For Authors: April 23, 2014 Issue [#6264]
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For Authors


 This week: Capture Inspiration
  Edited by: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hello, I am NaNoNette Author Icon and I will be your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Capture Inspiration


Do you live to write or do you write to live?


With the many bits of writing advice available to us, there the one that seems to come around a lot: write every day. I agree with this basic advice, but within reason. Writing is to most of us something that we will do at one point in the day whether we planned to or not. Shopping lists, making a note for somebody at work, answering an email, or updating a blog or social networking site.

The "real" writing of stories and poetry is harder to come by on a daily basis. The reasons that keep us from that type of writing can be very existential or something else we want to do for personal recreation: work, caring for children, vacation, sports, need to sleep, vacation, chores, visiting friends and family, or vacation.

As a writer, you can hardly go through life without receiving a constant stream of input from your surroundings and those impressions come back in your writing.
That rude person in line in front of you? They are going to get it in your next bit of writing. The way the sun hits the window in your office and blinds you every day exactly at 11:47 am for three minutes? It is the beam of an alien spaceship probing your mind. That moment when you stare into the void until somebody waves a hand in front of your eyes? You were fighting the most epic battle of good versus evil ever imagined.

So, do you live to write or do you write to live? Both. As life happens to you and around you, you observe, catalogue, make a note, and then bring it back in your writing. Once you have that quiet moment to let the pencil fly over the paper or the fingers over the keyboard, your life's experiences color your writing. In turn, the fantasies you create in your writing fuel your happiness, creating even more of a desire to write, so that you may live in those amazing worlds.



Editor's Picks

 
STATIC
The Box Open in new Window. (18+)
Krieger is a homeless war veteran haunted by a sore leg and a woman's Scheherazade eyes.
#1945586 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon

 
BOOK
Perpetual Ruminations Open in new Window. (13+)
My thoughts released; a mind set free
#1921220 by tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J Author IconMail Icon

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#1986173 by Not Available.

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#1985475 by Not Available.

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#1940130 by Not Available.

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#1735660 by Not Available.

 
BOOK
Wondering about my Wanderings Open in new Window. (E)
I will share the many thoughts that invade my introspective soul.
#1944628 by drifter Author IconMail Icon

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#1985694 by Not Available.

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#1986134 by Not Available.

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#1981212 by Not Available.

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#994856 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

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Ask & Answer

For my last newsletter "Poke Around in Member PortfoliosOpen in new Window., I got the following responses:

Christine Cassello Author Icon wrote: Thank you for the suggestion. I did not know WDC had so much useful advice for writers. I will make better use of it from now on.

Yes, please do.

Jacqueline Author Icon wrote: your newsletter describes me to a tee. I am always at the libaray reading every book they got on "Writing". and spend many a hour on the internet looking up subjects, that would help me with my writing assignments. Sometimes I don't find what i need, so I get frustrated. And give up sometimes

Now that you have Writing.Com, you can always find an answer to your writing questions. Use "Writing.Com General DiscussionOpen in new Window. with all your writing questions. Members in the community may know the answer, have an opinion,or be able to forward you to a resource withing Writing.Com to use.

shaara wrote: Wow! Great reminder. But I have about twenty books on writing I still haven't read. Sigh. Only Steven King's has kept my interest. I reread it a lot.
Thanks for a wonderful newsletter. I enjoyed it.

Thank you for the kind comment. And, yes, I emphasize with the unread books ... at least I read the articles here on Writing.Com.

monty31802 wrote: I agree with your thoughts on where we can find great lessons on writing. Take a contest that is active and been around for years. Some of the best reading and education on writing can be found in these contests.

Absolutely. May I suggest "The Writer's CrampOpen in new Window. for a daily challenge?

Joto-Kai Author Icon wrote: Free advice has the further advantage that you're more likely to think for yourself. So go, take the advice in writing.com, run with it, and see what you learn.

Yes. Since creative writing is not a static art, taking advice from creative thinkers can often be more fruitful than reading a book that only discusses comma placement.

Quick-Quill Author Icon wrote: This NL is a keeper. I had no idea all those articles were there for me to read. I don't know how to look them up so I am glad you posted so many here for me. Already, I printed off a novel outline sheet, just for reference. I am saving this NL to look at each one when I have more time. Thank you again for this goldmine hidden in the depths of WDc.

I am glad I was able to help.

Marci Missing Everyone Author Icon wrote: Thank you so much for the awesome listing of resources written by our own authors. I will be diving into that list asap!

Please do. And remember to send the authors a little review or praise if their article was helpful to you.

For my newsletter "Public Versus Private ReviewsOpen in new Window., I received these responses after a while:

brom21 Author Icon wrote: This is totally true. The immediate and honest feedback from other WDC members is invaluable. It's free and it builds friendships and camaraderie. Its' fun talkng about stories that we share and discuss the elements of proper writing. It makes the whole process fun.

I agree. Honest feedback is the best way to find out how somebody else views your writing. I have learned more about writing here on Writing.Com than in school by taking the advice from reviewers and through member-run classes.

Joto-Kai Author Icon wrote: I was going to contradict you and say that you might indeed want to publish a Public Review even if it included deep, personal issues- so long as you were courageous and wanted to make a personal essay of it. But now I think, if one is going to open up, do it in your own article and link to it! Great article by the way.

Thank you for the praise. I agree with your idea to make a personal reply with deep personal revelations into an essay. That way it stays connected to the person who experienced it and, as you say, become an item to link back to at the right places.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
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