Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. Harriet Beecher Stow Between managing the horrific process of moving from Australia and returning home to Canada, I have been fine-tooth combing through two of seven novels in preparation for publishing. The niggling and nagging from inside my head, … Continue reading a new year approaches
creative-process
An Arduous Task
Basketball requires discipline. So does writing. Basketball requires practice. So does writing. Basketball requires resilience. So does writing. Angie Thomas My year's absence from Writeside Up hasn't been a year absent from writing. I'm gratified to share that I finished editing three novels despite numerous roadblocks. The second party dissection of one's work and its … Continue reading An Arduous Task
On Becoming A Great Liar…
Fiction is the truth inside the lie. Stephen King Fiction writing is a strange business when you think about it. You sit down and weave a network of lies to explore far deeper truths. Wally Lamb A new year has begun. With it comes a new bright and shiny opportunity for us all to push … Continue reading On Becoming A Great Liar…
A Writer’s Challenge
No matter the genre, the writer's challenge is to not only pen believable stories, but the tales told must leach into the reader’s soul. Punch them in the gut. Tear at their hearts. Evoke indignation at injustice or fill one with satisfaction when justice is served. Elicit tears of sadness or joy in empathy for the character. Build tension then scare the crap out of them. That is achieved through skilful writing. Proven by our litmus test–our readers.
Surviving Uncertainty
You create your life, and you can recreate it, too. In times of economic downturn and uncertainty, it's more important than ever to look deep inside yourself to fathom the sort of life you really want to lead and the talents and passions that can make that possible. Ken Robinson I’m stunned over the lapse … Continue reading Surviving Uncertainty
Life Full On
I don't think we realise just how fast we go until you stop for a minute and realise just how loud and how hectic your life is, and how easily distracted you can get. Meg Ryan How I wish an Enough Button existed in my life. A device enabling me to stop the world, to … Continue reading Life Full On
Life And Fairy Dust
As for goals, I don't set myself those anymore. I'm not one of those 'I must have achieved this and that by next year' kind of writers. I take things as they come and find that patience and persistence tend to win out in the end. Like it or not, life distracts and becomes a … Continue reading Life And Fairy Dust
Life’s Constants
Every twist and turn in life is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself, your interests, your talents, and how to set and then achieve goals. Jameela Jamil An excitement mounts I struggle to contain. A hopefulness. The prospect of attaining a goal seeded in my mind for years. All interference forbidden. Well, a … Continue reading Life’s Constants
Why Are Beginnings So Hard?
The first draft is just telling yourself the story. Terry Pratchett Any first step is a tough go. First baby steps, first day at school, first date, first day at your first job. How about your first attempt at a new writing or word-processing program? At this stage of my life, the hardest firsts I … Continue reading Why Are Beginnings So Hard?
Coping With Doubt
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs … Continue reading Coping With Doubt
The Journey To Writeside-Up 