You concentrate on that intention...
This week we explore pen names, non-judgement, and a little Scrivener trick to highlight your adverbs.
Here’s a list of eight things I’ve been thinking about this week:
It’s almost the Fourth of July, which seems an appropriate time to reflect on some of the writing (and writers) who shaped this country. Of course, one might argue that, centuries later, it’s time to release some updated material, but maybe that’s just my feminism talking.
Yesterday I came across this podcast interview with Brad Listi (I mentioned last week that I enjoyed his new book Be Brief And Tell Them Everything). It’s interesting to listen to, if only for the novelty of Listi (host of the Otherppl podcast) sitting in the hot seat.
I loved this piece outing 10 Contemporary Authors Writing Under More Than One Name. Robin Hobb’s name caught my eye. I loved her Farseer trilogy (and also - I heard that she chose the name Hobb because the H shelf in the bookstore is usually at eye-level - very clever).
Regina Spector, who released her new album (Home, before and after) last weekend, shared this during a recent interview:
I love to meditate, but my thoughts tend to get the best of me when I am still. This is an active meditation. You decide something you dedicate the meal to. It can be peace in the world, or someone’s health, or anything that is stirring you at the time. Then as you cook, every little action of the cooking—washing, cutting, mixing—can be imbued with that dedication. You concentrate on that intention from start to finish and keep repeating the thought in your mind as you cook. In the end, every bite is filled with that wish. A meditation for the over-thinker…
Nerd Word of the Week: obtund - to reduce the edge or violence of, to dull.
As writers, being a keen observer is part of our job description. This 7-minute Ted Talk on how to listen has changed the way I’m walking through the world.
It also seems to be part of our job description, as writers, to be really hard on ourselves. If that’s you, and you’re thinking you’d maybe like to be a little kinder to yourself, here are 4 ways to practice non-judgement.
Did you know you can highlight your adverbs in Scrivener? It’s a fun little editing trick, but don’t get crazy. Adverbs have their place.
Happy writing, my friends,
April
p.s. I am currently accepting applications for my 6-Week Mindful Writers Challenge. Take a deep dive into mindfulness and writing and train your mind to draft more compelling prose.