I believe most writers today not only appreciate the importance of consciously separating editing from writing, but can also recite the oft-repeated technique tips and tricks, such as: wait as long as possible before putting on the "editor" hat temporarily change the text to a defamiliarizing font don't rely on spelling/grammar checkers study lists of … Continue reading Editing Your Own Writing: The Most Overlooked Trick (3:10)
From the incantations of Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Excalibur to early attempts at Klingon, learning and playing with language took an early root in my life. Today I'm working on picking up Esperanto (thanks, Duolingo) and have discovered Toki Pona, a particularly minimalist language (14 letters, around 120 words). More than ever, I even feel … Continue reading Are Constructed Languages Contagious? (6:20)
For so many years, I had a simple view of writing any poem or story essentially once. I wrote them as the seeds took root and pruned them into final drafts as able. This is a wonderful model for anyone afflicted with the writing compulsion. Recently, however, I realized a second shaping was necessary for … Continue reading Writing Everything Twice (Wreadcast .6 – 6:35)
Recently, I unearthed some rough drafts along with stacks of old notebook journals. One of them (below) was workshopped several years ago with a wonderful friend and fellow writer. I have been seeking something I can polish into a finished piece of fiction as an example of substantive editing for you as I go along. … Continue reading Editing “Weynid the Savage” Pt. 1
The trend of working some or all of the time from home looks like it's here to stay. When you reach the point where a laptop on the couch just isn't quite cutting it, it's time to carve out a permanent space for productivity. I'm at that very point this autumn. Inspired by Leo Babauta … Continue reading I’m Crafting a Home Office (Wreadcast .5 – 6:41)
The audio experiment continues! The following is a conversation starter on the importance of your writing voice: (Audio summary: Taking the voice (style, texture, etc.) of the words we use into account, using distinctive writers from Hemingway to Hugo as examples. Ethics of adjusting voice for different markets. Experience as guide.) Have your words found … Continue reading Have You Found Your Writing Voice? (Wreadcast .2)
I haven't figured out why it happens, but sometimes there are spells in which I forget the power of music to change my state of mind. Maybe I worry reflexively that it will just add noise to already overloaded moments. Or maybe I worry reflexively that music will disconnect me too much from those I … Continue reading Music to Edit By
A Koan For Bloggers Q): How can I master writing and sharing articles online? A): Ask of yourself the impossible: begin as the teacher and learn to think like a beginner. Beginning as the Teacher A talented friend of mine once told me that in order to learn to play the guitar, I should write … Continue reading Beginner’s Mind: All You Need to Know to Master Writing Online
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