You've heard the expression "you have to kill your darlings," right? I think there's a lot of confusion about which darlings and how much killing should be involved. Originally, the saying was meant to help remove "precious" scenes. Anything that doesn't contribute, is "so beautiful" but wordy etc. should be ruthlessly removed by the hopeful … Continue reading Kill Your Darlings – Not Like That, You Murderer!
Writing
Whistle While I Work
Okay, this is kind of a misnomer. I can't whistle. The closest I get is blowing raspberries, but I can tell from how people studiously ignore me that that has the opposite of the intended effect. But I do have music I listen to. I try to spice it up every now and then with … Continue reading Whistle While I Work
Make Editing Fetch
I hope everyone had a good Father's Day. It can be a tough day for a lot of people, so I hope it was spent with people you love and who support your emotional health. One of the things my dad taught me how to do is to critique creative things in a manner that … Continue reading Make Editing Fetch
Everyone Likes Ink On the Page
My spouse is mean and insists that getting tattoos is a terrible idea because I don't know when to stop and one day I'd come out neck to toe ink and rue my decisions. I really think that sounds like I'd have won, but it won't do to tell him that because then I definitely … Continue reading Everyone Likes Ink On the Page
An Adventure…in Moderation
As I stand here, making the avocado peanut butter mousse I found on a food blog I follow for more-healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free, added-sugar free ways to trick myself into thinking I'm eating dessert, I wonder how things got so off track. I was so convinced as a kid that I wouldn't grow up to be … Continue reading An Adventure…in Moderation
Don’t Let Writer’s Block Destroy the Guggenheim
Guess who has two thumbs, an unfortunate amount of eye liner smudge, and a cure to this bout of writer's block? This chick, right here! For me, writer's block means something that came before isn't right--the foundation is unstable. It's a simple matter of going back to the thing I did incorrectly and either fixing … Continue reading Don’t Let Writer’s Block Destroy the Guggenheim
Brain Weasels and the Squirreliness Thereof
Brain wanted to do the thing. Brain said all we needed to do the thing was to recreate the Big Bang and end up in a slightly different timeline where other events had already occurred. Brain threw a tantrum when this was not physically possible. Brain weasels now squirrely. Send booze.
Google Thinks I’m Insane
This is a common refrain of authors. Humans, generally, I think, but chances are you don't idly wonder how you'd butcher a human or which part of a human is best to eat, and then Google it. (Until now!) So, here is a list of a few of the things that have really changed the … Continue reading Google Thinks I’m Insane
