Want to hit on a book nerd? Check out Flavorwire for 25 pick-up lines, tailored for bookworms. I found myself cringing just reading them, so I can’t imagine what facial expression I would display if someone actually used one of them on me. I suppose with the right amount of wine and self-deprecating grin, they — Read More
Wordle!
Ever wondered what words you use most in your writing? I know I have a tendency to say “Jesus” too often (not in a religious sense, but more as an expression of dismay or shock). I also tend to use lots of similes — I swear I can’t go more than two lines without an — Read More
Grammar Gripe: Apostrophes
It’s heartbreaking for me to realize that very few people know the difference between “your” and “you’re”; and, some of those who do know the difference cannot be bothered with that one pesky tick mark our elementary school teachers told us was necessary when combining two words. Suddenly, “you’re” is becoming “youre.” I blame text — Read More
So, you want to be a writer?
On a somewhat regular basis, I take Lorrie Moore’s collection, Self Help, off my shelf and read “How to Become a Writer.” It’s the first line I love: “First, try to be something, anything, else.” This is probably the best advice I’ve ever heard. Yes, perhaps it’s somewhat discouraging, humorously cynical, but that’s what being — Read More
A message for the new year
I may be one of the only people who actually reads the “Editor’s Note” at the beginning of Poets & Writers magazine. I am probably the only one who highlights selected passages. The most recent issue had a great message for the new year, from editor Kevin Larimer: No writer worth her salt needs to — Read More
Death of the book writer
** As published on The Writer’s [Inner] Journey ** Here’s a prediction: The human race will evolve so that our chins become attached to our chests, for better viewing of our iPhones. We are a society increasingly obsessed with technology. We browse blogs while waiting for water to boil. We tweet from the toilet. We — Read More
How we find our way to writing
A while back, a co-worker suggested I read a book called The Gargoyle. I’m wary of recommendations from most people, because according to book sales, most people like Twilight. However, I decided to look it up on Amazon and read the reviews. As I was scrolling down , I was subjected to my greatest weakness: — Read More
Quote of the month
I used to have this on my fridge (yes, the entire paragraph). Then I got a stainless steel fridge and my days of magneting random pieces of paper to the doors were over. “You are lugging something around that seems to be part of your being, or, as we would say now, is ‘hard wired’ — Read More
New short story!
I think I’ve got this story in good enough shape for reading. It’s my plan to take the characters in this story and transplant them into a novel at some point. One day… *** People who knew me before 9/11 think I’m dead. I let them think that. On September 10th, I went to work — Read More
Family Guy: On How to Get Published
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Aow9Eevm8&fs=1&hl=en_US] Watch the hilarious full episode “Brian Writes a Bestseller” here.