Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Welcome, Thanks for Stopping by


 
“All is not lost, all is not lost / Become
who you are / It happens once in a
lifetime.”
—Switchfoot  (rock band in San Diego)

 

Come sit a spell, have a cup of coffee and let’s talk.

As writers we know the value of collecting writing advice from the best, yet, how many hours do we want to scour the web, get lost in the forest of information, wander through the swamp of despair, and end up spending precious time not writing?

I’m here to condense information for you. I’m going to collect from the best and place it here on this site for you to devour, copy, add to your favorites, or just plain enjoy.

Why? Because I believe as Zig Zigler said, “To get what you want help other people get what they want.”

We want to learn our craft right?

I’m not a writing guru, I’m not published by a major publishing house. At this moment that doesn’t matter, I’m a searcher, a finder, and a writer. And I want to learn as do you.

We are a writer when we say we are.

I know, you don’t trust me. Not yet. I’m not the sales person suggesting an outfit when you wanted to browse. She usually suggests the wrong style, or the wrong color anyway. It certainly doesn’t bring out your blue eyes—in short, she is offering what she has available.

Well, I’m sort-of doing that, offering what I have, but come back next week there will be a new shipment. And I’m not asking you to buy anything.

I’m just here offering you a cup of virtual coffee, time for us to become acquainted, to get in the inspired frame of mind so we can sling out those prophetic phrases with the best of them.

Some sage advice:

1. From “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far,” where writers (this installment written by Trevor Shane, author of the debut thriller CHILDREN OF PARANOIA) at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction as well as how they possibly got their book agent — by sharing seven things they’ve learned along their writing journey that they wish they knew at the beginning.

Number 7. As far as I can tell, it never stops being scary. Letting people read what you write is frightening. This doesn’t change because you get an agent. It doesn’t change because you sell a book.

Maybe Stephen King isn’t frightened anymore when he sends a first draft of his latest work to his editor—but I’d be willing to bet that he is. Very simply, if it’s not scary, it’s probably not worth it.

2. When You Don’t Have a Cabin or a Dog… But Are Still Called to Write


From Jeff Sambuchino : This is a guest post by Sarah Mae. Sarah is an author, blogger, and mom. You can find her on her blog or connect with her on Twitter @sarahmae.

Fight for it


Yes, you have limitations. But so what?! Who doesn’t have them?

If you want to create, you have to fight for your passion. You must give your soul the space, even if just in bits, to do what it needs to do.

Fight for the time, no matter how limited, and the love of what you’re called to do. And then do the work.

Give up on “perfect”


Maybe one day, when my babies are grown and I have some money saved up, I can go to a cabin and write for days on end. With a dog. And a roaring fire. But until then, I’m okay with less-than-perfect. I’ll do my best with what I have, and then let it go. And so should you.
 
See you later.

Jewell D

 
P.S. Here is a great opening line:

 “They threw me off the truck about noon.”

Love it!
And have you noticed, you can write or have a clean house, but not both?