Tag Archives: how-to

My browsing history is a little scary…

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I am pretty sure that there is some government organization out there monitoring my internet account now…

This morning, I started out googling pregnancy tests (for a character in my book, not me!).

My last Google search of the morning?  Ways to tamper with someone’s brakes without getting caught.  Also googled if this is even a good way to kill someone (also for a fictional character, not for me).

I then wondered if anyone monitors for people looking up how to kill people or sabotage their cars.

This then led to me searching for writer’s search history  problems and I found some really funny stuff!  I listed a few below, you guys should check it out if you get a chance!

  1. A Writer’s Search History:  An Open Letter to the NSA
  2. The Weird & Worrying:  Writers’ Browsing Histories
  3. Five Signs You Might be a Writer…Or a Serial Killer

“Basically, you suck and have no chance of ever not sucking.”

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I’ve been reading a LOT of books on novel writing lately.  Especially if they focus on writing your first novel.  Many times, I’ve finished the book and been left with this thought:  “Why am I even bothering to write?  I suck.”

All of these “helpful” volumes insist that, since I’ve never been published, I will never be published – unless I use self-publishing.

My favorite take away:  If I want to improve my writing, that means that I need to improve my writing, and since the craft of writing is not something that can be taught (it is, of course, an innate ability given to a select few at birth), I have zero chance of ever improving my writing.

WHAT???  I don’t think that was what Hemingway meant…

It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.

I bought these books to learn, not to be told “I’m going to tell you how to write a good book.  But since you bought this book, you don’t have what it takes to write one yourself.” Continue reading →