Tag Archives: Nathan Bransford

It’s about time

This week around the web, it’s all about time.

First, from Nathan Bransford (yes, I’m always linking to Nathan–it’s because he’s made of awesome), comes a post on The Beatles, 10,000 hours, and just how much practice it takes to make it look like it doesn’t take any practice at all.

From the “I don’t know how she does it’ category comes this article, A Working Mother’s Guide to Writing a Novel. I posted the article earlier in the week on Facebook to resounding apathy. Not a single person “liked” it, never mind commented on it.

Fine. I’m posting it here. It’s a great article with some practical tips. I have the urge to write my own follow-on blog post about writing when you don’t have the time. Stay tuned. That could happen.

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Filed under Reading & Writing, Writing

100 books!

This is worth another around the web this week post.

Little, Brown, the publisher of Twenty Boy Summer, has donated another 62 books to the Debs Speak Loudly giveaway, for a total of 100 books! Visit the 2009 Debutantes website to enter. All it takes is a comment. And with 100 books, your chances are very good.

In other news, Nathan Bransford talks about why so many dead/absent parents in children’s literature. Lazy writing? Or is there something more nefarious going on? Or, are there other, legitimate, reasons for this? Go have a read.

Thinking about dating a writer? Enamored by the meme going around tumblr about just how great that would be? You may want to rethink that. Look here for a point by point deconstruction. My favorite (although there are so many to choose from):

Writers are surrounded by interesting people. Every last one of whom is imaginary.

And … remember, I’ll be at the Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) fall conference on Friday, October 1st. If you happen to be there too, stop by and say hi!

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Filed under 2009 Debs, Books, Reading & Writing, Writing, YA

Around the web this week: writing advice

Cover of "Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Va...
Cover via Amazon

This week, around the web:

Nathan Bransford talks about the danger of getting too carried away with dreams of wild success and Oprah stickers for one’s (yet unpublished) books. Is it good to dream and aspire? Yes. 

Is it bad to let those dreams turn into expectations, that later, turn you bitter and craven and into a Dark Lord of the Sith. Probably. (No really, he says that. Go see for yourself.) 

John Scalzi is back from his blogging hiatus and is in fine form today, talking about writing and finding the time to do so. Excellent advice, but take a peek at the comments. One very astute commenter (#16 to be precise) talks about energy management vs. time management. Actually, many of the comments contain excellent advice. Have a look. 

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Filed under Reading & Writing, Writing