Writing
I once read in an issue of The Writer Magazine about a woman who was doing a DIY MFA. I liked that idea.
I love reading and learning about writing but need to set my bum in the chair and write. I love this little sesame street video...”Ernie Writes a Story” as it relates to me and the fact that some things just don’t change. How many times has this conversation transpired between parent and child between the 70′s and 2012!
Blogging is a great way to get words flowing. And combined with my love for cooking, I could do this all day. Well, right now I practically am. sweet.
Here’s a peek at 2012:
My goals for this year are to continue taking classes, write for myself and continue with the blog. This is an interesting platform. It becomes somewhat of an obsession. It’s hard to do anything without thinking about the text you’ll be writing in a new post about what you are currently doing. I mean like everything except maybe brushing your teeth and the morning rituals. I also plan to get yet another my food blog started. I’m sticking with one primarily about cooking. It may or may not look like blogs you’ve seen. But I’ll be doing it first for my pleasure and just to prove I can. I’ll try to get more books read… not necessarily 50-70, but maybe 20-25? I’m trying to stay current with my Goodreads page.
Completed a humor writing class online, again with Gotham Writer’s workshop in NYC. This was harder than I had expected.
I have my Writer’s Magazine subscription.
What I’ve done towards my DIY MFA in 2011:
CLASSES:
London School of Journalism – Improve Your English, an 8 unit brush up on grammar.
Gotham Writer’s classes – Fiction I and Fiction II, Article Writing I …. Signed up for Humor writing Jan 2012- really looking forward to that one.
NaNoWriMo- Only did 20K. I’ve tried to think of all the positive results of writing even those 20K instead of feeling like a loser and not getting one of those nifty “winner” widgets:-/ …….sort of like being happy with my breast size….I’m a good athlete;-)
I’ve read just how much some authors like Stephen King read in a year. Like about 70+ books. I’m not sure if I can pull that off. I really like TV too!
Books on Writing:
On Writing- Stephen King
Bird to Bird – Anne Lamott
Plot and Structure – James Scott Bell
Gotham’s Writing Fiction
Gotham’s Fiction Gallery
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies
Elements of Style
Very interesting post! I’ve been looking for something about this subject!
Thanks.
This is like a little bitty scratch with a stubby fingernail….there is SO much out there. But you have to dive in somewhere. Need to get some links on this page!
Dear Wendy – it seems to me you may just be trying to ‘learn’ too much about writing to actually get down and get dirty by that I mean write, edit, re-write and keep at it until you fall in love with your literary effort. I’m sure you are familiar with the pithy phrase to the effect that those who can do, those who can’t, teach. In other words don’t spend too much of your time to learning what others have to tell you about writing – if they were any good they’d be too busy writing. In my not so humble opinion good writing is all about originality; by that I mean seeing the world and events through your very own personal point-of-view and expressing it for us to digest. No one can teach you that, not in a thousand lessons. Write and let’s see what you have to offer. Incidentally, I try to take my own advice, not always successfully, but doggedly. Le Fabulist
Oh so true…I have a bookshelf of books on writing, piles of Writer Magazine, a poster board with plots and scenes and a half attempt at a ‘novel’. I’m learning a lot about myself like I’m such a people pleaser it’s hard for me to create conflict, even in fiction. And that, I obviously need to get over! I’m not interested in writing another self-help book. Although I have many of those too. Thanks for your comments. wt
OMG Wendy! I feel like we have so much in common. I got to about 20K words when I did NaNo too, LOL. I have never seen this Ernie & Burt skit. Too cute!
Thanks for following Marti Ink. I have liked you on FB. I look forward to seeing more of your stories. Keep writing and believing!!!
Is this fun or what! We’ll be in touch
Hiya Wendy! Just looking at some of your favorite reads and I see that you have two books that I really liked: “Water for Elephants” and “The Time Travelers Wife.” Have you read Audrey Niffenegger’s “Her Fearful Symmetry”? I like that a lot. I recommend it.
How is your writing coming along?
I’ll check it out. Thanks. I’ve missed journaling this week away when it would have been most useful. Still learning how to prioritize the writing time through times of distraction. Tomorrow I’ll be sitting down alone with a pot of tea, pen and paper.
Good to hear.