Pixar-in-a-Box “The Art of Storytelling” is a free online course in storytelling is available here.
Their three minute introduction is our Fun Friday for today. Enjoy!
The Writing Life
Bland on Facebook?
Recently I posted a photo of roses my husband had given me. One of my daughters said, “Mommy, you know you’re desperate to be noncontroversial when you post a picture of roses.” She has also observed that part of my workday is posting “noncontroversial” updates on Facebook. Guilty as charged. But why? Why not be exciting on Facebook? Here’s why: I try to represent my faith with my words. I’m far …
Go Ahead: Take an Online Break
Wow, what great sites you all shared. Thanks so much for letting us in on your online breaks. So here are the places I like to go when I need a break. Some are great for just a few minutes, some give a nice long break. But they’re all great fun! (click the headlines below) History in the Headlines: Writers This is the History Channel’s collection of fascinating stories about writers throughout …
Amnesia: The Key to Success
At some point, anyone involved in motivational or inspirational communication will touch on the necessity of leaving the past behind and moving on from a painful experience or time of life in order to grow personally or professionally. Millions of people spend billions of dollars each year on counselors helping them overcome past issues in their lives. For Christians, leaving a past behind through …
Do Your Book a Favor: Take a Break
Ever had one of those days? You know, you sit there, staring at the screen, fingers on the keyboard, and… It’s. Just. Not. Happening. Yeah, you have. All writers hit those days from time to time. I’ve learned, when that happens to me, that the best thing I can do is take a break. Now, I realize we can’t always just shut off the computer and walk away for awhile, so how about the next best thing? …
The Isolated Writer
In general, writers do not do their best work in a group. The very nature of creative writing is a solitary pursuit, but without taking great care, can morph into a feeling of isolation. And this can occur whether an author lives in a quiet rural town or in midtown Manhattan. (The one in New York, not Kansas) So, how does an author, feeling isolated and alone stay motivated? How do they develop …
What is Your Attention Span?
I came across the study that claims the average person now has a shorter attention span than that of a goldfish. Eight seconds. This means most people tend to lose concentration in less than ten seconds. As an experiment, I read the above paragraph out loud. It took about 10 seconds to complete. That means I just lost you. At least the goldfish will swim around its bowl and come back to the same …
Should I Join a Professional Organization?
Thinking about joining a professional organization? This post is geared to the writer who has decided what type of books to write and wonders if memberships would enhance the proposal. Those who are undecided would be better served by attending a few conferences as a nonmember to discern career direction. When investigating professional organizations, I recommend asking yourself questions: Can I …
The Extroverted Writer
Since we looked at the introverted writer last week it is only appropriate that we address the extroverted writer. Before we go further it is important to understand the intrinsic weakness of any label. People are much more complex then introvert or extrovert. At the same time such labels can help us understand each other’s inclinations and limitations. Extroverted can mean many things. …
How to Balance a Busy Writing Schedule and a Busy Life
One of the things many writers struggle with is time management. I’ve heard so many writers cry out, frustrated that they just can’t find the focus or time to write like they want. I knew if there was one person who could share wisdom and tips on this topic, it was the author of today’s guest blog, Tricia Goyer. This woman is amazing! I’ve known her since her children were little, and it’s been a …