Celebrate The Small Things
Friday is here… yet again… and it's that time! This is the weekly instalment of Celebrate The Small Things, hosted by Viklit over at Scribblings Of An Aspiring Author.
This week I'm celebrating the following:
~ I completed reading an anthology of 6 stories based on dystopian/ paranormal/ magic/ fantasy elements, and posted the review on Goodreads
~ On Sunday June 16th, we celebrate Youth Day which means that Monday is a public holiday! Plus it's Fathers Day! Double celebration!
~ This weekend, our city plays host to Top Gear, which will bring thousands of motor enthusiasts and other visitors to our shores, and will inject millions of rands into our city coffers!
~ These 7 writerly nuggets on how to write fiction (from Ernest Hemingway)
1. To get started, write one true sentence.
2. Always stop for the day while you still know what will happen next.
3. Never think about the story when you’re not working.
4. When it’s time to work again, always start by reading what you’ve written so far.
5. Don’t describe an emotion–make it.
6. Use a pencil.
7. Be brief.
He makes it sound so simple, doesn't he?
Are you celebrating anything this past week? Please share in the comments section. Have a great weekend everybody!
I can't imagine never thinking about a story when not working on it. I am probably the exact opposite as it's hard for me to think about anything else once I get wrapped up in a story LOL.
"Make" an emotion makes me cringe because I know that is the absolute truth but I also think it's so hard! Don't know if I've ever managed to do it.
Have a great weekend and also a great holiday on Monday. Nothing better than three day weekends! 🙂
I agree with the "make" an emotion. Easier said than done. 🙂
That's cool Top Gear is filming in your town!
It's over 2 days, Friday and Saturday. It was also here last year this time. I think they want to make it an ongoing annual event!
Do you think Ernest would be offended because I don't use a pencil?
Mmm… that makes two of us… though I do use a pen from time to time. Hope that counts?
Excellent writing tips to keep posted above your desk. And congratulations on your anthology!
I've left you something at The Write Game today. 🙂
Good idea about posting the tips above your writing space (I don't have a desk…) I'll stop by your place later on to check it out! 🙂
Excellent tips!! And excellent reasons to celebrate. Father Dragon should also celebrate Father's day, since technically he's a father, at least in the name, LOL. I'm glad you finished your stories! Dragon hugs.
Happy Father's Day to you too! 🙂 Hugs back at you Father D!
Monday is a holiday for you! So lucky.
I love those tips. I break a few of them, but I follow a few of them, too. ^_^
Rules are guidelines. We can't be expected to follow each and every one. Imagine if we did? No writing would get done… LOL Thanks for popping in Krystal!
I love those tips. I've heard #2 said a lot. But I don't know how to make #3 happen. I can't help myself most days.
I love the fact that the tips are basic. I struggle with some. Actually, I struggle with most of them. I think that no.# 7 is the one I can manage!
Great tips!
YAY to public holidays!
Yes! I'll second that! 🙂
I'm thinking about mine right now and how to unstall it… maybe it'll come to me when running errands. Yay for holidays!
Hope you enjoyed the errands… and hope you had an epiphany too! 🙂
Does anyone use a pencil anymore? I did when I started my ms 3 years ago, then stole my son's computer, (well borrowed) I'm sorry but I don't follow Hemingway's rules!
That's okay. I suppose different rules work for different people. I enjoy writing long-hand, it works for me… I also use a computer from time to time. It depends on my mood.
Great tips to share! Have a fun weekend, and keep celebrating the small things 🙂
Thanks Carol! 🙂
Great tips from Ernest! It's funny to see this sort of advice rehashed all over the place today 😉
Youth Day public holiday, huh? We need one of those over here in Aus I think!
Every country needs a Youth Day. Nobody would complain about an extra public holiday… 🙂
I'm not so sure I'm keen on those writing tips. When I start thinking about my WIP a lot, I know I've really got to get cracking on it, and sometimes, I don't need to read what I've already read if I know where I'm going next and it's fresh and clear in my mind. But the tips did give me things to think about.
May you have a wonderful holiday weekend.
P.S. – I'm planning on posting on the gifts I received from you tomorrow. (Which means I'd better start creating my post!)
I suppose that when you're deep into your WIP, and writing every day, then you wouldn't need to read the stuff from the day before… makes perfect sense!
Have fun on your three day weekend! 🙂
I definitely plan to, Lara! 🙂
Top Gear! Wow! I would have so loved to be there. 😀 Happy weekend to you, Michelle. Yes, I celebrated the little things this week too!
Are you a motor enthusiast, Vidya? Or would you like to be here for the atmosphere… the hustle and bustle… the excitement…? 🙂
Yay for holidays! And I love Top Gear! Such a fun show. Love the celebratory blog hop. So much fun to celebrate the small things with fellow bloggers 🙂
Meredith
Welcome to my place, Meredith! Nice to meet you. 🙂
Hey, Michelle,
I'm celebrating one more day on the weekend. I do read the last of what I've written before picking up again to refresh my memory and get back into the story.
Hey Joy, happy celebration! Happy writing too… 🙂
I love Top Gear, so I think that's really cool!
I don't agree with the advice to stop writing when you know what's going to happen next – I tried it once, and I forgot… and I know it was a great idea! I have to write until I have nothing left, or I lose it.
I agree. That doesn't work for me either. I have to write everything down at that precise moment or else I'll forget it.
Well done! And I particularly like the advice to end where you know what will happen next, only I usually end where I <i>want</i> to know what happens next. I give myself a cliffhanger of sorts so that I want to come back to it later.
So it works for you, but in the form of a cliffhanger. Interesting perspective.
I'm always thinking about a story when I'm not working on it. That's how I work out plot glitches.
I do enjoy reading other writers' lists. Thanks for sharing.
I suppose a writer never really forgets about the story. Not totally.
I am celebrating finding a new blog on Scribblings of an Aspiring Writer. And I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. I noticed you also did the A to Z as did I. I promise to go read some of your A to Z posts.
Here is the award nomination: http://janiceheck.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/the-liebster-award-times-four/
Thank you Janice.
Ha! He has a knack of making things sound simple, and yet his writing and his tips are packed with goodness.
I actually want to add some of his books to my TBR pile. I've heard lots of good things about The Old Man And The Sea.
So Jeremy Clarkson et al are coming to your town?
Hemingway's advice is a mixed bag, I LOVE two and five but don't agree at all with three, I need to be immersed in the story at all times so I can get back in the zone when I'm working.
They came. They saw.
TheyWe conquered! 🙂 It seems that nobody can identify with #3…Exciting stuff all around, Michelle! I will be sure to check out your goodreads review. I like SOME of the Ernest Hemingway suggestions but I can't get behind not thinking about writing when you're not working- my best ideas come when i'm away from the computer, doing things that have nothing to do with writing.
It seems like 99.9% of the writerly population are in the same boat with regards to not thinking about the writing when away from it…
Never think about it when you're not working? Is that even possible?!
I agree. It's not really possible. Hemingway belongs to that special breed of writers…
#2 is something I always follow! I need to know what I'll begin with the next day.
I need to get everything out, while I remember… LOL
Those writing tips are amazing. And yes he does make it sound simple.
A great guideline, for sure… 🙂
Exciting news that you posted a review on Goodreads! I'll be on the lookout for it. Some of Hemmingway's tips still hold true. Hope you enjoyed the Top Gear festivities!
Very helpful tips. All the men in our family love Top Gear! They're huge car fans and Top Gear certainly entertains them! D