Quote of the day

“Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.” 

                                                      ― Richard L. Evans

Slideshow of some writing quotes

Horror movie quote quiz

I'm not a fan of horror. I learned long ago that watching a horror film means not sleeping soundly for weeks, maybe months. The last horror film I watched was "The Silence Of The Lambs" in 1991. Even mentioning it here makes me break out in goosebumps. Yeah, it creeped me out big time.

But since it's the season for all things scary, I've come up with this quiz. Name the horror movie that contained the following quote. Answers on jump. 

1.  “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." 

2. “Look! It’s moving. It’s alive. It’s alive… It’s alive, it’s moving, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE!"

3. “I see dead people.”

4. “He-e-e-e-re’s Johnnie!”

5. “Listen to them, the children of the night. What sweet music they make.”

6. “Get away from her, you bitch.”

7. "If only it was the picture who was to grow old, and I remain young. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't give for that. Yes, I would give even my soul for it."

8. “It’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare.”

9. “Hi, I’m Chucky, wanna play?”

10. “They’re Heee-re.”

11. "Whatever you do, don't fall asleep."

12. "Oh, yes, there will be blood."

Slideshow of My Words pins

Here is a slideshow of the pins on my Pinterest board: My Words

Thought for the day

"When life throws you a curve ball, whack the hell out of it."

The writing life...

From my Pinterest board: My words

Source: shareasimage.com via Buffy on Pinterest

Quote of the day

"Fiction writers, present company included, don't understand very much about what they do - not why it works when it's good, not why it doesn't when it's bad." --Stephen King

Do you agree with King?

It's all about perspective

This random thought occurred to me.

 The more we try the more we fail. We’d fail less often if we tried less often.

 BUT

 The more we try the more we succeed. We’d succeed less often if we tried less often.

 So there you have it. It’s all about perspective, how you choose to look at it.

Some quotes:

“One person's craziness is another person's reality.”  ― Tim Burton

“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be.” 
―George Carlin 

“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” 
― Horace Walpole

“Fairy Tales always have a happy ending.' That depends... on whether you are Rumpelstiltskin or the Queen.” 
― Jane Yolen, Briar Rose

Back from Disney

Well, I'm back from Disney. We had a great time as usual. For as many times as I've been there I never tire of that magical place. I love the story of Walt Disney, a man who had a dream and never gave up on it despite numerous setbacks and huge financial losses. I love that he remained a kid at heart and admired his creativity, drive, passion, work ethic, optimism and too many other adjectives to list. So I start my way back to work and the blogging world with these quotes from Walt:

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."

"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."

"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."

And for the writers and readers in all of us:

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."

Writing is...

"Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon." --Ann Patchett

Finish this sentence. Writing is:

Have a terrific weekend

I've been thinking Hobbes --"

"On a weekend?"

"Well, it wasn't on purpose..."

--Calvin & Hobbes

Hope you have a happy weekend!

Finding just the right word

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." --Mark Twain

Whenever I'm editing one of my reporter's stories, I start with a wide angle lens. I start by ask big picture questions. Are there any holes in the story? Did the writer raise any questions for the reader that he/she doesn't answer? Is the story fair? Balanced? Are all sides represented? Does the story structure work? Does the beginning hook the reader? What about the rhythm? Is there variation in sentence and paragraph lengths? And it goes on and on.
Eventually, I look at each word. I'm looking for precision. Is the word the writer used the best word to convey the message or meaning? Using the right word at the right time helps determine how a story is interpreted. One of the things I always look at hard are verbs. Too often people use weak verbs figuring that adverbs will save them. But watch the adverbs and adjectives.
What about you? Do you look for precision in your own writing? Do you circle all of your verbs and then go back and see if you can make them stronger?

Let's encourage one another

"Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that never miss the opportunity to give encouragement."

--George Adams

Here's your chance to encourage others. In one sentence, what would you tell a struggling writer? I'm looking for your best words of wisdom. If you keep the sentence (including your name) to 140 characters, I will tweet your words. I also want to thank everyone who visits this blog each day. You encourage me to continue just by being a part of it. Blessings....  

Good old Hemingway

"The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof shit detector. This is the writer's radar and all great writers have had it."

--Ernest Hemingway, interview in Paris Review, Spring 1958

Do you have a favorite Hemingway book? If so, share in comments and tell us why it is your fav.

I wonder...

Virginia Woolf said: As for my next book, I am going to hold myself from writing it till I have it impending in me: grown heavy in my mind like a ripe pear; pendant, gravid, asking to be cut or it will fall.

I wonder...Are you like Virginia? Do you let your stories simmer in your mind or do you start writing and figure it out along the way? Perhaps you do both depending on the story. I'd be interested to know what works for you and why. Please share.  

Quotes from Napoleon Hill

"What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

"Before success comes in any man's life he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps, some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do."

"No man is ever whipped, until he quits -- in his own mind."

"Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel."

"The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail."

"Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting."

"What we do not see, what most of us never suspect of existing, is the silent but irresistible power which comes to the rescue of those who fight on in the face of discouragement."

Salute to Dr. Seuss

Some quotes of his:

• "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."
• "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you."
  
• "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way." 
  
• "And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed."
  
• "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." 
  
• "If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good."

I have always loved Dr. Seuss. His books were full of wisdom and just plain fun to read. What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book and why is it your favorite?