How DO you write a character smarter than you? Moreover, smarter than all the other characters around them? It's not as hard as you may think.
Fall photo by Author Chris Mihaly We're on the final quarter of 2021 and the GROG team is circling back to goals to keep us writing in a season full of festivities. To make writing a consistent habit, it helps to have cues or prompts. We don't think about true habits - you brush your teeth every day, or may have coffee at the same time each morning. Generally, we have a cue that says "time to brush your teeth." Today we'll share our tips on how writing becomes a TRUE habit. (Something we DO automatically!) Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 10 for Part 2: Revision Routines and Cues. Sue uses an assignment sheet as a visual cue Kathy Halsey: Deadlines are my cues. They are self-imposed. I know to write a haiku every Saturday for #haikusaturday. I know I have a critique group every Friday, so if I want feedback, I need it done then. I also call a set of months by a theme, like Summer of Revision, Season of Submission. My focus for theme months is to make that theme my North Star. All other writing work comes after that. Christy Mihaly: I've found that it's easier to get into the routine when I have a designated writing area. My designated area changes with the seasons (by the fire in winter, on the porch in summer), but once I set up my books, lists, computer, and notebooks, entering my writing area makes me feel compelled to write! For me the difficulty is making sure I spend enough time writing new work, in addition to the time spent critiquing, promoting, and keeping up with social media. For that, I agree with Kathy, deadlines can be magical. Carol Coven Grannick: For me, a habit comes from a decision, and then practice (which includes failure, then restarting). Although writing virtually every day has happened for years as I carry paper and pen or pencil with me, I established an early morning writing routine long ago. It took hold powerfully when I had a full time job that began at 7-ish, close to home. I wrote from 4:30-6 am—either work on a project, revision, or scribbles to keep my brain/hand memory functioning. I’d been an early riser for many years, but those seven years before I “retired” from a day job set the habit in stone. And I continue the habit of writing ideas, thoughts, phrases, poems down as they pop into my brain. Sue Heavenrich: I use Morning Pages (thanks Julia Cameron!) as a way to kick off my daily writing - even when I don’t feel like writing. I sit with coffee and scribble anything from lists to responding to a prompt to working through a section of an article or book I’m working on. Other tools include an “assignment sheet” on a clipboard that I hang next to my desk, a bullet-journal where I break down monthly projects into do-able pieces, and a daily list of what I hope to accomplish that day. It might be one item: revise a picture book, or it might be 2 or 3 smaller things, such as outlining my next science column, or building a word bank for a story, or even searching for an answer to a friend’s question about woolly bears - a question ended up becoming a blog post over at Archimedes Notebook. Suzy Leopold: Setting SMART Goals supports my writing. These goals are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Creating a set of short-term and long-term goals helps me to stay focused, organized, and gives me a clear sense of direction with writing projects. After a goal is achieved, I often revise and adjust a set of SMART Goals for further success. SMART Goals I picked these flowers for you! Goal Setting Julie Phend Every morning, I begin the day by writing down 3 things I am grateful for and 3 things I want to accomplish that day. Starting with gratitude puts me in a positive frame of mind, and setting only 3 goals ensures that I meet them. I make them very specific: Write Chapter X, or Revise next 3 chapters, or Query X. I set timers for each task, ensuring that I don’t get hung up or spend too much time on the easier tasks. When the timer rings, I can choose whether to spend more time on that task or not. Thank you, Julie, for adding a note to include gratitude in our habits. Doing our work gladly with our readers in mind, makes our cues and routines easier. Readers, share the cues and routines you have already have that might work others in the comments.
From The Author Of Halsey Street, A Sweeping Novel Of Legacy, Identity, The American Familyand The Ways That Race Affects Even Our Most Intimate Relationships. A Community In The Piedmont Of North Carolina Rises In Outrage As A County Initiative Draws Students From The Largely Black East Side Of Town Into Predominantly White High Schools On The West. For Two Students, Gee And Noelle, The Integration Sets Off A Chain Of Events That Will Tie Their Two Families Together In Unexpected Ways Over The Next Twenty Years. On One Side Of The Integration Debate Is Jade, Gee's Steely, Ambitious Mother. In The Aftermath Of A Harrowing Loss, She Is Determined To Give Her Son The Tools He'll Need To S
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ISBN What's Mine and Yours. Bucheinband-Typ: Hardcover, Unterstützte Sprachen: Englisch, Geschrieben von: Naima Coster.
Shoot up the Best Sellers lists and land in front of your target audience by learning how to choose the best Amazon categories for your book.
Pinterest is the single-biggest traffic driver to my website, and my click-through rate on my book-related pins is higher than anything I've ever seen on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Here are some of my key learnings on how authors can better use Pinterest.
Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant features Lord Alec Halsey. When Halsey’s friends are imprisoned by an old adversary, he does what he swears he will never do. He returns to Midanich, which is in the midst of a civil war, to free his friends, praying his past will not haunt him but, more importantly, that he can protect those most dear to him during his mission. Meanwhile, his romance with Selina continues under the watchful eye of Halsey’s godmother, Duchess of Romney-St. Neots. Lucinda Brant’s Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery is a compelling mystery with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. The historical references pull the reader right into the period, and the likable characters make sure not one scene is lacking in ingenuity, compassion, love, or intrigue. Brant shows amazing talent in the way she mixes the historical components with the characters' backstories so well that it is easy to forget how much education well-written historical fiction has to offer. I particularly loved the description of the gaming table. This is the second A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant that I have enjoyed. Brant consistently offers a magnificent story filled with all the pomp and diplomacy that one would expect from royalty during the 18th century. Her choice of narrator, Alex Wyndham, sets the tone perfectly. His enunciation is spot on, and the pacing is perfect. The production quality is clear and professional. Overall, this audio book rates two thumbs up.
Margaret Halsey / With Malice Toward Some First Edition 1938 Author: Margaret Halsey Title: With Malice Toward Some Publication: New York: Simon and Schuster, 1938. illustrations by Peggy Bacon. A 1930s bestselling memoir about traveling in Europe -- England, Sweden, Norway and France -- in which the author, a excellent witty writing, is indeed quite often malicious. Also mean, nasty, funny, and always interesting. Her cult following continues today! This 1938 book won Halsey, who died in 1997, one of the early National Book Awards. It's a delightfully acid account of her impressions during a brief period she and her husband spent in England, written in the form of a diary, although its was apparently cobbled together from her letters to friends and family back home in NYC. Halsey has often been compared to Dorothy Parker, and certain shares her arch wit. This book is a crisp, often hilarious, look at a long-gone era.
15 inspirational quotes about writing, on gorgeous photos by Jason Koons. From writing craft to writing in general, these calm my spirit and make me smile.
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If you're an aspiring romance writer and want to write a good enemies to lovers story, here's a guide on how to do just that!
I've decided to post all the funny, silly, informative, and down right brutal memes/pics that I've collected over the past year. Feel free to share ...
When it comes to advice on being a productive writer, bestselling author Gretchen Rubin is someone we should all be listening to.
The art of not writing is a key tool for writers. Here’s how and when to use it.
Margaret Halsey / With Malice Toward Some First Edition 1938 Author: Margaret Halsey Title: With Malice Toward Some Publication: New York: Simon and Schuster, 1938. illustrations by Peggy Bacon. A 1930s bestselling memoir about traveling in Europe -- England, Sweden, Norway and France -- in which the author, a excellent witty writing, is indeed quite often malicious. Also mean, nasty, funny, and always interesting. Her cult following continues today! This 1938 book won Halsey, who died in 1997, one of the early National Book Awards. It's a delightfully acid account of her impressions during a brief period she and her husband spent in England, written in the form of a diary, although its was apparently cobbled together from her letters to friends and family back home in NYC. Halsey has often been compared to Dorothy Parker, and certain shares her arch wit. This book is a crisp, often hilarious, look at a long-gone era.
I've decided to post all the funny, silly, informative, and down right brutal memes/pics that I've collected over the past year. Feel free to share ...
Fall photo by Author Chris Mihaly We're on the final quarter of 2021 and the GROG team is circling back to goals to keep us writing in a season full of festivities. To make writing a consistent habit, it helps to have cues or prompts. We don't think about true habits - you brush your teeth every day, or may have coffee at the same time each morning. Generally, we have a cue that says "time to brush your teeth." Today we'll share our tips on how writing becomes a TRUE habit. (Something we DO automatically!) Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 10 for Part 2: Revision Routines and Cues. Sue uses an assignment sheet as a visual cue Kathy Halsey: Deadlines are my cues. They are self-imposed. I know to write a haiku every Saturday for #haikusaturday. I know I have a critique group every Friday, so if I want feedback, I need it done then. I also call a set of months by a theme, like Summer of Revision, Season of Submission. My focus for theme months is to make that theme my North Star. All other writing work comes after that. Christy Mihaly: I've found that it's easier to get into the routine when I have a designated writing area. My designated area changes with the seasons (by the fire in winter, on the porch in summer), but once I set up my books, lists, computer, and notebooks, entering my writing area makes me feel compelled to write! For me the difficulty is making sure I spend enough time writing new work, in addition to the time spent critiquing, promoting, and keeping up with social media. For that, I agree with Kathy, deadlines can be magical. Carol Coven Grannick: For me, a habit comes from a decision, and then practice (which includes failure, then restarting). Although writing virtually every day has happened for years as I carry paper and pen or pencil with me, I established an early morning writing routine long ago. It took hold powerfully when I had a full time job that began at 7-ish, close to home. I wrote from 4:30-6 am—either work on a project, revision, or scribbles to keep my brain/hand memory functioning. I’d been an early riser for many years, but those seven years before I “retired” from a day job set the habit in stone. And I continue the habit of writing ideas, thoughts, phrases, poems down as they pop into my brain. Sue Heavenrich: I use Morning Pages (thanks Julia Cameron!) as a way to kick off my daily writing - even when I don’t feel like writing. I sit with coffee and scribble anything from lists to responding to a prompt to working through a section of an article or book I’m working on. Other tools include an “assignment sheet” on a clipboard that I hang next to my desk, a bullet-journal where I break down monthly projects into do-able pieces, and a daily list of what I hope to accomplish that day. It might be one item: revise a picture book, or it might be 2 or 3 smaller things, such as outlining my next science column, or building a word bank for a story, or even searching for an answer to a friend’s question about woolly bears - a question ended up becoming a blog post over at Archimedes Notebook. Suzy Leopold: Setting SMART Goals supports my writing. These goals are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Creating a set of short-term and long-term goals helps me to stay focused, organized, and gives me a clear sense of direction with writing projects. After a goal is achieved, I often revise and adjust a set of SMART Goals for further success. SMART Goals I picked these flowers for you! Goal Setting Julie Phend Every morning, I begin the day by writing down 3 things I am grateful for and 3 things I want to accomplish that day. Starting with gratitude puts me in a positive frame of mind, and setting only 3 goals ensures that I meet them. I make them very specific: Write Chapter X, or Revise next 3 chapters, or Query X. I set timers for each task, ensuring that I don’t get hung up or spend too much time on the easier tasks. When the timer rings, I can choose whether to spend more time on that task or not. Thank you, Julie, for adding a note to include gratitude in our habits. Doing our work gladly with our readers in mind, makes our cues and routines easier. Readers, share the cues and routines you have already have that might work others in the comments.
"Don't quit."
\"Some day I want to write a book ....\" How many times has published Author and Editor Jeanne Gossett Halsey heard that phrase sighed by a would-be writer? So many times that she finally decided to put her years of successful Writing experience into your hands! \"The School of Creative Christian Writing\" is a six-week course - using \"The Legacy of Writing\" as the primary curriculum - where Jeanne shares practical, proven steps to unlock the gift of Writing that God has placed in you - all taught from a distinct Christian perspective.
Quotes about writing can be used by writers for a little motivation and inspiration from time to time. See if these quotes speak to you.
Highlights How history's only five-star admirals triumphed in World War II and made the United States the world's dominant sea power. About the Author: Walter Borneman is the author of eight works of nonfiction, including The Admirals, 1812, The French and Indian War, and Polk. 608 Pages Biography + Autobiography, Military Description Book Synopsis How history's only five-star admirals triumphed in World War II and made the United States the world's dominant sea power. Only four men in American history have been promoted to the five-star rank of Admiral of the Fleet: William Leahy, Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, and William Halsey. These four men were the best and the brightest the navy produced, and together they led the U.S. navy to victory in World War II, establishing the United States as the world's greatest fleet. In The Admirals, award-winning historian Walter R. Borneman tells their story in full detail for the first time. Drawing upon journals, ship logs, and other primary sources, he brings an incredible historical moment to life, showing us how the four admirals revolutionized naval warfare forever with submarines and aircraft carriers, and how these men -- who were both friends and rivals -- worked together to ensure that the Axis fleets lay destroyed on the ocean floor at the end of World War II. Review Quotes "Borneman deftly manipulates multiple narrative strands and a wealth of detail. He vividly fleshes out the numerous vain, ambitious men vying for power at the top and examines their important decisions and lasting ramifications. An accomplished, readable history lesson."--Kirkus Reviews "Borneman demonstrates comprehensive command of published and unpublished sources, fingertip understanding of the period, and a polished writing style in this unique collective biography of the four men who 'with a combination of nimble counsel, exasperating ego, studied patience, and street-fighter tactics' shaped the modern U.S. Navy to win WWII at sea."--Publishers Weekly "Engagingly written and deeply researched... Mr. Borneman makes it easy to understand the complex series of maneuvers and counter-maneuvers at Leyte Gulf...which is not always the case with accounts of the battle."--Andrew Roberts, Wall Street Journal "In his superbly reported new book, historian Walter R. Borneman tackles the essential question of military leadership: What makes some men, but not others, able to motivate a fighting force into battle?"--Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times "The first book to deal with the four [admirals] together, focusing on their intertwined lives, friendships, and rivalries....A very well-crafted book."--John Lehman, Washington Post "They were completely different in temperament and personality, but the U.S. Navy's four five-star admirals in World War II shared a sense of vision, devotion, and courage. Walter Borneman has written a rousing tale of victory at sea."--Evan Thomas, author of The War Lovers "This is Walter Borneman at his best. The portrait of the forgotten admiral, Leahy, is worth the whole book. But there's scarcely a page where a reader won't learn something unexpected, and occasionally shocking."--Thomas Fleming, author of Time and Tide "Walter Borneman's The Admirals is an epic group portrait of Nimitz, Halsey, Leahey, and King. Not since the heyday of Samuel Eliot Morison has a historian painted such a fine portrait of the five-star admirals who helped America beat Japan during the Second World War. Highly recommended!"--Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University and author of The Wilderness Warrior About the Author Walter Borneman is the author of eight works of nonfiction, including The Admirals, 1812, The French and Indian War, and Polk. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.
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Rebecka Jäger is a Finnish author or post-apocalyptic thrillers and supernatural mystery novels. Want to learn writing? Check out her blog for writing tips. %
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I know I can definitely relate to this as a writer (especially right now when I’m counting down the days until “Odin’s Eye” is released as an ebook), and I think a lot of pe…
