The Writing Life Too

Morning skies are changing every time I look up from my computer but right now they're about as cheery as a haunted graveyard at midnight. According to the Writer’s Almanac it’s the birthday of the poet Anne Sexton and the astronomer Carl Sagan who said, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."

Yesterday I talked with a writer who had sent me a book proposal that was incomplete and unprofessional. She seemed like a nice person, but almost every time I raised a point, she disagreed, or explained how other writers had given her contrary advice. There’s a lot of crappy, inconsistent, or strange advice lobbed at writers these days. And lots of people who set themselves up as experts. In fact, one of the reasons I wrote three of my books was to add a voice of sanity or expertise into the writing world. So be careful out there and check the credentials of the people who are advising you.

Here’s a link to an article about the habits of novelists that will make you weep or giggle, How to Write a Great Novel. Although, I must admit I get my best ideas in the shower and while walking. Here's the URL in case the link doesn't work http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703740004574513463106012106.html