Writing Advice via Meg Cabot

While I was googling Meg Cabot to get a link to share, I happened upon this very basic How To Write a Book blogpost. 
From ages ago, in website years. 
But most of her tips hold up quite well!
And she's funny, of course.
For example:

But one thing you should NOT do is say to a writer, “I don't know how you find the time to write. I just have too many friends and social engagements ever to get around to it.” Because that is basically calling the writer a giant loser with no friends.
Please don't do this. Thank you.
10. If you have made the time to sit down and complete your novel, you are 100% ahead of most people out there. Pat yourself on the back.


Interestingly, oddly, one bit of advice is to know the ending of your story before you start to write it. I think that's good advice. Generally.
Though of course, whether you like it or not, that ending may change along the way. Sorry to tell you that.

(And thanks to Joyce and Carol, two Facebook writer friends, for sharing this great quote.)

A Novel in Your Closet?

For all those wonderful aspiring writers who ask me How Can I Get Started?
Check out this post by Mary Jakcsch, and others.
This is pretty much it, in a nutshell.

The first draft is the fastest, and invariably the most important. In the first draft, I write for myself, and always with the door closed. No one ever sees those words.
The first draft is me getting out of my own way. In this draft I write as fast as I can without stopping. If there’s divine inspiration in writing, this is where I find it.
The next draft is revision. I usually spend longer here than I do on the first. This is where I’m massaging my meaning and making things flow for the reader.
The final draft is a polish, where I make my words sing in their intended key.
In the first draft I get it said, in the second I say what I mean, in the third I say it well.

Except I'd have to add, the next DRAFTS ARE REVISION.
I've never known a writer who could revise in one draft. Or three, for that matter.
Come to think of it, I've never known one who could get that first draft down in one quick writing. 

Here's the link:
http://writetodone.com/how-to-start-novel/
There are some really great ideas from the likes of Elizabeth George et al. in that blogpost. Go ahead, click on over.

And I'm totally stealing the picture.

Good luck!

Writing tips via Kirby Larson: 3x5 cards!

Yes, I started out as a librarian in the Dark Ages. The Card Catalog days.
Those 3x5 cards: Subject, Author, Title.
Carefully filed in a big old wooden card catalog. You remember those.

                                                                                                      (photo courtesy of PhotoBucket)

I even remember seeing catalog cards that were beautifully hand-written, in ink.

So when I see the words 3x5 cards, I must read on.

I love this tip from Kirby Larson's blog. Character thoughts into scene-writing!

Or this, also via Kirby:   

When you use analogies, examples, similes and/or metaphors, couch them in terms your main character would understand.

Click here to read more.

Scroll around her blog and you'll find more really great ways to dig deeper.

Since I'm writing a bit away from my computer and my beloved Scrivener software with its built-in 3x5 cards, I'm rushing down to CVS for a packet.

Oh, wait, I bet I have some of those old discarded catalog cards around here someplace.
My public library had STACKS of them sitting out for scratch paper.

 Voila!
How about you?
Now, off to take some notes!
(Thanks for the great writing tips, Kirby. )