Time to write! For those of you who don't know, today's the first day of NaNoWriMo. That's shorthand for National Novel Writing Month, a crazy adrenaline-fueled rush of attempting to write 50,000 words in a new novel in one month. This is my seventh NaNo. I've won all but the last one. I explained why … Continue reading So it begins!
No NaNo
For the last seven Novembers, I've participated in NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is a frenetic November of trying to write at least 50,000 words in a novel--from scratch. On every November 1 during the previous seven years, I sat down at my computer, placed my fingers on the keyboard, and began a new novel. For … Continue reading No NaNo
Hand at the chest
Today's a wonderful Wednesday because in the process of reviewing Words for Readers and Writers: Spirit-Pooled Dialogues by Larry Woiwode, I found this quotation about deadlines that I've been searching for:Do you worry about the ethics of all-nighters?—when you have to hand in a story by a certain date and hour, a deadline? Let me affirm that all writing … Continue reading Hand at the chest
Support your author friends
"I saw that book you wrote, and I almost bought it." "I walked past the bookstore and saw a poster for the book you wrote, but I didn't go inside and buy it." True quotes. People have actually said these things to authors. Maybe they genuinely couldn't afford to buy the book. Maybe they view … Continue reading Support your author friends
The End is near
During a workshop at Glen West, when someone asked Larry Woiwode how he begins a novel. He said, "Most often lately, I tend to see the ending, so I find the beginning and get to the end from there." I sighed. I'd never had that experience. In fact, most of the time I come up … Continue reading The End is near
Pragmatism, inspiration, and redemption
During the fiction workshop at Glen West, the first and most frequent question instructor Larry Woiwode asked was: "Does it work?" That's the primary consideration. Either a piece of writing works or it doesn't. This may seem a rather pragmatic view, but it's crucial to establish a work's viability before going on to other important questions, … Continue reading Pragmatism, inspiration, and redemption
Begin to write by writing
The post-it note centered above my computer monitor daily reminds me, "Begin to write by writing." It's a phrase that struck me during a writing course years ago. Anyone can think about writing, but you have to put your fingers on the keyboard and actually write if you want to be a writer. Readers of … Continue reading Begin to write by writing
The Glen West experience
How would you like to spend several days participating in a productive workshop and living within a creative community? Attend Glen West! Many years ago, Gideon Strauss and I chatted about Christianity and culture. I was writing a series of articles for Christian Renewal on Christians in the arts, and he's passionate about promoting art and leadership … Continue reading The Glen West experience
Post-Glen West
Glen West is an amazing, exhilarating, creative experience. Monday afternoon I returned home after spending several days as a participant in its fiction workshop under the instruction of Larry Woiwode. Remember how I recently reflected on the Place of Place? That post quoted from Woiwode and concluded: Wouldn’t you love to learn more about place … Continue reading Post-Glen West
Living Echoes ending
Last night, driving home after a very long day, I was praying for wisdom and guidance on a lot of things. As I prayed, the beauty of a crescent moon and its reflection on a smooth lake made my heart ache. And I suddenly realized that, in the prayer and the beauty, God had given … Continue reading Living Echoes ending
Glenda Faye Mathes 