by toby | Sep 4, 2011 | The Writing Life
I'm doing research, reading a book on how to become an FBI agent. It's dry, pedantic, and yet just reading about the application process, the screening, even the colors and symbolism of the logo, tugs at something within me. A competitive spark, and a patriotic one....
by toby | Aug 14, 2011 | The Writing Life
“Our agency agreement is terminated.” Those words are the period on the end of a three-year sentence: one year to get the agent, one year to work on Blood Orchids to her satisfaction, one year to try to sell it. This last year was the hardest one, as I...
by toby | Aug 6, 2011 | The Writing Life
Sometimes less time is more, especially as a writer or artist. These creative endeavors seem to come built in with procrastionation, distractibility, self sabotage and other wastage. I recently tried to shed some of my work to make more time for my writing, but it...
by toby | Jul 8, 2011 | The Writing Life
What to do when you get to your retreat: Create an entry ritual. Light that candle, toss a leaf in the air, sit quietly and breathe. Or do all three. Read something inspiring. Write or draw what you are hoping for from the retreat. Pray. Meditate. Sing. Do something...
by toby | Jul 4, 2011 | The Writing Life
All my adult life I’ve been someone who retreats. A retreater, if you will. a (1) : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable (2) : the process of receding from a position or state attained <the retreat of a...
by toby | Jun 1, 2011 | The Writing Life
The Lord of the Rings-Tolkien The Pillars of the Earth- Ken Follett Atlas Shrugged- Ayn Rand Where the Sidewalk Ends- Shel Silverstein The Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul- Douglas Adams The Deep End of the Ocean- Jacquleyn Mitchard Like Water for Chocolate- Laura...