Quote of the day
Craft is what we are expected to know; art is the unexpected use of our craft.
~ED CATMULL, author of Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
WRITING
3 Writing Lessons from GO SET A WATCHMAN by Harper Lee, The Write Practice | Tweet
The beloved classic To Kill A Mockingbird has a sequel. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee was released on July 14th. In its first week of publication, Go Set a Watchman sold 1.1 million copies, the most ever sold in a week by Harper Collins.
Setting First: Coming up with a setting that feels real, Go Teen Writers | Tweet
The setting of your story is where and when the story takes place. It can be just as important as a main character. Let’s take a look at some memorable settings.
Writing Active Setting: The Complete How-to Guide with Bonus Section on Hooks (Volume 4)
Flog a Pro: would you turn this bestselling author’s first page?, Writer Unboxed | Tweet
Please judge by storytelling quality, not by genre—some reject an opening page immediately because of genre, but that’s not a good enough reason when the point is to analyze for storytelling strength.
‘The writing process’ – this is a term you might hear often, but how do you put in place a set of writing approaches that will help you finish your novel? Every writer has a process that works for them, and discovering the time, place, tools and other aspects of writing that work best for you will maximise your productivity.
The Writing Process (11th Edition)
SCREENWRITING
- Keys to Low-Budget Filmmaking, Go Into The Story | Tweet
If you write a script that costs $100M or more to produce, there are basically six buyers who can afford to make that movie. If you a write a script that costs $5-20M to produce, there are over a hundred buyers who can afford to make that movie.
- Writing Compelling but Unlikable Characters, Script Mag | Tweet
But is Likability really what drives audiences and readers all the way through a movie or a script?
Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays!: A comprehensive guide to crafting winning characters with film analyses and screenwriting exercises
SELF-PUBLISHING
10 Things Authors Should Never Do on Twitter, Social Media Just For Writers | Tweet
If you haven’t been using Twitter for long, you may not know that there are certain etiquette rules on this microblogging network. And if you don’t follow them, you may have trouble growing your tribe.
Twitter for Authors (Busy Writer’s Guides Book 6)
- Want More Attention for Your Book? Here’s How!, Author Marketing Experts | Tweet
There’s a key to getting more attention for your book and it’s this: Make it easy for someone to promote you.
The Book Marketing Bible: 99 Essential marketing strategies for self-published and first-time authors, or any writer looking to skyrocket sales.
CREATIVITY
- What we get by demystifying creativity, Creative Something | Tweet
Technology, decades of research, and a powerful curiosity have enabled us to begin to understand the inner working areas of the mind.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
RELATIONSHIPS
- How To Be Loved By Everyone: 6 Powerful Secrets, Barking Up The Wrong Tree | Tweet
We would all like to know how to be loved by everyone. In the end, who are our favorite people? Those who understand us and listen. Someone we can turn to and honestly say, “You get me.”
PSYCHOLOGY
- A brief guide to quitting a bad habit, Zen Habits | Tweet
Let me tell you this: quitting a bad habit takes everything you’ve got.
Bad Habits No More: 25 Steps to Break ANY Bad Habit
INSPIRATION
Ever come across someone who really seems to know everything? They can answer questions about any topic, any field and any place. They have general understanding and can explain either in brief or well detailed how and why?
A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life
MONEY
The problem that’s tearing restaurants apart, The Washington Post | Tweet
On paper at least, cooks in this country are paid more than waiters. The median pay for cooks is about $10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For waiters, it’s roughly $9 an hour. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story — because waiters are paid tips, and kitchen workers are not. And tips completely skew the comparison.
Tips: Getting More: A Restaurant Insider’s Guide to Making More Money