The Writing Tricks We’d Be Naked Without
By Guest | August 13, 2016 |
Photo by Seth M, Flickr’s CC
Please welcome guests Jessica (Jess) Lourey and Shannon Baker.
Jess is best known for her critically-acclaimed Murder-by-Month mysteries, which have earned multiple starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist, the latter calling her writing “a splendid mix of humor and suspense.” She is a tenured professor of creative writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft’s 2014 Excellence in Teaching fellowship, and leads interactive writing workshops all over the world. Salem’s Cipher, the first in her thrilling Witch Hunt Series, hits stores September 2016. You can visit her on Facebook or Twitter.
Shannon writes the Kate Fox mystery series (September 2016 from Tor/Forge). Stripped Bare, the first in the series, features a sheriff in rural Nebraska and has been called Longmire meets The Good Wife. Baker also writes the Nora Abbott Mystery Series, a fast-paced mix of murder, environmental issues and Hopi Indians published by Midnight Ink. Baker was voted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2104 Writer of the Year. She writes from the Colorado Rockies to the Nebraska Sandhills, the peaks of Flagstaff and the deserts of Tucson. Visit her on Facebook or Twitter.
Giveaway! Jess and Shannon are each giving away a book. Give us a one-line bit of writing or life advice you treasure, or leave a comment for a chance to win.
The Writing Tricks We’d Be Naked Without
All writers have a bag of tricks up their sleeve, a bag so weathered from desperate rifling that it’s a wonder it doesn’t fall apart. Today, Jess and Shannon—who’ve published 19 books between them—share the tricks they wouldn’t write without. Some they came by honestly and others they stole.
Shannon says…Write From Beginning To End
I know there are writers who will disagree with me on this one, and everyone gets to do it their own way. But I gallop from page one to the end. I don’t go back and edit along the way, even if I need major revisions. I make buckets of notes and catch it all on the second draft. Here’s my reasoning: chances are, I’ll end up revising the revision as I get to know my story and characters more intimately. I throw away earlier notes and replace them with better ideas. Plus, I hate to lose momentum, because, like Jess, I have a 2000 word a day train chugging and I don’t want it derailed. Revisions take a whole different quota.
Jess says…Word Count Vs. Time Count When Writing
Always give yourself a daily word count when you’re writing. If you err and give yourself a time count, say two hours in the chair, you’ll find yourself justifying “awful plastic surgery” and Awkward Family Photos as “legitimate research.” It took me a year of flailing in this manner to update my method. Now, I write 2000 words a day, five days a week (with time off for good behavior), which results in two books a year.
Jess says…Write Your Novel To One Person
This second piece of advice comes from Elizabeth Gilbert, who was speaking at a retreat in the spring of 2015. A young author asked Ms. Gilbert how she knew which ideas to use when writing Eat, Pray, Love and which to leave out. The question wasn’t so much about using up all your good stuff as it was about being overwhelmed with potential directions and not knowing how to select what helped the story and what hurt it.
“That’s easy,” Ms. Gilbert said. “Every book I write, I write to one person. It doesn’t have to be someone close to me, and they don’t ever have to know.”
The idea struck me as both simple and revolutionary: which one person am I writing this book for? Who most needs to read it? What parts of the story must they know? What won’t matter to them? What tone must I strike? By selecting a one-person audience and writing to that person from the brainstorming stage to final edits, I instinctively know what to include in my novel and what to leave out.
Jess says…Use All Your Good Stuff Now
Carolyn Hart was speaking on a Malice Domestic panel in 2007. She was at the conference to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award, and over 200 fans packed the room. During the Q & A portion of the panel, one aspiring writer timidly raised her hand and asked Ms. Hart whether she should hold off on using all of her good ideas in her first novel because then what would she have left for her second one?
After some polite laughter in the room (which I didn’t understand until later—the question seemed excellent), Ms. Hart said, “Use your good ideas now. Your brain will make more. I promise.” Maya Angelou concurs in her famous quote: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Since then, I never hold back when I write.
Shannon says…Make Friends And Be Nice
This is one of those lessons from the sandbox that stands the test of a lifetime. The writing business is tough and no one understands that better than other writers. Forming relationships, even cyber friendships, might help ease the pain and at least make the journey more fun. Other writers can help with accountability, give advice, support and urge you on.
While not the main reason to make friends in the business, other writers can help you out. They can invite you to be a guest on their blog, set up signings with you, introduce you to others. And you can do the same for them, because helping friends always feels good.
Shannon says…Teach A Workshop
I’m not a natural teacher and I’ve successfully avoided it forever. But in an effort at marketing, I decided to try my hand teaching a writers workshop. I started with a presentation on novel openings. In preparation, I read the beginnings of a bunch of bestsellers and I picked them apart. Through that analysis, and practicing the presentation and then giving it several times, I internalized a ton of insight into beginnings and I think I write better openings as a result. I’ve since prepared workshops on all manner of craft issues. It’s a great way to focus and force myself to learn.
Reminder…Jess and Shannon are each giving away a book. Give us a one-line bit of writing or life advice you treasure, or leave a comment for a chance to win.
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Welcome to Writer Unboxed, Jess and Shannon. Thanks for the sage advice. I have one thing to add: celebrate your successes. Finishing a novel, even one that is not quite ready for publication, is a major accomplishment. Every writer who completes a novel deserves to celebrate.
CG Blake, that is an excellent addition, and one that I find myself apt forget as I keep moving the bar farther ahead of myself. Actually, that’s not just a good writing tip. That’s a good life tip. Celebrate the successes, live in the moment. Thank you!
All good advice, but that last one particularly resonates. There’s nothing like teaching something to force you to really engage with it. And then you get the benefit of your students’ perspectives on it, too. I’ve taught publishing workshops, but this makes me think more seriously about teaching a craft workshop.
My best advice in addition to this good stuff is to read out loud when revising. It’s slow and feels weird, but I discover so much that I need to do when I do that.
Sandra, I wholly agree that reading out loud when revising is a must-do at the editing stage. I have always taught my students to do that but only began doing it myself a couple years ago because it felt so unnatural. There’s no editor better than our own ear, though, and my sentence-level writing as well as the rhythm of my writing have improved immeasurably because of it. Thanks for sharing this important tip!
I completely agree! Reading out loud was extremely weird for me when I first started, but now I recommend it to everyone!
So true, the weirdness, but it works! Thanks for stopping by, Erin.
Good morning and thank you, Writer Unboxed for letting Jess and me chat with you over Saturday coffee. Today I’m in Scottsdale at a Sisters In Crime con and ready to soak up all manner of wisdom.
Shannon, you are my favorite knowledge sponge. Spongy, smart, Shannon.
Write Now! Wish I were there with you, Shannon. Have fun!
Seriously, why does she get the fun? She better bring all that wisdom back here, once she’s gathered it.
Welcome, Jess and Shannon. Thanks for the tips. Different things work for different people, but there’s no doubt that using all your good stuff and being a good citizen in your literary community benefit everyone.
I also agree about teaching workshops and would add that it’s a good idea to keep *taking* workshops, or learning through other means, no matter where you are in your career. One of the things that most impressed me at the first WU Un-Conference was the way our expert presenters attended workshops led by others. I came away with an additional level of trust in them.
Thanks, Barbara! We never stop learning, and you make an excellent point that it’s inspiring to see teachers commit to learning.
One great piece of advice. I can’t even imagine where to begin. I have been given so many that my cup runneth over. And, at least some of the time, I use some of them. :)
I guess it would have to be when Matthew V. Clemens, co-author of the Reeder and Rogers Thriller series, told me, and actually explained how I’d know, to “trust your gut, kid. If it makes you cry, it’ll make a reader cry. If it makes your heart race, it’ll make the reader’s heart race. It is makes you laugh, it’ll make the reader laugh.”
That Matthew V. Clemens is a brilliant writer and teacher, Aimee. Thanks for sprinkling his wisdom like grass seed. :)
If you can’t teach a workshop, write a blog on a topic of writing. The research will help solidify the knowledge for your future writing. Writers appreciate tips, as you know.
Robin, I agree–teaching is the best way to learn (besides really mucking something up; I’ve learned more than I care to share that way), and writing an article is a great way to teach others, and ourselves in the process. Thanks for sharing a pro tip!
Can I give a couple of quick pieces of advice?
1. Produce copy. (Robert Heinlein) I take this to mean that no matter what the time of day, or word count, or time butt is spent in chair, no matter what–produce copy.
2. Many authors are attributed: “I don’t wait for inspiration. Or, if I do, I’m very lucky: I’m inspired every day to write at 9 a.m.”
3. “What is good writing? If you got paid for your writing, and the check didn’t bounce, and you paid your phone bill with it, I consider you talented.” — Stephen King.
4. And finally: “You must write. You must finish writing. You must not re-write. You must market your writing. You must keep your writing marketed. You must write something else.” — Robert Heinlein.
Steven, I agree with every one of those. The first reminds me of the Malcolm Gladwell tipping point theory, that it takes 10,000 hours to master something. That theory has been picked apart some, but the essential truth applies: if you want to be a writer, write. Thanks for stopping by and sharing this insight!
I love this article, if nothing else because Jess assures me I’m not the only one whose attention deficit rolls over to “Awkward Family Photos” and online Hollywood gossip which is NOT research. (I have a special weakness for anything related to the Royal Family.) The word count advice is priceless.
Haha, Vickie! We can enable each other, or dis-enable each other, right? Thanks for the smile.
One thing I always try to do is write what makes me happy. I can’t keep myself motivated if I’m writing solely for others. And chances are, if it makes me happy, it just might make my readers happy.
Alice, I do like the idea of making ourselves our first audience. It mirrors the writing advice Aimee (above) got from Matthew. I think a bonus of writing for ourselves (besides potentially good writing) is that we get to know ourselves and trust our own instincts, two important life skills. Thanks for the comment!
From Sandra Brown, many years ago at an RWA conference:
If it is to be, it’s up to me.
Doesn’t mean I have to do it all, but I have to instigate it – the creativity, the writing, the business.
That is some serious “stitch it on a pillow so I never forget it”-quality advice, Mary Tate Engels, and it seems to be working for Sandra just fine. Thank you for the succinct advice!
Wonderful advice, Shannon and Jess, and I’m off to your respective websites to soak up more wisdom from you both.
My current bit of writing advice to myself is “Use what you have” because my internal resources are more abundant than I habitually believe, and if I search for them and use them, I invariably find what I am looking for.
Thanks for stopping by, Anna, and for the reminder that we all have more to offer than we know. Sometimes, you just gotta strap on the mining hat, grab a pick axe, and go deep.
A great article to inspire my writing day. The comments are a bonus as the community has much wisdom to share. My advice: there is no such thing as writer’s block. When the ideas and words are missing it just means you need to do more research. Fill your brain and the ideas will come.
Sharon, my friend Reed Farrel Coleman says it the best: “Do accountants get accountant block? Do doctors get doctor block? No, they just do the damn job. Some days are easier than others, but if you’re a writer, you write. No writer’s block.” :) His books are great, too.
Waiting for the amazing Jan Burke to speak and loving the great tips in the comments! Thanks for the wisdom. Also… Stripped Bare is having a Good reads giveaway now! I can’t figure out how to post the link from my phone.
Here is your Goodreads giveaway, dear friend!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28260523-stripped-bare?from_search=true
Was going to say all I write is checks, but who does that anymore?
I love your thoughts, most of all the one about being nice and making friends. Just think how many of the world’s problems this would solve.
Now, where are my books?
Thanks in advance.
Dang you, Ann, you make me laugh out loud nearly every day. And I like your kitchen.
I still write checks–and mail them with stamps! I don’t use a debit card, either. I have just one credit card, rarely used, and I don’t even have direct deposit!
I’m really old-fashioned–but I’ve never been in debt, or bounced a check…
Old school all the way! :-)
You guys could write me checks. I’d proofread ’em…
That’s another life rule I follow:
If I don’t have the cash, I don’t buy it.
Welcome Jess and Shannon! What great nuggets of advice. My whole life I’ve learned that if you really want to learn something, teach it :)
I don’t want to repeat the wonderful advice already given, so I’ll share this: keep a journal. I love the way Robert Benson puts it: “A journal provides a place for him to learn to speak truth to himself about himself or discover his capacity for disingenuousness. A place to discover when he writes too fast of too glibly, too carefully or too safely. A place to discover his voice slowly over time so that when the real game is afoot, he can trust it.”
Vijaya, I think you’re right, but I can’t bring myself to journal. I don’t know what it is because I truly understand the value of it, I make my students journal, and my husband journals. I just can’t do it. Maybe it’s my German sensibility? We are a historically crabby, tight-worded people. :)
I thought the Scots cornered the market on crabby tight-wordedness. :)
Yup. I mean, Och aye. That’s us Scots – crabby and tight.
Excellent advice. I write from start to finish and I try to do 1,000 words a day, Monday – Friday. But after reading this, now I want to try 2,000 words a day. We’ll see! My writing advice to friends, who want to write a book but seem daunted by the task, is to write a page a day. Because in a year, you’ll have a book!
Nadine, that is great advice, because who can’t write a page a day? I’d add that it makes it easier if you have an outline, a road map for where those pages are leading, but I’m a notorious plotter, and so outlines are my jam. Not to brag, but I’m bragging: I got myself up to 4000 words a day finishing the first draft of March of Crimes. Nearly killed me, don’t recommend it, but dang. I did it.
That’s not bragging. That’s celebrating!
Yeah! :)
One line of life advice:
Happiness is having a goal; and when you reach that goal, have another.
(Almost two lines, but I stuck a semi-colon in there.)
But don’t forget to celebrate in between, right Lyn? :) Also, I heart your semicolon wizardry. It’s my favorite form of punctuation.
Celebrate in between?
No, celebrate at every baby step. :)
There it is. Woot!
The best life advice I ever received upon expressing some disappointment or another was, “Charlie, you do your best every day. If you best isn’t good enough….?”
This made me realize that I indeed do my best every day, and as I love myself and the process of life I don’t have to get too attached to the outcome. The point is to keep being who I am and keep working hard. What I want will come.
In the meantime, when I write I will write to one person–I love that idea. It’s like the persona technique for websites but better. Thank you!
You betcha, Charlie! Thanks for stopping by, and for leaving a comment. You’ve been entered to win one of two books. Whee!
Hi Jess and Shannon,
Thanks for the great advice (and to all of you who contributed additional nuggets.) I love the idea of a daily writing goal. My questions are: what daily goals do you use when you are (1) planning (outlining) a new idea, or (2) when your are editing and revising an existing manuscript?
Great questions, Stephanie! I give myself two weeks to outline a book. The outline is usually only 10 pages long, plus a character bible, but I have to make room/time for the ideas to start flowing in. When I’m editing and revising, I edit 50 pages a day, give or take. How about you?
Thanks for the advice, Jess and Shannon. My advice is, I think, already encapsulated in your great post: Encourage another and you encourage yourself.
Best wishes!
Thanks for the kind words, Dana, and for stopping by and leaving a comment!
You can always find the positive in any situation. Be kind and be nice.
You are a model for this wonderful advice, Dru Ann!
I absolutely loved to read this posting and all the comments. I am not a writer of books, but did write a good sized food column in local newspapers for many years. I know for me, that keeping a notebook with me at all times worked out well. If I heard a comment about food or something related to food, I would make notes and research later. If I dined out, I made notes of food ordered and asked for recipes or techniques or where the chefs recipes came from and how they got their inspiration to create their dishes. At that time most cooks and chefs would share some of their recipes or at least basic ingredients and that was all that I needed to recreate a dish in many cases I always had my ears tuned to food talk of all kinds just as writers of novels must do about the subject that they are writing about (and that close attention to food and recreating recipes explains the numbers on my scale).
I was lucky enough to be able to write what I loved, and also what I knew most about. I am sure that novels are very difficult to write and take much more time than writing a little food column each week and finding inspiration must be crucial, although I am sure it doesn’t always come easily. I loved reading of how each author gets to the right place when it is most needed in the writing process. I guess when you find that magical time you just have to, go with it and love it as much as you possibly can to attain your goal. And it will keep on happening when you need it again as some people said.
Just my rambling thoughts of a non book writer. to say again, how much I enjoyed reading this entire posting. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Cynthia B. .
Thank you for stopping by to hang out with us, Cynthia! Your comparison of writing a cooking column with writing a novel, and how keeping a notebook is useful for both, is spot on, I believe. If we do have that magic dropped in our life, we have to follow it!
Teaching is a great way to learn. Definitely a good piece of advice. Another… have an idea book. It’s where I put down random ideas and where I brainstorm. I always have ideas waiting for me in one place, and I get into the details in a project folder or file later. An idea book just helps calm the chaos in my mind and helps me think and focus.
I have one of those, too, Kari! I save ideas in my phone, too, but it doesn’t feel as solid.
All good advice. I use it all. Except one piece…write for one person?
You stopped me with that one. Huh. I can see why it works. A single reader needs things explained. Needs to be convinced. Needs to be teased, toyed with, held in suspense. Yeah, I see that.
But who would be my single reader? My dad? My niece? The tattooed girl who cuts my hair and doesn’t read much? My dentist, for whom doing creative work begs the same question as walking on the Moon: Why?
Then it hit me. The ones who need to hear the story are those in the story itself. After all, not every character gets to see everything that happens. All have an interest but none have the compete story. There’s a lot to explain and fill in.
Those in the story are already vested in it. I am too! And hey, who else would I rather relate matters to? With whom would I most like to debate? Whose opinions and takes would I most like to get?
Yeah, there you go. Great suggestion. Starting a new project so this is a perfect time to try it out. Thanks!
Thank you for the comments, Benjamin! Good luck with your story.
Since my mind is just feathers and motes, I can only steal from others for writing advice. So:
“I have often rewritten—several times—every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast my erasures.”
—Vladimir Nabokov
(Which makes me think I should gather all of Nabokov’s discards and publish a melange of a novel titled “Nabokov’s Pencils.” It will be a sensation!)
“My mind is feathers and motes.” Can I steal THAT, Tom? I love it!
Like this post!
I’ll share a notion I try and keep close in my writing efforts:
Your book is not what’s in your mind or in your heart-it’s the words on the page. Choose the words that let your story come alive in your reader’s heart and mind.
I consider this a testimonial to writing craft and skill
I like the thought of writing to one person – interesting.
Thanks!
Thank you for the insight and kind words, Tom! So great to see you the other night.
Act as if … you are a successful author
Write as if … you know what you’re doing.
Oooh, Bernice, your advice actually gave me the shivers. I guess it’s what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you!
Another nice stop on your double blog tour, Jess and Shannon. As a former researcher, my one piece of advice would be to double-check or verify your research, esp. if the source was an on-line one. Not everything on the Internet is true, lol!
WHAT?!?! Abraham Lincoln DIDN’T invent the Internet? ;p Your advice is solid, Grace, and one I needed to be reminded of, especially when I get busy. I need to listen to that niggling little voice that tells me to doublecheck, to listen, not to move on quite yet. Thank you for following us on tour!
What an amazing collection of wisdom and inspiration! The Sisters in Crime in Phoenix put on a great workshop but the crystal raindrops of experience splashed here was every bit as wonderful. Thanks for stopping by and thank you Jess for carrying our part of the conversation.
I’ll let you buy me that bottle of wine at Bouchercon, sister. Glad you had a good writing con!
My pen has been flying. I love all the ideas and advice. I have a couple of others that I try to practice when I’m not writing. 1 – read, read, read. I highlight morsels of truth within others writing. 2 – I love to observe people when I’m out. Watching how people interact gives me insight into how we communicate with our bodies which is great for dialogue. Often our body language speaks louder than words.
Awesome advice!
Making friends with people is one of the most valuable things in the writing industry!
I absolutely agree, Tracey. Plus, writing people are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met!
People-watching and feeding the furnace are two core pieces of advice, Liz, so core that I can’t believe I didn’t even think of them. Thank you so much for sharing, and for stopping by!
Very late to this party, too much going on as of late, but finally had a chance to digest this post, chock-full of wonderful advice. I particularly loved the part about using all your good ideas now, trusting the universe, and your own instincts, will supply more down the road. Thank you, Jess and Shannon!
You and me, buddy — I mean, late to the party. Good thing is these precisous nuggets, like gold, keep their value. (Unless, you know, your gov’t changes from the gold standard and the economy tanks — but let’s just forgive lame metaphors on a Sunday.) Thanks for joining us!
Loved your blog. Your tips reconfirm for me some learnings of my novel-writing journey. Picture a little penguin jumping up and down, clapping her flippers. That’s me. Thanks so much.
You have no idea how happy picturing a little penguin made me! Thanks, Bronwen.
Excellent advice. I have done all these things. I especially like the part about writing from beginning to end, because I start every story with characters and conflict. Once I finally get that first chapter sorted out, they tell me what to write. I may have an idea of what the ending will look like, but I’ll be wrong, and if I write some other scenes before I get to them, they’re equally likely to change when I need them. Notes are fine, but not actual writing. And when I do reach the end, I’m empty. It’s a lovely feeling.
Yay for reaching the end, Michael! Thanks for dropping by.
Amen about the lovely feeling at reaching the end! Thanks for stopping by, Michael.
Great post and thank you!
When I was in school my professor told me to spend my ideas which to me is like “using all my good stuff now” … I like your way of putting it best because it helps me to focus on the present story and making every page good as opposed to the old: It will get better because I’m just setting things up right now. Using the good stuff now means there is better stuff coming … at least that’s how it seems :P
Thanks again!
Hi Chris, I loved Jess’s advice about using the best now, too. I was the kid who horded my Halloween candy until it got too stale to eat. I try very hard not to horde any good ideas, even though I am afraid I’ll never have any more!
My favorite writing advice comes from Jack London: You can’t wait for inspiration. Sometimes, you have to go after it with a club.
Suzanna, that’s why I have a baseball bat in my office!
Great minds, Shannon!
Hi, I’m new to this amazing site…hello from the UK. I use voice activated software since I am unable to use my arms much. I always listen back via text to speech when editing. It picks up mistakes I would have missed.
That is a fantastic tip, Helen. I teach online as well as as write novels, which means a lot of typing. I’ve been considering trying voice activated software to help preserve my wrists. Thank you for your insight!
Great post. Writing advice: Give back to the writing community. Like Writer Unboxed does!
I’ve been the recipient of many generous writers giving back — such as the great advice on this post. Writers are the most generous pack I know! Thanks, Carol.
Thank you everyone for your generous, insightful comments! Writer Unboxed has chosen Carol Baldwin as the winner of an advance copy of Shannon Baker’s Stripped Bare, and Barbara Morrison as the winner of an advance copy of Salem’s Cipher. We’ll email both of you to get your home addresses. Write on!
I love the sound of your advice! I’m going to have to try the ones I don’t already do.
Commenting to agree with the Word count vs Time in Seat limit! If I have 1 hour or 8 hours, my word limit will expand to fill them. That word count is all important to me, to finishing my story.
My advice is to give yourself deadlines along the way. I found that setting goals to accomplish every eight to ten weeks (especially if I had a family vacation or a visit from a friend coming up) kept me working hard on the revisions of my first novel.
Great advice, thank you, especially regarding the word count minimum. Better to write something that can be edited later, rather than mull over the perfect phrase.
With so much writing advice out there, I wondered if this post would offer something different. It sure did!
I love the idea of writing for one person. I will keep that in mind as I write my next thriller. I can see where I will make considerations along the way.
I should start presenting workshops. *drags feet* Starting small, might be the way to go before standing in front of a large group at a writer conference. I’ll add it to my list of goals!
Thank you!
Hi Susie! *waves from Tucson* Will you be at Colorado Gold in a couple of weeks.
Here’s a short bit of advice I keep near my computer: “The story is boss.” –Stephen King
Love it! Thanks for paying that advice forward, Elaine.
On your computer, embroidered on pillows, needlepoint on the wall!
This is a great post. And my bit of advice? Never give up! I’m determined that some of the best writers give up. I’m not the best (I have lots to learn!), but I’m not giving up!
That’s so Churchill of you! Inspiring!
I was told a simple and clear bit of truth when I first approached a professional writer for writing advice…Don’t do it unless you have to. Has that ever rang clear over the years, no more than a current slump in sales and acceptances.
Sounds like the advice I got from a river guide when I asked if I should jump in the rapid and ride it through a narrow passage: “You can, but you have to really want it.” Thanks, Tim.
Oooh, Salem’s Cipher is a Goodreads giveaway for the next 13 days (a very witchy number, yes?). If you have the two minutes to enter, follow this link and scroll down. Hope your Saturday is wonderful!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28700200-salem-s-cipher
Loved these thoughts, Jess & Shannon! Thank you so much for sharing. Best writing advice I’ve ever read comes from John Cage’s list “Some Rules for Students and Teachers”: “Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail. There’s only make.”
The rest of the piece is well worth a read, but that line has always stuck out for me. Here is the full thing: https://i0.wp.com/www.brainpickings.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/sistercoritarules1.jpg?zoom=2&w=500&ssl=1