Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Mon, Jan 02 2012
2012 is the year for breaking rules
I've taken a break from blogging the last few months in order to finish up some other projects and consider some new ones. Writing is in full swing once again, so it's time to stop in here for sharing a few notes.
All my life I've soaked up tips, tricks, how-to articles and other pieces of advice from writers on writing. I've come to the conclusion that no one piece of advice is one-size-fits-all for writers. If the only time you can produce writing is by working in longhand in the bed of a pick-up truck on top of a windy hill on Tuesdays, then you're ahead of the game. All this talk about writing only first thing in the morning or about never revising while doing a first draft is just someone else's opinion if it doesn't work for you. What works is what works.
posted at: 12:24 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
I've taken a break from blogging the last few months in order to finish up some other projects and consider some new ones. Writing is in full swing once again, so it's time to stop in here for sharing a few notes.
All my life I've soaked up tips, tricks, how-to articles and other pieces of advice from writers on writing. I've come to the conclusion that no one piece of advice is one-size-fits-all for writers. If the only time you can produce writing is by working in longhand in the bed of a pick-up truck on top of a windy hill on Tuesdays, then you're ahead of the game. All this talk about writing only first thing in the morning or about never revising while doing a first draft is just someone else's opinion if it doesn't work for you. What works is what works.
posted at: 12:24 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
Mon, May 16 2011
Characters-in-waiting
Good fictional characters are both progressive and instantaneous in nature. They are a twinkle in a muse's eye, a surging of a writer's heart. Actors have to surmise a lot about the characters they portray, but writers have a chance to develop characters as sinew and spirit. It's a powerful, yet humbling, place to be in life.
posted at: 09:51 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
Good fictional characters are both progressive and instantaneous in nature. They are a twinkle in a muse's eye, a surging of a writer's heart. Actors have to surmise a lot about the characters they portray, but writers have a chance to develop characters as sinew and spirit. It's a powerful, yet humbling, place to be in life.
posted at: 09:51 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
Tue, May 03 2011
May 2011 Deb's Monthly Review
The May 2011 issue of Deb's Monthly Review has been published and is full of US festivals, events and other fun. It's free to read.
posted at: 12:09 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
The May 2011 issue of Deb's Monthly Review has been published and is full of US festivals, events and other fun. It's free to read.
posted at: 12:09 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
Fri, Apr 08 2011
Giving new meaning to fanatic
I write, but am not a sports writer. I'm not even a big baseball fan. But I believe that being a baseball fan, no matter which team it involves, should not be punishable by violence. The baseball fan who was recently beaten and left to suffer generally does work that helps people who are ill or injured. Whoever hurt him that day might well remember that, under other circumstances, he would have come to their aid in their own emergency. I've heard people call the perpetrators cowards. That may be true. I guess the law and the courts will settle it from a social standpoint. But I hope we all ask ourselves how far we'd be willing to go in any pastime, pursuit or even belief when we meet someone we're afraid opposes our position. Is there anything I'd "hit first" over?
If you were at the game that day or think you may know the people who did this, please look at this LAPD Crime Alert.
posted at: 12:53 | category: /Religious and Spiritual | link to this entry
I write, but am not a sports writer. I'm not even a big baseball fan. But I believe that being a baseball fan, no matter which team it involves, should not be punishable by violence. The baseball fan who was recently beaten and left to suffer generally does work that helps people who are ill or injured. Whoever hurt him that day might well remember that, under other circumstances, he would have come to their aid in their own emergency. I've heard people call the perpetrators cowards. That may be true. I guess the law and the courts will settle it from a social standpoint. But I hope we all ask ourselves how far we'd be willing to go in any pastime, pursuit or even belief when we meet someone we're afraid opposes our position. Is there anything I'd "hit first" over?
If you were at the game that day or think you may know the people who did this, please look at this LAPD Crime Alert.
posted at: 12:53 | category: /Religious and Spiritual | link to this entry
Wed, Mar 30 2011
April 2011 Deb's Monthly Review
The new issue has been uploaded. Enjoy all the festivals, plus links to some online sites that offer travel ideas and other information.
posted at: 21:50 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
The new issue has been uploaded. Enjoy all the festivals, plus links to some online sites that offer travel ideas and other information.
posted at: 21:50 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
Wed, Mar 16 2011
Word counts
At the end of the day we've sometimes written less than we intended to write. It's always best to remember that the word count is not the primary task. It's not even the secondary task. But we chisel away at a manuscript the way an artist might work at a piece of stone, lifting bits and pieces to reveal curves and hard edges in the hope that what's left is the material that will make the story give readers a few moments that nothing else can give them. If we happen to reach a word count target along the way we can enjoy achieving an extra goal.
posted at: 22:25 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
At the end of the day we've sometimes written less than we intended to write. It's always best to remember that the word count is not the primary task. It's not even the secondary task. But we chisel away at a manuscript the way an artist might work at a piece of stone, lifting bits and pieces to reveal curves and hard edges in the hope that what's left is the material that will make the story give readers a few moments that nothing else can give them. If we happen to reach a word count target along the way we can enjoy achieving an extra goal.
posted at: 22:25 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
Tue, Mar 01 2011
Home Alone
I've been holding down the home front for a few days while my husband is in his first home state attending a memorial and seeing family. I've been blessed with so many people checking on my welfare that I've had much less time to write than I thought I'd have. May each of you who write be blessed that way in such a circumstance.
posted at: 16:11 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
I've been holding down the home front for a few days while my husband is in his first home state attending a memorial and seeing family. I've been blessed with so many people checking on my welfare that I've had much less time to write than I thought I'd have. May each of you who write be blessed that way in such a circumstance.
posted at: 16:11 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
