Posts Tagged ‘writing’
A good writer should be able to fool his readers
“What is important is to invent a story and to make the spectators believe it.” —Tahar Ben Jelloun I like this quote from contemporary Moroccan author Tahar Ben Jelloun. This is exactly how an author creates a successful novel – by creating characters, a story and an environment that draws us in immediately and has…
Read MoreA shout out to all you 2020 Nanoers out there!
It’s rolled around once again. November – the month writers anticipate/fear/loathe – especially those who participate in the annual National Nove Writing Month challenge, or NaNo or NaNoWriMo for short. The challenge is this: Write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Do so by putting your nose to the grindstone and throwing out your…
Read MoreShould I take voting advice from a beach reads author? Should you?
‘Tis the electoral season, but this site is not about politics. That’s not to say I am not deeply interested in politics. I am. My undergraduate degree is in political science and history, and I started interning in politics at the tender age of 16 – and have worked in all branches of government at…
Read MoreLong walks as Wilder’s writing inspiration
“My spring-board has always been long walks. I drink a great deal, but I do not associate it with writing.” —Thornton Wilder Almost all Americans will be familar with Thornton Wilder (1897 – 1975). I would venture a guess that it is a rare American school that has not performed Our Town on its stage.…
Read MoreBooks need secrets, too
“I think books should have secrets, like people do.” —John Updike Love this quote by American novelist John Updike. Authors – take note! We readers do not need every plot point and character insight spelled out for us – a little mystery that allows us to interpret stories or character motivation is greatly appreciated by…
Read MoreReaders rule the (literary) world
“The writer does not and should not have the last word. That belongs to the reader.” —Tobias Wolff Love this quote from author Tobias Wolff. Although I always enjoy reading about authors’ writing process, I do tend to be skeptical when they are too insistent on overall themes and interpretations. Although those may be the…
Read MoreWriters in a perpetual dream state
“The good thing about writing books is that you can dream while you are awake.” —Haruki Murakami Love these wise words from brilliant Japanese author Haruki Murakami. After all, a writer will go nowhere without an active imagination. And yes, chances are your favorite author has a tendency to daydream at various points throughout the…
Read MoreOn your mark, get set, GO all you NaNoers!
It’s November 1st. Do you know what that means to writers? It’s the start of the crazy, marathon challenge known as National Novel Writing Month. Each year, writers around the world accept the challenge to write a novel in a month. More precisely, throughout the month of November, writers challenge themselves to write every day,…
Read MoreIn writing as in life, learn from your mistakes
“When it’s finally in print, you’re delivered—you don’t ever have to look at it again. It’s too late to worry about its failings. I’ll have to apply any lessons this book has taught me toward writing the next one.” —Eudora Welty I only just wrote about another brilliant Eudora Welty quote a couple of weeks…
Read MoreA garrulous population is a writer’s dream
“Well, in the South, everybody stays busy talking all the time—they’re not sorry for you to overhear their tales. I don’t feel in helping myself I ever did anything underhanded. I was helping out.” -Eudora Welty Love this quote from American, Mississippi-born short story writer (1909-2001) Eudora Welty. I am no expert on the American…
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