Throw it Out!

The hardest part of writing is starting. Not just the act of finally pushing some keys but starting to say what it is you have in mind to say. I erased the initial first sentence of this post, in fact.

The editorial rule is to throw out the first three paragraphs of your article. It seems that the first few paragraphs are generally your mind warming up. It’s no good and is actually unnecessary.

And that, perhaps, is the mark of a truly professional writer. We don’t mind throwing our words out when that’s what’s called for. We know our prose is far from deathless. We want our writing to be good, even excellent, and if that means tossing out bunches of words, that’s what we do.

Being Ironic

Words lose their definitions over time. Bob Harris wants us to think about irony. Are we really being ironic as often as we think we are? Alanis Morissette has a song called “Ironic,” which Harris points out has no irony in it at all.

“But if a song called “Ironic” contains no irony, is that in itself ironic? Nope. It may just be … dumb. It depends on the creator’s intent.”

I’d like to say something pithy right now, but I probably don’t know what pithy means either.

Ed Park on Writing

Ed Park has written several novels. Here is his advice on how to get writing done:

Discipline will take you a long way—if you set aside time every day to write, you will find something to write, even if you don’t know what you’re doing as you approach the desk. It’s too easy not to write. One other bit of advice, which I need to take myself, is to get offline as much as possible. 

Half Full?

A problem every writer would like to have.

Writing Rooms

The Guardian has a special on the writing rooms of various British authors. Most of the rooms look very neat and organized. One would understand how dead author’s rooms would be clean and I’m guessing most of the living authors knew the photo journalist was coming so they, no doubt, cleaned up real quick.

Do the rooms really look this clean? If so, we might have a reason for my writing ineptness. Almost makes me want to clean and take a quick photo. The royalties will come pouring in then.

Semicolons

Semicolons have been garnering attention lately. They were recently part of a very successful April Fool’s joke, spawning some debate over their necessity in the written word.

Here is a fine article about the history of the semicolon and it’s potential future. I actually like the semicolon. My wife, an English Major and my “editor,” has taught me how to use them and now I throw them around all the time.

Here’s my Inept Writer’s Rule for using semicolons:

When in doubt; semicolon it!

George Carlin on Writing

George Carlin had a way with words and a unique spin on life. In a recent interview he explained how he got his ideas and what he did with them.

“One of the voguish terms, which is so repellant to me, “thinking outside the box.” To settle for that kind of language is embarrassing. But that’s a very useful picture. I try to come in through the side door, the side window, to come in from a direction they’re not expecting, to see something in a different way.”

Tiger Woods teaches Writing

Not really. But there is an inspiring blog post about Tiger’s recent victory in the US Open while playing with injuries to encourage your freelancing career. Lesson being:

But to succeed, you do have to have dedication and focus. And when you encounter obstacles, you make adjustments, investments, and even sacrifices. But never excuses.

Why Writer’s Fail

Many people want to be writers but few ever make it. Why is that? A few reasons.

1) You’re just not a very good writer
2) You can’t be timid if you want to make it as a writer. You’ve got to toot your own horn.
3) To succeed as a writer, you’ve got to keep good books.
4) Sometimes, you fail because life isn’t fair.

J. K. Rowling’s Commencement Speech

The author of the popular Harry Potter series recently gave a commencement speechthat is making the rounds on the internet. She points out the importance of failure in helping her find her true voice and passion to write. Good stuff.

 I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called ‘real life’, I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.