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Tag: Writing

Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Ways Writing a Book Is Like Having a Baby

Published by CAstfalk on 08/11/2015

Comparisons between creativity and procreativity are legion. Here are my Top 10:

  1. The gestation period is perfect for preparation. It’s a long time from conception until delivery. Use that time to prepare.
  2. Last-minute freak-outs are normal. It’s okay to entertain panicky thoughts like “I can’t do this!” or “What have I gotten myself into?”

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Why the Edgy End of the Spectrum Feels Like Home

Published by CAstfalk on 08/10/2015

When I began writing fiction, I wrote.  Words came into my head, and I typed them on the screen. Even as I began to learn how little I knew about novel-writing, my concerns were limited to grammar and craft. Big-picture issues such as genre or marketing weren’t on my radar.

Eventually, the time comes when most writers need to categorize their book, if not their writing style. After all, it’s hard to target your niche (and consequently sell books) if no one, including you, knows what it is you write.Edgy

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Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Ways Music Helps Me Write

Published by CAstfalk on 07/07/2015

The title reads, “Top 10 Ways Music Helps Me Write,” but you could substitute the creative activity of your choice: painting, sculpting, or even more rote activities. I’ve written about the music related to the creation of  Stay With Me. Music has an uncanny way of altering mood and spirit. I’ve found that the right music can help me cope on the most trying days, elevating frustration and drudgery with lightness and good humor.

Piano Keyboard
I couldn’t resist this piano picture, mostly because it looks like every piano I’ve owned – missing a few ivories and , ahem, well-loved.
  1. Serves as background noise. Sometimes a little white noise cuts the distraction. The rhythm and hum of music can help you tune out the random noises, sounds, and dare I say, voices, that drive you to distraction. My mom couldn’t understand it, but I often did high school homework with music in the background. It improved my concentration.
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Patient Much? The Mindset of Endurance

Published by CAstfalk on 06/29/2015

In my Catholic grade school, we played what was known simply as “The Religion Game.” Short explanation: it involved a person guessing a religious terms using clues provided by teammates. One of the vocabulary terms committed to memory was ejaculation.

Ejaculation: a short prayer meant to be memorized and repeated throughout the day

In those pre-pubescent days, before its utterance would elicit a round of giggles and snickers, this five-syllable word had the potential to propel a team into the winner’s circle. In the ensuing years, the use of these little prayers fell by the wayside.

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Should Cursive Go the Way of the Dinosaur?

Published by CAstfalk on 03/30/2015
Cursive Writing

Photo by JPPI on morguefile.com.

Since Common Core Standards require the teaching of legible writing in only kindergarten and first grade, the possibility of cursive writing becoming extinct has spawned discussion about its value.

As a child, I remember the eager anticipation of learning cursive. It was as if I were being introduced to a secret language, one known only to adults and older children. In my mind, it was second only to using invisible ink.

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