I have often mentioned Scriptnotes, the screenwriting podcast hosted by John August and Craig Mazin, as a source from some really good information and inspiration for writing. On the one hand, I could arguably link to them just about every week, but if I had to pick just one this year, this week’s unprecedented solo effort by Craig Mazin is one you should listen to if you’re about to embark on writing a feature film…
Look over a score of “tortured artist” memes and you won’t have trouble seeing ones with writers. Writers are often portrayed as full of angst, indecision, indecision because of angst, angst because of indecision. Basically, the archetypical writer is in need of a good therapist. And what better therapist than a writer who’s become a therapist? That’s what screenwriter Dennis Palumbo decided to do… and he recently talked with screenwriter Ken Levine all about it.…
Lest Monday’s post seem insufficiently motivational, I figured I’d pass along this article by Charles Chu about how Isaac Asimov managed to be such a prolific writer. In case you’re not aware, Isaac Asimov wrote hundreds of books… and not just in science fiction, for which he’s perhaps best remembered. In fact, his books cover most of the categories covered by Dewey Decimal Classification. Not only that, he seemed to love to write. He wrote…
Mark Evanier has had an ongoing series about writers and rejection some of whose columns apply very well to actors and other creatives. The most recent one, however, goes deeper into the notion of writing for pay and how one might go about it from his experience. Check it out.
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. Man, we’ve all been going about this whole writing thing the wrong way. Sorry I’m only stumbling across this now, but Neil Gaiman reveals the true method for becoming a writer here. Gonna be a long wait ’til April 30th…
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. Why am I saving Heather Havrilesky’s rather profanity-laden-yet-detailed explanation of exactly how to write at this, the penultimate NaNoWriMo post? Because it’s actually rather long — and I’m hoping you’re catching this as part of an extended post-Thanksgiving break. You probably need a laugh at this point. Home stretch people. See you again on Monday!
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. At the beginning of the month, I posted a link to the daily routines of many well-known writers, many from decades earlier. But what about those of us who use those pale electric boxes all the cool kids have these days? Author John Scalsi explains his methods.
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. Okay, I did sci-fi last week, so this week, why not 10 tips from one of the world’s most well-known fantasy authors?
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. Yeah, I already mentioned this article in a longer post earlier this year, but I love this method, so I’m going to link Cory Doctorow’s article about writing in the “age of distraction” again. Oh, and happy Friday the Thirteenth.
Part of a month-long series of inspirational or informational posts during NaNoWriMo. Are you writing a science fiction novel? You’re in luck! It only takes seven easy steps.