Welcome to this week’s writing prompt! This week we’re thinking about words that inspire.
“Sticks & Stones: The Changing Politics of the Self-Publishing Stigma” on Huff Post
Be sure to read Terri Guiliano Long’s piece on the Huffington Post: “Sticks & Stones: The Changing Politics of the Self-Publishing Stigma.”
The Language of Water—How to Turn It Into Words
Naomi thinks about locating the language of life, especially the most elusive: “And so, I will hold each moment that remains, catching each one and then releasing it. I will hear inside them the language of water and commit the sound to paper in a way that captures the elusive shine.”
Bridge Crossings
Jyl discusses the dualistic role of the writer—that which we do for paid work and the artistic work of our spirits—and she urges us “not to fear crossing the bridge or being caught half way and have to turn back. All artists/writers dare to cross over. There are times we don’t make it and have to try again. Although the crossing is different for everyone, there’s always the tension between moving from one world to another.”
Talent: Have It Your Way
Talent is a slippery entity, but hard work is not. Terri gives some thought to ideas of talent and wonders: “Talent is a slippery, indefinable thing. If we can’t define it, how do we know what it is?” Instead, employ control towards your writing.
On Being a Student
Lauren thinks about the work of the artist as both student and teacher: “At some point after graduation, I had to step out of my post-college haze and pull myself up by my bootstraps in order to get back into the groove of creating work and following through with it. At some point, I had to learn to assume both the teacher and the student role.”
Twenty-One Lessons from A Writerʼs Life
The Writer’s Life is excited to welcome writer Amy Wright as a regular contributor and look forward to her “Twenty-One Lessons from A Writer’s Life”: ideas and thoughts “gleaned from my various attempts to publish, promote, structure, and prompt my work.”
Weekly Writing Prompt
We’re thinking about the unexpected for this week’s writing prompt—join us!
But The People Are Green
Jyl talks about finding your unique voice and, when you do, not censoring it: “Writing is extremely personal, whether it’s fiction, memoir, or script. Sometimes it’s hard to hold on to your imagination and give yourself permission to go where you need to go. But you have to. Your life depends on it.”
7 Ways to Pick Yourself Up After a Painful, God-Awful Review
Terri shares some tips and tactics for surviving a painful book review: “…take five, let the hurt sink in, and then cast it aside. I’ve heard people, other writers even, say we need to ‘grow a thicker skin.’ I might take heed if they’d ever walked in our shoes. They don’t understand the feeling, like a punch to the gut. No, we don’t have to ‘grow a thicker skin.’ It’s fine to feel bad. But we do have to move on.”
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