Archive for March, 2007
“I Wish I Was a Writer”
During my college years my friends and I looked with awe at a woman who chased around nine children and still took time to welcome hordes of students into her home. Those who called her mother were far more than her nine children.
One friend mentioned that she always felt an inferiority complex around this woman [...]
Writing Reality Check
Barbara Ehrenreich brings the world of writing down from the clouds into the hard earth of reality. Her best advice: start small. For example:
“More to the point, most books don’t start as books. They evolve from humbler efforts such as magazine articles, doctoral dissertations, even op-eds or blogs. If you find yourself saying “I could [...]
A Web Design Resource
Church Communications Pro has been one of my favorite web sites of late, not so much because of the church side, but because of the excellent blogging and web site tips shared. In addition, Cory Miller of Church Communications runs Rockin Themes with a friend, and they regularly release sharp, clean, user-friendly themes. Many of [...]
Writing and Blog Layout
With a blog platform such as WordPress there is a virtually limitless supply of themes. They typically range from one column to three, though a few four column themes are in circulation.
When choosing a theme, it is crucial to find a lay out that supports your content. Clutter is the enemy, so choose wisely. [...]
Writing It Down Immediately
Revisions are an important part of writing. The more we understand revisions, the more we can enjoy the early stages of writing when an idea may be fresh and new, but unwieldy and awkward. Revisions give us the freedom to write down an idea or an entire piece as quickly as possible before we lose [...]
Eavesdropping
Many writers advocate that simply eavesdropping on other conversations is one of the best ways to learn how to write dialog. Finding a cafe, restaurant, or other public place can be a great way to study these every day interactions.
Teenagers have provided some of my favorite lessons on writing dialog. Their excessive volume makes [...]
