What are your thoughts on reading as part of the process of writing?
| Podcast | Writing Advice |
| Novel | Kim's working on a novel |
| Memoir | Renee s writing a memoir |
Words to Write by Podcast
@wordstowriteby
- 0 Followers
- 2 Following
- 26 Posts
Kim Smiga-Otto, a science journalist, and Renee K Nelson, a writing instructor, review and discuss writing advice books you probably own, but probably haven't read.
Don't miss our interview with author Marlene A. Bumgarner! She talks about her book, Back to the Land in Silicon Valley, which recounts her time in the 1970s living off the grid with her husband and two small children. She tells us how to put the 'so what' in our stories to make them engaging to readers.
Making Your Memoir Matter
Baring one's soul in a memoir is hard work. Convincing others to care is one thing, but to engage in your life story? That's a whole other beast. In her book, Writing the Memoir, Judith Barrington says the first step is getting ourselves - and our readers - to care about our memoir. In this podcast we discuss both her philosophical reasoning and practical advice. In this week's writing exercise, Kim tries to come up with what her memoir should be about. Spoiler: it does not go well. Thankfully Renee is there to pep-talk Kim off the edge. Fun times!
Why do readers care so much if you care? Barrington says these opinions shape your authority as a writer and craft your authoratative voice in your writing. Once you figure out “why” you care about the subject of your memoir, the authoritative voice in your writing will follow.
New Chapter, New Episode! This week we're here to put the "so what" in your Memoir. Barrington bares it all in this one, showing us how to make meaning from our lives onto the page. For the studious, check out our chapter notes on our website!
Now that's you've almost completed the week of the Bradbury Challenge, here's your next step for next week; write for a whole 6 hour shift. That's right! We know you've had that idea before. Butt in chair. No distractions. Fingers frantically skimming over the keyboard. If you've tried this, you know it's not as easy as it sounds. But Bradbury did just this! Listen to our episode on Bradbury's method for finishing Fahrenheit 451. https://wordstowritebypodcast.com/podcast/writing-marathons-and-playing-with-memories/
Writing Marathons and Playing with Memories
According to Bradbury’s retelling, it took him nine days, a library typewriter, and a pocketful of dimes to crank out his first version of Fahrenheit 451. Is such a feat possible in today’s distracting world? We decide to give it a try (or at least one day of a try) and report on the results it in this episode. In another chapter of his writing craft book, Zen in the Art of Writing, Bradbury recounts how he mined his childhood memories to write his book Dandelion Wine. As a memoirist, Renee shares how she digs deep into her younger self’s recollections, which aren’t quite as idyllic.
While a lot of writers guffaw at the word "formula," there's a lot that can be said for relying on tried and tested methods. https://wordstowritebypodcast.com/podcast/starting-your-book-off-right/
Starting Your Book Off Right
In this podcast we give our first impressions of our new book, Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure, and, being the enthusiast students that we are, we begin by identifying his central thesis. Then it's onto Chapter 2, where we answer some novice novelist questions and discuss Bickham's approach to a story's first page. To further our understanding, Kim "Bickhamizes" the beginning of her new fantasy novel. As a bonus, Renee has a special message for any former Border employees who worked the late-night Harry Potter release parties back in the 90's.
How's the reading going? Is your muse enjoying the delectable stories, articles, and poems? Does your muse need desert? Here's a poem that's sure to satisfy your Muse's sweet tooth for the New Year (we promise Maggie Smith doesn't write empty calories)
Need a primer for the start of your novel, memoir, or short story? Check out what Jack Bickham, author of 75 page turning novels, has to say about gripping the reader right from the start. https://wordstowritebypodcast.com/podcast/starting-your-book-off-right/
Starting Your Book Off Right
In this podcast we give our first impressions of our new book, Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure, and, being the enthusiast students that we are, we begin by identifying his central thesis. Then it's onto Chapter 2, where we answer some novice novelist questions and discuss Bickham's approach to a story's first page. To further our understanding, Kim "Bickhamizes" the beginning of her new fantasy novel. As a bonus, Renee has a special message for any former Border employees who worked the late-night Harry Potter release parties back in the 90's.
Happy New Year! What better time to define some new goals than the new year? We found Bradbury's advice in our episode, "How to Feed and Care for your Muse" (ie: the Bradbury Challenge) a worthy goal of any looking to enrich their craft. Give it a listen and let us know which books are on your Muse's menu!
https://wordstowritebypodcast.com/podcast/how-to-feed-and-care-for-your-muse/
How to Feed and Care for your Muse
Oh Muse, well-spring of creativity, why are you so unreliable? How can we entice you? In this episode, we discuss what the muse is and get some advice on nurturing and strengthening our own from Ray Bradbury’s book Zen in the Art of Writing. We also discuss Bradbury’s journey to becoming a writer and how it compares to our own. Finally, we put all that muse-wisdom into practice as we develop a daily “Reading Menu.”
Not only is pizza a great metaphor for a memoir, but it's dang tasty too. Mmmmm carbs. https://wordstowritebypodcast.com/podcast/truth-vs-narrative-in-memoir/
Truth VS Narrative in Memoir
We’re starting a NEW BOOK - Judith Barrington’s Writing the Memoir. And what better place to start than by discussing what a memoir is, what memoir isn’t, and just how truthful you need to be. Join us as we answer all of these important questions, which are addressed in the book’s first chapter. But that’s only half the episode. We once again have a book with writing prompts at the end of the chapters. We might be a bit rusty at following instructions, but the results are a hoot to listen to.