Category Archives: Thoughts on writing
Ken Burns’ New PBS Series on Country Music
Twentieth century American music began and ended with Hank Williams. Apologies to Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. I Saw the Light is America’s Amazing Grace. Your Cold, Cold Heart is the best song ever … Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing by others
Tagged american music, country music, Hank, HanK Williams, Ken Burns, PBS
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Watching Citizen Kane
http://www.aellea.com/script/citizenkane_transcript.txt NARRATOR A collection of everything, so big that it can never be catalogued or appraised. Enough for ten museums. The loot of the world. Xanadu’s livestock — the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, the beasts … Continue reading
Outguessing Google
I’m taking on new responsibilities for inFocus, the Vancouver company I have written and edited for since 2015. Our clients are law firms throughout the United States and Canada. We build their websites and maintain them, filling them with content tailored … Continue reading
Does a Book Validate You as A Writer?
It’s in every writer’s DNA to want to have a book published but it’s not necessary to prove a writer’s worth. I make little money from my writing but I am still a professional and proud of it. Writing can … Continue reading
Posted in editing writing, Magazine article, Newspaper article, non-fiction writing, Photography, revising writing, Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing tips
Tagged book contract, contract work, literary journal, magazine articles, newspaper articles, paper of record, self-publishing, writing, writing a book
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Regarding My Book — An Apology
As a professional writer I am embarrassed to write this. I do not make excuses. I communicate and cooperate with my editors, I come in at word count, and I always meet my deadlines. Always. I keep my word. However. … Continue reading
The Greatest Challenges in Writing for Publication
The greatest challenge in writing for publication is word count. It’s set by the editor, it can’t be exceeded. A topic easily explained in 1,000 words becomes tremendously difficult given 250. A reader never knows your word count, only that … Continue reading
Posted in editing writing, Magazine article, Newspaper article, newspapers, non-fiction writing, Photography, revising writing, Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing by others, Writing tips
Tagged challenges, deadline, newspaper work, newspapers, Photography, publication, writing
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Try Another Translation
If you are tackling Tolstoy, Proust or Kafka, find a translation that reads well for you. I failed twice to read War and Peace before I realized what was happening. At a large used book store I got to browse … Continue reading
Posted in books, fiction, Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized
Tagged fiction, Kafka, proust, tolstoy, translations, writing
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