I’m running around today (I’ll have an announcement tomorrow), so today is a grab bag post.
First, Carrie Cuinn (blog, twitter) is offering a short fiction workshop. I first heard Carrie on the Functional Nerds podcast, and I found myself nodding along to her comments (even if it was an odd thing to do in the gym). Since that time, I’ve continued to be impressed with her writing and advice. And now I can get access to her editing and teaching know-how for $50? How could I pass that up? But hurry, the class is already 1/3 full at the time of this post.
I think a course that requires me to give an extraordinary amount of attention to each and every word can’t help but be incredibly beneficial. And the fact that it picks up right as the Clarion West Write-A-Thon ends, well that’s just a convenient bonus.
Second, Myke Cole (blog, twitter) has another great post on his blog. It’s great advice (as per usual from Myke), and H/T to Carrie Cuinn for linking to it on Facebook.
But here’s the deal: if you want to be a writer, that’s up to you. You have to make yourself write. You have to identify your weak spots, and you must find ways to improve. It’s all on you. No one is going to make you do it, and no one else can show you how to do it. You have to put in the time and effort. And you have to find your own way.
And speaking of weak spots and learning, Chuck Wendig (blog, twitter) has a great post on things you might be doing wrong. As he is wont to do, Chuck pulls no punches and tells it like it is. Read it. Take a moment to tick off your mistakes, then get to work on fixing them.
That’s all for now. See you tomorrow.