"Writing Life" articles

I agree...

But I also don't think that the writers they're profiling are necessarily "typical" by any stretch of the imagination. Of course they may fit the standard "writer profile," which may be what NPR's more interested in doing.

National Book Award finalists aren't exactly "typical," after all... And "the essence of noveling"? I thought I was writing, not noveling....now I'll have to have all my gilt-edged business cards redone...

No comment, as of yet. But I am bookmarking the link for later. Looks interesting.

I haven't come across the NPR interviews, but thanks, Meow, for providing the link. Certainly some things to think about.

M. Brandon Robbins is a graphic novel reviewer, video game critic, and short story author. He is the author of an unpublished novel, Element Chilrd, and a chapbook of poetry entitled "A Party with the Grim Reaper."

How He Writes: Well, since I have eight hours a day taken up by the job that pays the bills (bane of amatuer writers everywhere), I write whenever I get a sweet, precious moment; usually on lunch, before work, and when everybody's gone to bed and nobody's going to shout "BRRAAANNNDDDOONN!!! CAN YOU TAKE OUT THE TRASH?" To make myself feel better, I carry around a little scratch pad and scribble down ideas or snippets I want to use; I usually write on my laptop (damn PC...just wait until I get a Mac!) but will write pen-to-paper when I want that feeling. I spent about an hour doing so in a Starbucks the other night. It was nice.

Writer's Block Remedy: Drink some tea, eat something, take a walk, go out with friends or family, watch a movie...stand still long enough and an idea will find you. When you are seized by an idea, put it down quick and get it going. Then, your block is gone.

A Favorite Sentence: Anything by Neil Gaiman drips of genius. As far as my own stuff, I don't have a favorite. Do parents pick favorite children? Okay, bad example. Sorry.

Engmajor2005,

Could you please provide a link to that particular page you've copied?

MeowGirl said:

NPR has been doing a series of Q&As with writers about how they write.<snip> Anyone else have opinions one way or the other?<snip>
I liked this article in Fast Company magazine about the "corporate literati."
[URL="http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/105/playbook-writers.html"]http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/105/playbook-writers.html[/URL]

Click to expand...

From a full-time non-fiction writer:

Given that this article is from Fast Company magazine, it is perhaps no surprise that it mentions those in fast-paced, generally large organisations. 'Corporate literati' is just a fancy journalistic attempt at putting a spin on a demographic segment of those who have full-time jobs and write in their spare time - which generally takes in anyone from computer repairmen, electricians, factory workers, through to those in 'high-level' white collar jobs. Though, the idea of someone getting their employer to agree to two mornings a week writing on company time (for an approximate 25% pay cut) is quite amazing.

The thing you seem to be looking for is an idea of how others with
full-time jobs manage to find the time to do their writing, as Engmajor2005's example.

ATP said:

Engmajor2005,

Could you please provide a link to that particular page you've copied?

Click to expand...

It was the standard template from the interviews found by following the link in the original post.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=6493914