If you’re feeling stressed right now, have no time to write, here’s all you have to do: Be present. Spend five minutes writing down what your five senses are picking up. If you’re in chaos, write the chaos. If you’re excited, write the excitement. If you’re lonely, write the loneliness. Not one of you is…
Writing Advice
Writing Advice
Culture shock (or:why you should always carry a notebook)
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 3 Comments
Culture shock is having breakfast yesterday at the Blue Anchor in Twin Bridges, Montana (where the talk is all about snow, cows, horses, and the latest gossip in town) and then having dinner last night at a sushi restaurant in Santa Monica (where the talk was a fifteen minute monolog by a woman, apparently on…
Writing Advice
Another Look at Courage
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 2 Comments
I heard a good definition of courage in a sermon last weekend: Courage is walking up to the edge of light, and then taking one more step. I think an idea of courage for writers is walking up to the edge of darkness and taking one more step. It’s hard to step into our own…
Writing Advice
Who Moved My Yoga Mat?
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 10 Comments
My friend Billy Mernit wrote a great post on his blog, livingromcom.typepad.com a few months ago called “Writing Down Your Now” (July 2006) – about using whatever emotions you’re going through now in your writing. I was thinking about this in yoga class today because someone moved my mat. When I was in the loo,…
Writing Advice
The Writing Clinic
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 1 Comment
Writing A Non-fiction Book Proposal I started a non-fiction book last summer that I pulled out today to start the rewrite. I’ve been to all the publisher’s websites and found they don’t take unsolicited material. They say you need an agent to present your work. I was wondering if you had any ideas about how…
Writing Advice
The Writing Clinic
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 0 Comments
From: J. How do you suggest balancing one’s dedication to hard work on a writing project and self-care? (When I’m really into a writing project, I forget to eat, sleep, take breaks… whereas when I’m not so into it, I find that all I do is take breaks, eat, etc.) Dear J. That’s a hard…
Writing Advice
getting ready to write
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 4 Comments
I’m about to go back to a novel I’ve been struggling with for years. With a mix of relief and anxiety I had to stop working on it for five months while I finished my book on writing, Courage & Craft. (John Wiley…
Writing Advice
the writing clinic
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 1 Comment
From Rob: I wrote a letter to my god daughter, now 18 and departing for her senior year retreat, based on her mother’s vague guidelines: memories, support, humor, love. It was well received. My "editors" think a wider audience would appreciate it; I think it lacks the background details and context that a reader would…
Writing Advice
rx for writers and a love letter to my students
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 1 Comment
We’re starting the Writing Clinic this week. Check it out below, and please send us your writing questions or problems. (Send to StuartandCharlotte@yahoo.com or click on “comment” below. You can use just your first name and a fake e-mail address if you want to. No need to fill in URL.) I’m winding up my spring…
Writing Advice
the writing clinic
by Barbara Abercrombie • • 10 Comments
Thanks to the people who sent in questions and problems. (Below are the first three sent in. The rest will be answered next week.) Please send yours in this week too – either click on the comment button below, or send an email. Brooke and I look forward to hearing from you. (click on the title to continue reading)
