David Baldacci- Done in 3 Acts

Simplicity is best...begin by breaking writing down into three parts.

It is good to know that he writes stuff that his wife doesn't like. And I love that he has written books that don't work. No matter how far he is into them.

Easter break...I have to get my head right and focus.  

Clive Cussler- You've got to believe

Sometimes dreams come true.  It isn't a mistake.  

Hard work, dedication to craft and you too can be an "over night" success.  

Believe

I have to admit...I have had a crush on Tony for a while. It could be because he is a giant like me.  No...I think it is because of my first trip to Europe.  His book was the only one I took with me on a 2 month trip through Europe.  I read it a couple of times. I lost 40 pounds that summer.  I credit it to Tony.  He inspires me.  I hope you feel it too.

Advice from the King

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Not the Vader!  The force wouldn't allow it.

Listen to the King.  He can teach us all a lesson or five hundred.

Keep Writing

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I started writing at home.  Not sharing anything with anyone except my mother, who proclaimed I was a genius.  Must be true.

Then I became a 'Teacher of the year' finalist for the school district...it was because of my writing. Well, I got a ton of help from a dear friend of mine...it was like boot camp for writing. Just what I needed. It is crazy that I went from that to now being a paid writer.

I can't live off my writing, yet. But I will...it will happen. I know it will. The more I write the more opportunities come up.  The key is keep writing.

Ira Glass, The 2 Big Pitfalls

The more you are yourself the more compelling you become.  Wish I had seen this a year ago...I was trying to be David Baldacci.  I am not him.  He is great at being him and this time around I have become myself.

I love what he said about focusing not only on self but on my interactions with the world and those I encounter. I can impersonate everyone that I run into.  I observe those around me ready to use those quirks and ticks for characters that come out of me. He is saying that, that needs to be harnessed for adding suspense to story and moving the story along.

Ira Glass has taught me about pacing, the simplicity of movement within the story and several techniques for creating suspense.  I look forward to sharing your more writing advice from the masters.  Until then be yourself when you write...

Ira Glass the Importance of Recognizing the Bad

I think this was why I am still writing the first novel that I finished last year.  I wrote the story and some how it didn't work, I didn't know the characters and the town was this angry backdrop that didn't make sense.  It took me abandoning it to find the real story.

Are  you putting yourself in the pattern to produce enough crap? It is the only way that you will find something special.

Confession time: I know I have not been in the zone lately.  A writer who isn't writing..well is a reader.  I commit to get 5,000 words this week.  (And that does not count my blogs.)