Final thoughts of 2008

“Writing is easy, all you have to do is sit at the typewriter until drops of blood appear on your forehead. ( Sportswriter Red Smith)




The Rant 'N' Rave Section

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone. Well, we're rapidly approaching the end of another year. Did you complete the list of resolutions you made last January? No? Ha, join the club. I fully intended to have my first novel completed. Not. (Working on chapter three.) I won't go in to all the other resolutions that somehow faded off into the realm of good intentions. I did, however, have a couple of short stories published. I also managed to finish a couple of writing courses at M.T.S.U.(Middle Tennessee State Uniiv.) I got the hardest part of my home remodelling finished, (major construction) and am left with the easier things like wall boarding etc. Sounds like something for my next new years resolution list. Hmm.

The last of this month will be spent re-thinking my writing schedule. Having a set time to write, daily, (like three hours a day) and sticking to it is imperative. My shedule fell apart a couple of months ago and I've been floundering about ever since. Oh well enough angst. May all of you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Taking notes, the best way to capture those brief moments of humanity that make your characters come to life. I must admit that I'm one of the world's worst note-takers. I hate to walk about with a notepad and pencil and for the most part, do not. The exceptions are anywhere that I know I'll have to wait, like the doctor's office, etc. I always take a notebook with me on those occasions. I've picked up some very useful snippets of conversation and colloquialisms from such places. The next step is to transfer them into my Writers Project Organizer under the Dialog Notes tab. Once transferred they are there, waiting for me when I need to add color to character by way of dialog.




Word of the Month:
Obambulate: To wander about (aimlessly). Something I do when I've got writer's block.




"TIDBITS"
Barbara Bush once accompanied her husband, President George Bush, on a state visit to Japan. During a formal luncheon at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, she found herself seated beside Japan's Emperor Hirohito. "Was the former palace so old that it crumbled?" she asked, noting the building's apparent youth. "No," Hirohito tersely replied, "I'm afraid that you bombed it..."

Thanks to Anecdotage.com.

Last but Not Least
"I didn't know that!"
William Faulkner


"Most of the time Faulkner couldn't pay his grocery bill, and the grocer, among other local businessmen, was forever sending somebody out to his house to hunt him down. Faulkner was used to this, and to other unannounced visitors, so when one drove up the driveway, he began sweeping it like a workhand. "'Where's Faulkner?' the visitor would inquire. And Faulkner, in overalls and a straw hat, head down, following the swish and swoop of his broom along the driveway would answer, 'Ain't seen 'im. Been sweepin' all day an' I ain't seen 'im-a-tall.'"
Thanks to Anecdotage.com for this one also.

Well, that's it for this time, see ya later gater…..Aelf
Sites to see, places to go and groups to join

Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
Fantasy Gazetteer: http://www.fantasygazetteer.com/My Writing Friend: writingfriend@yahoo
Pindersoft's Writers Project Organizer: http://www.pindersoft.com/wpo.htm
Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
J.D.Vine Publishing: http://www.jdvine/com/index.html
Tennessee Writers Alliance: http://www.tn-writers.org/
USA Patriotism, Poetry: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/
Poynter 30 Writer's Tips: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943
Freebie Writers Tools Idea Cruncher: http://www.ideacruncher.com/
Freemind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Auto Crit: Automatic manuscript checker: http://www.autocrit.com/
Word Web download: http://www.wordweb.info/


I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.Copyright © 12/21/08