Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 14

The Resignation Joke

 

Do you belong to any writingorganizations for crime writers or general writing groups—MWA? Sisters inCrime, International Thriller Writers? If not, why not? If so, what value havethey been for you? 

 

This question makes me think of Groucho Marx and his famous‘Resignation Joke.’

 

“I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as amember.”

 

It’s classic Groucho for self-disparagement, barbed wit, anda clever tactical maneuver to extricate himself from ...

Somewhere I belong

 

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Do you belong to anywriting organizations, for crime writers or general writing­—MWA? SinC,International Thriller Writers? If not, why not? If so, what value have theybeen to you?

 

My firstintroduction to any writing organization was Sisters in Crime (SinC) and thatwas because of the Elanor Taylor Bland scholarship, which I almost won oneyear. Almost. I didn’t, but some really talented writers that I have come toknow and love did, and if for no other reason than that, I would say...

Writing sans deadlines - by Harini Nagendra

How do you holdyourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each dayor a certain amount of time? What happens if you don’t meet the goal? Is therepunishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals?

Short answer - I'll tell you when I figure it out!

Longer answer - it depends. On the time of the year, what I have going on in terms of work, family, any care responsibilities... 

My non-fiction books are so easy to write (for me). They are based on my research, and I...

The Robotic Writer, by guest Glenda Carroll

How do you hold yourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each day or a certain amount of time? What happens if you don’t meet the goal? Is there punishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals?

Catriona here: I'm delighted to welcome my Sisters in Crime boss lady (president of the northern California chapter), Glenda Carroll, to the blog today, as she prepares to launch the fourth in her series of Trisha Carson mysteries. Talk about write what you know! Gle...

The Robotoic Writer, by guest Glenda Carroll

How do you hold yourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each day or a certain amount of time? What happens if you don’t meet the goal? Is there punishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals?

Catriona here: I'm delighted to welcome my Sisters in Crime boss lady (president of the northern California chapter), Glenda Carroll, to the blog today, as she prepares to launch the fourth in her series of Trisha Carson mysteries. Talk about write what you know! Gle...

Keep the Ink Flowing

How do you hold yourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each day or a certain amount of time? What happens if you don't meet the goal? Is there punishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals?

by Dietrich

  

I get up early, show up and start writing. It’s that simple and it’s the best way for me to start any day. Getting to it while the world’s still sleeping — hey, I’m in my element! 

There’s no a set word-count. Every day presents something new and I just g...

Motivation and Persistence

 

Terry here with our question of the week: How do you hold yourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each day or a certain amount of time? What happens if you don’t meet the goal? Is there punishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals? 
 I’m highly motivated, and I do have my method. When I’m in full-out first draft writing mode, I insist on writing 2,000 words a day. They don’t have to be “good” words. Just words. Something to move the story along. That...

Carrot or Stick?

How do you hold yourself accountable? Do you insist on doing a certain number of words each day or a certain amount of time? What happens if you don't meet the goal? Is there punishment? Do you give yourself treats for meeting goals?

Brenda here, confessing about my work habits ... or lack of work habits.

I'm not a strict taskmaster when it comes to writing, preferring the gentle, forgiving approach. Honestly, I'm writing for the fun of it and have always had the mindset that I won't deny myself a...

Winning Etiquette by Poppy Gee

Do you try to read the books that are nominated formajor awards? Do you second-guess the nominations or do you usually find youagree? 

When I was younger I always tried to read the award winningbooks. I found them interesting and exciting. Each time a list was released, I scouredit, counting how many I had read, noting which books I wanted to read.

I used to read every winner of the now defunctAustralian/Vogel award, a prize for an unpublished manuscript by a writer underthe age of 35. ...

Just Read (pronounced REED) from James W. Ziskin

Do you try to read the books that are nominated for major awards? Do you second-guess the nominations or do you usually find you agree? 

SUBBING FOR CATRIONA THIS WEEK.

I don’t usually read the books nominated for major awards. Oh, I might notice a book because of a nomination, but for me to pick it up and read it, the subject would have to appeal to me. The nomination qua nomination wouldn’t convince me to read, but other factors might. Maybe the cover is appealing, or the title, the blurbs, or t...