Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 17
June 20, 2018
What I learned about writing novels by failing at short stories – and how to make a short story into a long one
This re-blog is from Roz — you’ll like it :-)
Lee Martin wrote recently on his blog about how he hadn’t intended to write longform fiction. He started with short stories, and graduated to novels only when an editor suggested it.
I hadn’t thought about it before, but that was also my path. Though I was considerably less masterful at it than Lee, who had a respectable bank of published shorts by the time he began the big one.
I started small, and writerly friends urged me to thi...
Yet More Conversation About “What Should I Write?” . . .
In this continuing conversation, we’ve discussed quite a bit about the Muse as inspiration for writing… [image error]
The last installment was, Continuing the Blog Conversation About “What Should I Write?” . . .
And, just before I reveal the first reader comment that let me keep this discussion going, I need to share a quote, from that last post, about the Muse:
“There is a muse, but he’s not going to come fluttering down into your writing room and scatter creative fairy-dust all over your typewriter or c...
June 19, 2018
Reprioritizing to Make Room for More Reading by Laura Gardner
Today’s re-blog Author and Librarian is a wonderful example of reading for Purpose; plus, she shares many strategies that could be translated into your own life-course, to help you read more :-)
School librarians wear many hats. In my school library, I teach information literacy; collaborate with teachers on technology-rich projects; offer book buffets and book talks on a regular basis; purchase, weed and manage a large collection; promote our library, books and reading on soc...
June 18, 2018
Continuing the Blog Conversation About “What Should I Write?” . . .
Prologue to this Post:
It’s Official… Our Blog Conversations are now on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! Leaving the rest of the week for valuable re-blogs from other folks and, from time to time, extra special surprise posts :-)
[image error] O.K., on with the discussion…
Last Wednesday, we began, a Blog Conversation Concerning “What Should I Write?” . . .
You may want to check that post out first to ponder what was said about having a Muse…
I will, however, bring over a few questions I asked that coul...
June 17, 2018
Dear Muse
Very Instructive Tale in today’s re-blog………
By Marla Mulloy
Write a letter to your muse, my writer friend said, in answer to my sad, self-loathing, whine about the writing life. So I did. I was mad.
Dear Muse,
I haven’t heard from you for a long time. I wonder, are you having a nice time on your little holiday? You must be having a holiday; you are certainly not paying any attention to me. Perhaps you are on a beach somewhere in the sun, reading something that s...
June 16, 2018
Literary Lifeguards by James Ponti
Today’s re-blog reiterates the phenomenal importance of Librarians — to writers and readers . . .
Like so many of the great lessons in my life, this one starts on a beach. Waimea Beach to be exact, on Oahu’s north shore. I was there for a television shoot (I know, rough life) and interviewed a lifeguard. When I asked him about saving lives he gave me an answer that caught me completely by surprise.
“Most of our rescues are on land.”
He explained that he and his fellow guard...
June 15, 2018
Friday Story Bazaar ~ Tale Ninety-Five
“You Really Think Humanity Has a Future?”
by
Alexander M Zoltai
Paul and Jacinto had been friends since childhood; yet, their professional activities had kept them apart for over ten years.
Paul, successful self-publishing author—Jacinto, successful international journalist.
Jacinto had contacted Paul before he left Chile—disclosed his deep distrust of where things were going—said he was giving up his career to write his memoirs—at 36 years of age—before the world collapsed…
Paul was wonderin...
June 14, 2018
Stop Making Sense
Today’s re-blog is a writing 101 lesson…
But…
We all can use a reminder from time to time :-)
Have we got an offer for you!
How did I get here?
Would you like to improve your writing craft today? By, say, 10%?
This doesn’t apply to everyone of course, but after editing essays and books and posts for the Brevity blog, for experienced writers and new writers and everyone in between, I’ve noticed a lot of repetition.
Not from book to book, although I see that. Not even...
June 13, 2018
Blog Conversation Concerning “What Should I Write?” . . .
Our last discussion here was on June 6th & June 11th… [image error]
It dealt with Etymologies—word histories—and explored their value for readers and writers…
Since the last part of that conversation didn’t elicit any comments, I’m moving on to a new discussion…
And, just before I do that, I must announce that, after this coming Friday (when I’ll publish the last, and 95th, short Tale in my Story Bazaar Cycle.), these blog conversations will be every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday…
So—“What should I write?...
June 12, 2018
Keep it R.E.A.L.! Relevant, Engaging, and Affirming Literacy for Adolescent English Learners by Mary Amanda (Mandy) Stewart
English as a Second Language — or, a third or fourth language…
Today’s re-blog is from an exceedingly smart and compassionate teacher who can say this:
“The most authentic learning might come from the teachers as their lives are transformed by knowing, really knowing, their students as they engage with literature together.”
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As a twenty-two-year-old, I completed my student teaching in an 8th grade Reading class for students new to the country. My cooperating teacher told me, “...
