Think!

Let's face it. We get lazy. We do the same things. We see the same people. We enjoy our little rut of routine. And while that may help you lead an orderly life it can be death to your writing. I love to teach writing. There is nothing like a class full of EXCITED writers! But one thing seems to crop up again and again. We only see things from our point of view. Now, don't get me wrong. We need to have our own, strong voice. But sometimes it's good to check from a different side. Hear from a group we rarely acknowledge. We must simply think in a new way. How do you do that? You become more objective. You step back and look at things from not just one different angle, but from as many sides as possible. And you get specific.

One of my favorite exersices for my class was to have them look at a picture of a war memorial. It was a classic picture of a guard walking his line in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When I asked them to describe it for me as if I was blind they said, "It's a cemetary." "Oh, with lots of gravestones," I said. "No! It's just one. And there's a soldier." "Oh, you mean in fatigues?" "No, he's in a dress uniform and he's marching. It's a war memorial!" "Oh, like this!" I then pull out a picutre of the Vietnam Memorial. They shake their heads in disgust. But it gets the point across. It matters very much if there's a soldier. It matters if he's in dress uniform or smoking in fatigues. It matters if he's in front of iconic columns or in a deep trench cut out of the ground. All the details matter. Think about it.

Books,books,books.

When not writing we love to read. Or maybe we read when we should be writing? Well, now you can read and not feel...too guilty. Here is a list of my favorite writing books. They may not all suit you. Good writing mentors are like friends. You have to see if you fit. But if you've hit a wall, need some inspiration, or want to goof off in a productive way - here's a little compas to guide you...

Natalie Goldberg - Writing Down the Bones
Great book about how to get "unstuck".

Anne Lamott - Bird by Bird
One of the most down to earth books about writing and life.

Ray Bradbury - Zen in the Art of Writing
The king of sci-fi himself explains how to get in the groove.

Madeleine L'Engle - Walking on Water
Explains why we write and if we aren't, why we should.

Brenda Ueland - If You Want to Write
Guides the new and would - be writers. A nice essay on creativity.


Fun books to kick-start the muse:
Jason Rekulak - The Writer's Block
Susan Shaughnessy - Walking on Alligators

Overheard

So the blank page, or screen, for that matter can be a challenge. Not to worry.

All you have to do is gather up a bill and some change and head for your local public transportation. Never will you have such a fabulous cornucopia of humanity from which to choose characters. And there's audio as well! Check out www.overheardinnewyork.com for just a taste of the fantastic prompts, thoughts, and dialogue you can gather.

You won't believe it.
Neither will your readers.
But truth is stranger than fiction.
Next stop...

Welcome

"Tell me a story."

I mean, it ranks right up there with "Can I have another glass of water?" and "Check for monsters under the bed!" When you think about it, that's all you need - after food and shelter you need something to say to someone. You want to tell them a story, and you want to hear theirs. It keeps us connected.

This is a blog dedicated to the lost art of the narrative. Tell me your stories and I'll tell you mine. Stories we've collected, recollected, and created. Give me what you've got. Gather round the electronic fire and let's watch the sparks climb to the stars.

Just a minute, I've got to check for monsters...
We're all clear.
Let's go.

-T