Comments on: News and Notes http://www.maydenchronicles.com/2009/05/06/news-and-notes/ New Media Education On How To Write A Book Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:22:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Robin Rice http://www.maydenchronicles.com/2009/05/06/news-and-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-1528 Robin Rice Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:52:46 +0000 http://www.maydenchronicles.com/?p=637#comment-1528 Hi Nadine! Okay, first, creative non-fiction is very worthy. To begin an autobiography, you really have to find the action point, not try to tell the whole back story up front to get people going. READ a lot of autobiographies to see how it starts...start with a story, and a good one, anywhere in life! Make it a short story perhaps, to start? As far as a career, sadly being a book writer for a living is like saying you are going to be a rock star. Can it happen, yes! Sure! Will it happen... maybe. And maybe after a long time. I still don't make a living from my writing alone, and that is very common, especially with the current markets. However, if your job is as a writer (journalist, paid blogger, PR, etc...)you will become a better writer by doing your job, and that is something you will have to invest time in anyway. I wrote a lot of different things before books, and that experience was all worthy. So would I plan on a career writing books right off as your bread and butter? No, sadly. But would I follow the passion and make sure your studies prepare you... yes, for sure. I hope that helps. Hi Nadine! Okay, first, creative non-fiction is very worthy. To begin an autobiography, you really have to find the action point, not try to tell the whole back story up front to get people going. READ a lot of autobiographies to see how it starts…start with a story, and a good one, anywhere in life! Make it a short story perhaps, to start?

As far as a career, sadly being a book writer for a living is like saying you are going to be a rock star. Can it happen, yes! Sure! Will it happen… maybe. And maybe after a long time. I still don’t make a living from my writing alone, and that is very common, especially with the current markets. However, if your job is as a writer (journalist, paid blogger, PR, etc…)you will become a better writer by doing your job, and that is something you will have to invest time in anyway. I wrote a lot of different things before books, and that experience was all worthy. So would I plan on a career writing books right off as your bread and butter? No, sadly. But would I follow the passion and make sure your studies prepare you… yes, for sure. I hope that helps.

]]> By: Nadine http://www.maydenchronicles.com/2009/05/06/news-and-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-1527 Nadine Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:20:31 +0000 http://www.maydenchronicles.com/?p=637#comment-1527 1.What do you know about creative nonfiction? I've always wanted to write an autobiography and I remember watching one of the videos in which you said slices of life aren't always enough unless the story is really compelling. How would I go about beginning an autobiography. 2. I really like writing and I want to go into creative writing when I enter college but I don't know if I would be able to support myself with such an uncertain career. Should I pursue another career and write on the side? I know this seems like an obvious answer but I feel that if my time is consumed with another profession that I'll never get to writing at least not fully. 1.What do you know about creative nonfiction? I’ve always wanted to write an autobiography and I remember watching one of the videos in which you said slices of life aren’t always enough unless the story is really compelling. How would I go about beginning an autobiography.
2. I really like writing and I want to go into creative writing when I enter college but I don’t know if I would be able to support myself with such an uncertain career. Should I pursue another career and write on the side? I know this seems like an obvious answer but I feel that if my time is consumed with another profession that I’ll never get to writing at least not fully.

]]> By: Robin Rice http://www.maydenchronicles.com/2009/05/06/news-and-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-742 Robin Rice Tue, 12 May 2009 13:54:46 +0000 http://www.maydenchronicles.com/?p=637#comment-742 Hi Nadine! Thanks for writing. Was out of town so had to wait to reply. This is a question several have asked me, and it's not an easy one to answer. I waited a long time for the first fiction "story" to come to me, and wondered if it ever would! I feel it is like a calling of sorts--almost like finding a boyfriend. You can look, but you can't make it happen. But you can be open and looking, and getting ready by practicing writing--yes, short stories or I wrote essays for years on small subjects. They ended up being published, in fact. So practice, stay open, invite the "magic" into your world and dreams (or God, or Universe, or whatever you call the great spark of life), and then be ready when it comes to you ~ it will! I hope that helps a little. Hi Nadine! Thanks for writing. Was out of town so had to wait to reply. This is a question several have asked me, and it’s not an easy one to answer. I waited a long time for the first fiction “story” to come to me, and wondered if it ever would! I feel it is like a calling of sorts–almost like finding a boyfriend. You can look, but you can’t make it happen. But you can be open and looking, and getting ready by practicing writing–yes, short stories or I wrote essays for years on small subjects. They ended up being published, in fact. So practice, stay open, invite the “magic” into your world and dreams (or God, or Universe, or whatever you call the great spark of life), and then be ready when it comes to you ~ it will! I hope that helps a little.

]]> By: Nadine http://www.maydenchronicles.com/2009/05/06/news-and-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-608 Nadine Fri, 08 May 2009 17:46:40 +0000 http://www.maydenchronicles.com/?p=637#comment-608 Dear Robin, I've been thinking of writing as a career for a while and I have a few questions that my language arts teacher couldn't answer because she has never written a novel. I want to write but I'm not sure how to come up with a purpose for a novel. Should I start with short stories? How do I know/find out what my purpose is? Where is a good starting point for themes? I'd like to start keeping a journal too but I don't know where to start. Does having a journal really help that much? Thanks. Dear Robin,
I’ve been thinking of writing as a career for a while and I have a few questions that my language arts teacher couldn’t answer because she has never written a novel. I want to write but I’m not sure how to come up with a purpose for a novel. Should I start with short stories? How do I know/find out what my purpose is? Where is a good starting point for themes? I’d like to start keeping a journal too but I don’t know where to start. Does having a journal really help that much?
Thanks.

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