Often during yoga, the teacher will talk about “sighing something away” or “letting something go” when we’re in the midst of a challenging pose. And I have no trouble thinking of something I’d like to not be worrying about. But … Keep reading
Category Archives: Writing
In which Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan and Laini Taylor are smart.
Yesterday Laini Taylor and I went to Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan‘s Portland tour stop. It was in the midst of a mall. The large, enthusiastic crowd blended seamlessly with the people bringing small children to have photos taken … Keep reading
My skeletal familiar
I have a new companion in my writing room these days. This is “Failing Sparrow,” named for the street near where artist Matt Hall found it. (He took the above photo as well; click it to go to his Tumblr.) … Keep reading
Production and consumption
So I’m trying this thing, “Don’t Break The Chain,” which is impossible not to instantly connect to the ominous warnings accompanying the eponymous letters. But this time I really don’t want to break it, because the concept is that every day … Keep reading
You’d think this would be obvious.
So the other day I was reading this very excellent post by Laini Taylor over at Figment, and one of the things she recommends struck me with the force of a cartoon anvil (I’m paraphrasing): Keep a notebook in which … Keep reading
In which a conversational exchange provides a writing lesson
I’m home. The clouds are the right shape. I’ve given myself a day to readjust to my timezone and get myself back to the latest version of normal. While I was away, from time to time I’d find myself talking … Keep reading
In which Susan Fletcher is generous.
A little over a month ago I went to hear Susan Fletcher speak. I’ve been carrying around the handout from her talk, “25 Tips/25 Years: What I’ve Learned About Writing In the Quarter Century Since I Sold My First Novel” … Keep reading
Well, hello.
Finally, I can tell you all some news I’ve been wanting to share for a long time. If you’re thinking: Hmm, that copy of Empress looks a little different. More…substantial, somehow… I must congratulate you on your keen perceptive eye. … Keep reading
Re-entry
Usually I try to give myself a day after retreat to adjust. That wasn’t possible this year. After I got home, I did take a walk and watch a tremendous sunset (see above) that my phone unsurprisingly failed to render … Keep reading
Small collection of posts on writing comics
Folks have asked, so here are all the posts I’ve done about writing comics: Getting a robot to make you a sandwich and other tips for writing comics More tips on writing comics: what artists wish you wouldn’t do, part … Keep reading
Advancing to retreat, or vice versa
It is almost time for the annual BG Literary client retreat, and I am excited. It’s a retreat for writers, yes. But it’s not a retreat that is primarily about solitary, quiet writing time — although it is always okay … Keep reading
Project Write Faster, week one
Inspired by a lot of folks, notably Holly Black, I decided to see if I could tweak my schedule in such a way that I would end up writing more than, well, about 700 words per week. For a while … Keep reading
Saying no
A while back I wrote a post called Saying No and Saying Yes, about how hard it is to turn down invitations, whether they’re social or professional. I turned another one down this past week. It made me think again … Keep reading
If you hate yoga you might not want to read this.
At the risk of resembling the spring bloom on the bottom right in the excellent botanical guide by Dylan Meconis pictured above, I want to talk a little about how yoga is helping my writing. I take yin yoga classes. Someone … Keep reading
What you don’t see
In the eleven (!) years since my first book was published, I’ve become more reticent about blogging about my work in progress. Deadlines shift. Publishing dates change. Difficult events erupt and occupy all mental bandwidth. I never want to be in … Keep reading
Friday Five
Things I am doing, an incomplete selection: Making oatmeal with a lot of stuff in it. Tips: toast the pecans before you chop them. Use frozen blueberries when fresh ones are out of season. Frozen banana works too, and is … Keep reading
No empty trips
No empty trips. A casual search suggests that this advice has its origins in the restaurant industry. Save time by consolidating. When you’re bringing the drinks for table two, if you’ve got room on the tray, get the calamari to table … Keep reading
Because interpretive dance is not an option.
I’m trying to figure out whether to write an as-yet-unformed narrative as prose or as the script for a graphic novel. Prose Pros: – Control. Being totally in charge of the world I’m creating. – Being free to write about … Keep reading
Four places to write in Portland
Originally posted at the Wordstock blog. I have a Designated Writing Zone in my house. I’ve written many thousands of words in it, and I’ve even blogged about it. But sometimes I need other voices, other rooms. Fortunately Portland has … Keep reading
Looking back.
I was trying to hunt down the date for an upcoming event I’d managed not to get into my calendar, and searched my email for the name of the person organizing it. The results went back to 2005 — my … Keep reading
Confession, revelation, decision, conclusion.
1. Confession Several times over the past few years, I’ve heard about writers — some of whom are my friends — going on extended writing retreats, being extremely productive, and generally feeling renewed, inspired, etc. I myself have been very … Keep reading
Process
I’m indebted to the artist who put this up in my neighborhood. The gritted teeth, the grim expression — it’s like that, yeah. You want your writing to process, like with Pomp and Circumstance and fancy outfits. But sometimes what … Keep reading
An amazing day, and #yasaves
On Saturday, when #yasaves began to happen in response to the latest installment in the apparently endless series of articles decrying YA literature for being Too Dark, I was, appropriately enough, taking part in a YA-centric book event at Klindts. … Keep reading
Habit-forming
I’ve spent a lot of time lately attempting to form beneficial habits, hence the small flurry of cooking and gym-related posts. And I’ve been realizing that when you do something a lot, the activity, whatever it is, begins to fit … Keep reading
What I learned from Tina Fey
Some writers, I am given to understand, struggle because they have SO many FABulous iDEas, they just don’t know WHICH one to write FIRST! I am not one of them. My inner critic, who resembles a very angry prosecuting attorney, … Keep reading