If you had told me a couple years ago that I would forsake my meticulous outlines, I would have never believed you. Writing a story is analogous to an old sea voyage. You can start with the nautical charts ahead of time or you can set out on the seas and see where the wind … Continue reading From Plotter to Pantser (Writing Update)
writing
Inspiration & Snails (Update)
I’ve remembered why I love writing so much. This past month has been one of inspiration and productivity, my best of 2022. With my lowered medication, my brain is firing on many more cylinders. And what I accomplished below is evidence of that. I’ve noticed—and you may have as well—that my recent writing updates have … Continue reading Inspiration & Snails (Update)
Working on a New Novelette (Update)
In my last blog post, I preached my new positive and productive outlook in the face of my cognitive troubles. My execution? Decent not great. I certainly accomplished far more than I would have if I had stuck with my doom-and-gloom philosophy. My New Project Image via Wikimedia Commons I needed a project. My current … Continue reading Working on a New Novelette (Update)
Thinking Positively and Productively
“You only fail if you stop writing.” – Ray Bradbury. I came across this quote shortly after posting last week’s grim update. In it, I had effectively given up writing until the fog of my medications cleared. And who knows how long that would be? Bradbury’s words pulled me back. Yes, I might create a … Continue reading Thinking Positively and Productively
Writing & Reading Update – March 2022
I don’t like to get too deep into my personal life on this blog, but this is a writing update and some personal issues have affected my productivity. This was a bad month at baseline, enough to hamper my work. To treat this, my doctor doubled my medication. This higher dose screwed with my brain … Continue reading Writing & Reading Update – March 2022
How I Write a Novel
Some of my novel/novella manuscripts I believe that there are very few rules to writing. No one way to do it. For instance, one of the most common designations of writers is plotter or pantser (i.e., outline or no outline). I am firmly (if not obsessively) in the former category, but for every author it’s … Continue reading How I Write a Novel
Writing Update – February 2022
What type of writer am I? I posed this question in my last writing update and now I think I have an answer. I decided I couldn’t pick just one genre and achieve the “singular focus” I spoke of. It’s just not who I am. Horror is my love these days, what I think of … Continue reading Writing Update – February 2022
Writing Update – January 2022
This was not my month. Januarys usually aren’t. Still, I kept myself busy, maintaining my routine while giving myself permission to take things slowly. It isn’t easy doing so. Being productive is one of the great joys in my life. Relaxing in front of the TV to watch a bad movie when I should be … Continue reading Writing Update – January 2022
Too Many Notebooks
Some of the myriad notebooks crammed into my study There are very few things I love more than the crisp, white pages of a new notebook. The massive stack on my shelves (as well as in storage) attests to that. Ever since I became semi-literate, I’ve recorded anything and everything. As a child, it was … Continue reading Too Many Notebooks
Writing Update – December 2021
The high of getting a good review on my story lasted all of three days, before I went back to doubting myself. This, I discovered, is not a bad thing. Blogger and writer Stuart Danker recently wrote: “If you think your writing sucks, then writing’s the right vocation for you.” That’s encouraged me to keep … Continue reading Writing Update – December 2021
Zé Burns | Blog 