Photo Credit: Gerd Trynka via Compfight cc
Quote of the day
It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.
~DALE CARNEGIE, author of How to Win Friends & Influence People
WRITING
- How Chekhov’s Gun Can Help You With Description, Writers Write | Tweet
I am sure that you have heard of Chekhov’s Gun. Anton Chekhov says, “Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.” There are many variations of this quote, this one is from Wikipedia.
Description (Elements of Fiction Writing)
Writing Diverse Characters & Hispanic Stereotypes, Writers on Sisters | Tweet
We are nearing the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, and one of the things I put on my 2015 goals list was to support the creation of quality Hispanic characters. Today, I’m tackling three common stereotypes and misconceptions.
The Art of Character: Creating Memorable Characters for Fiction, Film, and TV
The Unspoken Pinch Point: Your Climax, Storyfix 2.0 | Tweet
The climax of your novel should leave readers with some combination of emotional and intellectual satisfaction, as well as any intended sense of unease – often creepy. Or if it’s a part of a series, a compelling bridge into the next installment. Either way, you want your final act to resonate, to be memorable.
Story Crisis, Story Climax 1: How to Use Film Structure to Plan Your Novel (Crisis Climax)
Who Knows More About Story: Writers or The Pentagon?, Writer Unboxed | Tweet
You know that old saw, “The pen is mightier than the sword”? It’s a metaphor, right? Wrong. It’s a fact.
SCREENWRITING
- SUBMISSIONS INSANITY: 4 Things To Check Before You Make Your Submissions, Script Mag | Tweet
Ready to make submissions? Great! But stop right there peeps, ‘cos there’s four things you MUST do before you send your screenplays anywhere.
Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make It Great
- The Martian, or Making Things Going Wrong Well, John August | Tweet
One of the things I want to talk about is how cleverly The Martian sets expectations and then defeats them in surprising ways. The film is marketed as a story of survival and ingenuity, but on a screenwriting level it’s a series of carefully-structured hopes denied.
SELF-PUBLISHING
- Why Free is a Killer Marketing Strategy, Author Marketing Experts | Tweet
From a business standpoint, giving something away for free to get a sale may seem counterintuitive. How can giving something away for free help you make money in the long run? Think of offering those freebies as a marketing expense: the cost of exposure.
How to Ask for Referrals: 6 Creative Tactics Your Clients Will Love, The Write Life | Tweet
You’ve heard it before: referrals are “warmer” than a typical lead. They’re the fastest way to grow your new business. Referrals are more receptive to buy and need a shorter sales cycle. We know, we know. Getting clients to refer you is gold.
PSYCHOLOGY
Michelangelo and Raphael; Leibniz and Newton; Constable and Turner. Does every creative genius need a bitter rival?
How Do You Find a Black Cat in a Dark Room
RELATIONSHIPS
Americans spend a lot of time worrying about not having friends and even more time having them.
How to Win Friends & Influence People
EDUCATION
- Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’, Education Week | Tweet
A growth mindset isn’t just about effort.Perhaps the most common misconception is simply equating the growth mindset with effort. Certainly, effort is key for students’ achievement, but it’s not the only thing. Students need to try new strategies and seek input from others when they’re stuck. They need this repertoire of approaches—not just sheer effort—to learn and improve.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
MARKETING
Going to the edges, Seth’s Blog | Tweet
The best restaurant in Omaha doesn’t serve steak. And it’s not a chain.
All Marketers Are Liars: The Underground Classic That Explains How Marketing Really Works–and Why Authen ticity Is the Best Marketing of All
TECHNOLOGY
The Subway, the El, the Tube, the Métro: Trains have been transporting humans around cities since 1863. But too many public transit systems still run like they’re stuck in the 19th century. That needs to change.