Category Archives: Thoughts about Writing

NaNoWriMo Update

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Marion

Well, I’m not behind!  I have 13,000 words. My goal for today was 3,000 and I came up short, at about 2800 and change, but I’m in a good spot, so no complaints. What has happened: In 1849, the reader … Continue reading →

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That’s No Birdhouse

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Marion

I’m watching an expert on birdhouses.  (I’m not really; this is a metaphor.)  The expert has a spec sheet on what is required to make an appropriate birdhouse, and is evaluating an object that has been placed in front of … Continue reading →

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NaNoWriMo Update

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Marion

It’s not like me to be behind, but I still am. Total words:  7300 Title:  Equinox Genre:  Urban Fantasy What happened last:  Allegra the telepath and her shape-shifter brother  went with Elias the wizard and the new cop to where … Continue reading →

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Windup Girl, Part Two: Thanks, Paolo Bacigalupi!

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Marion

I just posted my response to this Nebula-award winning novel.  Now I want to make a more personal comment about my reaction to the book. One reason I comment on other books is that reading analytically helps me see what … Continue reading →

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The Consultation

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Marion

I paid extra at the conference to have a consultation with an agent.  This is standard conference practice and really is the reason many new writers go to conferences.  They hope they’ll find an agent. I came to MCWC the … Continue reading →

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Tales of the Harbor Lite: Room 309

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Marion

The Harbor Lite Hotel curves around the top of the harbor, two stories of dark brown wood,  just over the long bridge at the mouth of the Noyo River. The place caters to tourists who fish, with a cleaning station … Continue reading →

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Breakfast at the Harbor

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Marion

Sunday,7:57 am. I pulled into a parking space right in front of the narrow one-story blue diner. The sign read “Open,” but no lights were on inside. A small silvery SUV pulled in next to me. In the passenger seat, … Continue reading →

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I Write Like

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Marion

Here’s another fun thing to do instead of actual writing.  It’s called the I Write Like analyzer.  Copy some of your deathless prose and paste it in, click Analyze and let the algorithm do its thing.  The first several times … Continue reading →

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Badly Bound Books (A Screed)

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Marion

On his blog Fiction is So Overrated, Chad Hull recently posted an essay on well-made books—the physical book. He was evaluating  Easton Press. He discussed the merits of hand-sewn signatures rather than glued-in pages, the importance of low-acid papers and other things … Continue reading →

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The Recipe

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Marion

In the 1980s I took a writing workshop from Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm.  Knight was a paladin from the Golden Age of science fiction.  Wilhelm helped define New Wave before moving on to mysteries and legal thrillers.  They were—Kate … Continue reading →

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