Dragging My Ass Out of the Mire

Source


The blogosphere's collective thought waves can really help a girl out of a major rut. My writing is on the brain all the time. They just haven't made it to the page in a long time. Every time I sit down, my chest constricts and I panic. It's crap. Then I feel like crap. Once the self-deprecating thoughts suffocate my motivation, I question my goal to be a writer. Waaaah! Waaaah! Waaaah!


Note to self: Get your shit together.

So, I bring you a few blog posts that reinvigorated my motivation.
Around of Words in 80 Days
Becky Taylor talks about a writing challenge that helped her make small writing goals to get her writing every day.

Writing Daily
C. Hope Clark discusses writing daily as well. She suggests writing in a specific form every day (prompt, short story, novel, poetry, etc).

Here are a few blog posts I found insightful and interesting: 

Janet Reid recaps the main points in Mark Tavani's workshop. Although it is targeting thrillers, I believe the information works for just about any genre out there.

Largeheartedboy provides links to 100+ websites and blogs with summer reading lists, plus book reviews, author interviews and author playlists.

My goal for the rest of this month is to respond to a writing prompt everyday in at least 500 words. That's it. A small start giving me the chance to improve my writing skills. My other goal is to live my writing life the way I live the rest of my life: quiet and solitary the majority of the time, and, on occasion, poke my head in socially. 

Here are a few books I plan to read this summer:
Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling (I'm gearing up for the final movie next week!)
Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes
Dark Places, Gillian Flynn
Home Stand, James McKean
The Case of The Missing Servant, Tarquin Hall
Witch & Wizard, James Patterson
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Swann’s Way, Marcel Proust

What books are on your summer list?

Comments

Anna said…
Oh no! Swann's Way! What happened to my summer of Proust???

Also, Rebecca is in my top 10 fav books. It's a quick read too, very fast paced and exciting.

Thanks for the links—I love it when you post links to other blogs. They're usually ones I haven't found yet.
July 7, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said…
Oh self-doubt...how I loathe thee. I too suffer from it Laura but I think this is the taskmaster of everyone that tries to achieve anything.
July 8, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Amie Kaufman said…
My summer list is sitting right beside me! It includes:
MONSTER BLOOD TATTOO
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
IN DEFENCE OF FOOD and a stack of others.

I'm really glad you're feeling like you're on track, and it sounds like you have a great plan for getting writing. Good luck!
July 10, 2011 at 4:12 AM
Alex Villasante said…
Obviously (because you know me) I've read the HP series. They're awesome. Also, Rebecca? It's AMAZING! after you read it, see the lawrence oliver film version. I had a crush on Maxim De Winter, seriously!
July 12, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insecure Writer's Support Group:Overwhelmed

Image
Source My road trip to Boston at the end of August arrived just in time to relieve me from the constant head banging on the wall between me and my writing, blogging and freelance career. The permanent knot on my forehead, bald patches and a jaw that clicks every time I open my mouth has transformed me into a monster you might catch in the dark alleyways of Gotham City. I overdosed on advice in writing magazines, on writing-related websites and blogs. If you peek through the windows, you catch me wandering around the house strung out, too jittery to sit down at my laptop. As an information junkie, I hoarded writing techniques, strategies and prompts. I shoved them into every available space in my writing toolbox, reminding me of an overly prepared-style of packing. Overstuffed. I would sit on the lid to force it shut if it weren’t for the motivational quotes spilling over the sides keeping me from latching the damn thing. Then I come across an article contradicting the no
Read more

Nomenclature: Help Name My Characters!

Image
November 1, the start of NaNoWriMo, arrives in 11 days. The planning of my amateur sleuth mystery novel gains clarity and complexity with each new technique and strategy Susan Meier presents in her class .  A photograph of the hardcopy of my ideas, notes and inspirational quotes are above. The rest of my scaffolding is sitting on my computer.  There's just one problem...my characters are nameless.  I need help to decide on the best moniker for them. So, I hand over to you, my readers,  the privilege of naming my characters. Of course, I plan to fill my novel with many more characters. These three are the only ones developed enough at this point.  Some quick background: I drew inspiration from two famous literary characters and a notorious historical figure. I've  included important character traits as well as the meaning of each name to help in the process.   Just write your choices for the three characters in the comments below. Thanks for you help!    
Read more

Inspirational Blogfest: Wake Up Your Writing Genius

Image
Source Today Summer Ross is hosting an inspirational blogfest. Check out the details and participating bloggers here . Take a moment and respond to the following writing prompt to explore your creativity. Or learn more about your main character by letting them respond to the prompt. Enjoy! Point to a word or a sentence in any text and write for 10 minutes about whatever you or your character associate to.
Read more