If you want to learn how to write and publish your writing, then the Writing Excuses podcast is a vital resource for you. Subscribe to the podcast for their latest episodes, or follow this link to find their archive of writing advice. It's free.
Writing Excuses has four members. Mary Robinette Kowal - Howard Taylor - Dan Wells - Brandon Sanderson. Their podcast is between fifteen and twenty minutes long and covers any topic related to writing, business, creation, process, or other.
They also really like bacon and marshmallows, so really, go check them out.
At this point in my journey as a writer I have been working on my story for four months. This podcast is my principle way of receiving instructions. I download episodes from their archive for listening on my way to classes, and I catch their weekly updates as soon as they come out.
Writing excuses offers a fix for any trouble I might encounter while writing. If a character isn't working, they have an answer. If I'm caught by endless revisions of a chapter, they have an answer. If my plot is broken and I'm out of ideas, they have an answer. Hundreds of episodes means answers to almost any question you could encounter as a writer. And if you have a question they haven't answered? They often seek questions from their listeners.
At the end of each podcast they include a challenging writing prompt that is meant to push your abilities and practice the topics discussed in that episode. The prompts are a great resource for practice.
The podcasters also offer Book suggestions that exemplify the episode's topic. Because they are sponsored by Audible, you can use their name and receive a free audio book. This lets you see professional examples of the principles they discuss.
As a final side note, each year they hold an "Out of Excuses" Writer's Retreat and Workshop for hands-on instruction. Compared to other Workshops I've seen, their's is inexpensive. Tickets usually go on sale in mid-January, though seats are limited. 2014's slots ran out after less than ten minutes. Check their website frequently and listen to their podcast to receive details on availability and pricing.
It's free, it's professional, and it's entertaining. So why not give it a try? Their website link is here, and this is the link for submitting questions. There is also a forum.
This podcast has done wonders with my ability to write, it can help you as well.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Rock, Paper, Magic
I want to be an author, a published book author.
I tell people this and watch their faces. Some are blank, they don't believe me. Others, skeptical, they think i'll fail. My wife? She kissed me.
I am doing my best to take this ambition seriously. I write and do research daily to learn the craft, the business, and the art. In so doing, I've heard many authors speak about how lucky they were to get published, how getting published is a matter of writing a book, casting it's words onto an editor's roulette table, putting a "gun barrel of success" to your head, and hoping the editor pulls its trigger.
I've read blogs, listened to podcasts, and attended panels. No one can fully explain what it takes to become a published author. Writing books is hard, they say. It's not for everyone. Quit. If you can't quit, then quit anyways. If you still can't. . . then you might have a chance.
I don't like chance. Luck. The magic of creating a story is not the outcome of a rock, paper, scissors match, neither is a book's publishing. I love stories about magic. I want to write stories about magic, but there is no magic in publishing a story. There is no luck, least not the kind that requires a gamble.
I am a journeyman writer, Bilbo just leaving the shire, Harry Potter in his first day at Hogwarts. My purpose in this blog is to map my work, my story. Display it for the world to see. The title of my blog is "Paper Beats Magic" and while a blog is not physical paper, the posts will prove that publishing a book is not a process of chance. Magic will play a part in it, creative, disciplined, magic of faith. But in the end, what is on the paper will beat any contest of chance.
What does your face look like right now? Are you blank? skeptical? Do you want to kiss me? I am a writer. I am going to publish multiple books.
You are welcome to see how it's done.
I tell people this and watch their faces. Some are blank, they don't believe me. Others, skeptical, they think i'll fail. My wife? She kissed me.
I am doing my best to take this ambition seriously. I write and do research daily to learn the craft, the business, and the art. In so doing, I've heard many authors speak about how lucky they were to get published, how getting published is a matter of writing a book, casting it's words onto an editor's roulette table, putting a "gun barrel of success" to your head, and hoping the editor pulls its trigger.
I've read blogs, listened to podcasts, and attended panels. No one can fully explain what it takes to become a published author. Writing books is hard, they say. It's not for everyone. Quit. If you can't quit, then quit anyways. If you still can't. . . then you might have a chance.
I don't like chance. Luck. The magic of creating a story is not the outcome of a rock, paper, scissors match, neither is a book's publishing. I love stories about magic. I want to write stories about magic, but there is no magic in publishing a story. There is no luck, least not the kind that requires a gamble.
I am a journeyman writer, Bilbo just leaving the shire, Harry Potter in his first day at Hogwarts. My purpose in this blog is to map my work, my story. Display it for the world to see. The title of my blog is "Paper Beats Magic" and while a blog is not physical paper, the posts will prove that publishing a book is not a process of chance. Magic will play a part in it, creative, disciplined, magic of faith. But in the end, what is on the paper will beat any contest of chance.
What does your face look like right now? Are you blank? skeptical? Do you want to kiss me? I am a writer. I am going to publish multiple books.
You are welcome to see how it's done.
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