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Writing My Own Story: The life of a writer on the journey to publish his first novel
Write on the River is pleased to present this chronicle of one man’s writing journey. It’s a close-up view of the writing life as an aspiring writer works toward his dream of publication. Along the way, we’ll learn of his hopes, doubts, strategies and inspirations. We thank Steven Daniel, a local physician, father and aspiring novelist for sharing his experiences with us. We hope you’ll comment on his blog and cheer him along!
In Short – Steve’s Week:
Sometimes life is written in short chapters. Until my next post, here’s a snapshot of my writing life this week: Keep Reading »
Writing My Own Story: The life of a writer on the journey to publish his first novel. Posted on April 13, 2012.The Writer’s Brain
I heard a fascinating radio news article recently. It was an interview with Ian Lancashire, a Toronto University English professor who does research into something called cognitive stylistics, the study of personality and psychology as they are expressed through writing. It got me thinking about my brain, how I use it, and most importantly, whether it will last long enough to forge a meaningful writing career.
Now I love sports and the outdoors. I was on the fencing team in college and last went to the Nationals in Austin Texas in 2000. I am an avid fly fisherman, erstwhile hiker and this year for the first time, a snowshoer.
Yes I need these physical outlets and my fingers, or at least my voice to write. But in the battle of tissue priority, the body votes with blood flow, and it is the brain that gets the most.
Writing My Own Story: The life of a writer on the journey to publish his first novel. Posted on April 6, 2012.Fuzzy Genre
Fuzzy math is fine for the ivory tower theorist, fuzzy genre is fine for the English Lit academic. But fuzzy genre is death to the commercial writer.
I want to write. I want to write good stories. I want to write good stories that will make people laugh, cry, tell their friends and make them hungry for more.
But how does an agent or a publisher know that I have something that will reach those people and give them a place to return every year or so to find another of my stories? That is the need for and the power of genre.
Genre is something that I have been struggling with for a while. My novel has elements of science fiction, romance, social commentary and suspense. So, if I go with all of these, I will have a socially conscious romantic science fiction thriller. Keep Reading »
Writing My Own Story: The life of a writer on the journey to publish his first novel. Posted on March 30, 2012.Am I a Professional? – Ask the IRS!
She sat across my dining room table, dressed in 21st century professional, blonde hair, medium cut with bangs, a heart shaped face, complexion like the smoothest French vanilla ice cream and blue…really blue eyes. I settled myself into the chair, my heart pounding, wondering what to expect.
She could have been a fellow physician, an accountant, a real estate agent, an attorney but she was none of these…she was an IRS agent, come to call.
Writing My Own Story: The life of a writer on the journey to publish his first novel. Posted on March 23, 2012.
