You shouldn’t be reading blogs right now. It’s spring. Go outside and frolic in the grass. You can read these links later, in bed, while recovering from your allergy attack.
CREATIVITY
- “4 Secrets of Great Critical Thinkers,” Paul J. H. Schoemaker, Inc.: I’m shocked “Eat bacon” isn’t on the list. “Slow down” is.
- “9 Inspirational Quotes for Creativity,” Susan Silver, Irque Du Mot: I wanted to dislike this post, because it uses so many blogging tropes: 1) A list. 2) Recycled quotes. 3) Cute images. But I’m a sucker for creativity quotes. You can quote me.
WRITING
- “5 Reasons Why Your Life Will Improve by Writing Memoir,” Sue William Silverman, guest post on Write Now! The bestselling memoir author (and one of my instructors with the Vermont College of Fine Arts) says that, among other reasons, the process helps us understand the past. My question is: What if I don’t want to remember it?
One memory from my cross-country U.S. road trip I wouldn't mind forgetting: Escaping an overly friendly drunk in a bar in Boise, Idaho, by slipping into an alley through the kitchen. I startled a couple of busboys sneaking a smoke. - “Make-or-Break Verbs,” Constance Hale, The New York Times: We know the power of using action verbs, but Constance tells us verbs can also carry sentiments, hint at cognition, bend ideas together, assert possession, and conjure existence itself. Take that, adverbs.
- “20 Ways to Kill Your Writer’s Block Forever,” Carol Tice, Lifehack: This is a topic that has received exhaustive examination in the blogosphere, but I still found some good nuggets in this list. I’ll add a 21st: “Start writing a blog post titled ‘All the things I’m doing to avoid writing.'”
- “Today’s Publishing Landscape: What Do You See?” Rachelle Gardner: Among the nuggets provided by this literary agent: “I see authors pulled in too many different directions, no longer having the ‘luxury’ of focusing on just writing the best book they can, but needing to be experts at marketing and social media too.” Yup.
- “Author Blogging 101: Widgets, Sidebars and You,” Joel Friedlander, The Book Designer: As my blogging students know (and, I suspect, dislike), I prefer to focus on the writing side of blogging over technical aspects such as blog layout. Maybe it’s because I’m not very good at layout. So, once again, I let Joel provide that kind of advice here in Creativity Tweets of the Week.
A quick thanks to those of you who read my essay that was just published in Barely South Review, “The Upset Win.” I have a stack of literary journals on my coffee table still unopened, so I can relate to being tempted to do something other than sit down with a creative work. Like sending a few tweets that might make their way into next week’s Creativity Tweets of the Week.
The Artist's Road 
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Thanks for including me in your ranks, despite your misgivings. I totally understand what you are getting at. I wonder sometimes what we can do to get noticed as bloggers, but still find a way to bring our uniqueness at the same time. There is hardly any arena untread.I guess that is always the writers quandary.
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“I guess that is always the writers quandary.” That’s a great way of putting it. I think the problem with some blogs is that people don’t put enough thought into the actual writing; they’re more focused on SEO and social media promotion. That’s what I preach in my blogging class, anyhow, and then students say “Yes, but I need to know those tricks as well!” And they do.
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As much as I want to click the link to Make-or-Break Verbs, I’m gonna take your advice and take it outside. Then I’ll be back 🙂
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I have not been following my advice here in DC the last couple of days, wishing instead to remain dry. Hope you had fun outside!
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