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Tag Archives: humor
The three diminutive swine
Forsooth, Shakespeare.
I think I’ve mentioned him about eighty jabillion times in this context, but once again, hat-tip to my dad, who sent me a link to this via Big Geek Dad. Which is totally appropriate.
March thinky links
It’s the second edition of Thinky Links! Wherein I share a bunch of articles and features that have made me think lately.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this here before, but I have a problem with the usual, chapter-a-week critique group format. I’ve taken chapters through that format, and while the chapters themselves get better, it’s like putting lipstick on a three-legged pig. The thing needs a prosthetic, not make up. Kristin Lamb has a new approach to the traditional critique group with a Concept critique. (I love the idea, but shudder at the thought of writing out 75 pages of outlines before I begin.) This inspired my fledgling critique group to totally change up our format—and so far, it works! Now if only we could get our schedules to do the same.
I’ve mentioned a couple of Vince Mooney’s points on book marketing, but he also has some fun lists on his blog, including more than 100 nonverbal cues, 200 triggers for creating emotional responses, 100 ways a character might grow in the course of a romance and how to show it and more. While every one of these suggestions obviously won’t work for every character, hopefully there will be something to jog your imagination and personalize your character.
Want to inject more humor into your writing? Author Julie Lessman posts at Seekerville about the whys and hows of humor even in non-comedic novels.
Every week, author Julie Coulter Bellon offers a free first page critique from an anonymous national editor. Interested? Here are the guidelines:
Want your first page critiqued by a national editor? Submit your double-spaced, 12 point font, first manuscript page to juliecoulterbellon@gmail.com with First Page Friday in the subject line. Ms. Shreditor and Angela Eschler critique every Friday. (Please no swearing or explicit sex scenes).
In February, author Kathi Oram Peterson devoted the month to writing about faith—specifically, having faith in yourself and your writing. If your faith is flagging, check out her posts!
Every time I go to author Jody Hedlund’s blog, I read pretty much everything I get my hands on. Most recently, I really liked her articles on time management for busy writers (from a home-schooling mom of 5 and published author!), how to make more time for blogging (and writing), living intentionally but with breathing space (on time management and meeting goals). Apparently my subconscious is worried about something. . . .
Which of these links makes you think? What other great articles have you read lately?
The rank OBJECTIFICATION of writers
I came across this last year, and many of you have probably have seen this, but found this article funny: the advantages of dating a writer, or the rank OBJECTIFICATION of writers.
My favorite parts:
* Writers will offer you an interesting perspective on things. Yes. Constantly. While you’re trying to watch TV or take a shower. You will have to listen to observations all day long, in addition to being asked to read the observations we wrote about when you were at work and unavailable for bothering. It will be almost as annoying as dating a stand-up comedian, except if you don’t find these observations scintillating we will think you’re dumb, instead of uptight.
* Writers are smart. The moment you realize this is not true, your relationship with a writer will develop a significant problem.
What are your favorite parts?
First Crusader Challenge
As part of the Writers’ Platform Building Crusade, we have weekly Crusader Challenges. This week’s a getting to know you exercise. Although we have 300 words to bloviate in, I had a couplet come to me last night, and just knew I had to write a limerick.
Running was not my best gambit.
I’d prefer a fuliguline habit*.
I’m (mostly) kind to others,
and have only brothers,
whom our parents replaced with a rabbit.
Yes, this is why I write prose. Poetry requires such an incisive editorial blade. I’m afraid I’ll just stab it. Erg… (You can see why that line got cut from the poem…)
(Actually, once upon a time, I was the poetry editor of a fairly big site. But I didn’t have to judge or write poetry, so no one was injured.)
Something I mentioned about myself isn’t what you might call . . . “true.” Can you guess what it is?
Monday (I hope) we’ll jump into how to infuse your writing with emotion!
Photo by Graham White
Posted in News & Contests
Tagged about me, crusade, crusader, crusader challenge, humor, limerick, poetry, two truths and a lie, writers platform building crusade
30 Comments
If actors were like writers
This is how they’d get agents:
Dearest Prospective Agent,
Forsooth! I write this epistle to thy milky hand (thou art a maid, aye?), that I might win it and thee thereby to be mine agent. I see that thou doth represent mine colleague, Laurence Olivier, and thou must know that I am indeed a most convincing method actor. Thou mightest be able to tell from this letter that my true skill rests in Shakespearean tragedy.
I would be overjoyed to discuss my career. I call anon!
Sincerely,
Archer Feathersboroughbottom
(In case you’re wondering, actors get agents by a.) agents seeing their work and contacting them, b.) referral from other actors to their agents, or c.) sending a photo and résumé to an agent, which does seem a bit more appropriate than a query letter.)
What do you think? How would you query an acting agent?
Photo by Hashim Talbot
If Hemingway were alive today
And now, we interrupt the blog series on deep POV for something completely different.
If Hemingway were alive today, he’d probably sue me for this. But he’ll have to be content to roll over in his grave.
Ernest Hemingway is often hailed as the greatest writer of the 20th century. My favorite story of his [supposedly] was allegedly the product of a $10 bar bet to write a story in six words:
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
For me, no matter how many times I hear this story, it never fails to evoke an emotional response. That’s some powerful flash fiction. It has inspired several anthologies of flash fiction, including Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak: by Writers Famous and Obscure and I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure.
But today I was thinking: what if Hemingway were alive today, in the age of the Internet? What would his poignant ad look like on, say . . . eBay?
Technically, I believe that’s still only one word . . .
How would Hemingway’s story look on craigslist? A local classifieds site? What should my other five words be?
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged contest, ebay, ernest hemingway, fun, hemingway, humor, six word memoir, six word story
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