Creative Writing Inspiration

 Oh yes, pretty nice. Love this "Readers are insulted when they find mistakes in books. It’s like serving guests dinner on dirty plates." So true.The advice about considering cutting the first 3 chapters is also very good.

Randy Susan Meyers imparts great advice about doing a reading at Huffpo at the link below. Enjoy!

I must point out that if I wasn't in love with myself, I couldn't do a reading at all. (I do alternate between raging narcissism and self-loathing, so it balances out.)

A couple of persnickety podcasters who shall go unnamed once complained that they don't like it when an author looks like he's enjoying himself too much at the podium. If a writer got too much into acting out the reading, they shuddered with too-cool-for-schoolness.

This is blatant hipster posing. If the author acted miserable, said podcasters surely would have said the reading was too flat. They were a couple of poos who shouldn't go to readings if they're just there to bag on people to make themselves feel better.

I say a reading is a performance. People expect to be entertained. If you can't act, be funny. If you can't be funny, read something really good poorly or get someone else to read it for you and just answer questions afterward.

I agree with Ms. Meyers about this: Your audience doesn't care about your stagefright (unless you can make that funny, of course.)

Most people go to readings to meet the author, get a signed book, enjoy themselves and drink red wine in an atmosphere where no one calls you on your raging alcoholism.

Now get out there withyour book and kick ass.

Thanks to cool author (and soon-to-be-guest on the Cool People Podcast) Jessica McHugh for the tip on this link.

~ Chazz

Good to see that the pencil hasn't gone the way of the dinosaur. 

An excellent blog on writing by author Emma Darwin.  Great resource on writing craft.

Here's a strange and maybe a wonderful opportunity for authors. Do you even remember The Dark Crystal? The movie's from 1982, but maybe there are some Dark Crystal fans out there (or new fans waiting to be born with new blood and new life in the franchise.) Even if you don't know the movie, they'll provide you with what you need to know to bring life to the vision and recreate their world.

1982: I got together with my first serious girlfriend and travelled far from home for a summer for the first time. Rocky III and Asia's "Heat of the Moment" was playing constantly...on my tape recorder. Remember those? I was young and free and nobody carded me at bars even though they definitely should have. 1982 was one of the best summers ever in the history of the world.

Ancient history, and yet, the Gelflings are gathering again. Deadline for entry in this contest is Dec. 31st. Check out the details at the link below to Galleycat. (Article by Jason Boog.)

I ned all the help I can get.

This article is a wonderful reminder to writers to get out of our own way when creating our stories.

The main thrust of the article is to stop editing and start writing! Yes, we should edit, but some writers edit to death and their novel never sees the light of day. Also, make sure you know what the story PROBLEM is and where it will END and how the character will CHANGE. This is vital and will keep you moving forward!

***This review was written by Penelope Silvers for her curated content on "Writing Rightly"***

Link to the original article: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/writing-is-best-when-we-get-out-of-our-own-way/

Podcast of Neil Gaiman reading his story Down to a Sunless Sea