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Robb Lightfoot

Goodreads Author

Born

in Oildale, The United States

April 22

Website

http://www.robblightfoot.com

Twitter

robblightfoot

Genre

Humor and Comedy, Young Adult, Nonfiction

Influences

New Journalism, Ring Lardner, Kurt Vonnegut, Bill Bryson, Nora Ephron, ...more

Member Since

February 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/robblightfoot

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My storytelling career began in kindergarten. Mother made a deal with Mrs. Berry, my teacher. "Don't believe what he says happens at home and I won't believe what he says happens at school."

In first grade, I spent much of my time in the principal's office. Poor Mr. Lewis tried to convey the finer points of classroom etiquette... wait until you're called upon was his main message. But there's always so much to talk about! Today, in addition to writing, I get paid to talk--I teach speech, debate and literature-in-performance.

My first paid writing gig was as a reporter at The Bakersfield Californian, and I learned to write under deadline pressure. I was lucky enough to get coaching from editors of the New Journalism school that favored colorfu ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Robb Lightfoot Not always well. Most of my block comes from just letting life get me too busy to write. I have bills to pay, and I'm not yet where writing does that.…moreNot always well. Most of my block comes from just letting life get me too busy to write. I have bills to pay, and I'm not yet where writing does that. When I do break through, it's usually a matter of sitting down and doing what Anne Lammott says: Allow yourself to write shitty first drafts. In fact, it's not a matter of letting it happen. For me, it's usually the ONLY way it can happen. Once I have something on paper, then it can me massaged. My friends tell me that I write fast (but not always well) some of this comes from being hyperactive and some of it comes from being a former newspaper reporter and learning to turn SOMETHING in on deadline.

As to being hyperactive. I have not been diagnosed, but I have all the symptoms of family members who have. I drink gallons of coffee because it calms me, and I find it hard to site down for more that short stretches. Professionally, I am a speech teacher, and I find that after 10 minutes of listening to a speech I want to--and do--bounce up to the front of the room to have a brief discussion with the class about what they just heard.

This restlessness goes as far back as I can remember. I had my own special desk in the principal's office, and went there almost every day because I was talking in class. Learning to write allowed me to channel some of this in a way that I quit talking so much, but it makes for tons of journals. These are not really suitable for publication. But they do make me think about things that CAN be helpful. I used the Julia Cameron method of journal writing for a number of years--even studied under her for a weekend at Esalen. But I find that journal writing can get in the way of my regular writing.

When I'm writing fiction with an intent to publish, I have to be in character, and this character must be walking around in a space I know or am learning about. Just writing about how much I hate my wife's minivan isn't going to get me into my story world. I have to have a problem that I'm working out. The classic elements of comedy can all be brought to bear, but it must start with "something goes wrong."

So, my advice is pick a problem, inflict it one someone, and start writing. I think this is true even for non-fiction.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Robb Lightfoot It's hard to name just one best thing, but for me it's the dream-like state I get in when I'm really in the zone. I get to create a dream world and cr…moreIt's hard to name just one best thing, but for me it's the dream-like state I get in when I'm really in the zone. I get to create a dream world and crawl into it for a while. This world can be that of an idealized recollection, one that turns pain into laughter, or one that has me saying the witty things I wish I'd said at the right moment. Soon, I hope to launch a science fiction series that will allow me to crawl into a world where some people have powers that allow them to take advantage of others. I want to explore what that would do to a person and to the society in which they live.(less)

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Robb Lightfoot’s books

Average rating: 3.8 · 61 ratings · 29 reviews · 11 distinct works

	Problem Child - The View From The Principal's Office: Improbable Tales From a Hyperactive Childhood by Robb Lightfoot (Goodreads Author), Amanda Lightfoot-Wright (Editor) 3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Doggone Christmas List and Other Stories 3.63 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Or So It Seems ... The Stupid Minivan and More Tales of Midlife Madness 4.19 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Potholes On Memory Lane 3.75 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Problem Child: The View From The Principal's Office (Improbable Tales From A Hyperactive Childhood Book 1) by Robb Lightfoot (Goodreads Author), Amanda Lightfoot-Wright (Editor) 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Encore: Reinventing Your Job & Your Life: Lessons learned from 10+ career changes (Encore: Reinventing Your Job and Your Life Book 1) by Robb Lightfoot (Goodreads Author), Amanada Lightfoot-Wright (Editor) did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Makes TED Talk?: An Analysis of TED Talk Speakers 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	On Listening Well: Storycatching by Robb Lightfoot (Goodreads Author), Amanda Lightfoot-Wright (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Teaming With Trouble 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Or So It Seems - The Stupid Minivan: 23 More Tales of Midlife Madness - Library Edition 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Robb Lightfoot…

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Robb Lightfoot's Blog: Robb Lightfoot - Humor Me

patreon.com/robblightfoot

It’s been a long time in coming, but I finally started a Patreon account. Funny, in a way, that I’ve waiting. I’ve encouraged a number of artists to use this tool. And here’s that link https://www.patreon.com/robblightfoot So why did I dawdle? Well, for one thing, I hate asking for money. I had to do this […]

The post patreon.com/robblightfoot appeared first on RobbLightfoot.com.

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Robb is Currently Reading

Robb Lightfoot is currently reading

Narrative Design for Indies: Getting Started

by Edwin McRae (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 01, 2019 07:27PM

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Lose Well

by Chris Gethard

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Dec 14, 2018 03:52PM

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The Art of Column Writing

by Suzette Martinez Standring

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Sep 25, 2018 04:47PM

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Robb’s Recent Updates

Robb Lightfoot wrote a new blog post patreon.com/robblightfoot It’s been a long time in coming, but I finally started a Patreon account. Funny, in a way, that I’ve waiting. I’ve encouraged a number of artists to u Read more of this blog post »
Sep 10, 2020 02:16AM · like
Robb Lightfoot joined the groups Gotta Have Romance with a Kick and Francophiles
Apr 17, 2020 05:53AM
Robb Lightfoot is now following Kim Chance Author of Keeper (Keeper Duology #1)
Apr 17, 2020 05:46AM · like
Robb Lightfoot made a comment in the group Goodreads Authors/Readers — Free paranormal novel for reviews topic " Thank you, Jerry. This was VERY helpful. :) I'll keep you in mind when I get my next book out. I'll pitch you then. "
Apr 10, 2020 10:09AM
Robb Lightfoot is currently reading Narrative Design for Indies: Getting Started by Edwin McRae (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 01, 2019 07:27PM · 29 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Narrative Design for Indies by Edwin McRae. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Narrative Design for Indies by Edwin McRae <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Robb Lightfoot finished reading Encore: Reinventing Your Job & Your Life: Lessons learned from 10+ career changes (Encore: Reinventing Your Job and Your Life Book 1) by Robb Lightfoot (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2018 09:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Encore by Robb Lightfoot. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Encore by Robb Lightfoot <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Robb Lightfoot is currently reading Lose Well by Chris Gethard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 14, 2018 03:52PM · like
Robb Lightfoot is currently reading The Art of Column Writing by Suzette Martinez Standring	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2018 04:47PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Art of Column Writing by Suzette Martinez Standring. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Art of Column Writing by Suzette Martinez Standring <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Robb Lightfoot is currently reading Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 11, 2018 09:57AM · like

More of Robb's books…

Robb’s Quotes

“I have the sick fantasy that whatever I see at the movies is going to happen to me at home. My bladder capacity increased tenfold after I saw "The Shining" because I was sure that if I went into the bathroom late at night, there would be a dead woman in the bathtub.”
― Bailey White, Mama Makes Up Her Mind and Other Dangers of Southern Living

tags: humor

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“Every writing session after this realization, I dedicated five minutes (sometimes more, never less) and wrote out a quick description of what I was going to write that day. Sometimes it wasn't even a paragraph, just a list of this happens, then that, then that. This one simple change—those five stupid minutes—boosted my word count more than any other single thing I’ve ever done. I went from writing 2k a day to 5k a day within a week without increasing my 6-hour writing block. Some days, I even finished early.”
― Rachel Aaron, 2,000 to 10,000: How to Write Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love

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“The point I'm trying to make is that by recording my progress every day, I had the data I needed to start optimizing my daily writing.”
― Rachel Aaron, 2,000 to 10,000: How to Write Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love

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