Hello, Cobblers.
It’s time for our weekly Sunday Sadness post, where we reminisce about the fun of the weekend and dread the quickly approaching Monday morning. Today’s words of wisdom come from Scott Lynch.
Speaking of internal mounds of self-doubt, how are those novels going NaNoWriMo-ers? The first week is officially complete, and after yesterday’s double-day, I imagine you’re starting to feel a bit exhausted. Don’t worry: Literary Cobblestones has the tools you need to procrastinate a little longer, and maybe you’ll feel a bit inspired to get back to work.
The Links You Need in Your Life
Have you made it yet? Check out Electric Lit’s infographic to see if you have: “Infographic: Am I A Famous Writer Yet?” Spoiler Alert: No one ever feels like they’ve made it. I think Lynch made it clear: we writers need to get some better self-esteem. My favorite stop on the infographic’s quiz: “Maybe all I am doing with my writing is damaging my life.” Touché.
How’s that writer’s block? Now that we’ve pointed out your lack of self-esteem, let’s move on to something actually helpful with some tips on how to keep writing when you’ve hit a mental block, from John Warner (McSweeney’s): “Breaking Through Writer’s Block.” Here’s my favorite piece of advice from Warner: “Don’t be afraid to experiment with techniques of your own. Desperation is the mother of invention, and if you think you have a future as a writer, you’re nothing if not desperate.”
Not into NaNoWriMO? That doesn’t mean you can’t write something impressive this month. Michael Bourne, from The Millions, has launched a different kind of challenge: “#NaGrafWriMo: Welcome to National Paragraph Writing Month” in which he encourages writers with busy lives to “strive to write one true worthwhile paragraph.”Check out his explanation behind the challenge:
“We are launching #NaGrafWriMo in recognition of all the writers with jobs and family obligations, and those who just spend an ungodly amount of time on the Internet, who find it hard to read a whole book in a month, much less write one. But we are also embarking on this new program because we have found that, for most writers, it can take more talent, determination, and hard work to write one good paragraph than an entire lousy book.”
Tweets, Tweets, Tweets
Everyone has advice for writers taking part in #NaNoWriMo, but only the challengers can actually give us a look into what goes on in the center of the writing tornado. What’s going on in that vortex?
When you realize just how much power you have as a writer. (Tweet/@avidlydenise)
You gotta do what works for you, even if it’s that verbally assaulting small, fuzzy creatures. No, actually don’t; squirrels have feelings too. (Tweet/@LaurenDeStefano)
It’s important to remember why you’re doing NaNoWriMo: to write. You’ve already written more words than me. (Tweet/@LittleBookOwl)
I wish you luck with your impending Monday morning, cobblers. As always, read on.
Literary Cobblestones 