Writer's Block, and Using Fresh Eyes
I've never been a believer in writer's block. I've heard the term used for over fifty years, and I think it's become a cliche. When I have students that use the term to explain a lack of productivity, I hit them with a piece of advice a favorite University professor, Dr. Glenn Sadler, gave me: "Put whatever it is that you're trying to write on the back burner. Let it simmer there, and start on something else. It won't be long until ideas start filtering into your subconscious
Suffering the Fools
Most writers that I know are tremendously perceptive. They see details that others miss or else ignore. For a writer, there's no going from point A to point B because we see the letters in between. Such is certainly the case for those of us suffering Trump supporters. I don't know one writer, or any other artist for that matter, that supports the sick bastard. We see right through him quite clearly, and it is difficult to understand why so many others cannot. It is especially
Summary vs. Synopsis
When you're trying to entice a publisher to take a look at your work, they will undoubtedly ask you to send them a summary and/or a synopsis, along with sample chapters. Most of the time, publishers like to see no more than a page. Imagine how many proposals they get each month, and put yourself in their shoes. You'll have more attention paid to your proposal if it's short, succinct, and it grabs their attention quickly. Here's a example of each taken from two different books
Writers Cramp (er...I mean, Camp)
I usually begin my seminar/workshops by asking participants to write three questions they have for me. They can be personal or professional. then, depending on the number of participants, I ask them each to ask one of their questions. This is a great ice-breaker, allowing for participation, and a chance to give short answers to their most pressing inquiries. I usually get a chance to tell a few funny stories. Most importantly, I can now gauge where my seminar should be focuse
