Tag Archives: writing

I O U 1 Novel

Posted on October 13, 2009 | 6 Comments

As you may have noticed my long absence from the blogosphere, things have been crazy for the last few months. But I’m back and better than ever. Friday night, I celebrated my return to the writing world with a trip to restaurant/club LAVO at the Palazzo Hotel & Casino.  On that very special day, I made my writing goal official by writing it on a cocktail napkin and taking a picture of it. In case you can’t read the napkin, it says that I will be finished with my novel in six months (April 2010)… or ELSE!IMG_5675

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Posted in This Writer's Life

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Blog, yes. But what about?

Posted on February 13, 2009 | 3 Comments

As a full-time writer, you’d think it’d be easy for me to decide what to blog about. But au contraire, dear reader. Between having to protect my name as a brand (i.e., no self-incriminating posts) and the desire not to scoop my own stories, I’m blogged into a corner. To solve this problem, my blog has devolved into short tidbits that are (hopefully) helpful to other writers/bloggers/readers/etc. However, I fear I play it so safe that my blog has become bland, boring even. What’s the solution? Any advice?

Tonight, as I was leaving the soft opening of Fuego at the Rio, I realized that people may be more interested in reading about Las Vegas as a topic than they are in a reading sanitized version of my life. So I’m going to test the waters with some upcoming posts about Vegas. What do you think? Might it be interesting? It seems to have worked for many other local bloggers.

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Posted in Blogosphere

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Behind the Scenes: The Making of an Article

Posted on December 24, 2008 | Leave a comment

When I was sitting on the airplane, waiting to fly home to Vegas from my childhood home in Texas, I got an email from my editor. My job, if I chose to accept it, was to attend the opening of Frankie’s Tiki Room from midnight to 1am and write about it.

Get paid to have fun? Yes! Now this is what I signed up for when I chose to be  a writer.

I dragged one of my friends to the opening, and we drank crazy tropical drinks, enjoyed the hipster scenery and had a general good time. This is what it looked like:

A few days later, I sat at the kitchen table and typed out my experiences (after 30 minutes of procrastination on Perezhilton.com. Embarrassing, I know). Often, writing is a struggle for me, this time it wasn’t. I’m not sure the difference, but I think my looming noon haircut appointment allowed me to abandon my typical neuroses and get the job done. If only I could go to the salon every time an article is due.

The piece was part of a neat 24 hours in Vegas concept. Here’s how it turned out in the end:

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/dec/18/24-hours-las-vegas/

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Posted in My Latest Publication, This Writer's Life

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How to Schedule a Novel

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 4 Comments

Everybody in my family is a reader, but my cousin Jens is a writer, too.

Yesterday, I was overjoyed to participate in a wonderful family ritual: I went to Half-Price Books in Arlington with said cousin . Walking among those beloved bookshelves, we chatted about books and writing.  Having finished his first novel in July, Jens told me how to finish mine. It seemed fitting that he gave me the secret to life in the comic section of my hometown bookstore:

Write 1,500 words a day. You will be done in three months.

This morning I got out the trusty calculator, and with math advice from both my mom and my cousin Jill, I made this writing calendar:

  • Today: 9,315 words written (nearly 10%)
  • January 16: 30,000 words (1/4 finished)
  • February 9: 60,000 words (Halfway!)
  • March 5: 90,000 words (3/4 finished)
  • March 30: 120,000 words (big party)

 Using the wisdom I gained from my master’s thesis horror, I added one day off a week into this schedule. Now comes the easy part…

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Posted in This Writer's Life, Writing Process

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The Birth of a Novelist

Posted on December 15, 2008 | 5 Comments

Guess what? I’m also writing a novel! I try not to tell people because it makes me feel like a jerk. I don’t want to be the coffee shop slave who is perpetually writing an unfinished novel. I’ve already gone through that hell with my master’s thesis. And then I had the advantage of a wonderful advisor to keep me on track. So let’s keep this novel thing a secret between you and me, please.

According to write101.com, the average length of a novel is 60,000-1000,000 words. As of now, I have 7,345 words. That’s a good start, right?

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Posted in Writing Process

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The Saturday Night at Home Writing Paradox

Posted on November 23, 2008 | 2 Comments

Often my writing takes me to new and exciting places. Those places usually involve celebrities, foreign travel, free food, or a combination of the three. But tonight, it takes me as far as the kitchen table, where I am typing my little heart out. This is what I signed up for, right? Writing is the very core essence of what it means to be a writer, which is indeed what I yearn to be. If so, then why must I fight the desire to surf the Internet every five minutes?

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Posted in This Writer's Life, Writing Process

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A link to a link to a…

Posted on November 14, 2008 | Leave a comment

This post is either the definition of infinity or a sign that I need to turn off my computer and re-find a life. But look at this! Neil Gaiman linked to my article about him on his website, and I’m linking to his website to show the link back to my article. Don’t try to imagine it in your head, just click here:

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/11/mister-fuchs-and-his-flower.html

PS. If you’re curious as to what it’s like to be a full-time rich and famous writer, then you should check out his blog while you’re in the neighborhood.

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Posted in Blogosphere, writing community, Writing Process

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writing process: The Writer’s Diet

Posted on October 20, 2008 | 4 Comments

Today, I am emeshed in writing a book review. It’s ye auld writing struggle against a blank page. And my weapon of choice is food. So far, I’ve already consumed ice cream and popcorn. This is bad. Any advice?

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blogosphere: Freelance Folder

Posted on September 10, 2008 | 2 Comments

My super friend/former editor Pj Perez just sent me a link to this wonderful blog about all things freelance. So far, I’ve found the blog to be way awesome and totally helpful. Check it out.

www.freelancefolder.com

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Posted in Blogosphere

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writing process: FREElancing

Posted on August 19, 2008 | 3 Comments

After finishing my master’s degree, I was so excited to finally do some freelance writing. As a writer, this is pretty much my life dream. However, I should have studied the word’s etemology before I got too worked up:

Free + lance = freelance

From these two root words, it is obvious that freelance writing is not the most profitable of ventures (at least in the beginning). I’m not sure how the word “lance” applies to me. My best guess is that I have to be careful not to get in any jousting matches because freelancing does not provide health insurance.

NOTE: Any advice in how to become a rich writer is very welcome.

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