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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Writer's Survival Guide

In my never-ending quest to procrastinate, I browsed through a writing advice book: The Writer's Survival Guide by Rachel Simon. It's clear she has been a working writer, and she has solid counsel to pass along. I particularly liked chapter 2, "Big Emotions and States of Mind." Simon lists
  • Competitiveness--a seething desire to best everyone else
  • Confidence
  • Contemplativeness
  • Ego--"a rigid self-perception of supposed perfection"
  • Energy
  • Envy
  • Feelings of failure--"a shudder of vast disappointment in ourselves"
  • Feelings of inferiority
  • Guilt
  • Insecurity
  • Inquisitiveness
  • Laziness
  • Loneliness
  • Love/Hate--"contradictory epiphanies about our work"
  • Meaningfulness--"a glow of dignity from engaging in purposeful activity"
  • Paranoia
  • Passion
  • Pride
  • Shame--worrying about what will happen when everyone realizes that you are a fraud.
  • Spiritual contectedness

The general antecdotes to the negatives among that list are found in chapter 3: setting boundaries; celebrating every accomplishment; committing to ourselves that our writing is valuable; believing in our own inner voice; exhibiting humility, discipline, patience, and tenacity; and having writing friends.

Of course she describes and expounds. She sometimes sounds too New Age-y for me, but pretty much I agree with her views.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

New Literary Journal Seeks CNF

Emprise Review (http://www.muttsbane.com) is a monthly literary journal in search of high quality, compelling work.

Deadline for submission is the 20th of each month. The editors will contact you regarding our decision between the 20th and 25th.

All submissions should be original and sent as attachments with Emprise and the submission category in the subject line.

We accept submissions in photography, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, and are in particular need of the latter for the upcoming issues. Guidelines.


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Quote

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.

ā€” Frank Lloyd Wright

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Friday, October 10, 2008

quote

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.

ā€” Gloria Steinem