Rant: the Nature of Criticism And the Value of Art

(source)

All right, I’m only going to say this once: art matters. Period.

If it’s shitty, it’s the artist’s way to hone and perfect it. If it’s creepy, it’s the artist’s way to point to real problems they witness. If it’s negative, it’s the artist’s way of venting. And if it’s inspiring, it’s the artist’s way to paying it forward, and contributing to a better world. Yesterday, it happened on the most unlikely of places: facebook. I’m not against facebook, it’s known to be wise occasionally.

Lost & Found: CHILDHOOD DREAMS

(picrolls)

When I was little, I liked to make zines (though I didn’t know that word then) out of drawing paper and magazine cut-outs. I liked to think that one day people would start buying my magazine. I didn't want money though, just recognition, and awareness.

I’d be famous for my creation!

Give Yourself Permission to Be Happy!

(source)

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in an endless loop of disappointments? Whether it was a rut in your career path or in your love life, it just seemed like everything was always going wrong, and every little disappointment felt like a big red flashback. If you know what I'm talking about, then you're probably in a rut right now. 

Well, you have good company because I am in one myself.

'Murdering Mary Sue' by Sophie Hardwick

(source)

It's been a while since I had a guest on my blog, so there's one today! Sophie contacted me and said she could deliver a great blog post for Against the Odds. I think she did an amazing job! When's the last time you did some Mary Sue-prevention? Read on...

When a Man Loves a Book: Character Vs. Plot

You know that moment when you realize you’re in love? For some, it comes in a flash, just after you’ve seen/met the person. Others take years to figure it out. In either case, it’s a shocking and nerve-racking experience. It’s like your whole world has suddenly changed, and you can’t go back.

When the Writing Comes Alive...

Hey, it could happen!!! (source)

Have you ever read something you'd written a while back and were shocked to discover parts of your life weaved into the story? I bet you have. In fact, I just did. And here's the story.

For the past couple of years, I have felt somewhat lost. Nothing I cannot fix in long-term, but it's a very frustrating place to be after a while. So much so, my writing has suffered the worst of it. Instead of completing the book I started in the Spring of 2010, I let it sit and collect dust for too long.

Screenwriting Ruined My Prose! by R. J. Davnall

Screenplay Writer
Artist: Angel Boligan, Mexico City

We have a very exciting post today from my twitter friend @eatthepen. You might recognize him and if you don't, it's time you met him! And if you're a writer of any kind, shape, or color, stick around! Just a quick note before lift off: I'll be announcing the winner of the Milestone Giveaway (2-chapter critique) tomorrow, so I don't cut into Rik's time. 

So take it away, Ernie! Er... I mean, Rik. (Yes, I'm a Harry Potter nerd.)

Why Break-ups Can Be the Best Thing. Ever.

I have a very special guest post for you today! 

My good friend and fellow blogger/twitterer Alivia Anders, whose blog I frequent a lot, is featuring here today with some thoughts on love and writing. You see, she is an obsessive writer. (Check out a sample of Illumine here.) She tends to string words together in a very entertaining sort of way, not to mention that she always has a lot to say about a lot of stuff. Go check her blog, and you’ll know what I mean.

So today's topic is how break-ups can be build-UPs sometimes. Yeah, it hurts. But in the end, we are better and stronger for it. And I think my friend will agree.

Let Your Writing Brew by Sonia G. Medeiros

Time can be your enemy... or your friend.

Happy Friday, lovely minions!

Today’s another blog hop day for the Life List Club. Which means we hop from place to place to support everyone in their goal-setting and muffin-eating… or is that just me?

I have the pleasure of hosting Sonia G. Medeiros, who’s a fellow fantasy writer and #myWANA dweller. Today she talks about brewing ideas and since there are a lot of food references, I’d suggest you have lunch first and read second.

Feedback Fishing: The Elusive First Sentence

Just a quick blog before today’s Wise Winamp Wednesday. Speaking of which, if you have any questions for my wise friend, toss them in the comment bag and I’ll get you the answers later today. Last call!

So the purpose of this blog blurt is a (slightly desperate) call for opinions.

Meet My Child-Muse

You might recall that I did this collaboration called Meet the Muse where I asked some fellow writers to describe their muses in less than 100 words. And now I think it would be only fair if I did the same but with more words. 

Thing is, I have two muses. I guess it’s only logical for a person with two names (my real and my pseudonym). I don’t know why I always have to make things complicated, but I do. And today I’m going to talk about my child-muse. Soon you’ll get to read about Nereth, who is a shape-shifter, and whom I like to call the Wise River Lady.

But first things first… 

(F4) Which One Are You: Writer or Artist?

(Meet Dan. Yes, he is crazy.)

Dan Cavallari is a man of many talents. Apart from being a freelance writer and photographer, he plays the guitar and has recently published his first novel called Confusing the Seasons, which is a bitter-sweet account of a man’s life after he had lost his wife. In addition, Dan makes the whole social media concept seem so easy, what with working, blogging, tweeting, and amassing a Facebook fanbase. 

Not too bad for a man who almost crashed his bicycle into a moose once.

Meet the Muse Collaboration (Part 2)

(Veleven @ DeviantArt)

As promised, here is the second instalment of Meet the Muse. If you haven’t seen the first instalment yet and have no idea what I’m on about, you should go here. 

Enjoy!

Meet the Writing Cast

(spookyhollow.net)

I’ve so far introduced you guys to ED, the editing monster and the Monster That Must Not Be Named, or TMTMNBN for short.

Now’s the time to reveal my madness in its entirety. Brace yourselves.

Setting: Writer’s workplace (messy bed, NOT desk)

Time: An hour after the writer was supposed to sit down and write. First sign of the procrastination gene. You’ll see plenty more.

Things done: Tidied room; arranged notes; bought more note-cards and markers; read another vampire book; read some sex manual for fun; made coffee and drank it all; brainstormed a shopping list; had an idea but lost it due to lack of pens (as if ALL the pens in the room had found their own hiding place); etc.

Things NOT done: Writing the next chapter of WIP.

Mood: Undecided, bordering on funny (as usual).

The cast (in order of appearance):

Ed, the Editing Monster

I babble. I falter. I digress.

I’m sure lots of other people can say the same, and it’s no different for writers. The only saving grace we have is editing. That’s why, for example, I am much better at writing than talking. Because I edit out all of those little peevish things I do in everyday speech.

Truth is, I can’t tell a joke right because I can never remember the punch-line, or I start telling the joke, which reminds me of something else, and I forget it was a joke in the first place. Alternatively, I would not stress the right part at all, which would make people laugh at my measly efforts. Sigh.

The Six-Words Collection

Hello, fellow tweeps! Yesterday (May 17^th), the news of the 6-word ‘Momoirs’ on the New York Times (http://nyti.ms/iOs14s) took Twitter by storm, so some of us decided to invent our own 6-wordsies on various topics. We pretty much ran wild with it! So, naturally, I couldn’t resist putting them all together. Apart from #sixwords, there’s also #fourwords and #fivewords, and if there were more of me, I’d have included those too.

Hope I didn’t forget anyone! Also, if you have a FAVORITE or would like to CONTRIBUTE more #sixwords, feel free to do so here. Just bear in mind I won’t be checking the channels anymore, because it’s too addictive! So, lo and behold! Counter-alphabetized, THE 6-WORDS COLLECTION.

P.S. Thanks to all contributions and I hope everyone enjoys!