to tell. …I have fears and fantasies to explore. …It’s something that’s all my own. …I have to. …My imagination needs an outlet. …It’s the one hobby I’ve had since I was a little kid. …It’s the most efficient way to clear my mind. …Some teachers encouraged me along the way. …My — Read More
What books changed your life?
Earlier today, I saw HuffPost Books post that question on Facebook, with several interesting (and funny) responses. I gave this a little thought and decided that these 5 books have changed my life more than any others: 1. The Witches by Roald Dahl I was OBSESSED with this book (and most of his books) when — Read More
Querying literary agents
As I’ve been working on my new novel, I’ve had that nagging thought creep into my mind: What will I do when I’m done? (By “done,” I mean “after I have read and re-read it a hundred times and edited it to death.”) I have a few connections that may be able to help me — Read More
Writers and their ailments
You probably thought this post would be about something like the anguish of writer’s block. But, no. I’m talking about actual ailments. Dr. John J. Ross of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital wrote a book called Shakespeare’s Tremor and Orwell’s Cough: The Medical Lives of Famous Writers. It’s a fascinating look at how diseases and — Read More