“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
I'm notorious for jumping ship whenever a story becomes complicated. Friends ask me frequently how a story is going and my blood goes cold. "Oh," I think, "just imagine a sinking boat that suddenly catches fire only to be extinguished by a humpback whale, leaping from the water and crushing it into splinters with its… Continue reading Abandon Manuscript!: The Diary of a Quitter
WARNING: The following contains shenanigans. I don't like the term "people watching." There's something distinctly stalker-isque about it. I prefer to call it "spontaneous character building." When I'm sitting alone in a public place and I spot a person with a strange tattoo, haircut, or distinctive clothing, I'll make up a story about them. It's… Continue reading A Writer’s Guide To People Watching
Is there anything more horrifying than reading something you wrote years ago? ……Or two days ago? I’m pretty sure if a Boggart were to appear in front of me one dark and stormy night, it would take on the form of the manuscript I wrote in high school. It was your standard paranormal romance, only… Continue reading Re-reading Old Drafts
The professionals encourage amateur authors to write at least a little bit everyday. However, some days this is not possible. Unless you don’t need sleep and operate solely on the power of hopes and dreams. If I’ve had an idea marinating in my head for a long time, not being able to write it down… Continue reading Writing Withdrawal
Dear First Draft, Remember how I said I needed some time away to think about our relationship? Well, I’ve given myself some breathing room and I’ve finally come to the conclusion that we should see other people. I know this must be heartbreaking for you. It’s difficult for me as well. In the beginning, our love… Continue reading Dear First Draft: a Breakup Letter
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing noise they make as they fly by," -Douglas Adams. I have a deadline today. You probably have a deadline too. So why are we still on the internet? Because we writers are free spirits, that's why. We can't have our lives dictated by something as minuscule as a… Continue reading The Writer and The Deadline
A few weeks ago, I bought an Underwood typewriter at a garage sale for $20. The S and A keys are almost entirely rubbed out, the keys stick sometimes, and the space bar doesn’t work. I love it. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get it working somehow, but I’m just content to punch the… Continue reading Why I Love Typewriters
I find it difficult to get started on a new writing project. Not necessarily because I lack inspiration, but I often can’t bring myself to make that first step out of fear I will be dissatisfied with the results. I procrastinate giving out my work to friends or others for critiquing. I have this undying need… Continue reading What Sylvia Plath Taught Me About Perfection
While you are able to enjoy happy and long-lasting relationships with people who have no interest in writing, there are a few aspects involved with your lifestyle that a third party, however beloved, may have trouble wrapping their head around. 1. Why You Can’t Go Out Tonight It is Friday night and your friend wants… Continue reading 10 Things Your Non-Writer Friend Doesn’t Understand
To a writer, National Novel Writing Month is like the olympics of literature. It gives those who have been holding out on their creative ideas to explode in a frenzy of words and storylines. The goal is to write 50,000 words (the length of an average novel) in one month’s time. NaNoWriMo has gained more… Continue reading Don’t Want No NaNoWriMo
The Crooked Pen 