I could rather do with a gingerbread latte (tis the only coffee I drink, strangely).
912 words in the last hour. Sadly not fic. Though happily the vast majority of an article about some recent work for my professional blog...that I've been procrastinating on for, oh at least the last month or so :S
I am going to spend today writing a speech about why sailing ships should be more common in military and merchant fleets. (This means lots of research at the library.)
Also, a thing that I was going to show people before but I forgot: WrittenKitten (http://writtenkitten.net). It is like Write or Die, only for people who like positive reinforcement; instead of buzzing at you when you do not write, it gives you a kitten (picture) when you have written a hundred words. Random kitten pics are pulled from Flickr's "cute"+"kittens" tag, so ENDLESS SUPPLY OF CUTE KITTENS. :D
Ijust discovered that last night! Alas, the writing box doesn't allow for formatting, which makes it unusable for me. But the kittens are fabulous. I did find I can cut and paste text from my writing doc.
Oddly enough, I first heard about it by reading a blog entry by one of the coders, and then bumped into it on Pinboard. Strangely small universe we have here.
If you go over 500 words, the mod saves it for Christmas Day and it is posted as an extra story. Otherwise, each drabble prompt has a day when those under 500 word prompt fills are posted.
I picked sled. And I'm coming up to the end of my 500 words. Yikes.
Last round of fic rush, somebody suggested some style guide books for writing (or was it some devious plot by ninja penguins to fool me?) What were those books? I'm damn convinced that I wrote the names down somewhere but I can't find the piece of paper.
Or in any case, could someone suggest good books about writing? I'm in the mood for shopping :D
My absolute #1 fave: Ursula LeGuin, Steering the Craft.
For vivid writing and permission to break rules: Spunk and Bite (the anti-Strunk and White).
For grammar and punctuation: Karen Elizabeth Gordon, The Transitive Vampire and The Well-Tempered Sentence.
I personally tell people to avoid Strunk and White, unless the writing involved is college papers or professional memos and other documentation. I think their advice makes fiction writers worse.
For general butt-kicking on writing, I read Scalzi's blog, Whatever.
ETA: Currently on my own wish list is Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages.
LeGuin's book includes writing exercises, which can sometimes help when you're really blocked. Mostly, it's just an amazing book from a true master.
Thank you! Those sound familiar, I'm sure you have mentioned them to me before (deja vu). Off to the internet bookstore to see if they carry any of these!
This is a side-community for fic_rush, where we post our hourly posts during rounds. If you've wandered in here by accident, you'll want to go there instead.
If you're with fic_rush and have just shown up, look for most recent hourly post.
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:11 pm (UTC)912 words in the last hour. Sadly not fic. Though happily the vast majority of an article about some recent work for my professional blog...that I've been procrastinating on for, oh at least the last month or so :S
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:48 pm (UTC)That writing totally counts! I have some non-fic writing commitments that I really hope to fulfill today.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:34 pm (UTC)Also, a thing that I was going to show people before but I forgot: WrittenKitten (http://writtenkitten.net). It is like Write or Die, only for people who like positive reinforcement; instead of buzzing at you when you do not write, it gives you a kitten (picture) when you have written a hundred words. Random kitten pics are pulled from Flickr's "cute"+"kittens" tag, so ENDLESS SUPPLY OF CUTE KITTENS. :D
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:13 pm (UTC)Oddly enough, I first heard about it by reading a blog entry by one of the coders, and then bumped into it on Pinboard. Strangely small universe we have here.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:40 pm (UTC)I'll try to get another thousand words down on this story at some point today. For now, I might just do some reading.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:47 pm (UTC)I'm working on a drabble for TS Secret Santa, 188 words so far.
I'm also listening to one of our very old Jim Croce records, that I've resurrected. He was so good.
Laurie
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:53 pm (UTC)Laurie
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:40 pm (UTC)I picked sled. And I'm coming up to the end of my 500 words. Yikes.
Laurie
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:02 pm (UTC)Or in any case, could someone suggest good books about writing? I'm in the mood for shopping :D
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:08 pm (UTC)For vivid writing and permission to break rules: Spunk and Bite (the anti-Strunk and White).
For grammar and punctuation: Karen Elizabeth Gordon, The Transitive Vampire and The Well-Tempered Sentence.
I personally tell people to avoid Strunk and White, unless the writing involved is college papers or professional memos and other documentation. I think their advice makes fiction writers worse.
For general butt-kicking on writing, I read Scalzi's blog, Whatever.
ETA: Currently on my own wish list is Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages.
LeGuin's book includes writing exercises, which can sometimes help when you're really blocked. Mostly, it's just an amazing book from a true master.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:14 pm (UTC)