by 6 people |
I never considered myself a hippie during the 60's and 70's, though I now know that I was.
College radical, artist, back-to-the land-er...
I even lived for a while in an old Chevy school bus converted into a rolling home.
Now I'm older, balder, wiser?
And I love WRITING.
In school I got mostly B's and C's on my writing assignments. I usually did the least I could get away with. Didn't care much for writing at that time. Who knew?
Now, I just can't find enough time for all of the writing I want to do. My idea files are overflowing.
Occasionally, some of my stuff finds its way to my writing website at: www.iWriteThereforeiAm.com
Some of it actually finds its way into print.
Now that I have a day job working for a local newspaper, more and more of it sees the light of day. Look below for links to some recent stories I had a hand in.
We'll talk more later.
Your fellow scribe,
John R. Cumbow
Here's your new word for today
- enjoin: Dictionary.com Word of the Day
- enjoin: to direct or impose with authority; also, to forbid.
Some favorite books from my writing library
When I'm not writing, I like to read about writing
Click through and look for the link that says "Used and New from $...."
You'll often find nice, used copies (or even NEW) for a lot less than Amazon's price.
Make Your Words Work: Proven Techniques for Effective Writing-For Fiction and Nonfiction
Gary gives some great writing advice on how to make your GOOD writing even BETTER.
Amazon Price: $20.43 (as of 01/04/2010) 
Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively
You've probably heard that you should 'Show, don't tell'. This will help.
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 01/04/2010)
The Writer's Block: 786 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Imagination
What fun! This 3 inch cube sits on my desk, and, whenever I'm bored (or stuck for words), I just flip it open anywhere and find something to spark my creativity.
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 01/04/2010)
Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspirations for Writing
Read it straight through or open to a random page for 'ideas and inspirations'.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
Word Work: Surviving and Thriving As a Writer
Thoughts and encouragement from a writer who's been right where you are (wherever you might be in your quest for publication).
Amazon Price: $11.87 (as of 01/04/2010)
Write Something Every Day
email replies and grocery lists aren't quite what I had in mind
Then the next day comes around, and everything else is so much more urgent than my writing. EVERYTHING.
Read the newspaper. Watch the news. Check my horoscope. I'll write something after breakfast.
Go to the Post Office. Stop by the grocery. Pick up a lotto ticket. I'll write after lunch.
Clean up the kitchen. Check my auctions on eBay. Sort through today's junk emails... all 246 of them. I'll write something after dinner.
Watch the evening news. Clear the dishes off the table. Have a glass of wine. I'll write before bed.
And all the while I keep telling myself I'll get to it later. I'll write after I finish everything else. EVERYTHING ELSE.
But everything else is never really done. There's always one more thing to take care of before I can sit down to write.
So I'll promise it again:
I will write something every day. And, hopefully, it will be something more creative than email replies and grocery lists.
Watch this space...
Want some great FREE eBooks and software for writers?
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Interviews with successful writers...
Info on writing dialogue, story structure, self-publishing...
Ideas for fiction, screenplays...
and much, much more.
And it's all FREE!
These will help you LOOK like a writer...
Are you trying desperately to write your novel, but just can't seem to get it done?
This just might be the solution...
This approach also means that you don't have to start with the introduction and keep on writing until you get to the end.
You could start by developing a character or work on a plot turn. You could describe a particular event, or even write the ending and work backwards!
You can dance around as the inspiration takes you - and the software collects all of your work into one single file, together with background, and research notes for each section.
Simple to install and fun to use, it has been enjoyed by over 51,000 people in more than 60 countries."
For more information about the software, screenshots, and a download of NewNovelist in action, click on the software box below.
This year, don't just read a bestseller - WRITE YOUR OWN!
Some useful links
- Find misspelled auctions on eBay
- Writers are great spellers, right? EBay sellers are NOT. Find misspelled auction bargains here.
- www.iWriteThereforeiAm.com
- Writers need to write, right? Here's where I sometimes post some of my writing. Be kind.
- 25 days to make a difference
- There's writing on this website, but it's not about making money from that writing.
This website belongs to a young girl who's writing about what she's doing to help make the world a better place...
One day at a time.
These successful writing partners can help you become a better writer
If you want to write, you just have to DO IT.
Want to speed up your typing?
Type faster. Write more.
Recently read and next in line
I liked these. You might too.
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
Even though this was written a while back, it's very timely right now. It echoes many of the themes included in "The Secret". It also includes elements from "The Attractor Factor". It's an easy read, and a good one to pass on to your friends.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
Eragon / Eldest (Inheritance, Books 1 & 2)
The book was better than the movie. Now I'm about to read the second installment.
Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 01/04/2010)
Stories from a Moron: Real Stories Rejected by Real Magazines
If you're a writer, or want to be, you'll laugh out loud at this guy who does everything wrong while trying to get published.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
The Writer
A must-have magazine for every writer. More content, less fluff.
Amazon Price: $29.00 (as of 01/04/2010)
Concert At The White House
One of Norm's newest titles. Couldn't put it down!
Amazon Price: $15.70 (as of 01/04/2010)
Who pays your bills while you struggle to complete your novel?
Do you hold down a full time job and try to squeeze out a few pages in the wee hours of the morning or late at night after your kids are in bed?Does your long suffering spouse work at a job she hates, while you stay home and write?
What if there was another way...?
What if you could write shorter pieces and get paid over and over for the same work...?
Would that free you up to continue writing your Next Big Thing... Guilt-free?
Let me introduce James Penn, a young Briton who has developed a system to create an insane passive income online through the creation and marketing of tiny 7, 8, 9, maybe 10 page short reports.
James claims his step-by-step process is so easy that even a three year old could follow it.
I don't know about that three year old, but Hey, you're a Writer!
How long would it take YOU to knock out a handful of 7 to 10 page reports?
An afternoon? A weekend?
In Short Report Profits, James explains how to come up with an endless stream of ideas for in-demand reports.
And he shares his secret methods for cranking out reports from start to finish in under an hour.
Follow Penn's advice, and in no time you'll have a steady stream of payments flowing into your inbox so you can concentrate on finishing your best selling novel.
Click here now to check out James Penn's Short Report Profits System.
There's no risk. Short Report Profits comes with a full money back guarantee.
And just for stopping by, James will give you a free report on The Keys to Making Money With Short Reports.
Look like a writer, be a writer
Every writer needs a Mousepad
If you do most of your writing at the computer, here's some inspiration.
Whether you write on a keyboard or write by hand, you need a mousepad.
Price: 13.99
Writer's Journal
For those times when you're away from your desk.
When the muse strikes, here's a place to put it down.
Price: 12.99
The writer's favorite Mug
Writing is easier when you can sip your favorite beverage from this oversize mug.
Sometimes it takes a lot of coffee to write. This mug holds just about enough to get you going.
Price: 14.99
Writer's Boxer Shorts
For those days when you just want to sit around in your underwear and write!
Sometimes I just like to write in my boxers!
Price: 15.99
The Writer's Credo
Put it on your wall.
Just a little reminder for your workspace.
Price: 32.99
Every Writer's Nightmare!
Where's my novel?
You pour your first cup of morning coffee...Sit down at your keyboard, ready to resume work on your soon to be best-selling novel...
But it's not there!
Your book that you've spent months researching...
And still more months diligently typing into your tired, but still functioning computer.
It's gone...
All of your hard work lost... forever!
It feels like the end of the world.
Where did it go? How can you possibly ever write it again?
All of those carefully crafted descriptions...
The snappy dialogue...
The taut, action-filled scenes.
But what if... ?
What if you had backed up your work... ?
You know, like you always meant to, but never quite got around to doing.
Well, here's something that can prevent the heartache of that devastating loss:
Go check it out right now...
Before you lose everything you've worked so hard to complete.
eBay has lots of books about writing, too!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Here's a story I recently helped write for the Skagit Valley Herald
Here's another story I wrote about a local cancer survivor.
by FledglingStudio_com
I never considered myself a hippie during the 60's and 70's, though I now know that I was. College radical, pothead, artist, back-to-the land-er. I ev...
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