How many of you have heard the old cliche’ about the guy looking for a job?  He goes in to apply and the boss says, “You’re perfect, except we need someone with more experience.” The guy says, “How am I supposed to get experience unless I get the job?” The boss says, “Don’t try to confuse me with logic.  Just come back when you’ve got more experience.” Well, I think the old cliche’ goes something like that, anyway.  I tend to ignore cliche’s for the most part, except to try and avoid them.  But, for the purpose of this article, I think it’s important to draw on one of the old favorites. But why bother?  Don’t worry, I’m getting to that… […]

Yes, that’s right… I’m committed.  Now before you jump up and shout “It’s about time!  I’ve been saying you should be committed for years…”, I’ve got to break the sad news that it’s not that kind of committed. The committed I’m talking about today is the commitment to The Writing Show’s “First Chapter Contest”.  I know I said I would be doing it; heck I even challenged the other SWNers just to put some additional pressure on myself (or was it on them?  I’m never quite clear on that point).  So what’s the big newsflash? Well… I went ahead and paid my entry fee.  Pretty heady stuff!  And no, I haven’t actually submitted my first chapter yet, but I will.  Honest! The […]

It could be a two-hour creative writing seminar at the local Library or it could be a multi-month, full-blown University or Correspondance course on writing the next great novel.  The question is, are they useful? I guess that depends on what you’re trying to get out of the course. If your goal is to shortcut the whole writing process and instantly become the next JK Rowling, then no, they aren’t terribly useful.  The only thing that will help you with that is a genie and a magic lamp.  A Leprechaun might work too. But if your intention is to learn something new about writing, practice your writing skills and start your writing momentum, then maybe, just maybe this is the way […]

Where do ideas come from?  Anyone who has suffered writer’s block has probably asked themselves that question in the wee hours, perhaps punctuated by the occasional blow to the head with the heel of a hand. I know I have. Oddly enough, the smack to the head doesn’t generally do more than give me a headache and a strong urge to lay on the floor to avoid falling down.  However, I have found something that generates more ideas than any other source… Any ideas?  Yup, you guessed it… That source is indeed music (did the title give it away?) It’s funny, but whenever I seem to be stuck for something to write about, music seems to kick start the creative juices.  Case in […]