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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Two Who Can Rub

My computer and I are a bit under the weather today. And, according to Regis Philbin (an expert, right?), the cosmos will realign for my astrological sign this weekend and the parched funk that was January will be a distant memory. Until then, I offer up links of advice from two influential writers of our time. I've been saving them for just such a day when I can't rub two sentences together. Enjoy.

Kurt Vonnegut's 8 Rules For Writing Fiction

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully-In Ten Minutes by Stephen King

9 comments:

the walking man said...

That was as close as I have ever been to an instructional conference. Thanks L.A.

Feel better and hit the computer with a hammer...that always helps the feeling better part for me.

Charles Gramlich said...

I agree with everything Vonnegut said except for number 8, and I strongly disagree there.

L.A. Mitchell said...

Yeah, Charles...I thought #8 was weird, too. It runs contrary to everything we've ever been told about fiction writing. Interesting.

Walking Man...thank you:) My computer is back to normal and I'm on the mend. Glad you enjoyed the links.

Miladysa said...

Now I'm depressed! LOL

Barbara Martin said...

Thanks for posting the writing advice. I had read the spiel by Stephen King before but had forgotten it.

Do you have any advice for what a writer ought to do if they get a contract from a publisher before they land an agent? Just curious.

Marilyn Brant said...

Hope you're feeling better now, L.A. Wishing you a healthy and restful weekend :).

Vesper said...

Thank you for the links, L.A.!

Days when I can't rub two sentences together - oh, tell me about those...

:-)

L.A. Mitchell said...

Miladysa...would that it were ten minutes worth of simple, right?

Barbara...can it be true :)? Do I need to jump up and down for you? Everyone seems to have such strong opinions on agents. I'd be remiss to give you mine, since I'm no expert, but I'll be on the lookout for advice articles. I frequent the same blogs you list on your blog, but many of those are agents or editors, whom I would imagine are rather biased on the issue.

Oh, and I cannot believe you haven't gotten the DVD unless you live in one of those remote alpine villages you post photos of sometimes. How long does it usually take, from here to there?

Vesper...you're welcome :) I actually rubbed 15 pages of sentences together today to make up for Wednesday. Hope this day finds you productive, too.

laughingwolf said...

vonnegut should give his head a shake about #8, fur shur! :(

thx for these, lam :D