Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Handling Time

As writers, we all have to learn how to handle this...


Because, as you know, it has a tendency to do this....


We have deadlines in our lives...





And timelines in our plots...



Often, multiples of both...



And it's a small step to feeling this...


Or this...


Won't you share your wisdom?

How do you handle this?


AND HAPPY LEAP DAY, EVERYONE!

It's my anniversary. Yes, I got married on February 29th. Not that big a surprise, is it?


Monday, February 27, 2012

And the Winner Is...

In honour of yesterday's Oscars, I'm handing out a few of the little golden bald guys.

Best Writing: That piece which sprung, uninvited yet fully-formed, into your head last night during your last moments of consciousness. Isn't it a pity you didn't make the effort to turn the light back on, and scribble something down? Ah...irony. Not a fan?

Best Supporting Character: That character who kept loitering around the corners of your manuscript. He shared the occasional joke, helped your protagonist change a flat tire, pointed out the location of the band gazebo, but you never figured out exactly what he was doing there and why you couldn't edit him out. It was when you were doing your final editing passes that you realized without him, the plot falls apart.

Best Character: No, it's not your protagonist - although I'm sure he/she has given a stellar performance. This award goes to that character who made you laugh. On those dark writing days, when you're sure your slippers have more writing talent than you, a character who makes you smile is worth their weight in gold and certainly worth a little golden bald guy.

Best Picture: The award goes to the project you just started working on - or are just about to start working on. It's shiny, it's exciting, it's keeping you up late at night.  Uh-oh. (Remember Best Writing award-winner?).

Friday, February 24, 2012

Fun Friday

Welcome to Fun Friday. Today I've collected a few cartoons for your amusement.

Enjoy.



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Which Shoe is Your Writing Wearing?

Sometimes my writing feels as if it's wearing these...

But many days, it feels more like it's mucking about in these...

There are those comfy days when it's wearing these...

or even these...

And the wonderful days when it wears these...

or these...
Then there are the days when I slog along wearing these...

and even some when it's wearing this...

But I dream of the days when it will wear these...

Or, more precisely, when can wear them!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Sheeply Shakespeare



Sheep #1: It's time.

Writer: No.

Sheep #2: It's really time.

Writer: Go away.

Sheep #3: Actually it's way past time.

Writer: Go far far away.

Sheep #1: (blares trumpet) Time to get to work! Time to press that nose to the grindstone! 

Writer: That would leave a mark.

Sheep #2: We're not being literal.

Writer: Oh.

Sheep #2: Remember "Time and the hour run through the roughest day".

Writer: Now you're quoting Shakespeare?

Sheep #1: Why not? We're learned.

Sheep #2: Don't judge us harshly just because we're sheep.

Sheep #3: We bite.

Writer: I thought you were meek.

Sheep #3: (snorts) Seriously?

Sheep #1: Remember "I wasted time and now doth time waste me".

Sheep #2: Richard II.

Sheep #3: Act 5, scene 5.

Writer: (quietly) Wow.

Sheep #1: Just get to work.

Sheep #2: We'll keep quoting all day if you don't.

Writer: Fine. "Courage and comfort, all shall yet go well."

Sheep #1: Hey.

Writer: You're not the only ones who went to school. 

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Friday, February 17, 2012

Fun Friday

Today we take a moment to consider the animals in our lives and what they might be thinking. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

Have a great weekend, everyone!






























Wednesday, February 15, 2012

My Valentine for Writers


When we begin, we know they're as fragile as this...


They make us this...



and this...




We work on them during this...


and this....



And although there are days they make us do this...


There are also days we may hunger to do this.


 But we all know one day, it will sprout its these...

and we have to do this.




Ah...we writers. How we


 our this.


Long may your love story continue!